Back in March, Steve Somers told Neil Best he was “the last one standing”. Early Thursday morning, the last remaining member of WFAN’s original on-air staff announced that his time at the station is coming to an end. While he didn’t give specifics, he said that his time at the station would end “more sooner rather than later.”
“I’m at peace with it,” the 74-year-old said. “I’m not being fired.”
According to Best, Steve Somers told his listeners that he was offered the opportunity to move back to his overnight slot. He declined but said he is leaving the station on good terms with both VP/Market Manager Chris Oliviero and WFAN PD Spike Eskin.
“One thing I don’t want to do is have a farewell tour. (Mike) Francesa had that, and Joe Benigno had that, and I don’t want to go through all of the gladhanding, the hugging and the kisses and all that stuff. That would embarrass me, number one, and number two, I would rather share the information with those people who gave me the support and gave me, really, a life and gave me a career as far as that goes and that’s the audience late at night.”
He left the door open to returning for occasional fill-in shifts and special events. He noted that the station’s decision is about securing WFAN’s future.
“You want to give people a chance who are young and who are talented, and this station is doing that.”
The smoozer is the greatest I’ve called him a few times thru the years, like Steve I’m a wfan lifer…my very special call was the night the rangers won the cup.up with Steve all night…I’ll miss u good luck Steve.,..John, staten from staten island