When you name a brand new afternoon show The Best Show Ever?, it raises questions about the ceiling of the program and, quite frankly, just how realistic it is. For Tyrone Johnson and his co-hosts at 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia, the title represents the objective of the show — to routinely finish at the top of the ratings book. Moreover, it embodies what he believes the impassioned, zealous base of Philadelphia sports fans deserve to consume daily.
“It’s an aspirational title,” Johnson said. “Have we hit the mark already? Absolutely not. We are not currently the best show ever. But the goal every single day is to truly be that, and that’s every segment, every minute – and if we fall short, we fall short. That’s truly the goal, and it reminds each and every one of us why we’re doing this.”
Johnson, who has been working in sports media for nearly two decades, first recalls becoming interested in the industry by chance on a frigid winter day in “The City of Brotherly Love.” On snow days, children were expected to earn money by shoveling snow around their neighborhoods, clearing it to help expedite its melting, and ensure residents would stay safe. One day after shoveling, Johnson, who was 12 years old at the time, returned home and saw an old radio left by the previous homeowners. Curious to see if the device still worked, he turned it on and, as if it was by fate, was greeted by new sounds that engrossed and instantly mesmerized him: those of sports talk radio programming.
“I remember thinking from that moment – because my parents would only listen to music – [that] I wanted to do this,” Johnson said. “I never really wanted to do anything else since.”
Johnson attended Rutgers University in Camden, N.J., and studied communications; however, he never utilized the radio station on campus to learn the craft and hone his skills. Instead, he was already working professionally in the industry as a producer at SportsRadio 94WIP, which was an AM-exclusive radio station at the time. Landing that role as a college student took shrewd observation and unyielding persistence, and it paid off when he was hired at 20 years old.
“I had learned that [WIP] had to be short people because there were bosses setting up remote broadcasts and I knew that wasn’t right so I knew they had to be hiring,” Johnson said. “I faxed in my résumé like 100 times [and] they ended up calling me and saying: ‘I got it. I got it.’ I was like: ‘You know on this end, the confirmation sheet is saying that I didn’t go through,’ so I kind of told a lie there.”
Rather than utilizing Rutgers University to land a job, Johnson was working and attending classes simultaneously, indicative of a work ethic and versatile set of skills that continue to carry him in the industry today. Johnson went from producing to engineering when he landed a job at New Jersey 101.5 as its assistant chief engineer in the spring of 2004 and worked in a similar role for Millennium Radio Group as well. Additionally, he had an opportunity to be an on-air host at 97.3 ESPN-FM in Millville, N.J. hosting a Saturday show discussing sports and current events called The Weekend Sports Guide.
Working in all of these different roles early in his radio career gave him exposure to many facets of the industry, and while that may seem daunting to some, it is exactly what Johnson wanted from the start.
“I love radio – period,” Johnson affirmed. “I actually get personally offended when people say anything bad about it…. There’s not a single thing involved with radio I didn’t like doing, but I was sort of thankful that I was working and making a living doing something that I really, really liked.”
Over the years, Johnson was encouraged by his colleagues to do more in the industry while his bosses discouraged him from trying new things. In fact, in 2004, both a boss and a co-worker told him that he would scare white people if he started hosting, as there were no Black radio hosts that were not former athletes at that time. Motivated to break that stereotype, Johnson moved to then-94.5 The Hawk in Manahawkin, N.J. where he hosted a sports and rock show, but was let go one year later when the station was sold.
From there, he took a role outside of sports an hour north in Monmouth Junction, N.J. with The Wall Street Journal in its radio department. At this business-focused media outlet, Johnson was not only engineering but also served as a tape desk editor occasionally reporting on business news. He attributes being hired to his capability to demonstrate his versatility and espouse an edurite approach towards his work.
“I was always sort of producing even when I wasn’t producing, so when The Wall Street Journal opportunity came out, that was an opportunity to break the stereotypes that people had kind of said about me,” Johnson explained. “….Producing helped me keep on growing and keep on learning and proving people wrong.”
After leaving The Wall Street Journal when the radio department closed in early 2015, Johnson relocated to New York City — the home of some of Philadelphia’s biggest sports rivals such as the New York Giants and New York Mets — to produce for The Blaze Radio Network. During his time in “The Big Apple,” Johnson saw the passion exuded by New York sports fans for their teams; however, there was one major difference evident between the two cities – that being the commitment fans make to their teams.
“We build our lives around sports in Philadelphia,” Johnson said. “There’s no: ‘Oh, well we’ll see the next game if we miss this game.’ No, no, no – that doesn’t really exist on a grand scale with Philadelphia fans…. New York is a great sports city and a tough sports city, but Philadelphia is a greater sports city. It just is. They’re the best of the best; one of one.”
The innate fanaticism and passion displayed on game days in Philadelphia has cultivated a penchant for sports content, ultimately bringing him back home two years later to join 97.5 The Fanatic. Throughout his time at the station, Johnson worked as a producer and joined The Mike Missanelli Show in that role in 2016. Missanelli, the show’s primary host, taught Johnson several invaluable lessons in the industry, including how to effectively connect with an audience.
