Stephen A. Smith Goes Full-Time on ESPN First Take
ESPN First Take is going to relaunch itself with a new format, focusing on debates between commentators Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith.
ESPN’s 2-hour morning show gets its makeover on Monday, June 4th. Stephen A. Smith will be joining the show full-time, five days a week. Though Smith has long been a valued ESPN commentator and featured guest, he’ll now be sitting side-by-side Skip Bayless at the debate desk. The two will debate each other for the first hour, with the second hour dedicated to guest analysts, former athletes, and other sports pundits. Jay Crawford will stay on to moderate.
“We tweaked the show format last year to focus more on debate and specifically on presenting and challenging Skip’s opinions and we saw our viewers respond to that change,” said Jamie Horowitz, ESPN’s vice president of original programming and production. “Given the response we’ve seen on social platforms like Twitter and Facebook, we dug a bit deeper into the ratings data and know that the riveting combination of Stephen A. and Skip debating their views resonates with our viewers. Our plan with this relaunch is to give them even more of the show elements they like best.”
Social media has played a big role in the decision, and has backed ratings for First Take, which has seen year-to-date ratings up 34% among all viewers in 2012.
“Stephen A. and Skip have both enjoyed long and successful journalism careers and their years of experience enable them to offer compelling opinions on a variety of topics,” Horowitz said. “They will both passionately defend their positions and while viewers may not always agree with either Skip or Stephen A., the response across social media and the data both suggest that they are often entertained by the insightful conversations.”
Do you think Stephen A. Smith’s inclusion in the new format of ESPN First Take will be successful?
Tags : espn, espn first take, espn first take skip bayless stephen a smith, espn2, stephen a smith, stephen a smith espn, stephen a smith twitter
Posted: May 8, 2012
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May 8, 2012
Its about time they have someone on hand fulll time to give Skip Bayless the real deal.
May 8, 2012
My gut says 'no.' I like having one obnoxious person on First Take, but two everyday is going to be hard to digest! Plus, all they ever talk is the NFL and the NBA. If they had it their way, they wouldn't be allowed to talk about any other sport. Kind of annoying. We're more than a month into the MLB season and they never talk about it. Plus, the only time they talk about golf is if it has something to do with Tiger. I can only wonder how hockey fans feel. The thing I like most about First Take is not knowing which analyst is going to show up on any given day.
May 8, 2012
I watch it every morning, not sure why.
May 8, 2012
already did this it was called cold pizza , woody and skip.
May 8, 2012
I actually think its a good deal. Truth is Stephen A Smith is really the only reason I watch the show.
May 8, 2012
That's because baseball is one of the slowest, most boring sports in the world. I wouldn't want to discuss nor debate that either. Be happy they have Baseball Tonight.
May 8, 2012
Stephen and Skip are both brainless morons!
May 8, 2012
It won't work. It didn't work when it was Cold Pizza. ESPN won't allow a person smarter than Skip Bayless to take airtime from the circus act. Woody Paige left because of it. Woody may act a fool… but it's better to act like one than to be one like Skip.
May 8, 2012
so what makes this differnet than the show that is on right now…it is pretty much skip vs stephen a smith everday with analysts stepping to the table and jay crawford moderating…thanks for the heads up espn but your a few months too late.
May 8, 2012
I've yet to figure out why ANYbody gives two rat shits about these 2 tool bars. Oh and Marcus, you're a clueless clown boxer. Baseball isn't slow and boring. You're just a attention deficient product of a fucked up society.
May 8, 2012
I like it even though it's a lot like Cold Pizza but I'd rather have Stephen A. & Skip argue each other or against other guest instead of woody & skip… They both have views that I agree w/ & disagree w/ but I like this decision & Was wondering when they were going to get Stephen A. on full time. I also Like Jamelle Hill & Michelle Beade as female hosts! Good luck to the show I know I watch it back to back.0am -2 pm EST.
May 8, 2012
Okay I can picture the ESPN board meeting that took place to make this horrible decision.
"We need to keep Skip Bayless on because he has pictures of himself and Boomer flogging a donkey on top of a dead hooker".
"Okay so we need to make his show more annoying then?"
"OMG, how is that even possible?"
"Stephen A Smith".
May 9, 2012
Marcus Wilmot youre an idiot just beacause you dont like mlb doesnt mean the rest of us don't.
May 9, 2012
I could only watch a few minutes. Now that's over. bye bye 1st and 10.
May 9, 2012
So he can mean mug the camera and yell-talk his points? The guy who only talks about men playing games takes himself far to seriously. They already had one tool on the show. Unwatchable. Two none-athletes yelling at each other about whos guess is better then the others?
