ON THE MOVE
First Take broadcast cut short in schedule change as Molly Qerim and Stephen A. Smith absent from ESPN show again
Stephen A. and Molly have missed much of the summer through vacation
FIRST Take fans have bemoaned another schedule change after the ESPN show was moved again on Tuesday.
The sports debate program aired in its usual 10 am Eastern timeslot on ESPN but abruptly ended after just 60 minutes.
5
5
5
Host Molly Qerim was away on vacation, with Shae Cornette stepping into the anchor role.
Cornette was flanked by Courtney Cronin, Clinton Yates, and Joe Fortenbaugh to debate all things sports from the Seaport Studios in Manhattan, NY.
Usual lead analysts Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe remained absent as they continued their lengthy summer breaks.
First Take was cut short on ESPN due to Game 4 of the Little League Softball tournament.
READ MORE ON FIRST TAKE
Maryland takes on Pennsylvania at 11 am Eastern, with the game also streaming live on Fubo.
As a result, the second half of First Take was relegated over to sister channel ESPN 2.
But fans were forced to wait another hour for new material, with a re-run of the show beginning on the channel at 11 am Eastern.
"Look at this crew!" Cronin captioned a snap of the panel on X prior to the broadcast, before reminding fans to switch over after an hour.
Most read in American Football
"Courtney made all of us come to the set 30 min early for this photo. Ridiculous," joked Fortenbaugh in response.
Not everyone was sold on the new-look cast, with some fans pining for Smith and Sharpe's return.
Stephen A. Smith makes electric First Take return for special show in new location as he says 'it's an honor to be here'
"No @MollyQerim no @stephenasmith no watching @FirstTake," wrote one viewer on X.
"First Take got the C team on this week," complained another.
"I’m liking this @FirstTake crew today. No screaming and unnecessary behavior, just straight to business about sports. So refreshing. Thanks for this," countered a third.
Stephen A. and Molly were front and center as First Take headed out on the road last Friday.
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.
The pair headlined a special show in Chicago in front of a live audience at the National Association of Black Journalists conference.
"I was on vacation but y'all are more important than vacation," Smith said as he was welcomed by crowds in Illinois.
"Damn it, it means a lot because I was having a good time."
First Take has provided a ratings bonanza for ESPN over recent months.
The arrival of NFL Hall of Famer Sharpe from FS1's Undisputed has seen the show's popularity soar.
Sharpe hasn't been seen on First Take since his last show on July 3.
Read More on The US Sun
He recently penned a multi-year extension to his contract with ESPN.
The ex-NFL star previously appeared just two days a week on the flagship morning show, but his role is set to expand in the upcoming season.
5
5