WIP’s Angelo Cataldi talks last day, Mike Missanelli’s exit from The Fanatic
“I don’t think it was respectful to him. I don’t think it was right,” Cataldi said of how 97.5 The Fanatic handled Missanelli's exit.
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When is morning show host Angelo Cataldi’s last day at 94.1 WIP? Turns out, that’s up to the Eagles.
During an interview on the Working the Beat podcast, hosted by longtime Philadelphia sports reporters Kevin Cooney and Mike Kern, the retiring Cataldi said he plans to remain on air until the end of the Eagles season, even if that means sticking around through February for the Super Bowl.
“I finally just said to my boss, ‘Listen, It’s going to be weird for me to start an Eagles season and not know if I’m going to be there at the end,’” Cataldi said. “I’m willing to stay until the week they’re eliminated, in case they make the playoffs.”
» READ MORE: Another Inquirer columnist joins WIP; Phillies TV ratings way up
“Now, if they’re bad this year, I’m done around Christmas,” Cataldi added.
WIP has not yet announced who will replace Cataldi, who has hosted the station’s highly rated morning show since 1989. Cataldi initially said the announcement would be made in July, but expect the station to reveal who its next morning show host will be before the start of the Eagles season next month.
In recent months WIP hosts Joe DeCamara, Joe Giglio, and Jon Marks have all spent time guest-hosting the show. Recently, Jon Johnson has filled in on Wednesdays, but he landed the overnight job held for two decades by Big Daddy Graham, who passed away last year.
During the interview with Cooney and Kern, Cataldi was also asked about Mike Missanelli, who abruptly left as 97.5 The Fanatic’s afternoon host back in May. He has since been replaced by former Phillies pitcher and NBC Sports Philadelphia analyst Ricky Bottalico and former weekend host Hunter Brody, whose new show debuted on Monday.
Cataldi was among those surprised and angered by how things ended so suddenly for Missanelli, by far the station’s most popular host for 15 years.
“I don’t think it was respectful to him. I don’t think it was right,” Cataldi said. " I don’t know the internal politics of it. I’m pleased I never I never had to face that. He didn’t deserve it.”
“Come on, show a little more respect,” Cataldi added.
Missanelli had two stints at WIP — from 1992 to 2003 and from July 2005 to March 2006, when he was fired after punching a producer following an argument during a live broadcast in Ardmore. Cataldi said he invited Missanelli onto his show to take a bow, but he can’t due to the terms of his exit from The Fanatic.
“He said, ‘I got a non-compete. I can’t do it for three months,’” Cataldi revealed. “I said, ‘That’s okay, I’m here for five.’”
Listen to Cataldi’s full interview with Cooney and Kern here:
» READ MORE: Mike Missanelli lands a new Philly sports gig following 97.5 The Fanatic departure
Former ESPN fantasy guru lands at NBC
NBC is broadcasting Thursday’s annual Hall of Fame game, and a former ESPN personality will make his network debut.
Fantasy football expert Matthew Berry, who recently left ESPN after 15 years, is joining NBC and will make his debut during the Football Night in America pregame show. He’ll see a number of familiar faces in Canton, including former ESPNers Maria Taylor and Mike Tirico.
In addition to appearing on Football Night in America each week, Berry will create daily audio and video podcasts for NBC, and host his own fantasy football show on Peacock, the network’s streaming service. He’ll also appear weekly on Sunday Night Football Final, Peacock’s postgame show.
“I’ve spent my entire life talking fantasy football to anyone that would listen. So when I was offered the chance to join the highest-rated studio show in all of sports, I couldn’t say yes fast enough,” Berry said in a statement. “Please remind me of this quote the next time I realize millions of people just saw me get a prediction wrong.”
Andrew Marchand of the New York Post was first to report that Berry was joining NBC.
Among other things, Berry is a big fan of Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (not surprising, since his 10 rushing touchdowns last season led all quarterbacks). In May, before his exit from ESPN, Berry included Hurts on his list of the top five fantasy football quarterbacks heading into the season.
Quick hits
The NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt, best known for the comedic energy he brings to Good Morning Football, has signed a deal with Omaha Productions, which is owned by Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. As part of the deal, Brandt will host a new daily podcast titled Kyle Brandt’s Basement that will debut Monday. Brandt was a passionate backer of the 2018 underdog Eagles during their Super Bowl run, but still has to buy his own beer in Philadelphia.
Another former ESPNer also landed a new job. Allison Williams, who left the network last year after refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine, announced she’ll return to the sidelines as a college football reporter for Fox. Williams told Outkick earlier this week she’ll be part of a broadcast team that includes analyst Brock Huard and play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti, who also comes from ESPN.
New Phillies pitcher Noah Syndergaard is scheduled to make his Philly debut Thursday against the Washington Nationals on NBC Sports Philadelphia. That’s good news for fans, since Friday’s game will air exclusively on Apple TV+. The game will be free to watch, but you need to set up an Apple TV+ account and either download the app or watch on their website (The Apple TV+ app isn’t available on Android phones). The Phillies’ Aug. 12 matchup against the New York Mets and Sept. 2 game against the San Francisco Giants will also be Apple TV+ exclusives.
Speaking of Phillies fans, everyone on social media had a bit of fun at Ruben Amaro Jr.’s expense after he was a bit too descriptive about Pete Rose’s bat during NBC Sports Philadelphia’s broadcast of Tuesday’s loss to the Atlanta Braves. To his credit, Amaro seemed to take things in stride.