Dennis and Callahan

The Dennis and Callahan Show

Genre	Sports, Current events, Politics, Talk
Running time	4 hours(3 hour simulcast on television)
Country	United States
Home station	WEEI
Starring	John Dennis Gerry Callahan Jon Meterparel
Exec. producers	Stephen "Chach" Ciaccio Ian "Iggy" Meropol
Air dates	since 1997
Website	[1]

Dennis and Callahan is an American morning radio show on WEEI, a sports radio station in Boston, Massachusetts. On November 16, 2010, a live three-hour simulcast began airing on NESN from 6-9AM Eastern time each weekday. The show combines talk of sports and politics, along with current or "water cooler" issues. Both Gerry Callahan and John Dennis generally discuss in a conservative view point, however Dennis on occasion serves as the "devil's advocate" to challenge some of Callahan's positions. In May 2007, the show added Ian "Iggy" Meropol as a co-producer who occasionally contributes a liberal point of view to topics being discussed.^[1] The show premiered in 1997, and it has been getting strong ratings ever since.^[2]

Suspension of Program

On August 13, 2007, Entercom announced that the program would be suspended indefinitely until contract disputes involving both Dennis and Callahan were settled. The duo were scheduled to return to the air together that day for the first time in over three months after Callahan's long medical absence, and after a one-week vacation by Dennis. The contract dispute was believed to center around the hosts' desire to obtain a pay increase greater than what was being offered by the station, to an amount they believe better reflects the revenue the show generates. Their ratings consistently rank No. 1 among male listeners in the 25- to 54-year-old demographic.^[3]

On August 16, 2007, the Boston Globe reported that Dennis and Callahan were in negotiations to move their show to WCRB-FM, a Boston-based radio station that was considering changing its format from classical music to all sports.^[4] Just one day later, however, the Boston Globe reported that Entercom had entered into a syndication deal with Nassau Broadcasting putting WEEI programs on 11 of Nassau's New England stations. Part of the deal includes Entercom obtaining a 50 percent stake in WCRB-FM with the intent to keep the station on a classical format, thus preventing a move there by Dennis and Callahan.^[5]

The show continued to air daily as the Dennis and Callahan Show with rotating guest hosts including Steve DeOssie, Dan Patrick, Bob Lobel, Jon Meterparel, Bob Halloran, Ron Borges, Greg Dickerson, John Rooke, Steve Burton, Butch Stearns, Craig Mustard, Ted Johnson and Larry Johnson.

On September 10, 2007, the two returned to the air full time informing their listeners that they had agreed to 5-year deals. According to local news reports, the contract impasse was resolved after the direct intervention of Entercom President and CEO David Field who reportedly offered the two a substantial increase, reportly in the eight-figure range.^[6][7][8]

Regular guests

Current

• Jerry Remy a former Red Sox second baseman and current Red Sox broadcaster for NESN appears every Wednesday during baseball season.
• Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino every Thursday during the baseball season.
• Patriots quarterback Tom Brady every Monday during football season.
• ESPN's Adam Schefter appears every Friday during football season.
• Former professional quarterback and current television football analyst Boomer Esiason was heard every Monday during the 2006, 2008, and 2010 football seasons. (He was a regular guest on The Big Show during the 2007 football season.)
• Celtics head coach Doc Rivers every Thursday during basketball season.
• Professional golfer Brad Faxon appears regularly to discuss recent and upcoming major golf tournaments.

Past

• Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling appeared every Tuesday during baseball season. Schilling donated his appearance fee to the ALS Association. He currently is a regular guest on The Big Show.
• Former Boston College Eagles football coach Jeff Jagodzinski appeared frequently during the college football season on a segment they called the Coach Jags Show.
• Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel appeared every Monday during the 2008 football season.
• David Portnoy publisher of Barstool Sports appeared on the show each Friday during the summer of 2011. The station dropped his appearances on August 12 after Portnoy's website published a nude photograph of Patriot quarterback Tom Brady's two year old son with accompanying commentary on the size of the child's genitalia^[9][10][11].

