This will be Carton’s third tenure with the station and second tenure as afternoon program leader. The current drive-time show featuring Evan Roberts and Tiki Barber will move to the 10 am to 2 pm slot.
Carton will have a new partner, and FAN Overnight host Chris McMonigle is considered a leading candidate, sources briefed on the discussions said.
The current midday show starring Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata will be removed from the schedule.
When contacted, WFAN declined to comment.
Carton has historically drawn strong ratings, and his say-anything style attracts attention in an increasingly competitive landscape. Carton will continue his mid-morning podcast with Fox’s Red Seat Ventures.
Carton has a long history with Audrey New York President Chris Oliveiro, who oversees WFAN, and has been instrumental in all three of Carton’s appointments by the station.
With nighttime host Keith McPherson recently announced to be moving away from WFAN, Licata may still find a landing spot at the station. Tierney, who has been a New York radio veteran at ESPN New York and WFAN, could be left without the chair.
In January, WFAN’s lineup will include Boomer Esiason and Greg Gianotti in the mornings, followed by “Ivan and Tiki” and Carton leading the show. “Boomer & Geo” has become the station’s signature show since the retirement of Mike Francesa in 2020.
Carton, who will turn 57 in January, has had a successful but tumultuous career. After generating noise and controversy at various stops, Carton became Esiason’s morning co-host in 2007 in the wake of Don Imus’ dismissal over racist comments regarding the Rutgers women’s basketball team.
Esiason and Carton’s successful decade-long journey ended abruptly when Carton was arrested on fraud charges in 2017. Shortly after his release, Oliveiro rehired Cartman to co-host Afternoons with Roberts.
Two years ago, FS1 thought Cartman’s acting could work on a national TV stage and gave him a multi-million dollar deal. The show, originally titled “Carton”, was a ratings disaster, although the program that made it a success, “Wake Up Barstool!” has also had similar disappointing ratings. FS1 lacks consistent evening programming that would have helped provide some semblance of a lead-in for the mornings.
FS1 was eliminated this summer, causing a major blow to Barstool personalities, including Carton’s dismissal. From the moment he was let go from FS1, it seemed as if his return to WFAN was inevitable.
An easier move would have been to bring Carton back with Roberts, but the WFAN hierarchy liked the combination of Roberts and Barber. They will stay together until Carton returns.
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