Craig Carton teases what's to come during WFAN appearance with Evan Roberts and Tiki Barber
From left, Craig Carton, Evan Roberts and Chris McMonigle in WFAN's studio on May 24, 2021. Credit: Corey Sipkin
Craig Carton’s third stint at WFAN will not begin until Jan. 5, but listeners received a preview of what it might sound like Friday afternoon.
Carton returns to the station as the host of “The Carton Show” alongside Chris McMonigle, WFAN’s former overnight host, in the afternoon drive slot. The duo joined Evan Roberts and Tiki Barber, the incumbent afternoon drive hosts whose “Evan & Tiki” show with Shaun Morash moves to middays next month, in studio Friday afternoon.
Like he did on his own podcast last week, Carton detailed on WFAN how he is “sensitive” to all the changes happening at the station as a result of his return.
“Obviously, it's a privilege and a blessing for me to be back,” he said Friday. “I just want to say something out of the gate. I am very sensitive to the fact that my coming back has not been good for everybody. I know you guys moving from afternoon drive, which I know means the world to you guys, to a different [time] isn't what you expected or wanted, and I appreciate the fact that you're doing it with a smile on your face and you’re going to kill it in middays and be our lead-in, which is going to be great. But I'm sensitive to the fact that it's not what you guys wanted.”
With “Evan & Tiki” moving to the midday slot, Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata — the previous midday hosts of “BT & Sal” — are the odd men out at the station. The duo hosted their final show together last Friday, and Tierney did individual shows this week with his emotional finale — which included guests Alex Rodriguez and Rick Pitino — Friday.
“Brandon and Sal didn't do anything wrong,” Carton said. “It's a tough business we've all chosen, but it's a business we have chosen, and I thought they handled the news as well as anyone in the history of radio has ever handled it. I've done this for 34 years now... I've worked all over the country. I've never been in a situation where a radio station or company allowed someone who is not continuing at that station to still go on the air, and they never would have let those guys go on the air if there wasn't an amazing amount of trust and professionalism.
“And while I know it sucks for them ... I'm sensitive to it, I also root for them and want the best for them. I'm sure they will land on their feet and do amazing things in the future in their careers, but I just wanted to say that publicly on WFAN that I get it. I get it, and I'm sensitive to it, and I just want the best for those two guys. And unfortunately, that's not here right now, but you never know what the future holds.”
Friday’s half-hour appearance for Carton and McMonigle started in a joking manner, with Roberts asking Carton what Friday’s date, Dec. 19, represented. After a couple guesses, McMonigle revealed it was his birthday.
“I told him last week,” McMonigle said. “He sent me a text saying, ‘Happy birthday.’ I was like, ‘Not today, but it’s in like a week.’”
Carton sarcastically responded: “What’s your name?”
McMonigle has been nicknamed “C-Mac” and “Big Mac,” but both he and Carton said it will be “organic” what he is called on the new show.
Carton said that the song to open the show will be “Bad As I Used To Be” by Chris Stapleton. He also revealed a pair of high-profile guests that will come to the studio: Madison Square Garden executive chairman James Dolan on Jan. 5 and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on Jan. 8.
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
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