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The US Sun
First Take stars stage ‘takeover’ as Molly Qerim and Stephen A. Smith continue extended absence from ESPN show
By Jim Sheridan,
4 days ago
FIRST Take’s B team is front and center on Friday’s broadcast.
Analyst duo Courtney Cronin and Clinton Yates announced they were staging a “takeover” of ESPN’s flagship sports debate show.
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin (r) and Clinton Yates (l) were front and center for Friday’s show X / Courtney Cronin First Take continues to run a much-changed lineup with its big three stars on vacation Stephen A. Smith appeared in a live First Take taping last Friday but has been away on vacation much of the last month X /FirstTake
The stellar duo will be joined by Chris “Mad Dog” Russo and NFL analyst Ryan Clark for a special show.
First Take viewing figures
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.
It will broadcast from a special set at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City.
First Take will be one of several sports shows to record live from Fanatics Fest.
Others include Clark’s The Pivot and The Adam Schefter Podcast.
NFL legend Tom Brady , former New York Giants linebacker Michael Strahan , and NBA icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will also be in attendance.
It remains unclear if Sharpe will be present at the event, or if he will join Molly and Stephen A. on stage.
The former NFL tight end signed a new contract with ESPN earlier in the summer, and his role on First Take will expand in the coming months.
Shannon Sharpe hasn’t been on First Take since early July Getty Host Molly Qerim fronted the show on Wednesday alongside Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo ESPN Qerim has hosted First Take alongside Stephen A. since 2015 Instagram/mollyqerim
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