SKIP BAYLESS COULD REUNITE WITH STEPHEN A. SMITH ON ‘FIRST TAKE’

[Doobie Doo]

Could the old crew be getting back together??

That may be the case when Front Office Sports reported that Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith could potentially reunite as the co-hosts of First Take.

The report notes that Skip’s contract is up with Fox Sports in 2020, and Bayless is expected to shop himself to potential suitors including former employee ESPN.

“They both want to make it happen. I’m just not sure ESPN will hit Fox’s number,” said one source.

However, another source said the mantra of Mark Silverman, Fox’s president of national networks, has been cost control. Disney’s ESPN, on the other hand, is still willing to break the bank for on-air talents who move the needle.

Warned one TV executive: “The era of modern sports talent is here. The top 1% will make the big money. The middle will go away. And low paying talent will fill out the grid.”

It was back in 2016 when Bayless teamed up with Shannon Sharpe and Joy Taylor to launch FS1s “Undisputed,” with the hit show averaging around 150,000 to 180,000 daily viewers.

As far as Smith goes, he teamed up with Max Kellerman and “First Take” has set audience records repeatedly, with the show averaging 400,000 to 500,000 daily viewers, more than double the audience of “Undisputed.”

The 52-year-old Smith has emerged as the face of ESPN, with him recently receiving a lucrative contract that pays him around $8 million per year.


REPORT: Skip Bayless Could Reunite With Stephen A. Smith on 'First Take'
PLAY ALONG

 

[ThiefyPoo]

Yes Shannon please get away from this loser .

I need a Shannon and Prime show .

 

[Jplaya2023]

Hows skip ego gonna take making less than SAS? :SKIP:

 

[Justise M]

Yes Shannon please get away from this loser .

I need a Shannon and Prime show .

They'd probably put cowherd in skips spot too try and compete with first take

 

[god shamgod]

I’ve barely watched 1st take since skip left, maybe 7-8 episodes total

 

[Flex Luger]

They'd probably put cowherd in skips spot too try and compete with first take

 

[NOSaintsFan02]

Meh.

Undisputed is basically a Cowboys show. 80% of the show was Cowboys today. Seriously. That's sad.

At least First Take spreads the topics around. They focus on the big market teams too (Cowboys, Lakers, etc) but they don't dedicate every show to 3-4 Cowboys topics a day.

Undisputed legit leads off with the Cowboys three/four out of five times a week.

 

[Darealtwo1]

Ain't they both a Youtube show......I doubt anyone has time to watch that shyt live

 

[G.O.A.T Squad Spokesman]

Meh.

Undisputed is basically a Cowboys show. 80% of the show was Cowboys today. Seriously. That's sad.

At least First Take spreads the topics around. They focus on the big market teams too (Cowboys, Lakers, etc) but they don't dedicate every show to 3-4 Cowboys topics a day.

Undisputed legit leads off with the Cowboys three/four out of five times a week.

That shyt makes me hope the Cowboys lose every game.

 

[10bandz]

Damn skip left in 2016? Doesn’t seem that long

 

[aceboon]

They'd probably put cowherd in skips spot too try and compete with first take

I don't even like the dude but lol @ thinking Colin would downgrade to that

 

[Thegospel]

Im amazed that they command that type of money. People dont tune into undisputed for Skip. Atleast i dont. And i dont even watch first take anymore. SAS fell off long ago. Speak for yourself is the best sports show and even that show isnt good because of the non athlete (Whitlock). But shyt, get that money i guess

 

[SunZoo]

I would love that...then again, where does Max go? He ain't Skip by any means but I wouldn't want him to just vamoose.

 

[Justise M]

I don't even like the dude but lol @ thinking Colin would downgrade to that

He shouldn't look at it as a downgrade. Undisputed is a bigger job than whatever show he's doing now. I don't know anybody that watches it or talks about him.

I don't think he's interesting but I think these shows like the black vs white dynamic especially on political sports topics.

 

[Thegospel]

I’ve barely watched 1st take since skip left, maybe 7-8 episodes total

So its people lime you y skip gets paid.