'GETTING CRAZY'
First Take fans beg Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim to return as ESPN show ‘falls apart without them’
Stephen A. has announced when he will return to the show
ESPN viewers are desperate for the return of First Take regulars Molly Qerim and Stephen A. Smith.
The popular sports debate show has undergone a host of temporary personnel changes throughout the last month.
4
4
4
Thursday's edition was fronted by Christine Williamson after switching back from ESPN 2 to its usual timeslot on Monday.
Williamson is currently sitting in for host Qerim, who has been absent all week on summer vacation.
Lead analysts Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe are also away on their own breaks following a grueling NBA postseason.
Williamson was joined by Harry Douglas to talk all things sports on Friday from ESPN's Seaport Studios in Manhattan, NY.
READ MORE ON FIRST TAKE
But frustrated fans are desperate for the familiar sight of Smith, Sharpe, and Qerim over their morning coffee.
"First Take during this time of the year is really 3rd take, who are these people," complained one viewer on X.
"First Take falls apart w/o Molly," another said.
"Where is Molly? Steven A? Shannon? Come on now this is getting crazy," added a third.
Most read in American Football
Qerim returned to First Take last week for two broadcasts after taking an initial fortnight break away.
The 40-year-old made an instant impact as she jokingly stormed off the set in a segment on the Dallas Cowboys.
Molly Qerim storms off First Take set after heated quarterback debate with ESPN star in eventful return to show
Despite being on vacation, Smith continues to work on his successful podcast The Stephen A. Smith Show.
He is currently locked in contract discussions with ESPN and is reportedly eyeing a $25 million contract.
Smith also confirmed on X during Thursday's show he would "return next week."
"See y’all next week - in studio. Buckle up, peeps! Just for the week, though," he wrote.
In a recent podcast episode on July 17, Smith opened up on his former colleague Skip Bayless.
Stephen A. Smith's journey through media
STEPHEN A. Smith is now the face of ESPN and an executive producer on First Take having initially started working for the company back in 2003.
Smith has held various roles with the network, including hosting radio shows, SportsCenter contributions, and appearing on NBA Countdown.
He was a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer from 1994 to 2010.
His began as an NBA writer before becoming a general sports columnist.
Before that, Smith worked as a reporter with Winston-Salem Journal, the Greensboro News, and the New York Daily News.
The pair were sparring partners on First Take almost a decade ago before Bayless joined Fox Sports.
Skip is now set to leave First Take's main rival Undisputed in the summer after 8 years.
Stephen A. revealed he had "not called" his former colleague after the revelation.
"Being on First Take and wanting to be No. 1 doesn’t mean I wanted Skip Bayless to fail," Smith said.
Read More on The US Sun
"[It] doesn’t mean that I want to see him out of the business, not at a profession, and with the news coming down that he’s departing from FS1, I have not called him.
"I’m not going to because I know what this moment must be like for him."
4