New Jersey 101.5 is making additional programming changes following the return of Dennis Malloy to middays alongside Judy Franco. The station will shorten the revived “Dennis and Judi” show while introducing a new midday program as part of a broader Townsquare Media lineup overhaul that takes effect Monday, July 13.
What We Know: Dennis Malloy and Judy Franco will now air from 10 AM to noon instead of their previous 10 AM-2 PM schedule. Meanwhile, Lou Russo and Michele Pilenza will take over from noon to 3 PM. Russo brings more than four decades of New Jersey radio experience and has anchored mornings at 94.3 The Point since the late 1990s. Pilenza also has deep ties to Townsquare Media’s New Jersey stations. She previously worked as a reporter and newscaster before co-hosting middays with Malloy at New Jersey 101.5. More recently, she has served as Russo’s co-host on mornings at both 94.3 The Point and SoJo 104.9.
What They Said: “These changes are about investing in local talent, local content, and local conversations. No one understands New Jersey better than the people who live here. This lineup brings together some of the strongest personalities in the state and reinforces New Jersey 101.5’s role as the place where New Jersey comes together every day.” -Townsquare New Jersey VP/Content Sam Elliot Gagliardi
What Remains Unclear: Townsquare Media hasn’t explained why it reduced the Dennis and Judi timeslot by two hours. Likewise, the company hasn’t shared whether additional programming adjustments could follow after the July 13 launch. It’s also unknown whether the revised schedule reflects a long-term strategy or an opportunity to evaluate new lineup combinations.
What It Means: The changes signal that Townsquare Media continues to reshape one of New Jersey’s most recognizable talk brands. While the return of Malloy generated immediate attention, the addition of Russo and Pilenza creates another familiar local pairing for listeners. As a result, New Jersey 101.5 is leaning on established personalities across multiple dayparts rather than introducing new voices.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
