Shertenlieb Bumps McKenzie and Ford For Boston Radio Return

By
Radio Ink
-
50
Rich Shertenlieb

Listeners of Boston’s 100.7 WZLX were stunned this morning as iHeartMedia confirmed that Pete McKenzie and Heather Ford have been suddenly removed from the station lineup. Perhaps even more stunning? Their replacement: former WBZ host Rich Shertenlieb.

The duo had been on WZLX since 2005, along with their former co-host Kevin Karlson. Karlson passed away unexpectedly in October.

McKenzie and Ford were not heard on the morning broadcast, there was simply a station spokesperson on air when the show would have started saying, “On behalf of everyone here at WZLX, we’d like to share some news about the future of Boston’s Classic Rock. First and foremost, we’d like to thank Pete McKenzie and Heather Ford for all the laughter, wild stories, and fun moments they have brought to Boston morning radio over the years. We truly appreciate them. With that said, we have decided to close that chapter of WZLX.”

The message continued, “After careful consideration, it was our decision to bring you, the loyal WZLX listener, a new show to take us into the future. We will debut this new show soon. Stay tuned to WZLX for more details today.”

Later that afternoon, Rich Shertenlieb took to social media to announce his radio comeback saying, “Non-competes are the worst.” The former Toucher and Rich co-host left Beasley Media Boston’s 98.5 The Sports Hub in November, after choosing not to extend his contract. Fred Toucher had revealed conflict over text messages about unresolved issues, which led to separate contract negotiations.

Despite the strained relationship, Toucher expressed respect for their time together but was uncertain about future communications with Shertenlieb.

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50 COMMENTS

  1. New show stinks. If I wanted to listen to sports would put on 98.5. Miss having a few laughs and hearing some good music on my way to work.

  2. Such sad comments being left here… I agree it was a bad decision to do away with Pete and Heather… I’m new to this classic rock station I started listening to in ‘22 when I started driving a school bus and found myself driving to work at 5:30 am and I so enjoyed listening to Kevin Pete & Heather ….. I remember when they were late starting the show that horrible morning when Kevin didn’t show up for work, when he was the first one to arrive every morning and Heather left to drive to his house to see why… I remember having a sick feeling in my stomach and I was scared of what was going to happen thinking the worst 😢 … when they finally came back on the radio you could hear the heartbreak in their voices and my heart was so sad for them …. Pete and Heather did a good job getting the show back on line with Kenny but Kevin was definitely missed by me and now Pete and Heather are gone … so I conclude with the rest of the 5:30 fan club it’s time to find another classic rock station ….. I hope Pete and Heather are doing what they love…
    Good-bye iheart radio 👋🏻

  3. Very disappointed to learn Pete, Heather and Kenny were fired after 19 years of as a 5:30am early morning listener. Time to find a new station! Best of luck Pete, Heather and Kenny.

  4. Booo, NOT a fan of the new “sports radio” show. Would much rather have a few laughs.
    Boo for Iheartradio. They made a POOR decision. Time to find a new radio station in the morning. WZLX is barely ‘classic rock’ anymore anyway. Oh well, it WAS an OK station. All good things must come to an end I guess.

  5. Can’t say what I’m really feeling because it certainly isn’t nice, after how many weeks now? Goodbye Pete and Heather, I will certainly miss you both!
    Joe – area code 985

  8. Huge loss. Still floundering to find another morning show. Listened to 10 minutes of this new show and all I can say is he doesn’t say much and when he does he doesn’t say much. Loyal to Heather and Pete from the beginning. Bye bye
    I heart radio. Bad decision.

