Craig Harris Carton (born January 31, 1969) is an American radio and television personality. He was the co-host of the Carton and Roberts sports radio program on WFAN in New York City, and is seen nationally on Fox Sports 1 as host of The Carton Show weekday mornings. He previously co-hosted Boomer and Carton on WFAN and later CBS Sports Network from 2007 to 2017.
During its 10-year run, Boomer and Carton became the most listened to show in WFAN history, placing first among men ages 25–54. In September 2017, Carton resigned from the program and WFAN after his arrest for securities and wire fraud. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, and after serving 12 months, he was released in 2020. That year, he was rehired by WFAN, for which he currently hosts the #1 rated afternoon-drive program with Evan Roberts. Carton also hosts a podcast and public service show called Hello, My Name Is Craig in which attempts to help listeners work through their gambling addiction and other issues. The show recently celebrated its 100th episode.
Early and personal life
Craig Harris Carton was born on January 31, 1969, in New Rochelle, New York. In March 2019, Carton revealed that he was a victim of child sexual abuse while at a summer camp. He graduated from New Rochelle High School and the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University with a degree in broadcast journalism in 1991.
While in high school, Carton performed play-by-play duties for a variety of Westchester County high-school sporting events and was enrolled in a sports broadcasting class taught by legendary announcer Bob Wolff. As a college student, he worked as a DJ at several Syracuse nightclubs.
In his 30s, Carton was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome.
Carton's first book, Loudmouth: Tales (and Fantasies) of Sports, Sex, and Salvation from Behind the Microphone, was released on June 4, 2013.
Carton launched the Tic Toc Stop Foundation in 2013, which raises funds to combat Tourette syndrome and provide a camp for youths with Tourette named Camp Carton. Fundraising has included an annual golf tournament and a bowling event known as "Strike Out ."
Career
Carton began his broadcasting career in 1991 at WGR Radio in Buffalo. He went on to work at WWWE in Cleveland in 1992 and WIP in Philadelphia in April 1993. On WIP, Carton was a brash weekend host nicknamed "The Kid" and filled in on the station's morning-drive show.
Carton left the East Coast for Denver, working mostly at KKFN 950 AM, "The Fan." His morning show took off immediately and he became the highest-rated host in the station's history. He next took the morning slot on KBPI, where he hosted the market's top-rated local morning show. Carton left Denver to care for his wife Kim, who was pregnant with their first child.
In late 2000, Carton replaced Scott Kaplan on WNEW-FM's Sports Guys morning radio program in New York City, a job that he held for one year. He took the show in a new direction, adding stunts such as an on-the-air cockfight and "Pastapalooza." Carton was broadcasting live with Blain Ensley on WNEW during the September 11, 2001 attacks.
In July 2002, Carton began co-hosting The Jersey Guys show on WKXW. The show was nominated for a Marconi Award as the top mid-market talk show in the country.
Carton left WKXW in August 2007 for a morning opening at New York's WFAN as Boomer Esiason's co-host, replacing Imus in the Morning. The Boomer and Carton show reached number one (men 25–54) in the Arbitron ratings within a year, a ranking that Imus had not achieved since 1993. The show was simulcast on MSG Network from 2010 to 2013 and also on the CBS Sports Network starting in 2014. Boomer and Carton became the top-ranked show in New York, was nominated for multiple Marconi Awards and won several Cynopsis Media awards as the nation's top major-market sports-talk show.
In 2012, Carton hosted Spike's MMA Uncensored Live. Carton and Esiason announced a 2013 NBA game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Washington Wizards.