Controversies

Boston Globe Ban

In 1999, the Boston Globe's executive sports editor, Don Skwar banned its sportswriters from the Globe from appearing on the Dennis & Callahan morning show because of its perceived lowbrow humor. This came two weeks after he banned Globe sportswriters from appearing on WEEI's afternoon The Big Show after columnist Ron Borges appeared on the show and used a racial slur to describe New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu. After the ban, WEEI retaliated by banning Globe sportswriters from all WEEI programs.^[12]

METCO controversy

On September 29, 2003, during a segment called 'headlines', where they read and comment about current news stories, Callahan and his morning co-host John Dennis made what were perceived to be racially insensitive remarks while discussing a story about an escaped gorilla.^[13] The gorilla had escaped from the Franklin Park Zoo and had been recaptured at a bus stop. According to newspaper articles, the exchange allegedly was:^[14]

Callahan: "They caught him at a bus stop, right -- he was like waiting to catch a bus out of town."

Dennis: "Yeah, yeah -- he's a METCO gorilla."

Callahan: "Heading out to Lexington."

Dennis: "Exactly."

METCO is a state program that buses inner-city Boston students to nearby suburban schools. Many perceived the comments to be comparing poor, mostly African-American children to gorillas. WEEI general manager Tom Baker suspended both hosts for two days, then extended the suspension to two weeks after the Blue Cross-Blue Shield (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts) pulled $27,000 in ads and in turn donated that money to METCO. Dunkin' Donuts responded by ceasing all advertising that involved the voices of John Dennis or Gerry Callahan.^[15] Both hosts apologized and were sent to sensitivity training. WEEI also agreed to provide free advertising for the METCO program on the radio station. In November 2003, WEEI General Manager Tom Baker was replaced by Julie Kahn. Station executives denied there was a connection between the METCO incident and Baker's replacement.^[16]

Queer Eye

On June 2, 2005 Callahan upset some listeners during interviews with Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino and relief pitcher Mike Timlin discussing the upcoming visit of Carson Kressley and the cast from Queer Eye at Fenway Park. Kressley and his co-hosts were scheduled to throw out the first pitch at Fenway Park on Sunday, June 5, 2005 before the Red Sox faced the Los Angeles Angels. In questioning Lucchino, Callahan asked if the team had received any complaints about "'fruitcakes sashaying' in front of children and families, and on a Sunday, of all days". In a later interview, Mike Timlin voiced his opinion that "homosexuals are not living correctly". Approached later by reporters from the Boston Globe, station manager Jason Wolfe claimed that Callahan did not object to Kressley being gay, but rather that "it's the openness and the flaunting of it".^[17][18]

Profane, threatening voicemail

In September 2005, a profanity laced, audio file was posted on the website of a local paper Barstool Sports, containing a voice mail message from John Dennis threatening rival sports radio personality Ryen Russillo of 1510 The Zone.^[19] In the audio tape, Dennis accuses Russillo of being a drunk and hitting on his daughter. After the incident, the New England Patriots had Russillo removed from WBCN's post-game show with Gary Tanguay & Company. At the time WBCN, which was owned by CBS, held broadcast rights to Patriot games. Dennis denied any responsibility for the Patriots decision.

Kevin Weeks interview

In March 2006, some listeners of the Dennis and Callahan Show were upset when they conducted an in studio interview with Kevin Weeks, a former member of Whitey Bulger's South Boston based criminal organization. Weeks had admitted to committing armed and unarmed assaults, kidnapings and being an accessory to several murders on behalf of Whitey Bulger and had played a role helping Bulger escape arrest.^[20] His appearance on the show was to promote his book, Brutal : The Untold Story of My Life Inside Whitey Bulger's Irish Mob (ISBN 0-06-112269-6). Some listeners felt that it was wrong for the show to help Weeks promote his book. Callahan told the Boston Herald that they wrestled with whether to "put this thug on air." but the bottom line, he said, "It's good radio."^[21]

Doyle family apology

In June 2007, Dennis apologized on-air to the Doyle family of Massachusetts to avert a potential lawsuit for defaming the family on the radio. The controversy began in February 2007, when Doyle family member Patrick Doyle was sentenced to five years probation after pleading guilty to child endangerment.^[22][23] Doyle was present when a 9-year-old girl was repeatedly raped by two other men in the bed next to him while he had sex with two women, one of whom is the girl's mother. Doyle comes from a family that includes a serving District Court Judge, a retired District Court Judge and an Essex County Assistant District Attorney. While discussing the sentence which they believed was far too lenient, Dennis and Callahan accused members of the Doyle family of interceding on behalf of Doyle and suggested that "the fix was in".^[24]

