Preston & Steve
GenreComedy, Talk, Rock
Running time4+ hours
Country of originUnited States
Home stationWMMR (Philadelphia)
Hosted by
  • Preston Elliot
  • Steve Morrison
Starring
  • Casey Foster
  • Kathy Romano
  • Nick McIlwain
  • Marisa Magnatta
Produced by
  • Marisa Magnatta
  • Nick McIlwain
Executive producer(s)Casey Foster
Recording studioBala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Original release1998 (1998) on Y100/Y100
(Except February 23, 2005 - May 23, 2005)
Websiteprestonandsteve.com
Podcastprestonandsteve.libsyn.com

Preston & Steve is a morning radio, comedy, and variety broadcast on Philadelphia's active rock station 93.3 FM WMMR. The show features DJs Preston Elliot and Steve Morrison. The show originated at WDRE and then on Y100, both in Philadelphia, and features daily telephone interviews, in-studio guests, celebrity impersonations, unusual news stories, and numerous sound clips and running gags. It broadcasts live on the radio as well as streaming audio via the station website from 6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. ET Monday through Friday, and is a featured podcast in the comedy section of the iTunes Store.

History

Preston Elliot, Steve Morrison and Marilyn Russell were among a group of radio personalities introduced to the Philadelphia market through the now defunct radio station WDRE.[1] With several of their WDRE co-workers, they departed the station for Y100 in 1997 when WDRE changed format.[1] After four successful years of (then known as) The Y100 Morning Show with Preston, Marilyn, and Steve, Marilyn Russell left the morning show on March 1, 2002, for family reasons. She has worked part-time on many stations in the Philadelphia area since then, including WMGK, and SoJo 104.9, WYSP, and joined morning personality Dave Cruise as co-host on "The BENFM Morning Show on 95.7 in 2007.[2]

WPLY's owner, Dan Lerner, one of the last independent owners in the Philadelphia market, sold the station to Radio One, a national broadcasting corporation, in 2001. Coincidentally, Radio One was the same group that bought Preston, Marilyn & Steve's previous radio station 103.9 WDRE. Radio One and hosts Elliot and Morrison did not successfully negotiate a new contract, and the personalities agreed to a deal with local broadcasting group Greater Media. The hosts' contract with Radio One expired on February 24, 2005, and Y100 changed format and became WPHI "The Beat" at 11:50 p.m. EDT that same day.[3]

A legal battle between Radio One and the Elliot and Morrison team over the hosts' non-compete clause was resolved by a ruling that they were no longer in competition with WPLY. Their new show officially debuted on WMMR on Monday, May 23, 2005.[4]

In 2006, Elliot and Morrison received a long-term contract extension[5] and in 2008, the station gave them a new 1,800-square-foot (170 m2) studio with their own production equipment.[6] They continued to sign multi-year extensions in 2011,[7] in 2019 (with current owner of WMMR Beasley Broadcast Group),[8] and most recently in May 2022 that will keep them on WMMR through 2030.[9]

On-air staff

Preston Elliot
Born
Preston Elliot Wilson

(1968-01-25) January 25, 1968
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Other namesKenny Knight
SpouseRachelle
ChildrenParker
Carter
Caroline
Steve Morrison
Born (1959-06-12) June 12, 1959
Long Island, New York, U.S.
SpouseClare

Awards and ratings

The show has been named the "Best Morning Show" by Philadelphia Style magazine,[10] and "Personality/Show of the Year" in the active rock category by Radio & Records trade magazine.[11] Before switching to WMMR, the show won various Philadelphia A.I.R. Awards, including the "Best Weekday Morning Team" award for 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2005,[12] and was voted best local morning show in the country in FMQB's Year End Leaders Poll for 2004 and 2005 in two different formats.[13]

In the Summer 2004 Arbitron ratings book, the show was rated fourth in market share for all people ages 18–34, and second for men in the same category.[14] The Preston & Steve show's ratings surpassed Howard Stern's during his last month on the air, and they outranked each of David Lee Roth's, Opie and Anthony's, and Kidd Chris's tenures at WYSP.[15] As of 2009, Preston & Steve was the top rated show in Philadelphia,[16] and over a four-year period, they had the #1 show in the Arbitron ratings for the 25–54 adult demographic a total of 42 times.[7]

In 2014, Elliot and Morrison were nominated by the National Association of Broadcasters as finalists for the NAB Marconi Radio Awards for Major Market Personality of the Year.[17]

On June 11, 2019, Elliot and Morrison were honored by The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation, receiving the 2019 Service to Community Award in acknowledgement of the Camp Out for Hunger [18]

On November 22, 2019 The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia inducted the duo into their Hall of Fame.[19]

