The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 2: Chris Russo, Frank Caliendo

Date: February 3, 2026
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show (iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network)

Overview

This hour of The Dan Patrick Show is a lively, nostalgia-filled ride featuring two high-profile guests: Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, legendary sports radio host, and Frank Caliendo, master impressionist and comedian. Dan and the Danettes dig into the history of sports radio, the virtues and flaws of baseball legends, sports stadium nostalgia, and the craft (and chaos) of comedy impressions. The segment is sprinkled with humor, storytelling, and frank (pun intended) observations about sports and pop culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Poll Questions and Show Setup

(01:19–03:55)

• The hour kicks off with audience poll results and show banter:
  • Is there an anti-Patriots bias in this year’s Hall of Fame voting?
    • 75% say yes.
  • Should there be?
    • 70% say no.
  • Who would you want to grab dinner with among the guests? (Ross Tucker, Russo, Caliendo, Steve Young)
    • Ross Tucker leads, but it’s a four-way tie.

2. Chris “Mad Dog” Russo Interview

(03:55–20:04)

Sports Radio Legacy & On-Air Persona

• Russo’s “aaaaand” radio catchphrase:
  • Developed organically within the first few months at WFAN in 1989.
  • "You try something, seems like people like it, you stick with it." (05:07)
• On working with Francesa:
  • Their formula worked because of the contrast in personas—Francesa was wry and knowledgeable, Russo more energetic and unpredictable.
  • “Mike understood that you were with us. You were part of it forever.” (06:05)
• Springsteen and Show Theme:
  • Uses Springsteen’s “Radio Nowhere”; sought direct approval to play it.

Ballpark Nostalgia: Oracle Park and San Francisco Sports

• Russo reminisces about attending the Giants' first game at then-Pacific Bell Park (now Oracle Park), and various signature baseball moments.
• On San Francisco's stadiums:
  • Praises Petco and Camden Yards.
  • Describes the unique creation of Oracle Park and the role of Peter Magowan.
  • “It is a great park. I came to the World Series here in ‘02. I was here a lot in the early days.” (08:01)
• On Candlestick Park:
  • “One time. Oh, I was dead cold. Oh, geez.” (08:51)

The Giants, Bonds, and the Hall of Fame Debate

• On Giants struggling to recruit stars in recent years despite history of big signings like Bonds.
  • “They can’t get anybody to take their money… makes it tricky for them.” (10:42)
• Barry Bonds and the Hall:
  • “Bonds became an immortal because of steroids. He was not an immortal before steroids. He was great… but he wasn’t an immortal. He became Ruthian after he did it.” (12:36)
  • “He was great for the franchise… but they never won with him, which is hard to believe.” (14:06)
  • On Giants’ dilemma: “They gotta hold their nose.” (14:03)
• Dan compares local fanbase loyalty to Bonds (“Hey, but he’s ours”) to Pete Rose nostalgia in Cincinnati.

World Series Stories & Sports Memory

• Detailed recollections of the 2002 World Series, vivid anecdotes (“JT Snow picked up Dusty Baker's little kid, Darren, when somebody scored – he was gonna get run over...”).
• Self-deprecating banter about memory:
  • Dan: “You're creeping me out with this information.”
  • Russo: “No, I'm sharp today. I got up. I'm sharp.” (15:30)

On Super Bowl & Radio Row Evolution

• First Super Bowl: 1990, Denver–San Francisco, early days before the media circus.
• Shares tale of being invited to John Madden’s suite to break down the game:
  • “Madden comes on with Sumrall and he says, ‘Here's my address. Call me... I got to show you some stuff.’” (15:55)
• On managing entertainment and credibility:
  • “Never take yourself too seriously. You're talking sports... Have fun. So I don't worry about that anymore. Just do the... I'm 66 years old. Just do this stupid show, for crying out loud.” (19:02)

Mad Dogisms & Life Off-Air

• Fritzi prods Russo about trying edible gummies; Russo tells an anecdote about being given a full one, panicking, then eating “9 million Oreos.” (19:32)

Notable Quotes:

• “Bonds became an immortal because of steroids. He became Ruthian after he did it. And it was all because of that home run derby when McGwire and Sosa...and Bonds got jealous.” – Russo (12:36)
• “They gotta hold their nose.” – Russo on the Giants and Bonds' Hall of Fame dilemma (14:03)
• “Never take yourself too seriously. You're talking sports... Have fun.” – Russo (19:02)

3. Frank Caliendo Segment

(22:27–39:11)

Comedy After Mad Dog (and the ‘Dude Wipes Guy’)

• Frank jokes about the challenge of following Russo’s energy:
  • “Normally, I'm not the guy who has to follow energy, but there was Mad Dog and then the Dude Wipe guy...” (24:05)

