FRANDOG: 1 NIGHT ONLY
Egos & feuds could let this chance get by ’em
Since all the moo-la-dee will go to charity, here’s hoping — sincerely — Mike Francesa/Chris Russo’s “The Pope and The Puppy” one-night Radio City Music Hall reunion show actually comes off.
There are 117 days until they hit the stage on Wednesday March 30, 2016, leaving plenty of time for their current state of tolerating each other to percolate over into distaste and finally bubble into another full-blown feud. One hundred thirteen days for them to get on each other’s nerves during meetings and promotional appearances. One hundred thirteen days of back stabbing and ego grabbing.
This could all happen over the smallest of issues, like who the “primary” host will be. Or larger ones, like which guests/friends get the most face time. Or who will set the tone and agenda during this live extravaganza, which Francesa said could last as long as 2.5 hours “if we are having fun.”
Fun is a good thing to hope for. It’s better than FranDog’s alternate reality.
No one should forget the slights, both perceived and otherwise, which led Francesa and Russo to split up, messing up a good thing and ending their highly successful radio partnership. They basically F’d up a free meal. That was long ago. Some things never change. Despite outward appearances, including the ones offered on Wednesday’s SiriusXM/WFAN simulcast gushfest, FranDog is always just a shot away from renewed hostilities.
See, a lot can happen over the course of 117 days. There can be misunderstandings over things said on the radio or Twitter. We’re dealing with sky-high egos here. This whole situation has a “Sunshine Boys” quality to it. But now it isn’t about two former comedy icons who despised each other attempting to reunite for a one-night TV extravaganza, but two iconic Gasbags looking to package their glorious radio past and release it on a crowd in one of the world’s most iconic entertainment venues.
Getting there won’t be easy. There is no erasing the past. It still exists in their heads. Perhaps more for Russo. He took the money and ran away from Francesa as fast as he could. In return he got peace of mind. Unfortunately Russo also disappeared from the center of the New York sports universe, which bothered him more than he ever let on.
Reuniting with Francesa, even just for one night, while also working with him in the planning of the show, will resurrect some of those old memories. Russo has 117 days to look in the mirror and once again see the reflection of a second banana. This should piss him off. Piss him off enough to reveal his feelings at some point during his own radio show. Of course the Pope will react. And it will be on again. Can’t wait! Francesa subtly highlighted the sensitivity that still exists after the simulcast love-in ended. The Pope contended Garden suits approached each of them separately to present the project. He intimated this was done out of respect. Still, considering Francesa’s cozy relationship with MSG brass, it’s logical he’s the lead dog (brilliant, right?) here and Russo is, well, once again the second banana.
Yes, 117 days. Plenty of time to submerge their huge egos and paranoia or let that eat away at them.
FranDog has big-time reasons to put the blinders on. Business reasons. Economic reasons.
It would be no surprise if they sell out the first show quickly and another show is added. This, immediately, would rekindle their dormant brand. We would be the first to have said there was no chance of them ever getting together again on a permanent basis. This reunion changes that equation.
The radio business is in the toilet. Francesa’s contract is near expiration. He has hinted at retirement. A more permanent reunion with Russo, under contract with SXM (all contracts are made to be broken) could be a play some radio exec would be willing to pay stupid money for.
For His Holiness, this project with MSG might bring him closer to a simulcast deal with the network. It’s likely now a question of what’s more cost effective for MSG: replays of Knicks games (featuring Porzingis) and Rangers games or paying CBS and the Pope for simulcast rights to the WFAN show.
There could be another option: FranDog joining forces to do an MSG TV-only show. Something along the lines of the pontiff’s old “Live From the Playby-Play” MSG postgame show. This would give MSG a prime piece of original must-watch programming.
This whole FranDog Radio City deal should have a lot of people excited. Like those over at ESPN98.7, where the suits no doubt are scrambling to book a one-night-only “Wally And The Keeg” reunion show from the Beacon.
Or more FAN reunions.
The Cole-Man and the Soul Man live at Budokan.
The Sweater and the Schmoozer: A Night at Folsom State Prison.
Man, there’s a lot riding here. Not just for FranDog, but for other guys looking for classic onenight stands. Seriously though, the Pope and the Dope, er, Dog (excuse me) may provide as much entertainment on the road to Radio City as they will on stage. 117 days and counting. Will they make it?