Last Friday, ESPN welcomed Skip Bayless back to First Take for a monthly appearance alongside his longtime debate partner Stephen A. Smith. The arrangement, which places Bayless on the show’s final Friday each month, has sparked discussion among sports‑media observers about the potential benefits of a full‑time reunion.
Why the partnership matters
When ESPN launched First Take in 2007, Bayless was the centerpiece of the daily debate format. He later helped secure a recurring role for Smith, who joined the program full‑time in 2012. Together, the duo consistently drew audiences that outperformed ESPN2’s typical viewership and often eclipsed the main ESPN channel during the same time slot.
Bayless departed for FS1 in 2016, creating Undisputed with Shannon Sharpe. Although Undisputed attracted a loyal following, ESPN’s own numbers show that after Bayless left, First Take lost more than 20% of its audience. The network responded by moving the show from ESPN2 to the flagship ESPN channel, where it subsequently attracted roughly twice the audience of Undisputed. By 2023, First Take regularly delivered three to four times the viewership of its FS1 rival.
Current ratings landscape
Today, First Take remains one of ESPN’s highest‑rated programs, yet its growth lags behind other daytime studio shows such as Get Up and The Pat McAfee Show. Recent press releases from the network highlight year‑over‑year gains for those programs, but similar data for First Take is notably absent.
Smith, who recently signed a five‑year, $100 million contract with ESPN, continues to be a dominant voice in sports commentary. Bayless, meanwhile, has struggled to translate his digital ventures into comparable viewership; his weekly YouTube show averages about 1,000 views per episode, and his podcast has been dormant for nearly a year.
Potential impact of a full‑time reunion
Industry insiders argue that restoring the full‑time Smith‑Bayless pairing could reignite the show’s “viral” appeal. The format that proved successful—Bayless delivering a provocative claim, Smith responding with theatrical indignation, and the two sparring in good‑natured debate—remains a proven driver of audience engagement.
Executive Mike Foss, who oversees ESPN’s daily studio programming, has recently emphasized a shift toward authenticity and conversation over the network’s former “embrace debate” slogan. While this strategic pivot has benefited much of ESPN’s daytime lineup, First Take has not yet seen the same uplift.
A permanent reunion would give the program a clear, compelling hook that resonates with sports‑loving families seeking lively, yet family‑friendly, discussion. It would also simplify the rotating‑panel format that currently features a mix of strong contributors—such as Michael Irvin, Dan Orlovsky, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, and Marcus Spears—and a larger pool of interchangeable personalities.
Challenges and next steps
Sources indicate that there has been internal pushback about bringing Bayless back, even in a limited capacity. Some executives worry about the optics of reinstating a personality whose recent digital performance has been modest. However, the ratings boost observed during Bayless’s monthly return—an estimated 24% increase in viewership for that episode—suggests that a broader partnership could deliver measurable gains.
Smith himself has acknowledged the need for periodic refreshes, noting that changes to the show’s lineup are necessary “to keep things fresh and make changes every three years.” It has now been five years since the departure of former co‑host Max Kellerman, underscoring the timeliness of a format overhaul.
Conclusion
For ESPN, a full‑time reunion of Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless offers a strategic opportunity to revitalize one of its flagship programs, attract a broader audience, and reinforce the network’s commitment to lively, family‑oriented sports debate. As nostalgia continues to prove a reliable commercial strategy in entertainment, restoring the chemistry that once propelled First Take to cultural relevance could be the catalyst the show needs to regain its momentum.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
