Minihane (l) said that he was not certain why WEEI kept him off the showWEEI
After a six-year run on WEEI's morning show "marked by controversy, contentiousness, and consistent ratings success," host Kirk Minihane is "leaving the program," according to Chad Finn of the BOSTON GLOBE. But, Minihane is "not leaving" WEEI's parent company, Entercom, and he will "host his own show on the Entercom-owned Radio.com app." WEEI's morning show will "now be called 'Mut and Callahan' after longtime host Gerry Callahan and Mike Mutnansky, who has frequently been the third voice on the show." Minihane tweeted that his new digital show will "begin early next year and that he knew "about two weeks ago he wouldn't return to WEEI." Minihane also said that the new program will have "no co-host," and that Callahan "wanted the morning program to remain intact." Finn noted Minihane's daily program "will not air at the same time as 'Mut and Callahan' for now" -- instead being offered "on demand." Minihane had been on a "leave of absence" from the morning show since early September, after revealing in August that he had "checked himself into Winchester Hospital with suicidal thoughts." In an interview with The Athletic, Minihane said that he was "not certain why WEEI kept him off the show." He said, "They want less anger. I think they want less controversy" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/15).
THE WHY AND WHEREFORE: Minihane on his Twitter feed fielded fans' questions about his upcoming move. One fan asked, "Why not barstool?" Minihane: "Love Barstool. I had a contract with Entercom. Some people didn’t want me on the morning show and I didn’t want to be part of what the morning show will become. This is a really good thing for me. I’m actually excited to work." Minihane said he and WEEI execs "had a meeting and what they wanted the 'new' morning show to be. Just wasn’t a fit for me." Minihane also tweeted he wants to bring WEEI producers, Chris Curtis and Ken Laird, with him: "It’ll be a battle. And I’ll win" (TWITTER.com, 11/14).
