Kirk Minihane is mad as hell and won’t take it anymore. The former host of the top-rated Kirk and Callahan morning-drive show on Boston sports radio station WEEI announced an embargo on releasing any already-taped “Enough About Me” podcasts or any new content until Entercom management launches his long-promised new show on the clunky Radio.com app.
[See Update below]
A self-described libertarian who voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016, the mercurial Kirk Minihane is a foe of political correctness and virtue signaling particularly but not exclusively within sports media. Outside of CNN, how a libertarian could support an anti-free speech, Big Government Democrat is another topic entirely. Minihane, however, is apparently unable to separate Trump’s words from his actual deeds.
During Kirk Minihane’s tenure as co-host of the 6 .m.-10 a.m. WEEI program, the station came under pressure from a local activist, the Boston Red Sox, and the Boston Globe, among others, for various Minihane on-the-air comments. (Google it.) Several advertisers decided to flee.
Entercom Happens
“Minihane gets to shape the Radio.com show with the edgy, personality-driven approach he prefers, rather than having to follow at least a cursory sports format,” Boston.com reported in November 2018 when it appeared his daily online offering would actually commence in early 2019. “WEEI’s morning show, as politically charged as it can be, is less likely to run into trouble with advertisers and high-profile guests in Minihane’s absence.”
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Since exiting WEEI’s Kirk and Callahan (now Mut and Callahan), the morning show ratings have cratered, with massive collateral damage across the radio station’s entire daypart. Indeed, crosstown rival 98.5, the Sports Hub, is crushing WEEI since Kirk left.
Third Man In is Out
In February 2013, the station added Kirk Minihane as a third voice to what was then called Dennis and Callahan. John “Dino” Dennis later retired after frequent conflicts with Minihane over the direction of the show. When Dino was around at least, the show’s motto was “we talk about things that sports fans talk about,” not necessarily just tiresome sports dialogue.
In addition to sports chatter, the Kirk and Callahan broadcast similarly became known for delving into hot-button social and political issues on both the local and national level. From time to time, Mike Mutnansky and Gerry Callahan are still doing that, but unfortunately not on a consistent basis to make their show a regular listen.
After going on leave from Entercom-owned WEEI for health-related reasons as extensively documented by Boston media outlets and discussed by Minihane himself, the corporation was allegedly unwilling to reinstate Kirk as Callahan’s radio partner despite medical clearance. Minihane was apparently disinclined to comply with new corporate edicts about sticking to sports content.
The two sides then struck a deal where the under-contract Minihane would quit terrestrial radio and head to the digital platform on his own with free-form content.
Corporate Stalling Tactics
In an impromptu Periscope broadcast earlier this week (see embedded clip below) from a Massachusetts Barnes & Noble store, Minihane delivered an ultimatum to Entercom suits:
“What pisses me off the most I think, and while I appreciate getting paid in full, and that’s wonderful, is I left the old place…in November of [2018]…and when I did that, I was promised things. I was promised that I was going to have a show on Radio.com where I could do whatever I wanted to do…it’s now the middle of May. I have no producer; I have no studio. I have no firm show date. I have nothing.”
Firmly rejecting Entercom’s plan to make his show part of Radio.com Sports, Minihane made it evident that he wants to do his own thing ASAP:
“Until that happens, or until I am told (a) where the studio is going to be, (b) a start date away from Radio.com Sports, in my own world, in a better place to do my own podcast while the interim is going on, I’m not doing anything. I’m not doing a podcast. I will not be participating in anything, and you have one month to do it…I’m going to give you until the middle of June…one month Radio.com people, Entercom people, to make that happen, or I’m going to pursue things legally and leave. That’s it….I’m sick and tired of being f*cked around…”
Kirk and the Podcasters
“Enough About Me” is a very entertaining, highly recommended podcast, albeit with a few footnotes. Minihane tends to ask long-winded questions, with “or no?” appended at the end of each. He also has an annoying tendency to interrupt a guest (even more than, perhaps, Sean Hannity, if that’s possible), when that person is trying to make a good point. Plus, at times he has left some adversarial interviewees off the hook.
Also, Minihane’s rambling disclaimers that start with “of course, [racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.] still exists,” and so forth, are wholly unnecessary.
“The world of Kirk Minihane” has spawned an equally compelling and irreverent podcast called The Minifan Show, hosted by the Real MHB (a.k.a. John from Pennsylvania) and D.E.C.
In an “emergency podcast,” the take-no-prisoners, loyal superfan duo reacted to Kirk’s ultimatum.
Whether you like, dislike, or never heard of Kirk Minihane, free speech seems to be under attack in this pervasive, corporate-enabled social justice culture.
Check back for updates.
Update: In a Periscope video from a local CVS, Kirk Minihane announced today that he and Entercom have parted ways and he is no longer an employee. Minihane added that he is fielding offers from other platforms (presumably one being Barstool Sports, but time will tell). There is apparently no non-compete agreement in the separation terms, so Minihane is free to go to work for anyone else immediately.
