Fred Toettcher
Fred Toettcher AKA Fred Toucher | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 16, 1975 |
| Other names | Fred Toucher |
| Education | Rollins College |
| Occupation | sports radio host |
Fred (Toucher) Toettcher (born 1975) is a Marconi-winning[1] sports radio talk show host on WBZ-FM in Boston, co-hosting "Toucher and Rich" with Rich Shertenlieb.
Biography
A native of Detroit, Toettcher graduated from Rollins College in 1997. After graduating, he landed a job at a small radio station in Cumming, Georgia. In 1999, he started hosting nights on 99X in Atlanta and eventually worked his way to the morning show. In 2006, after leaving his show in Atlanta[2] he and Rich Shertenlieb started The Toucher and Rich Show together on WBCN in Boston. In 2009, the show moved to 98.5 The Sports Hub. While initially thought to be moved to the station as a fill-in while the station tried to assemble a more sports-oriented program, The Toucher and Rich Show quickly rose to prominence and is considered to be one of the most popular radio shows in New England.[3] In the 2018 fall Nielsen Audio ratings for Boston, the show took first place in the morning drive category with a 10.5 share.[4]
Though not necessarily considered a shock jock, Toettcher has been involved in a few controversies. In May 2005, he prodded a caller to tell listeners the ending to a recently released Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.[citation needed] In April 2010, he referred to overtly Christian quarterback Tim Tebow's NFL Draft party as "resembling a lily-white Nazi gathering".[5] In October 2013, he hung up on Rick Pitino.[6] In 2019, Toucher hung up on Carolina reporter Chip Alexander, claiming that he "just can't listen to a guy with a southern accent talk hockey."[7]
Toettcher occasionally feuded with John Dennis of former rival morning show Dennis and Callahan, who often called him a hipster and referred to Toettcher as "Fred Douchebag." Toettcher usually responded by mocking Dennis's age and citing the fact that The Toucher and Rich Show consistently beat Dennis and Callahan in Boston radio market ratings, usually by a substantial margin.[8]
Toettcher has lived just outside Boston since 2005, with his wife Stephanie, daughter Zoey, and son Milo.[citation needed]. In October 2022, he announced his pending divorce. Recently Toettcher has publicly battled alcoholism and openly discussed his time spent in rehabilitation both on Instagram and on the Toucher and Rich radio show, depicting his path to sobriety in a comedic and inspiring way[citation needed].
References
- ^ "2016 Marconi Radio Award Winners". nab.org. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- ^ "Fred Toucher Exits 99X". AllAccess.com. March 16, 2006.
- ^ Siegel, Alan (May 30, 2012). "Revolution Radio: Toucher & Rich, The Guys Who Hated Sports Talk Radio Enough to Save It". Bostonmagazine.com.
- ^ "The Sports Hub tops Minihane-less WEEI in fall ratings". Boston Globe. December 27, 2018.
- ^ "Boston Sports Radio Host Fred Toettcher Compares Tim Tebow to Nazis". NESN.com. April 25, 2010.
- ^ "Fred Toucher: 'Huge swell' of support for Pitino hang-up". Boston Herald. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
- ^ "Boston Radio Host Hangs Up On Carolina Hurricanes Reporter Because Of His Southern Accent". Deadspin. May 9, 2019.
- ^ "Boston radio hosts John Dennis and Fred Toucher engage in epic Twitter war". Larry Brown Sports. January 25, 2014.