  9. YA IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THEY (PETE, HEATHER & KENNY ENDED UP ON ANOTHER STATION IN BOSTON, IDK ABOUT THE NEW SHOW LISTENED FEW DAYS SO FAR MISSING THE MUSIC , THE BANTER & SHORT STORIES, HESARING BATHROOM \BOWEL MOVENET HUMOR A FEW MORNINGS (NOT A FAN) UNNESSARY FULL ON DESCRITION OF MOVIES & THE DISLIKE OF SOME BANDS\MUSIC SO FAR NOT LIKING THE CHANGES MAYBE BECAUSE THE PETE HEATHER & KENNEY WERE SO GOOD. & THE SPORTS TALK TAHER GO ELSE WHERE

  10. After Kevin passed, it was obvious that Pete and Heather could not carry the show on their own. It just wasn’t interesting or entertaining without Kevin. I had hoped they would find a suitable replacement and carry on (It wasn’t working with Kenny Young), but I guess not. However, replacing the morning show with a sports talk program? Ummm, no thanks. Those shows are like watching paint dry. I’ll be over at 105.7

  12. VERY DISAPPOINTED BEEN LISTENING TO THEM FOREVER.BRING BACK THE MUSIC IN THE MORNING.NOT VERY HAPPY WITH HOW THEY LEFT HEATHER AND PETE HANGING.

  13. It was a very bad decision to drop Pete and Heather from WZLX! Us listeners were not given any explanation and no time was given to Pete and Heather to say their goodbyes or to tell us what radio station they would be going to so we could tune in there instead! It was a great show with them. It just won’t be the same without them! I will no longer be listening to that station!!

    • I so agree. Been listening to ZLX since it started way back. I don’t understand how its an improvement taking a classic rock music show and turn it to a sport talk show makes any sense what so ever. Truly a sad moment. It’s been a beautiful thing for decades to b able to listen to actual historic music and now this. Who is the menza member that made this call. I think he might have sealed his soon to b fate. Good luck.

  14. I am so sad to find out today about Pete & Heather. Loved listening to all the banter with K&M & H. I feel bad for them as they lost their friend 7 months ago and now lost their jobs. You will be so missed. Bad move on ZLX

  15. I am so sad to find out today about Pete & Heather. Loved listening to all the banter with K&M & H. I feel bad for them as they lost their friend 7 months ago and now lost their jobs. You will be so missed. Bad move on ZLX

  16. I was devastated when Kevin passed and will miss Pete and Heather so much! But maybe it’s possible that they wanted to leave? How do we know they were fired? Maybe they felt sad that the show wasn’t the same without Kevin and asked for the change???

  17. I was devastated when Kevin passed and will miss Pete and Heather so much! But maybe it’s possible that they wanted to leave? How do we know they were fired? Maybe they felt sad that the show wasn’t the same wihout Kevin and asked for the change???

  18. Frank FM in the morning ZLX may be in the afternoon. I have listened to the radio station since it first came on the air . I was a loyal BCN listener then ZLX I don’t know about now.

  19. Deleted we have enough sports Radio shows I guess I’ll have to go back to Heg for classic rock. This was the best station ever used to listen to it on iHeart when I traveled not anymore.

  20. I’ve been a listing from the beginning for them to replace Heather and Pete without even letting them say goodbye is unforgivable iHeartRadio sucks Deleted I hide from Phone computer won’t listen to them again

  21. Bad enough to have all the IHeart commercials throughout the show but now firing Heather and Pete. I’ve been a loyal, 5:30 am listener since the biggening of ZLX with Betsy and Scott.
    Now I’m done. Sirus XM, Classic Vinyl, or Rock Wall, No commercials!!
    Pete, Heather the best to you!!!

  22. I have listened to WXLX every day and was devastated to hear of Kevin Karlson’s passing. Karlson, McKenzie and Heather were the BEST! I will never listen to this station again. Such piss poor treatment of Heather and Pete.

  24. I removed Wzlx from my radios TV’s I-pad computer and phones If Kevin was around he would push you no-heart losers back to NY where you belong The new replacement Pete who cares what this loser’s name is has a less than stellar reputation in Boston radio You no-heart clowns should stay out of Boston after your classless move to replace Pete and Heather I wish no-heart and Petey all the worst and hope the morning show folds like a $3.00 suitcase You no-heart nitwits don’t have a clue what you’ve done

    • Couldn’t agree more. Besides killing the Pete and Heather morning show, ( which provided a few laughs on the way to work) they freaking barely play classic Rock anymore. Heck, they “Kenny” don’t even thing that Meatloaf is Classic Rock. All they play over and over is Ozzy and Black Sabbath (which I like) but geez, play some real classic rock why don’t ya. I’ll miss the morning show and will definitely NOT listen to the stupid “no music” sports show.. that’s on a X-classic rock station. No-Heart radio just killed my favorite radio station with this final straw.

