News

Josh Innes Explains Departure from Houston Radio Station

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Mar 19th, 2019 · 11:56 AM EDT

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Josh Innes was let go by Houston’s SportsTalk 790 about a week ago. 

The former 94 WIP host explained on Twitter that his show was axed for “budget reasons,” though he did have a couple of previous run ins during his tenure there, including a confrontation with another radio host at Super Bowl 52 and a conflict with another 790 host that resulted in that dude’s firing. The Texans also pulled his credential back in 2017.

Anyway, there’s an article from the Houston Chronicle featuring a few quotes from a podcast Josh recorded in his underwear after he was axed.

From the Chronicle:

Innes said he was informed – along with his co-worker and fiancée Jill Osterman and producer Jim Mudd – that they needed to meet after his Wednesday show. He said the meeting was “quick and painless” and the group was told their forced exit was a business decision.

“I hate to say it is what it is, but that’s the reality of it,” said Innes, who occasionally will do podcasts until he finds his next gig. “I’m not going to sit here and dump on them. I had an opportunity here, it ultimately did not fail in my opinion. We had good sponsors, great listeners, fun moments … And it’s their sandbox. They can do what they want to do. It wasn’t, I guess, a perfect match.”

….

Innes also ranted about the Houston Chronicle, taking umbrage with the headline about his departure: Josh Innes’ hyped Houston return ends in failure.

“I think we were successful,” Innes said. “Did everything succeed? No. Was it as big as I wanted it to be? No. But we put forth a lot of energy. We put forth a lot of money. We gave away a lot of tickets … They gave us an opportunity, it was what it was. I don’t view it as a failure.”

Sounds a bit like Josh’s Philly tenure.

You come in all guns blazing, you’re a breath of fresh air, you call it how you see it, and your show is more or less entertaining. Then you do some dumb things, completely fail to develop relationships with colleagues and the greater Philadelphia media and sports community, which results in you ultimately flaming out and getting fired.

Josh was in Philly from 2013 to 2016, when our sports teams were dog shit. The Chronicle believes his contract runs through October, which would result in him being paid not to work for the next seven months. I need one of those contracts.

I don’t see this happening:

I'd do it. Why not? Mike clearly has a successful show. Everything is entertainment . I don't know Mike but I'll work at the same station as anyone if it means we are winning. https://t.co/qQ1aeNUhRs

— Josh Innes (@JoshInnesShow) March 15, 2019