October 03, 2016
Did Houston ever ask to be stabbed a second time with a spoon? It doesn't matter. Josh Innes, the controversial sports talk host fired by Sportsradio 94 WIP in August, is going home.
Innes announced Monday on Twitter that he will join Houston's SportsTalk 790, a former ESPN station now owned by iHeartRadio.
I'm coming home. Monday 10/10 3pm "The Josh Innes Show" debuts on @SportsTalk790 in Houston.
— Josh Innes (@JoshInnesRadio) October 3, 2016
I'm glad to be back home. I wanted to be somewhere close to my family.
— Josh Innes (@JoshInnesRadio) October 3, 2016
Innes lost his afternoon job in Philadelphia amid an extended ratings slump that saw his archrival, 97.5 The Fanatic's Mike Missinelli, take nine consecutive months in the market's top position. The situation reached a head after The Fanatic was exposed for broadcasting a routine skit featuring an in-house, fake African-American caller voiced by a white man. Many felt "Dwayne from Swedesboro" promoted racial stereotypes.
Never one to ignore his rival's failures, Innes attacked the station and posted an image on Twitter of a man from a "menstrual" show, one of a series of missteps concerning race during his tenure at WIP. His time here wasn't without bright moments, however, such as the thousands of dollars Innes helped raise for a women's shelter in Dallas after chilling details emerged during a domestic violence investigation of former Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy.
RELATED ARTICLE: Josh Innes was the worst and I'm happy we (hopefully) never have to hear him on Philly airwaves again
In the weeks following his departure, Innes took to Facebook Live with an unrestrained webcam show appealing to his devoted local fans.
2p East another "Live From Josh's Couch"
— Josh Innes (@JoshInnesRadio) September 8, 2016
Today we will discuss the sadness that is my 8th grade year book. https://t.co/gjIX7pLqeQ
LIVE on #Periscope: Live From Josh's Couch...let's have a nice thoughtful conversation about life, love and whateve… https://t.co/qchoLtCYYt
— Josh Innes (@JoshInnesRadio) September 28, 2016
Sportsradio 94 WIP continues its search for a permanent replacement for Innes, bringing in a rotating cast of guest hosts including longtime afternoon "King" Howard Eskin. Innes believes his downfall was precipitated by the removal of former operations manager Andy Bloom last December.
2015 we were #1 in the spring and fall books. We were #2 in the summer. I believe 💯that if Bloom wasn't let go we'd still be on top.
— Josh Innes (@JoshInnesRadio) October 3, 2016
I think we had too many cast changes on the show. Too much upheaval at the building. Losing my ally didn't help.
— Josh Innes (@JoshInnesRadio) October 3, 2016
In Houston, Innes will join the competitor of his former station, 610 SportsRadio 610, which is owned by CBS. In Philadelphia, one can only imagine what he once said about SportsTalk 790.
A call for reaction from Ryan McReddin, program director for SportsRadio 610 in Houston, was not immediately returned. Houston radio, you have a new problem. Same as the old one.
