When something is taken away, we tend to remember it differently as time passes. I try to remember Patrick Ewing for his ability to consistently carry the Knicks into the playoffs rather than his failed finger roll against the Pacers in 1995.
Similarly, Craig Carton is remembered for his highlights and antics, most of which happen to not involve sports. But Carton has been off WFAN for three years and there’s a sentiment that he’s incapable of talking sports, despite spending a decade on one of the country’s premier sports radio stations. So when Carton and his new WFAN co-host Evan Roberts got started Monday afternoon, sticking to sports for their first segment was met with surprise.
In reality, it wasn’t unlike the way most shows began for Boomer and Carton from 2007-2017. Sports was always the starting point, but where they went from there was anyone’s guess. You might not get a full game breakdown involving sports-metrics and analytics, but discussion on whether Daniel Jones is the Giants quarterback of the future will be in play.
With sports as their launch pad, Carton and Roberts transitioned to celebrity Instagram feeds, Italian deli meats, mob movies, Harry Truman, standing next to Howard Stern at the urinal and also organically came up with the bit of DM’ing new Mets owner Steve Cohen. Roberts deciding what to type was reminiscent of a high schooler attempting to find a prom date.
It was awkward at times, but I’m not sure that aspect of the show needs to be eliminated, instead it can be integrated. Roberts is a self-proclaimed awkward person. His former radio partner Joe Benigno was bad at recognizing his dorkiness, instead leaving it up to WFAN’s morning show to point it out. Carton didn’t avoid poking fun at Roberts and neither did new afternoon show producer Tommy Lugauer. Lugauer is familiar with both hosts and frequently produced Roberts’ Saturday morning show in recent years. He has a good working relationship with Roberts and the pop culture acumen to match Carton.
Carton and Roberts wasn’t a 50/50 split, but a fair divide is not required. They’re not Boomer and Carton, Mike and the Mad Dog or Benigno and Roberts, nor should they try to be. The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz needs Stugotz to be successful, but they don’t equally divide airtime for ESPN Radio. Carton and Roberts can similarly succeed with a split that gives Carton 50%, Roberts 40%, and the producers chiming in for the remaining 10%.
Roberts new role can eventually morph into a smarter version of Stugotz’ character. His sports insight, opinions and arguments are intelligent, as is his ability to break down every president in the history of the United States. But Roberts will also undoubtedly leave the door open for Carton to mock him, and he has the self-awareness to let it happen.
Five hours into their partnership, the jury may still be out on Carton and Roberts, but the show created enough intrigue to have listeners eager to check back in.
