Skip Bayless boosts Stephen A's sluggish "First Take" ratings by 24% on their reunion show

Skip Bayless' return to ESPN's "First Take" boosted viewership by 24%, raising questions about whether the show needs him back on a regular basis.

Skip Bayless return has major impact on First Take ratings

Skip Bayless made his return to First Take with Stephen A. Smith last Friday and it had a major impact on ratings. Per Front Office Sports, Bayless’s “first appearance on First Take in a decade drew ...
The Hollywood Reporter

ESPN’s ‘First Take’ Marks 12 Months of Year-to-Year Ratings Growth (Exclusive)

The morning show's July audience was up 26 percent vs. the same month in 2022. By Rick Porter Television Business Editor ESPN‘s First Take wrapped July with a double-digit ratings gain over the same ...
Awful Announcing

‘First Take’ benefits from ‘Undisputed’-less month for most-watched August since 2017

We here at Awful Announcing are very aware that anytime we write about Stephen A. Smith and First Take there is going to be a deluge of comments such as “Who cares?” and “Who even still watches that?” ...
Opinion

Shannon Sharpe ‘First Take’ return ‘not under consideration’ amid Skip Bayless comeback

Skip Bayless is coming back to where it all started. On Friday, the godfather of sports debate television will return to First Take alongside his former longtime foil, Stephen A. Smith. The duo ...
Front Office Sports on MSN

Skip Bayless Re-Energizes ‘First Take’ in ESPN Return

Will more appearances by Bayless follow?
The Big Lead

Meet Shae Cornette, ESPN’s ‘First Take’ replacement for Molly Qerim

Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; The ESPN logo at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Several weeks after long-time ...
The New York Times

ESPN says ‘First Take’ will have 30 to 45-day tryout for new host to replace Molly Qerim

ESPN president of content Burke Magnus told The Athletic on Thursday that the company will take 30 to 45 days to try out a variety of people for the “First Take” hosting role that had been filled by ...
Sports Illustrated

First Take's Stephen A. Smith And Shannon Sharpe 'Showed Up & Showed Out' At Howard University

ESPN's First Take "Showed Up and Showed Out" on Howard University's campus for its first HBCU stop of the 2024 football season. Popular co-hosts and HBCU alums Shannon Sharpe (Pro Football Hall of ...
Men's Journal

Who is Shae Cornette? Meet ESPN’s New ‘First Take’ Host

View post: Is Tiger Woods Playing the U.S. Open, Open Championship? 15-Time Major Champion Makes Decision Shae Cornette named permanent host of ESPN’s First Take, replacing Molly Qerim. She co-founded ...
Heavy.com

Stephen A. Smith Sends Message About New ‘First Take’ Cohost

ESPN has officially named Shae Cornette as the new host of First Take, replacing longtime anchor Molly Qerim just days before the NBA season tips off, Front Office Sports reports. Cornette will join ...
New York Post

Meet Shae Cornette, the new host of ‘First Take’

A new era at “First Take” will soon begin. One month after host Molly Qerim abruptly left the ESPN program and the network, it was announced in October 2025 that “SportsCenter” anchor Shae Cornette ...