  25. I agree with everything everyone is saying. I was a dedicated listener since the beginning. Granted, the music fit my taste, but I always preferred to hear them talk and tell their stories instead of play music. And about the K&M show. I’ve said for MANY years that it should have been the K,M&H show before they finally gave Heather the recognition she deserved.

    So WZLX was always my number 1 radio station and was always the first button preset in my car. Now I need a replacement. Does anyone have any suggestions?

  26. What a Big mistake!! The “No Heart” app has been deleted. We turned on ZLX every morning to be sure to hear the intro. As the music kept playing last Monday morning after 5:30, I thought they were having technical complications getting the show started. When we heard the recorded announcement we were devastated! My husband and I were 5:30 “club” members and looked forward every week day to Kevin (rip), Pete and Heather and then Pete, Heather and Kenny. We have been listening for over 20 years and their show made our commute so much easier. We love you Pete, Heather and Kenny and will miss you very much! We will never listen to the station again. My prized WZLX Coozie went in the trash. Goodbye WZLX

  27. Will never listen again. You lost another loyal fan. Pete and Heather were the best thing in the morning. They will sorely be missed.

  28. Pete and Heather you two guys are the best as well as Kevin was It is a classless act to break up the ZLX morning show The bozos at no/heart radio don’t know or don’t care about the Morning Show They are not aware how important it is to listen to to the hilarious and crazy bantering going on I will miss it since I have been a ZLX er since the show started God bless Spike from Rio

  29. I concur with all the comments below. No more WXLX for me nor my office mates since it is obvious that iHeart Radio doesn’t care about its listeners.

  30. By far, the most bonehead move that any radio station has ever made. I have listened to this show from the beginning. I have been a 5:30 club member from the day they started. I cant believe that this is how it ends. No heart has killed the golden goose. I will no longer wake up to the radio at 5:30 AM again. Not only will I not wake up to the radio, but I will not listen to any thing that is no heart. I to have deleted the app from my phone and computer. No more no heart.
    I wish all the best to Pete and Heather. They were the best. They should not have been treated like that.

  31. I can’t believe how no heart handled this. Just letting Heather and Pete go after they continued on with the show after Kevin passed. They were true professionals, unlike no heart radio. I wish Pete and Heather nothing but the best. I wish they had the opportunity to talk to their fans. I will be looking for a new station.

  32. Not happy about the firing of Pete and Heather. I week never listen to this station again. You lost a listener.

  33. It could be that tyler’s responsibility. I am going to boycott ZLX forever !! Either way it sucks. Pete and Heather deserve way better. Best morning show in years in Boston.

  34. I’ve been listening to WZLX since before Karlson McKenzie and Heather . After the loss they suffered to do this without warning just shows Iheart radio has no heart. Changing stations now and not coming back.

  35. Sad news first thing on my Monday morning. Wishing Pete and Heather all the best-I’ll miss you both. No more WZLX in the morning for me.

  36. I like classic rock, in the mornings I enjoyed pete, heather and (kevin). For the evening commute, I’d put on Spotify or pandora to listen to what I want. Now I’ll stop the morning routine. WZLX will lose out. Good luck to Pete and Heather, I liked their show.

  39. Deleted the I- Heart app on my phone and computer. Won’t be listening to any I-Heart anything after this classless move.

  40. Hope my radio dial works because I’ll have to change the station been listening to Zac since 99 time to change stations

  43. I agree I will not be listening to ZLX and this Yahoo, Shertenlieb who was bad on sports radio. Now he will ruin Classic Rock. I now need to find another Classic Rock station to listen to in the morning!!!
    Bad Move iHeart Radio.

  45. I will never listen to ZLX ever again iheartradio morons don’t now jack about a loyal fan base and beloved hosts. They think they know what Bostonians want without ever asking them that would be their overbearing management style….we will tell you what to like😢 so I hope everyone boycotts this lame ass station to the point of them having to beg Pete and Heather to come back and they say F*CK YOU

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