Disgraced Carton back on air
TELL YOUR friends. Craig Carton is back.
The disgraced former WFAN shock jock, arrested in September on charges of wire and securities fraud and accused of running a multi-million-dollar Ponzi scheme, will return to regular, active duty behind a microphone beginning Thursdaymorning.
Starting today, “Carton and Friends” will air live weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the FNTSY Sports streaming network, a fantasy sports-specific digital platform with content that can be found on NYDailyNews.com, as well as on the FNTSY Sports Radio Network app, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, and on devices like Amazon Echo and Google Home.
“‘Carton and Friends’ will essentially be everything listeners came to expect from my previous show,” Carton said via email. “An entertaining and fun look at the day’s top sports and current events stories combined with select interviews of well-known and interesting people.”
An audio teaser episode of “Carton and Friends” was posted online last week. Carton also posted several tweets alluding to his new show over the last week.
The tweets were met with the same mix of positive and negative reactions Carton has heard since his arrest. One respondent wrote, “You should shut up. You’re a thief!”
Another wondered, “How does one broadcast from jail?”
A third mocked, “Haha poor Craigy ... Still trying to be relevant.#crook” Carton sees it from a different angle. “I think my listeners have been patient and supportive and now really excited for my return,” he said. “There is a segment of Twitter tough guys who have nothing all that unique or clever to say. Beyond that I’ve only heard love and support.”
Carton’s Opening Day guests Thursday will include Al Leiter and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, as first reported by BobsBlitz.com.
On-demand and live, free video simulcasts of the show will also stream on social media sites including YouTube, Twitter, Twitch, Periscope, Mixer and Facebook.
Carton, who resigned from his morning show post at WFAN in September, has been staying relevant by doing podcasts while he builds a legal defense against the government. Carton, whose trial begins on Oct. 29, faces up to 45 years in prison. He has maintained his innocence and claims he is the real victim in the ticket sale scam that swindled millions from deep-pocketed investors to allegedly pay off massive gambling debts.
He will be joined on “Carton and Friends” by co-hosts Corey Parson, who has previously appeared on SiriusXM and Sports Illustrated, and MMA analyst Michelle Serpico.
In December, it was rumored that Carton might end up with Barstool Sports. Barstool founder Dave Portnoy had told the Daily News he was a big fan and not afraid to hire Carton despite his legal issues, but a deal was never reached. Carton also said he turned down overtures from WABC 770 AM before embarking on his new gig.
Now Carton rejoins a crowded New York sports media landscape that’s gone pretty dull in the last few months following his resignation — and Mike Francesa’s semi-retirement. Replacements for both ratings giants have been underwhelming thus far.
“Carton and Friends” will compete with the last hour of WFAN’s struggling “Boomer and Gio” morning show, which replaced the No. 1-rated “Boomer and Carton.” Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti’s show slipped to sixth in February ratings, according to reports.
“I’m supremely confident in my abilities as a broadcast performer and the talents of the professionals I have chosen to surround myself with,” Carton said. “I’m also extremely grateful that (RotoExperts founder) Louis Maione and (FNTSY operator) SportsGrid are giving me the opportunity to do what I do the best.”
Carton’s streaming audio and video content will also theoretically compete against WFAN’s midday “Joe and Evan” show, as well as the new-look WABC 770 morning lineup that has Carton’s former partner, Sid Rosenberg, and Bernard McGuirk, taking over the slot vacated by Don Imus next week.