BOSTON – The “Toucher & Rich” radio show on 98.5 The Sports Hub – one of Boston’s and the nation’s top radio stations – has ended, Fred Toucher confirmed on air Friday. Co-host Rich Shertenlieb has left the program.
In a statement, Beasley Media Group, which owns Sports Hub, told WBZ-TV: “We appreciate Rich’s contributions to the show over the years. Beasley offered to renew his contract for years beyond his contract. He accepted. We wish him the best.”
Words by Rich Shertenlieb
Hours later, Shertenlieb wrote a statement on radio thanking listeners and “every member of the Toucher & Rich show and the team at the station.” He also said that it was not his intention to leave like this.
“There is so much to say and so much fun to be with, and as we reconnect each day, my commitment to you will be the same as it always has been, to have a great time together,” he wrote.
“It was not my intention to say goodbye to the radio, nor was it my intention to leave the program and the radio soon, but know that I will soon announce my plans but for today know that. I LOVE YOU ALL and appreciate you sharing your time with me and the boys, and I can’t wait to share what’s to come. ”
HEY GUYS HEY- I have nothing but gratitude for the listeners of 98.5 The Sports Hub for sharing their morning with us. My thanks to the listeners, and to every member of the Toucher & Rich show and the radio crew. To the T&R team, I appreciate your efforts and… pic.twitter.com/JdWPNyHMQU
– Rich Shertenlieb (@heyrichhey) November 10, 2023
Profile of Toucher & Rich
Toucher and Rich worked together for many years, bringing their show to WBCN in Boston in 2006. They had been in the mornings from 6 am to 10 am since the Sports Hub started back in 2009.
98.5 The Sports Hub/CBS Radio
Their relationship was there broken recently and this was extended last month when Toucher signed an extension without Shertenlieb. The two have discussed their partnership for years, according to the Boston Globe.
Shertenlieb then announced on Thursday that he was no longer managing the accounts for the program.
Toucher & Rich’s final show
Toucher confirmed the end of their 17-year on-air partnership at the start of Friday’s show, saying Thursday was Shertenlieb’s last show.
“The rich are not coming back,” Toucher said, adding that he is “very excited” about the future of the show, which includes WBZ-TV’s Dan Roche.
“The new show will be launched at the beginning of the year,” said Toucher. “What’s the future for Rich? I don’t know.”
You can see all Toucher reviews Here.
“The Perfect Family”
WBZ-TV’s Dan Roche, who anchors the show, said Rich and Fred’s chemistry set them apart from the rest.
“Fred was kind of a curmudgeonly, kind of guy, and Rich always had different parts and things like that and he had different ideas, and it just worked,” Roche said. “For some reason it was the perfect family.”
A seemingly perfect match that topped Boston radio year after year, it begs the question, why? Maybe the signs were there.
“I think the right thing to do is to negotiate as a group, maybe you’ll get some benefits, what are the best contracts you have,” said Roche. “But he decided for whatever reason to discuss it differently. That’s probably your first red flag.”
Now that these two are gone, what’s next?
“Sometimes people just get separated and go their separate ways. That doesn’t mean they can’t be successful separately,” said Roche.