“It was about being genuine [and] about being my true self,” Johnson said. “There have been times throughout my career where different bosses have told me not to be myself. Mike made it very clear that’s the only way you can have that real relationship with the audience – by being your authentic self – because they’ll know [if] you’re not being authentic.”
This past May, Mike Missanelli abruptly exited from 97.5 The Fanatic upon the expiration of his contract, opening up the afternoon slot. In the period between Missanelli’s departure and the announcement of The Best Show Ever?, Johnson filled in as the interim afternoon host. Once the programming changes were made official by Beasley Media Group Philadelphia in mid-July, Johnson was officially joined by sports media influencer Hunter Brody and former Major League Baseball reliever Ricky Bottalico to form the new broadcast team.
“It was sad, scary and happy at the same time,” Johnson said regarding his new drive-time show. “….It’s elation because I get to live my dream. I’m at home; this is where I’m from [and] this is what I always wanted to do.”
The combination of Johnson, Brody, and Bottalico as the co-hosts of the show presented a challenge to quickly build chemistry to ensure the show can begin its quest to live up to its name. Sometimes, it can take time to familiarize oneself with new colleagues and build a working rapport that generates compelling conversation and informative talk. Johnson though, a radio veteran in his own right and the most experienced among his co-hosts, feels it is his responsibility to ensure a smooth transition by making the program as facile as possible and adapting his style to complement the others.
“I’m trying to make it to where they can just be themselves and just push on as naturally as possible, and then I adjust to them rather than [them adjusting] to me,” Johnson explained. “….Those guys early on don’t have to focus on some of the things that they don’t need to focus on this early. A year from now – [as] radio veterans – who knows how great this could get?”
As a former producer himself, Johnson knows the importance of the job and has confidence in Jennifer Scordo taking on the role. Aside from her vast experience in the industry in multiple formats and across multiple forms of content dissemination, Scordo does not bring an ego into her role, keeping those around her grounded. Instead, she serves as an intermediary between those in different roles so they can effectively discern what is being communicated and keeps her focus on the task at hand: producing the best show ever.
“A lot of times, she can be the translator for both sides,” Johnson said. “If I’m saying something that’s not understood, it’s Jenn who can explain it. If they’re explaining something to me and I don’t understand, Jenn usually can explain it. She’s a great translator to really make sure everything works.”
Johnson took on another role as a co-host of Sixers Outsiders on NBC Sports Philadelphia in October 2018, a show in which he and Krystle Rich-Bell discuss the latest on the team led by center Joel Embiid and guard James Harden. For the first time, Johnson was working in a visual broadcast medium, an opportunity he worked hard to attain and is grateful to have.
“I never knew I would ever do TV,” Johnson said. “I was asked to audition for TV [and] auditioned five times. To get Sixers Outsiders, I was so blessed for that to happen.”
Earlier that year, The Mike Missanelli Show started to be simulcast on NBC Sports Philadelphia, making Johnson and his colleagues visible while working in their radio roles for the first time. Now despite the programming change, Johnson’s The Best Show Ever? will continue to air across the network’s multiple platforms, giving the new program a chance to differentiate itself and become a staple among Philadelphia sports fans, whether they be listening or viewing the show.
Yet translating an aural radio program to a multiplatform experience can present its challenges and suggest to some that the influence of traditional radio is dwindling as digital content becomes more prioritized industry-wide. While the growth of digital is impossible to ignore, it is merely an option to expand the reach of radio and is not indicative of the death of the enduring medium, according to Johnson.
“TV can provide a platform and a pallet for us to look different and grab people because the show’s on – in addition to people who watch at home – [at] many bars, doctors’ offices, hospitals, gyms, [etc.],” Johnson said. “…We have to be doing entertaining content to provide something for those people not to change channels, pay attention to it and stay on the platform. They want to see what we’re going to do next.”
To keep the audience captivated and engaged during each program, it is fundamental the show remains aware of the topics fans want to hear discussed. During these first few weeks of the show, much of the discussion has centered around the Philadelphia Phillies, who currently hold a wild card spot and are on the verge of breaking a 10-year playoff drought: the second-longest in the major leagues.
Being among the Philadelphia sports fans has helped Johnson and his team, which includes Bottalico, a former Phillies reliever in the late-’90s, shape the program to fit the “pulse of the people.” Since everyone is connected more than ever before with the advent of social media, most topics come up organically throughout the show.
“Ricky’s kids are adults, so all of us currently are childless in terms of dealing with the day-to-day engagements, school and all those things,” Johnson said. “For now, that allows us to be out with the people and hear what the people are talking about and getting direct feedback from people. That’s been very valuable… so far to find out what the people want to talk about, and we’re going to try to make that as entertaining as possible because really, the people are the bosses.”
There is undoubtedly a direct relationship of sorts evident between ratings and revenue, two factors of radio essential for the growth of the platform which serve as performance gauges. While ratings have their limitations, their metrics provide a depiction of the show’s standing in the marketplace and can serve as factors of differentiation when it comes to the allocation of advertising revenue.
