One last time tonight, we’ll find out how you be with you there and Steve Somers here.
Friday night marks the end of an era: for the final time after 34 years with WFAN, Steve will take the airwaves as a full-time WFAN host, one last three-hour schmooze (and perhaps longer) tonight from the end of Nets coverage until 2 a.m., when Somers heads off into serious November relaxation.
Somers announced last month that he would be winding down his full-time duties at WFAN “more sooner than later” this fall, and earlier in the week, he announced on air that Friday would indeed be his final show. Well, sort of, as Monday afternoon, Moose & Maggie will cede their final hour (1-2 p.m.) to give the Schmoozer a final farewell on the WFAN airwaves that doesn’t come under the covers on the overnights.
"It’s been a blessing," Steve told Newsday’s Neil Best earlier this week. "It has been an honor. It is flattering. It’s been all of the above."
Schmooze had the opportunity to continue as WFAN’s overnight host, but decided now was the time for him to step back instead. And, earlier this week, Audacy officially named Jomboy Media’s Keith McPherson (7 p.m.-midnight) and current overnight host Sal Licata (midnight-5 a.m.) as WFAN’s evening and overnight hosts effective later this month.
“This is a dream come true,” McPherson said in a WFAN release announcing the moves Wednesday, but also cautioned this on Carton & Roberts later in the day: “Nobody is replacing Steve Somers; that’s not possible. I’m honored and excited to be in the role, but I’m not replacing anybody.”
No matter how you slice it, the schmoozing is coming to an end, and at midnight next Tuesday morning, when Sal Licata takes the air after Monday Night Football – instead of the usual rotation WFAN has employed this fall, with Somers 12-2 and Sal 2-5 – it will officially mark the end of an era: Somers is the only WFAN employee who has been with the station the entire time it has been on the air, so there will be no WFAN originals left.
"This was my dream," Schmooze told Best. "This was my destination. And I was able to realize it."
Perhaps we’ll see Steve at an Icelanders or Metropolitans game soon, but for now, warm up your phones and be sure to dial in to the 1-877-337-six six six six tonight, or from 1-2 p.m. Monday, to say goodbye to an icon.
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