Boston Radio: Fred Toucher About Former Partner: 'I Hate Him'

Long-time Boston radio host Fred Toucher did not hold back in slamming his old partner, Rich Shertenlieb, whose new show was canceled this week.

MassLive.com reports Toucher, who now co-hosts “Toucher & Hardy“ on 98.5 The Sports Hub, took some time during Tuesday’s show to address ”the elephant in the room." Shertenlieb‘s new show on WZLX had been canceled after five months, and Toucher didn’t seem to have any sympathy for his former partner.

“I hate him,” Toucher said. “So I was happy yesterday when I heard about this. But I was a little disheartened that he still carries none of the responsibility and takes none of the blame and still just can’t be honest.”

Toucher and Shertenlieb co-hosted the “Toucher & Rich” show from 2009-2023, working together to produce one of Boston’s most popular morning shows. However, the show ran into issues in 2023. Toucher missed time due to personal and physical issues, including a stretch of time at an alcohol detox facility. In November, parent company Beasley Media said in a statement that Shertenlieb declined to accept a new contract.

Shertenlieb

On Monday, Shertenlieb announced that he was “disappointed” that his show was being canceled after just five months. The radio host complained that management forced him to “alter the format” of the show by adding music.

However, Toucher noted Tuesday that Shertenlieb’s show was a ratings disaster.

“He not only did not bring in a new audience to that show, he alienated – based on ratings – their entire existing audience," Toucher said. “He had like a third of the ratings that they got jockless in the morning. … Yeah management might have been a little concerned.”

Toucher said that critics can paint the picture of his reaction however they like. But he did note that he and co-host Jon Wallach say they weren’t alone in celebrating the demise of Shertenlieb’s show.