Our Little Boy is Growing Up

Hey McFly: Tommy McFly of Mix 107.3 and Improv 5-6-7-8

Photo by: Aaron Clamage

Mix 107.3's Tommy McFly is one of the hottest radio personalities around.

written by

Marlene Hall

Local radio personality Tommy McFly lives by Abraham Lincoln’s adage that “It’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”

If that’s the case, 22-year-old McFly should be about 80.

McFly recently sat down with On Tap at Murky Coffee in Arlington to discuss his varied talents, interests and experiences, ranging from being a radio disc jockey on a top-rated radio show to mixing mojitos to being a key member in a local improv troupe.

McFly is originally from Scranton, PA, and is an only child, or as he puts it, “God only gives you what you can handle.” At the age of 15, he got his start at the radio station Froggy 101 in Scranton.

“A friend of our family who worked at the radio station said, ‘When you turn 15, I’m going to get you a job,’” said McFly. “So I turned 15 and I called him every day for three months until he finally got me an interview with the program director . . . I started out actually wearing the Mr. Froggy suit at events and things like that.”

Eventually, McFly was able to persuade the boss to give him his own show on overnights, which eventually lead to co-hosting the morning show.

One of McFly’s most memorable gigs happened off the air. While working at Froggy, he helped a flooded Pennsylvania town, upstaging the Red Cross by soliciting supplies first.

“We ran to Sam’s Club and bought supplies and rented a U-Haul,” said McFly. “We had an army of volunteers, took a caravan to Bloomsburg, and we shoveled out an entire neighborhood. It was awesome, unbelievable.”

McFly also sent the hit TV show “The Office,” based in Scranton, tons of Scranton paraphernalia, including Froggy 101 bumper stickers. The bumper stickers are displayed prominently in Dwight’s cubicle on the show.

When his contract at Froggy ended, McFly started fielding offers in major cities like San Diego, Atlanta and Dallas. D.C.’s own Jack Diamond came calling, asking him to join his longtime show, “The Jack Diamond Morning Show,” on Mix 107.3. McFly joined the team at the age of 20.

“I’m the young, kind of naïve, metrosexual trying to make my way in the city, learning about life, learning about myself, just starting out, and kind of a smartass,” McFly said in describing his role.

Some of the perks of working for the “Jack Diamond Morning Show” include: hanging out with Duran Duran, being called “hot” by Tyra Banks, taking a trip with loyal listeners to Iceland, interviewing Vanessa Williams and Marcia Cross, and attending exclusive parties.

He usually hits about four parties per week and still manages to get up at 4 a.m. every morning. As for any groupies, “No, unfortunately, I wish, but here is hoping.”

McFly’s dream girl is Meghan McCain, daughter of presidential candidate John McCain, and his dream guest is Carrie Underwood. McFly saw her perform at a showcase in NYC and was sitting in the front row while she was performing the song “Before He Cheats.” During the line “thinking he is going to get lucky,” he claims she winked at him.

McFly not only stays busy as a radio DJ, but also lends his talents to the improv troupe 5-6-7-8. He got involved in improv to meet people as he had “just moved from a small town in Pennsylvania, just broken up with his girlfriend, you know, a basic country song,” as he describes it. He loves performing improv because he “will do anything for a laugh, and you never know what will happen next.” 5-6-7-8 sold out their first four shows at the DC Improv, and the group has additional shows scheduled in August and September.

In his spare time, McFly partakes in bartending classes and fixes a mean Mike Collins Jameson Sour Mix Club Soda, or Vodka Mojito, joking that he is ‘“trying to be trendy and difficult.”

McFly also dispenses some advice about what to do in D.C., which he describes as young and vibrant. He recommends bike riding the city, seeing the monuments at night; and visiting the Spy Museum, the Newseum and the National Museum of Crime and Punishment.

For more info on the various lives of Tommy McFly:
Mix 107.3, visit www.mix1073fm.com
Improv Troupe 5-6-7-8, www.5678improv.com


Improv Troupe 5-6-7-8’s “Things That Happen In Attics”
Friday, Aug. 22, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 23, 7:30 p.m.
At the Comedy Spot (Ballston Common Mall)
4238 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA

Improv Troupe 5-6-7-8 Benefit Performance for Luke’s Wings
Saturday, September 13, 7 p.m.
Bethesda Theater: 7719 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD
Info: www.lukeswings.org