Philly Radio: Mike Missanelli OUT At The Fanatic

Mike Missanelli’s tenure at WPEN 97.5 The Fanatic ended on Friday, less than a year after his return to the station following a contentious exit in 2022. Beasley Media Group’s chief communications officer, Heidi Raphael, confirmed, “Friday was Mike’s last day at the station. We appreciate his contributions and wish him well.”

Mike Missanelli

Missanelli hosted the midday slot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., often alongside co-hosts Ray Dunne and Bill Colarulo. Raphael noted that Dunne will act as interim host, with other contributors filling in for the time being. Colarulo recently transitioned to a new afternoon show, Unfiltered with Ricky Bo and Bill Colarulo, with NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Ricky Bottalico, which launched in June.

This exit echoes his abrupt 2022 departure after 15 years at The Fanatic, which he described as “surreal” and attributed to being pushed out by management, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Missanelli returned to The Fanatic on August 12, 2024, after months of speculation, saying, “I had a two-year, three-month vacation. I’m ready to return.”

Missanelli joined The Fanatic in 2010 to compete with WIP, where he had two prior stints, ending with a 2008 firing over an alleged altercation. His afternoon show dominated ratings for nearly a decade, outlasting competitors like Josh Innes, but was later overtaken by WIP’s Jon Marks and Ike Reese.

After his 2022 exit, Missanelli worked as a podcaster and brand ambassador for Rush Street Interactive’s BetRivers Network and launched a true crime podcast about a 7-year-old’s death in his hometown. 

Beasley, which owns The Fanatic, WMMR, WMGK, and other Philadelphia stations, has faced financial strain, implementing layoffs in recent years. Notable cuts include WMMR’s Kathy Romano, WMGK’s Andre Gardner, and The Fanatic’s Bob Cooney, Jennifer Scordo, and Pat Egan, with a 7% workforce reduction in May 2024.