Beginning next Wednesday, Michigan’s Big Drew and Jim on ESPN 96.1 will be just “…and Jim.” Thursday afternoon, Drew McCarthy announced he’s leaving the program, and next Tuesday will be his final show.
Since 2015, McCarthy and Jim Costa have been featured in afternoon drive on ESPN 96.1 in Grand Rapids. In 2016, the show entered Detroit, adding Gregg Henson as its third host as they joined longtime sports radio station WDFN. Henson was let go by iHeart one year later, but Big Drew and Jim remained on WDFN until this past June when it flipped from a sports talk format after more than a quarter century.
Despite multiple waves of layoffs by iHeart in 2020, McCarthy’s departure from ESPN 96.1’s Big Drew and Jim appears to be his own. The duo didn’t announce what’s next for McCarthy, but noted a new opportunity outside the industry. McCarthy has been pulling double duty on radio, hosting middays on 101.3 The Brew, which is also owned by iHeart. Although he’s departing ESPN 96.1, audiences will still be able to hear McCarthy from 10a – 3p on the Grand Rapids rock station.
In terms of what’s next for the 3 – 7p afternoon drive show on ESPN 96.1, Costa plans to find a new co-host, noting he’ll bring in different personalities until landing the right match.
I’ve been waiting for this day for 5 years!! Jim is great and needs a co-host that can have intelligent banter and conversation, not extra loud rants and constant belittling.