The US Sun

Molly Qerim returns to First Take in ‘fire’ see-through outfit as ESPN hit by schedule changes for second-straight day

By Jim Sheridan,

5 hours ago

FIRST Take anchor Molly Qerim is back in the hosting chair – and turning up the heat with a stunning on-air look.

The 40-year-old returned to the ESPN sports debate show on Wednesday after a two-day absence.

Molly was fresh from joining regular lead analyst Stephen A. Smith in Chicago last Friday for a special First Take taping.

The show went out in front of a live audienc e at the National Association of Black Journalists conference.

Qerim took a mini break following the trip to the Midwest, returning on Wednesday as Smith continued his own vacation.

The anchor turned heads in a gorgeous grey suit. The jacket was kept open to reveal a see-through mesh top.

“Molly looking so fire!” gasped one fan on X.

“Molly…stunning as usual,” said a second.

“I’ve seen First Take in person 2x and Molly really is that fine. It’s crazy,” commented a third.

It’s not the first time this week that Molly has sent pulses racing amongst ESPN viewers.

She posed in an Argentinian soccer jersey on a trip to Lake Michigan on Friday.

And her 750,000-strong fanbase on Instagram was in awe of her stunning jumpsuit before the live taping in Chicago.

Despite Qerim’s return to the hot seat, First Take was once again on the move for the second half of the show.

ESPN is currently showing the Little League Softball World Series throughout the week on the network.

As a result, the morning schedule has been thrown into disarray.

First Take’s initial hour aired on ESPN before switching over to sister station ESPN 2 for the concluding 60 minutes.

First Take went from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim last year.

The weekday ESPN debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 – making it the most-watched year in program history.

Its December average of 611,000 was a 24% year-on-year increase compared to 2022.

The show also reported more than 250 million views on YouTube.

First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports’ Undisputed.

“Hello America,” beamed Molly before telling off colleague Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo for trying to steal her introductions.

Despite Qerim’s return, ESPN’s flagship morning show continues to run with a much-changed lineup.

Regulars Stephen A. and Shannon Sharpe have both taken around a month off over the summer.

Some fans have been begging for them to return over recent weeks, with some viewers declaring they are “jumping ship to rival show Undisputed” on FS1.

“First Take just isn’t First Take with SAS,” one declared.

“First Take during this time of the year is really 3rd take, who are these people,” complained a second.

You can catch First Take every weekday on ESPN from 10 am Eastern.