In August 2021, it was announced that Preston Elliot and Steve Morrison will be inducted to the Radio Hall of Fame, being nominated under the “Spoken Word On-Air Personality” category. [20]

Publicity events

Camp Out for Hunger

Since 1998, the show has held an annual Camp Out For Hunger, in which both Elliot and Morrison "camp out" (i.e., live in a motorhome) for one week in November to raise food for Philabundance. The show awards prizes to individuals and groups that donate the most food. Since 1998, the event has collected thousands of tons of food and raised millions of dollars to feed the hungry across the Delaware Valley.[21][22]

Results

Year Tons of Food US Dollars
2005 87.4 $10,000
2006 151 $18,337
2007 232 $27,427
2008 223 $40,540
2009 187 $45,000
2010[23] 264 $64,119
2011 288 $80,000
2012[24] 313 $106,000
2013 386 $240,522
2014 420 $110,518
2015 580 $158,995
2016 683 $74,870+
2017 [25] 839 $272,683
2018[26] 913 $198,188
2019 1,339 $200,000
2020 [27] 1,268 $1,743,232
2021 [28] 1,167 $1,802,237
2022[29] 1,410 $1,340,254

10,000 marbles

To celebrate the anticipated 10,000th loss in Philadelphia Phillies franchise history, executive producer Nick McIlwain rolled 10,000 marbles down the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art as Bill Weston (WMMR's program director) looked on. After being cleaned up by the show's production crew, the marbles were donated to Toys for Tots and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.[30]

"Totally Office Calendar"

In 2006, Elliot had a slip of the tongue while trying to say "awesome" and instead said "office". Later that year they announced that they would be releasing a calendar featuring one (sometimes two) woman a month. Lauren Harris had been the only woman to appear in the calendar every year, until the 2015 calendar, when other commitments kept her from participating (she returned to appear in the 2016 Calendar). Release of the Calendar is typically accompanied by a "Totally Office Calendar Party", which can draw thousands of participants to see the women depicted in the Calendar in person and receive signed copies of the Calendar. There was no Calendar shoot nor a release party for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Instead, a 2021 "Totally Office Calendar" poster featuring past photos from previous Calendars was created and was given to anyone that made a drive-through donation at the 2020 Camp Out for Hunger.[31] The Calendar poster was later made available through the station's "Rock Shop" store on their website for the apropos price of $9.33.[32]

"I Bleed for Preston & Steve" blood drive

This annual blood drive is hosted by Preston & Steve in coordination with the American Red Cross. The event typically attracts a very large crowd, and various promotional items and free concert tickets are often given out. The 2011 (6th annual) blood drive collected a total of 1,174 units of blood, and gives them a 6-year total of 6,409 units.[33] The 2016 (11th annual) drive collected a total of 1,297 units of blood.[34]

