Vanderbilt radio play-by-play broadcaster Joe Fisher announced that he had "resigned and entered a rehab facility after an awkward appearance on the Commodores' coaches show Monday night." In Nashville, Adam Sparks writes Fisher's appearance Monday was "slurred and scattered, and he repeated versions of the same question to interim football coach Todd Fitch" on WPRT-FM. Fisher "announced his resignation and future plans" in a Twitter thread on Thursday. Longtime Nashville radio broadcaster Willy Daunic "will fill in for Fisher in Vanderbilt's final two football games" against Georgia on Saturday and Tennessee on Dec. 12 or 19 (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 12/4).
BACK TO BASCS: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes he "mostly enjoyed" CBS' telecast of Dolphins-Jets last Sunday. Analysis "was provided -- when needed -- by former star WR James Lofton." Twice after "self-evident plays" Lofton "said nothing, recognizing there was nothing to say." So "when he spoke, he had our full attention." Lofton also "avoids all that faux-hip genuine pigskin gibberish that's drowning telecasts in long-form silliness." He "speaks football in plain, concise, applicable English" (N.Y. POST, 12/4).
FRESH FACE: In Philadelphia, Jeff Blumenthal reported two days after Marc Farzetta "announced he was out as morning show host" at WPEN-FM, John Kincade "has formally been named as his replacement." Farzetta's co-hosts Bob Cooney, Jamie Lynch and Pat Egan "will stay with the station as part of Kincade's new show." Kincade "spent the past 20 years" at Atlanta-based WCNN-AM. He was "laid off in September by parent company Dickey Broadcasting as part of Covid-19 cuts." Kincade is a "former mentee of Angelo Cataldi, the longtime morning show ratings kingpin" at rival WIP-FM, and will now "go head-to-head with his mentor" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/3).
STL RADIO VETS RETURNING TO AIRWAVES: In St. Louis, Dan Caesar reports Bernie Miklasz and Steve Savard, "major St. Louis media figures who lost high-profile broadcasting jobs this year because of what was said to be coronavirus-fueled economic downturns at their stations, are set to return to the local airwaves to jabber about sports" on KFNS-AM. Miklasz and Savard "had to sit out for a period because of 'non-compete' clauses in previous contracts." KFNS Sports Dir John Hadley said that "The Bernie Show" will air from 3:00-6:00pm CT weekdays starting Monday, while "Middays with Seve" will occupy the 1:00-3:00pm weekday slot beginning Jan. 4 (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 12/4).
