SiriusXM host Katie Nolan says her recent comments regarding Boomer Esiason was part of a bit and was just a joke. WFAN’s Craig Carton and Gregg Giannotti, she says, missed it completely in their responses.
What We Know: Nolan mocked Esiason on her Casuals podcast in late July. She called him her “arch-nemesis” and told him to “clean it up” in regards to some of his commentary. Nolan’s program played drops of Esiason as part of her comments. Moreover, the dig came after SiriusXM announced that WFAN and several other Audacy sports brands will be landing on SiriusXM beginning next month. Soon after, WFAN host Craig Carton criticized both Esiason and Gregg Giannotti for not clapping back. The following day, Giannotti explained his stance by saying that Nolan was not a “worthy opponent.” Nolan says the response to her initial commentary was unexpected, and the criticism following missed the tone of her initial comments.
What They Said: (All comments via Casuals)
Katie Nolan on the backlash her podcast received by WFAN talents over her comments about Boomer Esiason: “We have fun on this show. Okay, we’re just a silly, goofy little show. I saw a lot of people get very mad about the Boomer [Esiason] stuff. That I was like, did you miss that this was obviously a bit? But yes is the answer. They did. We were just joking, you guys. Who does this girl think she is that she gets to say? I’m like, she doesn’t. It’s the joke.”
Katie Nolan doesn’t understand why WFAN’s Craig Carton and Gregg Giannotti responded to it: “They don’t work here. They’re not going to run into us in the hallway. Nothing has changed. They still are WFAN. It was a joke. Whatever. Two hosts have now responded to us on that channel. I don’t know how to find WFAN. I don’t know what any of it was. But I’ve heard it’s crazy. So, love to all. I’m not sure what happened here. All I did was play old clips of what you said? I mean, if you didn’t like it, you should have said it.”
What Remains Unclear: Whether or not WFAN talent will respond.
What It Means: Nolan insists her comments were satire and a joke. In context, with a new partnership and Esiason’s high profile, it can be understandable how tone could be lost. However, WFAN has never shied away from any controversy. The two on-air responses from WFAN suggest the bit landed harder than possibly Nolan intended. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that sports-radio banter travels fast, and lands differently depending who’s listening.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.