The highly successful morning radio show “Toucher & Rich” in Boston is experiencing a major shakeup as the hosts have announced their decision to part ways. Rich Shertenlieb, one half of the duo, is leaving 98.5 The Sports Hub. The announcement was made by Fred Toucher on Friday morning, who also mentioned that the show is actively searching for a new co-host to join by the start of the new year.
Toucher and Rich have been dominating the morning show ratings in Boston for several years, but it seems that tensions on the show have reached a breaking point. Toucher revealed that earlier this year, Rich made some remarks about him both on and off the air, which he didn’t appreciate. In response, Toucher texted him some things that he had been holding onto from their relationship, further exacerbating the situation.
Despite having known Shertenlieb for 20 years, Toucher admitted that he doesn’t really know much about him. The pair previously worked together in Atlanta before making their move to Boston. Toucher and Rich consistently held the top spot in the morning sports radio ratings in the Boston market.
Toucher mentioned that the station had made Shertenlieb a multi-year offer with increased compensation, which he chose not to accept. However, Toucher clarified that he was unaware of the specific issues between them and couldn’t provide further insight.
Boston 25 has reached out to Shertenlieb for comment, but there has been no response yet. The tension between Toucher and Rich has spilled over to social media, with Shertenlieb making changes to the show’s accounts.
Toucher shared that after their show and the subsequent meeting on Thursday, he received a call informing him that it was Rich’s last show on the station. While Toucher speculated that something could have been done to resolve their issues, he expressed that it’s now too late as Rich will not be returning.
After years of working together on the radio, it’s evident that the bad blood between them lingers. Toucher admitted that he doesn’t expect to talk to Rich anytime soon. Nevertheless, he expressed gratitude for the 17-plus years they spent together and acknowledged the importance of Rich’s contributions to their success. Toucher also wished him the best and hoped that he has something promising on the horizon.
Beasley Media, the company behind 98.5 The Sports Hub, acknowledged Rich’s contributions to the show over the years and revealed that they had offered to renew his contract for multiple years on improved terms, which he declined. Heidi Raphael, the Chief Communications Officer of Beasley Media, expressed well wishes for Rich’s future endeavors.
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