Sid Rosenberg: Fill-In Hosts ‘Did a Very Good Job, But They’ll Never Be Me’ | Barrett Media (2024)

Like many radio hosts, 77WABC morning man Sid Rosenberg took extended time off at the end of the calendar year. While he appreciates the efforts of those who filled in for him, he knows they can’t produce the impact he does.

In his first show returning to the airwaves in 2024, Rosenberg discussed the job the fill-in hosts of his show did with one of those tasked with hosting in his stead, Curtis Sliwa. Rosenberg shared his appreciation for Sliwa before noting that the longtime New York host joked about his ego, before saying Sliwa did “a very fine job” hosting the program. The morning host then joked that if his ego was going to be fair game for criticism, he was going to share his true thoughts.

“What the hell is a ‘very fine job’? That’s like kissing your sister on the cheek!,” argued Sliwa.

“You want the answer? The answer is (the hosts) did a very, very good job, but you guys will never be me. There’s your answer. And if people want to get upset with me upstairs, so be it. I don’t care,” Rosenberg admitted.

Sid Rosenberg’s revelation comes after Andrew Giuliani, Sliwa, and 77WABC owner John Catsimatidis filled in on the station’s morning show while Rosenberg was off for the entire week of shows from December 25th through December 29th.

Sliwa said he had a bigger ego than the morning host. Sid Rosenberg joked that if Sliwa didn’t stop talking about his ego, he’d limit the appearances Sliwa sees on the station’s morning show from every day to three times per week.

Lee Habeeb hosts Our American Stories, which features anecdotes about both average, everyday Americans, but also some of the most famous people in our country’s history. Salem Radio Network host Mike Gallagher says Lee Habeeb taught him a valuable lesson about the medium.

While welcoming Habeeb to The Mike Gallagher Show, the syndicated host shared that he learned a valuable lesson about radio from his guest.

“You made a point to me years ago that really stuck with me. Storytelling really does matter,” Gallagher said. “A good story can change hearts and minds better than even debates. Let’s face it, political talk fuels news/talk.

“News/talk is the number one format in radio today. People tune to us for breaking news, what to make of it all, and they wanna hear a good political debate. But storytelling is so important.”

Habeeb said that the perception that America has never been more divided, but history and stories on his program prove otherwise, sharing a story of Benjamin Franklin imprisoning his own son for not agreeing with the founding father’s stance on the creation of the country. He said similar stories he can cite help change the narratives that are so prevalent in media today.

E. Jean Carroll was recently awarded $83.3 million in damages after winning a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump. She subsequently went on MSNBC with Rachel Maddow and joked about what she would purchase with her newfound winnings. That didn’t sit well with Grace Curley.

On Tuesday’s episode of The Grace Curley Show, the syndicated host argued Maddow revealed her bias by laughing and joking with Carroll about the situation.

“The left is so obsessed with Trump that they’re celebrating this as a win. You would think they won $83 million. The women of The View came out to Donald Trump’s theme song from The Apprentice…E. Jean Carroll is excited about this. And she goes on with Rachel Maddow, who is also over the moon about this news that Donald Trump is going to have to pay this woman $83 million.”

In Maddow’s interview with Carroll, the author joked she would purchase a penthouse in France for the MSNBC anchor with her winnings.

“Does the left really not understand how encouraging this is not a good idea? I don’t think they’re dumb. And Rachel Maddow was visibly uncomfortable sitting there. She’s a ‘journalist’, she’s ‘delivering the truth to the American people’, and she’s laughing alongside this cook…it’s so funny to them because it’s all an effort to get Donald Trump. The ends justify the means.”

Both CNN and MSNBC spent extensive time covering the verdict won by Carroll, with both networks seeing an uptick in viewership as the verdict was announced.

KMOX in St. Louis has added Red Apple Audio Network’s overnight show The Other Side of Midnight with Frank Morano to its daily lineup.

Originating from 77 WABC in New York, the overnight program broadcasts from 1-5 AM ET on nearly 20 stations. The program will air each weekday on the Audacy-owned St. Louis news/talk station.

“We are excited to air The Other Side of Midnight with Frank Morano. We were looking for a live, informative, interactive, and entertaining show that will rekindle the joy of overnight radio,” said KMOX Brand Manager Steve Moore.

“I’m excited to join the KMOX line-up and bring live programming to overnights in St. Louis,” added Morano. “St. Louis is a terrific market and KMOX is a legendary talk station, with an incredible audience and history that goes back nearly a century. I’m looking forward to being a big part of their history whenthe chapteron their next century is written. We’re going to have a blast.”