Craig Carton returns to WFAN. Some LIers are excited. Some aren't. But they all plan to listen.

There’s nothing like a good sports talk radio debate.

Only this debate isn’t about sports. It’s about sports talk radio. Specifically, whether it’s a good idea for WFAN to bring back controversial host Craig Carton for a third stint at the station.

Carton, who spent about a year in prison after he was arrested on federal fraud and conspiracy charges in 2017 in relation to a gambling addiction, will debut “The Carton Show” with Chris McMonigle at 2 p.m. on Jan. 5.

Carton fans — of which there are many — are thrilled.

Carton detractors — of which there are many — are not.

“I’m happy he’ll be back at WFAN and doing the afternoon show,” Felice Sapiro of Roslyn Heights wrote in an email. “I’ll definitely be listening whether at work or on the drive home. He’s entertaining for sure, if you don’t take him too seriously.”

It’s likely people will tune in to hear Carton initially because of the buzz surrounding his latest return. But will they stay tuned in for Carton’s shock jock-style show?

“I just find him vulgar,” said Charles Fradella, 75, of Glen Cove. “He's a clown, and I don't think he's funny. He's very limited in sports knowledge.”

Still, Fradella said, he will “maybe, in the beginning, listen to Carton and Chris McMonigle, who I think is a class act. He's knowledgeable. He's soft-spoken. He's just a good guy. I hope he's not tarnished by being with Craig Carton.”

Fradella said he gets why WFAN is bringing back Carton again. After his first return in 2020, Carton left the station in 2023 for a TV gig at FS1. His FS1 show was canceled in July.

“Absolutely,” Fradella said. “All for the ratings. They could raise their prices for advertising. I get it. It's a good business move . . . Listen, I know what it's about, but I just find the guy to be obnoxious.”

Nick Karafantis of Bayport is a fan of WFAN who turns 20 on Christmas Eve. He said, “I haven't been listening to sports talk radio for too long. I'd say maybe a little bit over a year. So I really haven't ever listened to Craig before . . . I'll definitely give him a chance. I'll definitely still listen. I'm not going to completely tune out 2-7. And I also love Chris McMonigle. I think he's great. So I'm happy about that, that he gets a spot that's not overnight.”

Joshua Carrasco, a 42-year-old from Elizabeth, New Jersey, said he likes Carton’s show because “it’s not the usual mom-and-pop type of radio thing anymore. I like the energy. It’s that next generation type of thing, for the younger fans to understand the game of sports, the culture. It’s the enthusiasm, the mixture of different sports, the entertainment.”

A WFAN spokesman did not respond to a request for comment about Carton’s return. On Dec. 10, a statement attributed to Chris Oliviero, chief business officer and New York market president for WFAN’s parent company, Audacy, said in part: "Craig Carton's return reaffirms WFAN's position as New York's premier sports destination for big personalities, compelling conversation and highly engaging content that is difficult to ignore.”

Also difficult to ignore: Carton gets ratings. After pairing with Boomer Esiason in the mornings from 2007-17, Carton returned to WFAN in November 2020 and, working with Evan Roberts in the afternoon, soon became a hit, especially compared to ESPN New York’s “The Michael Kay Show.”

In their final ratings book together, covering the period from March 30-June 21, 2023, Carton and Roberts ranked second overall in the New York market among men 25-54, with an average of 7.0%. Kay’s show ranked 14th with 3.1%.

Today, ESPN New York broadcasts on 880 AM, which is owned by Audacy (though operated by Good Karma Brands). So the stations co-exist rather than compete, and ESPN New York no longer subscribes to the traditional Nielsen ratings.