Frankie Blue

From OAPedia.com

From the New York Daily News December 22, 2004:

Thanks largely to Opie and Anthony of XM Satellite Radio, the hottest radio mix tape now is WNEW (102.7 FM) program director Frankie Blue's fill-in on his own station last Wednesday. Blue spun music and plugged WNEW's "$50,000 Re-Do" contest - during which, at one point, he referred to his station as "KTU," WNEW's dance-music rival. Blue was 'KTU program director 1996-2003.

He also spoke a semi-garbled word O&A said was the F-word, though not everyone agreed.

O&A joked about Blue, but mostly teed off on WNEW, where they were stars until they were kicked off the air and kept out of radio for two years following the "Sex in St. Pat's" incident of August 2002.

As for exactly what happened Wednesday, sources at WNEW say Blue had a disagreement with night host Yvonne Velasquez and decided, apparently on impulse, to take her 8 p.m. shift himself.

The WNEW Christmas party was held that afternoon, ending at 4, and O&A suggested it sounds as if Blue been drinking.

Others think he mostly sounded nervous - speaking too fast, repeating himself and running sentences together rather than, say, slurring words or rambling.

He left the air after about a half hour, leaving a bizarre tape that shows why he made his reputation off the air, not on.

A spokeswoman for Infinity, which owns WNEW, said the company had no statement. There were unofficial reports station officials reprimanded Blue, but no indication whether there could be any further repercussions.

Blue, who is starting a previously scheduled vacation today, could not be reached for comment. He was hired this summer by WNEW, which has gone through many formats over the last few years and figured he could help attract a dance audience. Since he arrived he has changed much of the airstaff and total listenership has risen, though WNEW still ranked only 22nd in the summer ratings, averaging 1.6% of the audience.

When he was hired, Blue said, "It's a marathon, not a sprint."