The Art of Impressions – Process, Study, and Range

• Always looking for new people to impersonate – “...the people die off. Presidents get old, then they're not topical. I work them backwards...” (24:20)
  • Displays transitions through Bush, Trump, Obama, Clinton.
• Importance of studying mannerisms:
  • “The mouth tells you how the person talks. The eyes tell you how a person thinks. That’s how I always break it down.” (29:23)
  • Example: Jeff Goldblum – “He’s a tourist and a tour guide at the same time.”
• “Voices blend into each other” – shows transitions: John Madden to Bill Walton, Kermit the Frog to Paul Giamatti, etc. (30:14)
• Describes “reverse engineering” characters, using established pop culture versions to find the right voice.
• On recording practice:
  • “It’s just repetition...If you can get one sentence...then you can kind of play it like it’s music.” (31:58)

Insider Tales & Voice Requests

• Being invited by ESPN personalities to do impressions of them (“Sal Pal wanted me to do him…”), and everyone on ESPN doing a “secret Berman.”
• On Mel Kiper’s response to being impersonated:
  • “He called me after I did it the first time...‘Frank, Mel Kiper Jr. Gonna figure that one out.’” (33:00–33:24)

Dealing with Audiences and Stand-Up Realities

• Frank explains that his audiences are generally fans now, but he endured forced campus gigs where no one wanted comedy. (34:14–35:06)
• On dealing with hecklers:
  • “If somebody is a heckler, there’s a guy who doesn’t know it’s not his turn to talk...then he probably should look for the security man who’s about to take him out of the show.” (35:06)

Audience Interaction – Taking Impression Requests

• “At the end I say, if I didn’t get to an impression you wanted to hear, call it out now.” (36:03)
  • Does rapid-fire Stephen A. Smith and meta-commentary on the vocabulary needed to nail the impression.

Inviting Todd (Fritzi) to Perform Stand-Up

• Extended joke about Fritzi opening for Frank in Hartford – “Anyone going on after me would kill, no matter what.” (38:34)
• Comic meta riff: repeating “I couldn’t say the same thing over and over...” ad nauseam.

Notable Quotes:

• “The mouth tells you how the person talks. The eyes tell you how a person thinks.” – Caliendo (29:23)
• “Voices blend into each other...John Madden can become Bill Walton...just a little switch.” – Caliendo (30:14)
• “Never take yourself too seriously. You're talking sports... Have fun.” – Russo (19:02)

4. Listener Calls and Dan’s Super Bowl Memories

(40:34–45:46)

Super Bowl Logos and Memories

• Callers reminisce about favorite Super Bowl moments—Jackie Smith’s drop, the Gary Youripremian pick-6.
• Dan’s most meaningful Super Bowl moment:
  • Being on the field with Steve Young during Roethlisberger’s TD to Santonio Holmes:
    • “To be on the sidelines with Steve Young as he's doing play by play from a quarterback's perspective...was one of those all-time moments.” (41:27)
  • Being close to Malcolm Butler’s famous interception.

Dan’s “Welcome to the Big Stage” Media Moment

• Recalls sharing the ESPYs stage with Bill Murray, handing out the comeback award to Michael Jordan.
  • Bill Murray: “...you shouldn’t accept this. Monica [Seles] got stabbed.” (43:38)
  • “I'm just holding on for dear life...I don't know where he's taken me."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Russo on Bonds:
  • “He became Ruthian after he did it. And it was all because of that Home run derby when McGuire and Sosa...and Bonds got jealous.” (12:36)
• Russo on aging as a broadcaster:
  • “I'm 66 years old. Just do this stupid show, for crying out loud.” (19:02)
• Caliendo on impressions:
  • “The mouth tells you how the person talks. The eyes tell you how a person thinks.” (29:23)
• Caliendo on crowd work:
  • “If somebody is a heckler, there's a guy who doesn't know it's not his turn to talk...probably should look for the security man who’s about to take him out of the show.” (35:06)
• Dan Patrick recalling his ESPYs moment with Bill Murray:
  • “Bill comes through a side door...goes, ‘You didn’t think I'd make it?’...and then we hand out the comeback player of the year award.” (43:38)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Poll questions and show intro: 01:19–03:55
• Chris Russo Interview (Sports talk legacy, ballpark nostalgia, Giants/Bonds/HOF): 03:55–20:04
• Frank Caliendo Segment (comedy, impressions, audience interaction): 22:27–39:11
• Listener calls and Dan’s Super Bowl memories: 40:34–45:46

Conclusion

This episode of The Dan Patrick Show is a blend of sports history, behind-the-scenes storytelling, and high-energy comedy. Chris Russo offers a masterclass in sports nostalgia and the realities of fandom for controversial legends like Barry Bonds. Frank Caliendo brings the funny with insights into his craft and in-the-moment impressions, while Dan Patrick holds it together with stories from media's biggest stages. Overall, the hour is a rich mix of banter, insight, and good-natured ribbing—epitomizing why sports talk radio remains such a beloved institution.