Will Wolf replace Coop at WPDH?

[Fidel Ipac]

It's pretty clear Mark Cooper isn't getting it done in the mornings on WPDH. No need to re-hash how terrible the show is. The fish stinks from the head. Once a morning juggernaut, PDH is now getting clobbered by the competition. The numbers tell the story.

Wolf leaves PYX in pretty much the same circumstances. Without a really good co-host they both flounder and flop. The big difference is Wolf has good pipes and Coop's voice is like waking up to rocks grinding.

So here's Coop, who's been at the helm of a show that has been awful since Tobin left, and Wolf, who once had some great numbers on PDH and is now on the market. Does anybody here think it's a stretch to think there have probably been conversations with Wolf about coming back to PDH?

Here's the real question: would it matter if he did? Are there enough people who remember the old show and would come back to PDH for it, or has Wolf's time passed? He had a good run. Is it over, or could the magic return if they build a show around him again?

I'm interested in what you think, Capitalanders and Hudson Valley/Catskills people alike.

 

[Bug]

I think Wolf would be ok, But there is not enought money in the business to do what would be needed to have a successful show like in the past. The business has changed too much to support such a show and Wolf and Company are probably all under a severance agreement that prevents them from doing anything right now.

 

[johnarbuckle]

I don't think we'll see Wolf on the air for at least 9 months. He'd have to give up his severance pay if he takes a job with any competitor in any market. Plus, he can collect full unemployment while he's being getting full pay from severance. I think it's a no brainer for him to sit out for a while. Maybe he'll end up relocating, but he has quite a while before he has to worry about work. He'll get his full pay from Pyx plus full unemployment pay to stay out of work. That's a pretty good deal.

 

[MHVRadiofan]

The Wolf has come and gone from WPDH three times now. He leaves as soon as he finds greener pastures usually in a bigger market (Cleveland, Albany NY and I think some place in New Hampshire). If you were Cumulus, would you give him yet another shot? This is besides the high salary his big ego would demand that Cumulus wouldn't pay. Don't get me wrong Bob was funny in his day and I enjoyed his show, WPDH mornings have not been the same since he left. However according to the posters in the Albany area listening to WPYX, his show has grown stale and old, with little effort put into it. So why would WPDH bother, even though Waking up with the Wolf would have to be an improvement over Coops Crap.

 

[Fidel Ipac]

Interesting comments. Thanks.

@johnarbuckle, who do you think Wolf has a 9-month severance? I actually doubt very much that things were so bad in Albany that they pulled him off the air while owing him so much money. Unless they had a killer show available immediately (which they obviously didn’t) there’s no reason not to just keep him on until his contract runs out.

Also, it’s not severance if they’re paying him as his contract stipulates, so unemployment wouldn’t be an issue until the contract runs out and the checks stop coming.

You say “it’s a no-brainer for him to sit out for a while” and I counter he’d be nuts to do that. In this world of “relevant today, distant memory tomorrow” a guy like Wolf needs to land a gig fast or run the risk of being at the end of his radio career ten years before retirement age. Unless you have a copy of his contract you can only assume he can’t work in another market while his contract is valid in Albany.

@MHVRadiofan, most of your points are quite valid. However, I don’t think Cumulus cares about how many times he’s come and gone from the station. Cumulus didn’t own the station back then, and nobody in management from that time is left in the building. That was two owners ago. There is no memory of his last trip through the door.

The fact is there are no greener pastures left for Wolf, who is now older than the target demo. He probably needs to land somewhere he can be comfortable for the remaining years of his career. Judging by how long he stayed in Albany I think his market-hopping days are over.

@Bug, I think you are right that it comes down to money. If Wolf would take a lower salary to make room for talent to join him I think there is a shot he could land at WPDH.

Of course, we're all just speculating.