Election joke

In November 2008, the duo drew criticism from office of Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin after they told listeners that the election had been postponed and that Democrats should cast their votes on November 5 (the day after Election Day). Galvin's spokesperson said the show was doing a disservice to voters and warned them that they could be violating a state law against interfering with elections. In response, Gerry Callahan stated "Obviously it was a joke and I think most listeners understood it was a joke".^[25]

Received threatening phone calls

In January 2009, a man from Cambridge, Massachusetts was charged in relation to a series of obscene and threatening phone calls made to the station over a period of two months. The man, who was apparently upset with the on air duo's support of Senator John McCain's presidential candidacy, allegedly called the station starting in October 2008 threatening the shows hosts as well as WEEI program director Jason Wolfe and vice president of Entercom New England Julie Kahn. The man who was charged with two counts of criminal harassment, two counts of threats to commit a crime and a single count of making annoying phone calls.^[26][27] In a plea bargain in February 2009, the man pleaded guilty to one of the charges against him and was sentenced to probation for a year. He must also undergo anger management counseling, perform 20 hours of community service and stay away from the victims and never call the station again.^[28]

Awards and recognition

• Placed 93rd on the trade journal Talkers Magazine list of the 2007 "Heavy Hundred". The list ranks what the magazine considers the most popular, influential, or entertaining talk-show hosts from around the country.^[29]

