Anthony Rieber: Craig Carton's WFAN return has been a big success six months in, thanks to star-studded guests

As America celebrates its 250th birthday on July 4, another slightly less important milestone will be reached as well.

Craig Carton’s latest WFAN show will have completed its first six months of existence.

“The Carton Show” featuring Carton and Long Island native Chris McMonigle debuted on Jan. 5 as WFAN shook up its daytime and afternoon lineup to make room for Carton’s third stint at the station.

Those looking for July 4-style fireworks from Carton probably haven’t been disappointed as there seems to be no topic the bombastic host will shy away from opining about. (That is what he’s paid to do.)

But Carton’s first half-year back proved something just as important in the sports talk radio game: “The Carton Show” can get the big guests, most notably James Dolan three times in the first six months.

There is no bigger “get” in the current sports media landscape. Dolan never talks, and when he does it’s only to Carton.

Sports talk radio on both of our local stations is filled with self-important gasbags ranting about topics regardless of whether they are well-informed on them or truly believe what they are saying (it’s what they’re paid to do). It’s also what makes the world go ‘round on WFAN and ESPN 880 and will until the end of sports talk radio or the end of time, whichever comes first.

What has set “The Carton Show” apart so far is the quality of its guests, from Dolan to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, NBA commissioner Adam Silver and UFC president Dana White in studio to, just recently, former Mets stars Darryl Strawberry and Wally Backman on what is ailing the Flushing squad and how to fix it (spoiler alert: Backman thinks he can fix it).

Folks tune in to Carton because you’re never sure what he’s going to say next. But “who is he going to have on today?” is as worthy a reason to tune in.

Carton’s detractors — there are many, and my inbox is proof of that — might want to skip this next piece of information:

The ratings are in, and WFAN’s gambit of shuffling the entire daytime lineup (including letting go of Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata) to accommodate Carton’s return appears to have worked.

According to Nielsen data for the period from March-May, “The Carton Show” was No. 1 among men 25-54 and men 35-54 as measured by the company for talk stations.

That might not seem like much to crow about, and includes some boring technical jargon we are omitting, but the category is what advertisers look at and is where WFAN wants to be with its afternoon drive time show.

We’ve already had one parade in New York recently, so no need to have another one for “The Carton Show’s” ratings.

But it’s important to note the ratings don’t include June, when Dolan made two highly publicized appearances on the show.

Dolan and Carton have a personal friendship that was cemented when the MSG chairman reached out to Carton after the then-former WFAN host was released from prison in 2020. Carton spent more than a year in jail after getting convicted on federal conspiracy and fraud charges in relation to a gambling addiction.

“I’m going to tell a story about Jim that he’s not going to appreciate, doesn’t want me to say,” Carton said during WFAN stint No. 2 in 2023 on a Dolan guest appearance. “When I got in trouble and went away, when I got out of prison, and I was trying to restart my life, there was a handful of people that reached out to me, and Jim Dolan was one of those people. I’m forever grateful for that because he didn’t have to. It wasn’t a public thing. I’ve never shared that story publicly. I know I shouldn’t.

“But when you’re in a situation I was in, and someone you’re not very close with as a friend reaches out and says, ‘Here’s my personal phone number. Here’s my email. 24/7, if you need someone to talk to, I’ve conquered some similar demons that you’re going through, you call me.’ I’m forever grateful and appreciate that friendship very, very much.”

Dolan obviously wasn’t ruffled by Carton’s revelation: He was a guest on the first episode of “The Carton Show” on Jan. 5, and then appeared again on June 10 during the NBA Finals and then a week later on the day before the Knicks’ championship parade.

“Jim Dolan once again joins us in studio — as a champion,” Carton chirped during Dolan’s most recent appearance.

It’s likely Knicks fans won’t hear again from Dolan for years — unless he goes on Carton’s show.

That reality, by itself, makes the first six months of “The Carton Show,” and WFAN parent company Audacy’s decision to re-up with the controversial host, a success story that can’t be denied.