The Fanatic Sets Missanelli’s Return, Names New PD

No need to wonder who might replace Mike Missanelli on Philadelphia’s 97.5 The Fanatic. According to Crossing Broad, the afternoon host will return to the airwaves next Monday, making it just shy of a two week break.

Neither The Fanatic, Beasley Media, nor Missanelli ever acknowledged the layoff being a suspension, but what we do know is the popular Philadelphia radio host hasn’t been on-air since throwing his headphones at a wall. From what we saw with the show simulcast by NBC Sports Philadelphia, Missanelli’s actions could be categorized as immature, but didn’t appear to be fireable or worthy of a suspension. 

Missanelli and his producer Tyrone Johnson were also seen shouting at each other off-mic, but it’s difficult to fully judge the incident without knowing how that argument may have escalated. Crossing Broad reports Missanelli is expected to return with Johnson and update anchor Natalie Egenolf intact. 

Missanelli’s contract with Beasley Media and The Fanatic is reportedly up at the end of the year. A new agreement was not announced, but Beasley, like many media companies, has had to endure the negative financial impacts of a global pandemic. If Missanelli does indeed return to The Fanatic next Monday, the timing is interesting considering the station just named their next program director. 

More than six months after parting ways with program director Eric Johnson, The Fanatic has appointed Chuck Damico to the position. Damico will continue his role as APD at WMMR and Brand Consultant of BEN-FM until finding a replacement. We don’t know what role Damico played in getting Missanelli back to The Fanatic, but addressing the situation likely would have been his first order of business.

Brandon Contes

Brandon Contes is a former reporter for BSM, now working for Awful Announcing. You can find him on Twitter @BrandonContes or reach him by email at Brandon.Contes@gmail.com.