WFAN is celebrating their 33rd anniversary this weekend, having debuted its sports radio format July 1, 1987. From Friday, July 3 through 5, WFAN will feature a list of throwback talent including audio from iconic voices Chris Russo and Craig Carton.
It won’t be live, but less than two weeks after Carton was released from prison, WFAN listeners will be able to hear his voice on the station again this weekend. WFAN is offering pairings with a mix of current and returning hosts, as well as “Best Of” hours for Mike and the Mad Dog, Boomer and Carton, and current morning show Boomer and Gio. It’s the first time WFAN will feature programming that involves Carton since his arrest and departure in Sept. 2017.
In addition to the “Best Of” hours, former weekday hosts Dave Sims and Tony Paige will also be part of the 33-year anniversary celebration. Sims, a play-by-play voice of the Seattle Mariners will reunite with his midday co-host Ed Coleman on WFAN Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Tony Paige, who retired from his overnight post on WFAN last year will return for an hour on Sunday, co-hosting with Steve Somers. Somers will also join his former 10am – 1pm partner Russ Salzberg over the weekend.
Other longtime WFAN personalities such as Howie Rose, Richard Neer, Bob Papa and Carl Banks will be live on-air during the anniversary celebration. He’s surely to be mentioned during the weekend, but there is no “Best Of” hour listed for the late Don Imus, who is widely recognized for helping bring credence to WFAN in its early years.
Full July 4 and 5 programming:
July 4
| 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. ET: | Richard Neer, WFAN weekend host |
| 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET: | Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts, current afternoon show co-hosts |
| 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET: | Howie Rose, original WFAN evening host and current New York Mets broadcaster on sister station WCBS-880 (WCBS-AM) |
| 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET: | Bob Papa and Carl Banks, WFAN radio broadcast team for New York Giants football games |
| 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. ET: | Ed Coleman and Dave Sims, former WFAN midday show co-hosts |
| 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. ET: | Sweeny Murti, WFAN Yankees beat reporter, postgame show host and part-time station host |
| 11:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. (Sunday) ET: | Jody McDonald, original WFAN host, current weekend host |
July 5
| 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. ET: | Bob Salter, WFAN Public Affairs Director since 1994 and current weekend on-air host |
| 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. ET: | Ann Liguori, original WFAN host now covering golf and tennis |
| 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. ET: | “Sports Edge” with Rick Wolff, airing in current timeslot since 1995 |
| 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET: | “Sunday Baseball Show” with Suzyn Waldman, longtime WFAN personality and the first-ever voice heard on WFAN; current WFAN Yankees Radio Network announcer |
| 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET: | Steve Somers, original WFAN host, current overnight host and only host who has remained full-time since station launch; and Russ Salzberg |
| 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET: | Steve Somers and Tony Paige, former WFAN overnight host (2003-2019) |
| 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. ET: | Ed Coleman and Dave Sims |
| 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. ET: | “Best of Mike and the Mad Dog,” WFAN’s legendary afternoon team for nearly two decades (1989-2008) |
| 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET: | “Best of Boomer and Carton,” former WFAN morning show (2007-2017) |
| 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. ET: | “Best of Boomer and Gio,” current WFAN morning show |
| 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. ET: | Sweeny Murti |
| 11:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m. (Monday) ET: | Jody McDonald |
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.