References

1. ^ "About The Dennis & Callahan Show". WEEI. http://www.weei.com/shows/dennis-callahan/about-dennis-callahan-show/. Retrieved 2011-08-17. 
2. ^ Jessica Heslam (2008-01-27). "Sports radio also scores". Boston Herald. http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/news/messenger/index.php/2008/01/27/sports-radio-also-scores/. Retrieved 2008-02-05. 
3. ^ Jessica Heslam and Laurel J. Sweet (2007-08-13). "WEEI sports hosts ‘locked out’: Station says Dennis, Callahan given time to ‘reflect’". Boston Herald. http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=1016896. Retrieved 2007-08-18. 
4. ^ Susan Bickelhaupt (2007-08-16). "Dennis, Callahan may move to WCRB". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/articles/2007/08/16/dennis_callahan_may_move_to_wcrb/. Retrieved 2007-08-21. 
5. ^ Christopher Rowland (2007-08-17). "Deal cuts option for radio duo: Dennis and Callahan seen in WCRB talks". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2007/08/17/deal_cuts_option_for_radio_duo/. Retrieved 2007-08-21. 
6. ^ Susan Bickelhaupt (2007-09-10). "Dennis, Callahan return to WEEI". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/articles/2007/09/10/dennis_callahan_return_to_weei/. Retrieved 2007-09-10. 
7. ^ Jessica Heslam (2007-09-10). "New deal sends Dennis & Callahan back to airwaves". Boston Herald. http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1030462. Retrieved 2007-09-10. 
8. ^ Carol Beggy & Mark Shanahan (2007-09-10). "Back behind the mikes". Boston Globe. http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1030462. Retrieved 2007-09-10. 
9. ^ Michael Hurley (2011-08-12). "WEEI's Jason Wolfe Says Barstool Sports' David Portnoy No Longer on 'Dennis and Callahan". NESN. http://www.nesn.com/2011/08/weeis-jason-wolfe-says-barstool-sports-david-portnoy-no-longer-on-dennis-and-callahan.html/. Retrieved 2011-08-12. 
10. ^ "Blogger's Brady Baby Photo Ignites Firestorm". WCVB-TV. 2011-08-12. http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/28844112/detail.html/. Retrieved 2011-08-12. 
11. ^ Josh Segal (2011-08-12). "Boston Barstool Sports Posts Naked Photos of Tom Brady’s Son". Sports of Boston. http://sportsofboston.com/2011/08/11/boston-barstool-sports-posts-naked-photos-of-tom-bradys-son/. Retrieved 2011-08-12. 
12. ^ Dan Kennedy (2007-11-22). "Don't quote me". Bostonphoenix. http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/dont_quote_me/multi-page/documents/01230893.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-22. 
13. ^ Brian MacQuarrie and Douglas Belkin (2003-09-29). "Franklin Park gorilla escapes, attacks 2". Boston.com. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2003/09/29/franklin_park_gorilla_escapes_attacks_2/. Retrieved 2007-11-22. 
14. ^ Sasha Talcott (2003-10-27). "Hosts off air for two weeks, Station suspends 2 for Metco remarks". Boston.com. http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/articles/2003/10/07/hosts_off_air_for_two_weeks/. Retrieved 2007-11-22. 
15. ^ "Radio Station Gorilla Remarks Spur Advertiser Concerns". WCVB. 2003-10-07. http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/2538645/detail.html. Retrieved 2007-11-22. 
16. ^ Bailey, Steve (2003-11-21). "Shake-up at WEEI". Boston.com. http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2003/11/21/shake_up_at_weei/. Retrieved 2007-11-22. 
17. ^ "Callahan not fond of 'fruitcake'". Boston Globe. 2005-06-03. http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2005/06/03/callahan_not_fond_of_fruitcake/. Retrieved 2007-05-08. 
18. ^ "...ain't bad". The Boston Phoenix. 2005-06-06. http://thephoenix.com/SoxBlog/CommentView.aspx?guid=697bc729-4543-4eb3-814c-e614e3075b5b. Retrieved 2007-05-08. ^{[dead link]}
19. ^ "John Dennis Voicemail for Ryen Russillo". Barstool Sports. 2005-09-07. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. http://web.archive.org/web/20071012232623/http://www.barstoolsports.com/article/john_dennis_voicemail_for_ryen/408/. Retrieved 2007-11-22. 
20. ^ "Profile:Kevin Weeks". Boston.com. http://www.boston.com/news/packages/whitey/characters/weeks.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-22. 
21. ^ Jessica Heslam (2006-03-26). "Victims' relatives fume as Weeks talks up book". Boston Herald. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/1007076681.html?dids=1007076681:1007076681&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Mar+21%2C+2006&author=JESSICA+HESLAM&pub=Boston+Herald&edition=&startpage=005&desc=Victims%27+relatives+fume+as+Weeks+talks+up+book. Retrieved 2006-03-26. 
22. ^ Julie Manganis. "Judge's sentence for Patrick Doyle drawing controversy". Salem News. http://www.salemnews.com/local/local_story_047094942/resources_printstory. Retrieved 2007-07-10. 
23. ^ "Man Gets 1 Year For Not Reporting Rape". WCVB. http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/11026496/detail.html?rss=bos&psp=news. Retrieved 2007-07-10. 
24. ^ Carol Beggy & Mark Shanahan (2007-06-21). "Play the board with top pair:WEEI offers apology". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2007/06/21/play_the_board_with_top_pair/. Retrieved 2007-07-10. 
25. ^ Jessica Heslam (2008-11-05). "Sports duo’s joke goes over the head of some Dems". Boston Herald. http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2008_11_05_Sports_duo_s_joke_goes_over_the_head_of_some_Dems/. Retrieved 2008-11-05. 
26. ^ Jessica Heslam (2009-01-08). "Accused in WEEI call threats is a ‘regular guy’". Boston Herald. http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2009_01_08_Accused_in_WEEI_call_threats_is_a_%E2%80%98regular_guy_/srvc=home&position=1. Retrieved 2009-01-08. 
27. ^ Jessica Heslam (2009-01-07). "Cambridge man charged for obscene calls to WEEI". Boston Herald. http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2009_01_07_Cambridge_man_charged_for_obscene_calls_to_WEEI/. Retrieved 2009-01-08. 
28. ^ Jessica Heslam (2009-02-20). "WEEI heckler takes blame: Agitator pleads guilty to death threats". Boston Herald. http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1153356. Retrieved 2009-02-20. 
29. ^ Simon, Clea (2007-03-02). "Area talk hosts among biz's". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2007/03/02/area_talk_hosts_among_bizs_best/. Retrieved 2007-03-26. 

External links

• WEEI Website
• WEEI Biography on Gerry Callahan
• Sports Illustrated Biography on Gerry Callahan
• Gerry Callahan Boston Herald Columns
• Gerry Callahan IMDB
• 18 Questions to Gerry Callahan By Gary Larrabee, North Shore Golf
• WEEI Biography on John Dennis
• WHDH Biography on John Dennis
• Thoughts on John Dennis/Ryen Russillo: Boston Sports Media Watch