Mike Trivisonno
Encyclopedia
Mike Trivisonno is a Radio Broadcaster
, best known for hosting his own self-titled afternoon talk show on Cleveland
radio station
WTAM-AM/1100
. He is widely referred to simply as "Triv" by callers and the Cleveland media.
, (during this period the station was operating under the WWWE call letters
). The show was hosted by the acerbic Pete Franklin
and dealt with Cleveland sports. Franklin, who would typically cut off most callers, began giving "Mike from Mayfield" some latitude due to knowledgeable commentary, particularly regarding the Cleveland Browns
. Franklin began mockingly referring to Trivisonno as "Mr. Know It All," a moniker he would carry into his own radio career.
Trivisonno eventually began his own broadcasting career in 1988, working for a time at WNCX
, commenting on sports (particularly boxing) and becoming one of the full time morning show personalities during 1989 and 1990 as a part of 'Those Guys in the Morning" with Rick Rydell
and Todd Brandt. He continued on WNCX with their successive morning show hosted by Jerry Shirley
until the station picked up Howard Stern
in August 1992.
He began hosting "Sportsline" on WWWE in 1994. At first, the show aired from 6 p.m. - 11 p.m. The show did well in the ratings—even though it was usually up against Cleveland Indians
games on WKNR
. It did so well, the decision was made to put Trivisonno in afternoon drive-time (4 p.m. - 8 p.m. in 1996, still as "Sportsline"; 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. since 1998, under his own name) ultimately leaving "Sportsline" to someone else. Since then, The Mike Trivisonno Show (also called The Triv Show or simply Mike Trivisonno) is usually either first or second in ratings for his time slot in the region. Memorably, he used Stevie Wonder
's "He's Misstra Know It All" as his theme music.
His show had been originally dedicated mostly to sports, but over time it has become a forum for discussing sports, politics, local issues, current events, or whatever else happens to be on Trivisonno's mind at the time. He discusses topics (and frequently argues) with listeners who call in to the show and/or with producer/sidekicks
Ryan Gohmann, Seth Williams, and Jennifer Rose (who also does traffic), news director Darren Toms, and news anchor Carmen Angelo. Sports reporters Andre Knott (Cleveland Browns
& Cleveland Cavaliers
) and Nick Camino (Cleveland Indians
) are also featured on the show, talking sports with Triv.
Trivisonno's radio popularity also led to him becoming a contributor on Cleveland's CBS
affiliate WOIO channel 19
, doing daily commentaries during their 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. newscasts.
, and attended Mayfield High School on Cleveland's east side. He was married to his high school sweetheart Linda (née Conforto), who died of lung and brain cancer on July 30, 2009, at age 61. The couple have three grown children, two sons and a daughter, and two grandchildren. The family dog was a mutt named Gino.
On April 1, 2011, Trivisonno married his girlfriend, Tami in Las Vegas.
His brother Gary, a golf pro, was also a radio personality on WTAM, hosting a weekly golf show.
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
, best known for hosting his own self-titled afternoon talk show on Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
WTAM-AM/1100
WTAM
WTAM — branded Newsradio WTAM 1100 — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, serving Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, the station broadcasts primarily a news/talk format...
. He is widely referred to simply as "Triv" by callers and the Cleveland media.
Radio career
Trivisonno first gained notoriety in the early 1970s as a frequent caller on the "Sportsline" radio show on WTAM AM 1100WTAM
WTAM — branded Newsradio WTAM 1100 — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, serving Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, the station broadcasts primarily a news/talk format...
, (during this period the station was operating under the WWWE call letters
Call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
). The show was hosted by the acerbic Pete Franklin
Pete Franklin
Pete Franklin , nicknamed "The King" and "Pigskin Pete", was an American sports talk radio host who worked in Cleveland, New York and San Francisco...
and dealt with Cleveland sports. Franklin, who would typically cut off most callers, began giving "Mike from Mayfield" some latitude due to knowledgeable commentary, particularly regarding the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Franklin began mockingly referring to Trivisonno as "Mr. Know It All," a moniker he would carry into his own radio career.
Trivisonno eventually began his own broadcasting career in 1988, working for a time at WNCX
WNCX
WNCX — branded 98.5 WNCX — is commercial radio station in Cleveland, Ohio, broadcasting a classic rock format. The station's studios are currently located in Cleveland's historic Halle Building, in the Playhouse Square District...
, commenting on sports (particularly boxing) and becoming one of the full time morning show personalities during 1989 and 1990 as a part of 'Those Guys in the Morning" with Rick Rydell
Rick Rydell
Rick Rydell is an American talk radio host, outdoorsman, writer and author. Rydell has enjoyed a long career in radio, most prominently with various stations in Anchorage, Alaska...
and Todd Brandt. He continued on WNCX with their successive morning show hosted by Jerry Shirley
Jerry Shirley
Jerry Shirley is an English rock drummer, best known for his work with the rock band Humble Pie and appeared on all their albums...
until the station picked up Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
in August 1992.
He began hosting "Sportsline" on WWWE in 1994. At first, the show aired from 6 p.m. - 11 p.m. The show did well in the ratings—even though it was usually up against Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
games on WKNR
WKNR
WKNR — branded ESPN 850 WKNR — is a commercial sports radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio. Owned by Good Karma Broadcasting, WKNR is the primary Cleveland affiliate for ESPN Radio; together with sister station WWGK, WKNR is often referred to as ESPN Cleveland.WKNR is the Cleveland affiliate...
. It did so well, the decision was made to put Trivisonno in afternoon drive-time (4 p.m. - 8 p.m. in 1996, still as "Sportsline"; 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. since 1998, under his own name) ultimately leaving "Sportsline" to someone else. Since then, The Mike Trivisonno Show (also called The Triv Show or simply Mike Trivisonno) is usually either first or second in ratings for his time slot in the region. Memorably, he used Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
's "He's Misstra Know It All" as his theme music.
His show had been originally dedicated mostly to sports, but over time it has become a forum for discussing sports, politics, local issues, current events, or whatever else happens to be on Trivisonno's mind at the time. He discusses topics (and frequently argues) with listeners who call in to the show and/or with producer/sidekicks
Radio producer
A radio producer oversees the making of a radio show. There are two main types of producer. An audio or creative producer and a content producer. Audio producers create sounds and audio specifically, content producers oversee and orchestrate a radio show or feature...
Ryan Gohmann, Seth Williams, and Jennifer Rose (who also does traffic), news director Darren Toms, and news anchor Carmen Angelo. Sports reporters Andre Knott (Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
& Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
) and Nick Camino (Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
) are also featured on the show, talking sports with Triv.
Trivisonno's radio popularity also led to him becoming a contributor on Cleveland's CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate WOIO channel 19
WOIO
WOIO, virtual channel 19 , is the CBS affiliate in Cleveland, Ohio. It is licensed to the nearby suburb of Shaker Heights. WOIO is owned by Raycom Media and its sister station to MyNetworkTV affiliate WUAB . The two stations share a studio facility in Cleveland and WOIO's transmitter is located in...
, doing daily commentaries during their 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. newscasts.
Personal life
Trivisonno was born in [Cleveland, Ohio], OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, and attended Mayfield High School on Cleveland's east side. He was married to his high school sweetheart Linda (née Conforto), who died of lung and brain cancer on July 30, 2009, at age 61. The couple have three grown children, two sons and a daughter, and two grandchildren. The family dog was a mutt named Gino.
On April 1, 2011, Trivisonno married his girlfriend, Tami in Las Vegas.
His brother Gary, a golf pro, was also a radio personality on WTAM, hosting a weekly golf show.