May 9, 2012
Though I feel like Smith and Bayless have a good repoire with each other and I do enjoy their debates, I liked having other columnists and sports figures on the show. Not sure how I feel about seeing them everyday battling each other, but until another network presents us with a viable substitute I'll continue to watch the show. I mean let's face it for those of us who can watch these programs in the morning our options are limited =/.
May 9, 2012
This is great news it's always interesting and fun when Stephen a smith is on!
May 9, 2012
They are both really annoying but for some reason together it can be entertaining. 2 negatives equal a positive in this case.
May 9, 2012
They are both really annoying but for some reason together it can be entertaining. 2 negatives equal a positive in this case.
May 9, 2012
It will work. they work well together.
May 9, 2012
Skip's head is going to explode soon. Stephen A should start in the Muppets sequel.
May 9, 2012
Stephen reminds me of Rush and DR. Phi…its his opinion and that's it. ps…..GO Tebow(that's for you, Stephen)!~.
May 9, 2012
Pretty awesome. My favorite day of the week was Wednesday when Stephen A. Smith was on anyway. He is the only person who seems to be able to consistently match Skip Bayless self assured attitude in a complimentary way that Skip seems to respond to really well. It just seems that no other pundit is able to challenge Skip the way that Stephen does on a regular basis. I think this is an excellent move where they will still have the other analyt on the how, and be able to present a great dialouge on the major sports topics of the day or week.
May 9, 2012
Bring back Woody!
May 9, 2012
This is going to be so AWESOME! I been saying they needed a show together for a while!
May 9, 2012
awful idea. he brings race into everything.
May 9, 2012
It's other ppl don't know what they are talking about and Stephen does in some things
May 9, 2012
espn is a mans network so technically you shouldnt be watching anyway
May 9, 2012
yes
May 9, 2012
I love the show and best viewed while munching on some "Cold Pizza!"
May 9, 2012
this idead is asinine, asiten, asieleven…..
May 9, 2012
i always thought it should be called the skip bayless show since he is on every segment while others rotate. he remains on every story.
May 9, 2012
This is a great idea to have them do this FULL TIME. Some of you don't realize that they don't pit Skip against Stephen A. everyday. Some of you who say that he makes race an issue are clueless. Cold Pizza SUCKED as a show. Woody Page is horrible on air and he just argues just to argue. Plus if you pay attention to him he's wrong too often. I'm excited that they're making Stephen A. a full time member of First Take. He clearly has more in air chemistry with Skip then anyone before him. Congrats Stephen, haters gonna HATE.
May 9, 2012
Stephen A is racist, and Skip is an idiot. I'm not offended that th idiot might get a show. But get that Frickin racist off my sports channel. I don't care what kind of degree he might have, HE IS A RACIST! If I'm going to pay 55% of my cable bill to you, LOSE HIM.
May 9, 2012
Stephen A is racist, and Skip is an idiot. I'm not offended that th idiot might get a show. But get that Frickin racist off my sports channel. I don't care what kind of degree he might have, HE IS A RACIST! If I'm going to pay 55% of my cable bill to you, LOSE HIM.
May 9, 2012
so we've taken the PTI format & put it into the morning show…
May 9, 2012
Who is requesting this? Do people really enjoy watching these two yelling and screaming over each other for two hours? ESPN is the least self-aware network on tv, and they need to be stopped.
May 9, 2012
cdrew51 Just like Dr. Pepper 10 is for men only right?
May 9, 2012
Haters gonna HATE is about as original as Just sayin. Its worn out.
May 9, 2012
Thats the entire point of bringing him in. He can inject race into everything because he is Black. This will appeal to the Black viewers who will never percieve what Smith says as racist. Blacks make up a huge part of ESPNS fan base and Im sure ratings are higher when Skip is "debating" a Black person. Jay is White, Skip is White and who ever sit across from him is generally Black.
May 9, 2012
Jennifer Navoy I'm pretty sure Cdrew was being sarcastic in his own way. The bottom line is the show is successful for a reason. I appreciate the insight that both of them offer whether I agree with their views or not. And from that standpoint the show provides a form of entertainment that I can appreciate in a sports debate.
May 9, 2012
DeRay Parks Im pretty sure Dr. Pepper is being sacrastic about their ten calorie soda being for men only. As far as the show being a success, the almighty ratings will decide that as the months go by. For me, I like the narratives but, cant stand two idiots screaming their opinions. The show has become about two NONE athletes and who can speak louder and/or faster……Then again I could not stand Jaws in the booth on MNF…..oh wait, he is gone. I no longer have to mute the tv. As my grandmother used to say, this to shall pass.
Jun 6, 2012
Boring people find baseball boring