“Obviously revenue also matters a great deal; you don’t really spend ratings,” Johnson explained. “Ratings make it easier for you to generate that revenue, but generating revenue is extremely important because you do spend that.”
Competition exists in Philadelphia both on- and off the field and the quarterly battle between SportsRadio 94WIP and 97.5 The Fanatic creates a looming pressure on shows to perform well in each book. Johnson recognizes the importance of these numbers and the impact they could have; however, he is currently focused on building the program to a point where it will experience sustained success. That usually takes time though, so Johnson is enjoying the journey towards that coveted destination.
“Right now, I can’t just focus on the ratings; I just have to focus on making the quality of the program as good as humanly possible,” Johnson stated. “From there, we have to hope that the people agree that we’re putting out the best product humanly possible.”
While Johnson wants the show to be a perennial winner akin to how sports fans aspire for perennial contenders and champions, he wishes the ratings battle was not as intense. As a former employee of SportsRadio 94WIP and longtime listener of Philadelphia sports radio, he is supportive of his competitors and wishes for them to succeed in the marketplace as well.
“There’s room for everybody, and I think at times there’s people that look at two radio stations that both talk sports [and] almost treat it like it’s a [literal] war,” Johnson said. “I wish those guys at the other place a ton of success. There’s room for everybody to succeed, but first things first the goal is to try to win and win consistently. You don’t do this to try to lose; to come in second. You want to come in first place.”
As The Best Show Ever? embarks on its mission to truly become the best show ever, Johnson knows it will take hard work, determination, and alacrity to make changes when necessary. There are more outlets producing sports content because of evolutions in both technology and an augmented fan interest; therefore, it is incumbent radio shows like Johnson’s find new ways to stand out. The first step in being able to do that is having an understanding of what everyone brings to the table and utilizing their strengths as optimally as possible.
“I hope that they have that same love [for radio],” Johnson said of his new colleagues, “and the only way that’ll happen is [if] they’re empowered to be the best that they can be. I hope that they have far more success than I’ve ever had – I truly mean that.”
Aspiring professionals looking to work in sports media should take notice of Johnson’s story and how he prioritized being versatile to find a role in the industry. After over two decades working in multiple roles, Johnson is now a critical part of an afternoon show in the fourth-largest media market in the United States. With workforce reductions occurring across the industry – most recently within Audacy – those who can perform multiple roles well are assets for their companies. It is what has kept Johnson working since his days as a college student, and what figures to lead to new opportunities and chances to evolve in the future.
“Do whatever you can to get into the business, and then learn as much as humanly can about it,” Johnson said. “There are limited opportunities, but not limited opportunities for people who know how to do everything. The more you know how to do, the more valuable you’ll be.”
Whether it is Bryce Harper hitting majestic walk-off home runs; Joel Embiid making another run at a most valuable player award; the Flyers looking to remodel their team around new head coach John Tortorella; or the Eagles looking to make a deep playoff run again, Johnson and his team will surely be talking about it on the air with hopes of becoming a staple of drive-time programming in Philadelphia.
“We’re not doing this just to try to get by,” Johnson affirmed. “We’re not doing this just to try to win because you can’t really control that part. The only thing that we can control is trying to be our best selves each and every day, and that’s what we’re going to try to do. We’re going to try to be the best show ever.”
Derek Futterman is a contributing editor and sports media reporter for Barrett Media. Additionally, he has worked in a broad array of roles in multimedia production – including on live game broadcasts and audiovisual platforms – and in digital content development and management. He previously interned for Paramount within Showtime Networks, wrote for the Long Island Herald and served as lead sports producer at NY2C. To get in touch, find him on X @derekfutterman.
Hunter needs to lower his mike and not yell every answer. Sometimes talking will make a point so that when you yell its for emphasis.
Way to many people four broadcasters talking sometimes 45 minutes without taking a call. I agree Hunter needs to tune it down. I believe two broadcasters is all they need.
Let the callers talk and comment more.
I really feel the Tyrone is not the right guy for the job… He is short tempered… Very opinionated… And annoying to listen to. And a little bit of a reverse racist!
This show used to be my favorite with just Mike, Natalie and Tyrone. Mike lost his passion for the job over the last 2 years. He never had takes on anything and bold statements disappeared. All he’d say is we just have to sit and watch, what else can we do. In my opinion this new show is brutal to listen to. They picked the wrong cast. I like Tyrone and he’s for sure a talent, but this show is unrecognizable. Man they got this wrong. Let Ty and Crystal have their own show In this slot. I’ll listen to that than this.
Tyrone needs to find his true vocation in life. Cause conversing with callers with respect is not his thing. Nasty. Bit of a racist.
Tuned in recently. It’s horrible. Tyrone Johnson loses his temper with every caller. Which are now an hour or more apart. It’s uncomfortable to listen to him just be rude to people that just want to express a thought. Ugh.