98.5’s Fred Toucher says he’s ‘very happy’ that ‘backstabber’ Rich Shertenlieb lost his job on 100.7 WZLX
There’s more drama surrounding Fred Toucher and his former co-host Rich Shertenlieb, whom Toucher called a “backstabber” after he lost his new radio gig with 100.7 WZLX on Monday.
Toucher addressed Shertenlieb’s show being canceled Tuesday morning and had some choice words for his former cohost.
“Very exciting news,” Toucher said during his 98.5 The Sports Hub morning show “Toucher and Hardy.”
“I’ll be completely honest with you; I’m very happy that that’s over,” Toucher said. “I’m not surprised, and I’m very happy because I feel like he’s a backstabber and does not tell the truth, and is not loved by his fellow employees, certainly here.”
Toucher stated he wasn’t going to talk about his former co-hosts dismissal; his statement as to why he was out of a job showed “humility.”
“Like if he had learned anything from this experience,” Toucher said. "Like, don’t backstab your friends; don’t be a snake; talk to people to their face; don’t lie about how you got into a situation. But there was no transparency, and it’s just still the same garbage. It’s everyone else’s fault... lies, lies, lies. Like, it’s just nonsense. And you know, I can’t imagine he gets another job in the market, so I’ll never talk about him again.”
Shertenlieb spent less than a half a year on the airwaves for 100.7 WZLX, stating iHeart Media made cuts across the board that included his program.
“After five months, The Rich Shertenlieb Show will no longer air on WZLX,” Shertenlieb posted on social media on Monday. “To say that I’m disappointed is an understatement.”
Shertenlieb, who spent years on The Sports Hub’s airwaves before splitting up with Toucher and launching his own sports show on the classic rock station. His show consisted of co-hosts Michael Hurley, Ted Johnson, and others.
“Just over two months into the show, management decided to alter the format,” Shertenlieb added. “They wanted music; I did not. However, despite my disagreement about the decision, I agreed to move forward, and music was added. Thank you to iHeart for the opportunity. Just because we didn’t have the same vision doesn’t mean I don’t thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me a chance to assemble the team I’ve always wanted to work with.”
Ratings for his show were trailing third to 98.5’s “Toucher and Hardy” and WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show.” In the last full ratings book over the summer, covering the period from June 20-Sept. 11, Shertenlieb’s show finished 14th with a dreadfully low 1.8 share in the men 25-54 demographic. “Toucher and Hardy” was first (16.6) while Hill’s show slotted in second (11.9).
“The whole concept behind it (the show) was horrible,” Toucher said, adding, “He, according to the ratings, alienated their entire existing audience and brought no one from the old audience with him, which is, you know, this ego and lack of humility to recognize your weaknesses.”
It’s not known as of right now what’s next for Shertenlieb.