In media

  • Elliot and his wife Rachelle were featured in the first episode of Season Five on Trading Spaces.[35]
  • Morrison and his wife Claire were featured on an episode of the HGTV show Spice Up My Kitchen[36] where their kitchen was redone for a budget of $40,000.
  • Producer Casey Foster and his wife Diane were featured on an episode of the HGTV show Bad, Bad Bath (later retitled Save My Bath)[37] which premiered on October 17, 2006.
  • Reporter Kathy Romano had appeared on an episode of the third season of The Simple Life,[38] commenting that the producers present on a Greyhound bus had to "spoon-feed" every line of dialogue to Paris Hilton.
  • Romano appeared in the 2009 film The Mighty Macs as a gate agent. The film is produced by Pat Croce and is about an all girl Catholic college basketball team.
  • Foster signed a one-day contract with the Philadelphia Soul.[39]
  • Foster and McIlwain[40] appeared in two episodes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Romano appeared in the season three episode "Dennis Looks Like a Registered Sex Offender." Both Elliot and Morrison appeared in season 4 episode 3, playing construction workers, alongside several Philadelphia Eagles. Steve's role was originally to include one line ("Uh, yeah... I guess?"), but was shortened ("What?"), Preston's role had no lines. They were also featured as themselves in the episode "Mac's Big Break".[41]
  • Foster appeared in the 2010 documentary film Bazaar of All Nations about a unique and influential shopping center in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.[42]
  • Morrison and Magnatta appear on an episode of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives in 2011, where host Guy Fieri visits the Memphis Taproom in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Boris, Alan (2011), Philadelphia Radio, Images of America, Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, p. 126, ISBN 978-0-7385-7508-7, OCLC 706018831, retrieved December 2, 2011
  2. ↑ "The Greater Media Grapevine" (PDF). Fall 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 13, 2008.
  3. ↑ "Radio One Displaces Y100 Philly With The Beat". February 25, 2005. Archived from the original on December 20, 2007.
  4. ↑ "The Greater Media Grapevine" (PDF). Summer 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 23, 2007.
  5. ↑ "WMMR's Preston and Steve Extend Contract Through 2010". Greater Media, Inc. March 14, 2006. Archived from the original on October 26, 2007.
  6. ↑ Klein, Michael (May 4, 2008). "Inqlings". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  7. 1 2 "WMMR Inks Preston & Steve To Multi-Year Contract Extension". FMQB. August 23, 2011. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Preston and Steve sign multi-year extension at WMMR".
  9. ↑ "Preston And Steve Staying AT WMMR". Archived from the original on May 19, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Best of Style". Philadelphia Style. 2006. Archived from the original on July 14, 2006.
  11. ↑ "WMMR-FM's Preston & Steve Take Top Honors at 2007 Radio & Records Convention". Greater Media, Inc. September 28, 2007. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007.
  12. ↑ "Philadelphia A.I.R. Award Winners" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 2, 2008.
  13. ↑ "Q&A with WMMR/Philly Morning Hosts Preston & Steve". FMQB. February 16, 2006. Archived from the original on October 9, 2007.
  14. ↑ "Y100's Preston & Steve Cross The Street To WMMR". FMQB. January 14, 2005. Archived from the original on November 23, 2007.
  15. ↑ "WMMR/Philadelphia APD Chuck Damico and MD Sean "The Rabbi" Tyszler". FMQB. August 24, 2007. Archived from the original on October 26, 2007.
  16. ↑ "WMMR/Philadelphia's Preston & Steve Morning Show". FMQB. May 15, 2009. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014.
  17. ↑ "2014 NAB Marconi Radio Award Finalists Announced". FMQB. July 1, 2014. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Preston & Steve's Camp Out for Hunger Wins Service to America Award". June 12, 2019.
  19. ↑ "The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia". Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  20. ↑ "WMMR's Preston and Steve to be inducted into National Radio Hall of Fame". August 25, 2021.
  21. ↑ staff (December 6, 2007), "Local Radio Show Camps Out For Hunger", NBC10.com, archived from the original on January 9, 2008
  22. ↑ "Preston and Steve's Camp Out for Hunger – Record Setting". Greater Media, Inc. December 11, 2007.
  23. ↑ DiSanto, Lauren (November 29, 2011), "Preston and Steve Camp out for Hunger", nbcphiladelphia.com, NBCUniversal, retrieved December 2, 2011
  24. ↑ "WMMR's Preston & Steve Camp Out For Hunger". All Access Music Group. December 3, 2012.
  25. ↑ "The totals are in! Camp Out for Hunger 2017 collected... - 93.3 WMMR". 93.3 WMMR. December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Totals are in!! 2018 Camp Out for Hunger Collected..." 93.3 WMMR. December 4, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  27. ↑ "The totals are in! Camp Out for Hunger 2020 collected…". November 24, 2020.
  28. ↑ "The totals are in! Camp Out for Hunger 2021 collected…". November 9, 2021.
  29. ↑ "The totals are in! Camp Out for Hunger 2022 collected…". 93.3 WMMR. November 16, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Marbles Roll Ahead Of Dubious Milestone". NBC10.com. July 13, 2007.
  31. ↑ "P&S 2021 Totally Office Calendar Poster ON SALE NOW". November 5, 2020.
  32. ↑ Vallee, Joe (November 15, 2010). "Preston and Steve's 2011 Totally Office Calender Party brings thousands to Chickie's and Pete's". philly2philly.com. Game Time Media, LLC. Archived from the original on November 28, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  33. ↑ Segel, Whitney (June 30, 2011), "WMMR Listeners Give Back During Annual Blood Drive", Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region, American Red Cross, archived from the original (press release) on April 19, 2012, retrieved December 2, 2011
  34. ↑ "11th Annual I Bleed For Preston & Steve Blood Drive : Greater Media". www.greatermedia.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  35. ↑ Philadelphia: Bugle Lane, Trading Spaces, Paige Davis, Preston Elliot, Carter Oosterhouse, October 16, 2004, retrieved November 13, 2023{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  36. ↑ "Spice Up My Kitchen". HGTV. Archived from the original on April 11, 2008.
  37. ↑ "Bleak Basement Bath".
  38. ↑ "Kathy Romano" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 2, 2008.
  39. ↑ "Casey Boy Plays for the Philadelphia Soul!". WMMR. Archived from the original on June 11, 2008.
  40. ↑ "'Always Sunny" Third Season Debuts". phillyedge.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008.
  41. ↑ ""It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" Eagles Shoot". philadelphiaeagles.com.
  42. ↑ "Remember the Bazaar?". Philly.com.
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