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The cast of Rich Shertenlieb’s show has changed somewhat since its debut on WZLX.
The big takeaway from Nielsen Audio’s summer ratings wasn’t the fact that the Sports Hub shows “Toucher and Hardy” and “Felger and Mazz” continued to rule their respective time slots, although they certainly did do.
Nor was it a case of WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” drawing good numbers in the morning, only to have the station’s ratings plummet the rest of the day, even after a lineup shakeup in August.
No, the main takeaway is not about a big share. It was an incredibly small object.
Rich Shertenliebwho joined classic rock station WZLX in May after a controversial split with Sports Hub and longtime co-host of the morning show Fred Toucherhad a 1.8 share among men aged 25 to 54 between June 20 and September. 11.
A 1-point-8.
That’s bad for a grade point average. That’s brutally low for a fledgling but highly anticipated radio show featuring a well-known and successful host, and it would be even if we didn’t compare it to what Toucher and Hardy (16.6, 1st) and Hill’s show (11.9, 2d) was drawn in the summer, a time when rock radio tends to do at its best.
In the spring, WZLX’s morning lineup – which included about a month of Shertenlieb’s show, which had replaced Pete McKenzie And Heather Ford program – had a share of 3.7, including 3.2 in this last month.
Parent company iHeart Media is understandably alarmed. Shertenlieb’s show, despite his objections, added more music in late August. The casting has changed somewhat, with Mike Giardi having his frequent third voice duties (Michael Hurley is the regular co-host) reduced to a periodic call, and Emerson Lotzia taking on a more important role.
The program is not devoid of real positive points. Former Patriot Ted Johnson is a fascinating storyteller. Recent guest co-hosts Danielle Murr And Gary Tanguay were additive. The show never lacks energy with Shertenlieb in the lead chair.
But that’s also part of the problem. The show sometimes feels like it jumps from one topic to another without any direction. Shertenlieb needs a counter to his exuberance; Toucher’s quick-witted cynicism was the perfect balance for so many years.
Hurley is smart and funny, but understated, and he’s overwhelmed by Shertenlieb — who himself could prove without a doubt that he’s best suited to be a show’s No. 2 voice — dominating entire segments. Lotzia’s hype-man style is similar to Shertenlieb’s. The show would benefit from some decaf in its coffee pot.
It’s also fair to wonder whether loyal WZLX listeners resent McKenzie and Ford being forced out just six months after the unexpected death of their longtime colleague. Kevin Karlson.
After all, other WZLX programs are doing well. The station had an overall share of 8.1 in demographics, including 1.8 for Shertenlieb. Somehow it’s overwhelming.
As for the rest of the summer rankings:
Overall (among men aged 25 to 54): Sports Hub, 11, first. WEEI, 4.2, ninth.
Noon : “Zolak and Bertrand”, 12.9, first. WEEI (“Gresh and Fauria”, then “Jones and Keefe”), 2.4, 15th.
Afternoon trip: “Felger and Mazz”, 14.8, first. WEEI (“Jones and Mego”, then the current show hosted by Christian Arcand And Andy Hart), 1.9, t15.
Evenings: Joe Murray7.3, 3d. WEEI (Keefe for most of August, Red Sox), 3.0, t8.
Patriots are getting petty
If you missed what has to be the winner as the boring media controversy of the week, a quick summary, complete with an exaggerated eye roll about how stupid it all is.
Evan Lazarwriter and podcaster for the Patriots’ in-house media, said on his “Catch-22” podcast that the team was “on the verge of a mutiny” in the locker room following its loss to the 49ers on Sunday.
“I was in that locker room on Sunday,” Lazar said. “Defense is mad at defense, offense is mad at offense.”
This raunchy take apparently didn’t sit well with the Patriots, and the comment was quickly removed from the podcast.
This was not a good idea for Lazar, who exaggerated an obvious frustration into a mutiny, the sort of thing that happens too often in a media landscape in which the heat takers make big money and the Zach Lowes are victims of budget cuts.
Lazar jumped on the Sports Hub Thursday night, then Friday, and admitted he got carried away.
It was the right way to handle things. I can’t say the same for the Patriots and the website, who displayed breathtaking hypersensitivity in editing the comment, thereby turning it into a much bigger story than it should have been. been if she had stayed on the podcast.
Of course, that was a stupid thing for Lazar to say. But not as stupid as the team’s attempt to make him disappear.
Master of his craft
One more thought on Joe Castiglione and what makes him so beloved among Red Sox fans, beyond the obvious nostalgic generational connections (in a good way): he never deliberately tried to prove his own talent as a broadcaster.
It was never about him, her call, her voice. It was always about us, the listeners.
He was an excellent storyteller with extensive knowledge of the Red Sox and Major League Baseball institutions. And he didn’t fight the silence. It’s not easy on radio to let a game breathe, but in his 42 years in the Red Sox booth, he has mastered the art.
I hope young broadcasters who often come out of college with the same sound recognize what they could learn from Castiglione – and what will truly make you liked in a market.
