'WHAT HAPPENED?'
First Take makes drastic personnel change with Molly Qerim abruptly absent and fans call for return of ‘OG crew’
Molly, Stephen A. Smith, and Shannon Sharpe have been away from our screen for much of the last month
FIRST Take has returned to its usual two-hour timeslot - but without regular host Molly Qerim.
The sports debate show's scheduling has been affected this week due to ESPN's coverage of Little League Softball.
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Molly fronted ESPN's flagship morning show on Wednesday, turning heads in a stunning see-through outfit.
The 40-year-old recently returned from an extended summer vacation.
Due to ESPN's Little League World Series coverage, Tuesday and Wednesday's editions of First Take were split between two channels.
The first hour was shown on ESPN before switching to ESPN 2, which was the sister station for the concluding 60 minutes.
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Things returned to normal on Thursday as the smash ratings hit was back in its usual timeslot.
But it was again missing a host of familiar faces as the summer continued.
Qerim was absent from her hosting role once again as SportsCenter host Brian Custer took her place.
He was joined by Kimberley A. Martin, Clinton Yates, and Harry Douglas, who replaced regular analysts Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe.
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Sharpe has not featured on First Take since July 2 and has enjoyed a lengthy summer break.
Stephen A. has also been off for several weeks but has sporadically appeared after fans warned the show was "falling apart" without him.
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Smith and Molly presented a special live taping of First Take last Friday from the National Association of Black Journalists conference in Chicago.
The 56-year-old was in combative form as he whipped up the Illinois crowd.
Stephen A. has since returned to his vacation, getting some much-needed R&R before the new NFL season begins next month.
"It throws off my whole morning when First Take doesn't have the OG crew. Missing @MollyQerim and @stephenasmith," complained one viewer on X.
Molly Qerim's life in the spotlight
Molly Qerim has risen through the ranks to become one of the biggest stars at ESPN.
The popular sports host began her media career in 2006 with ESPN and spent four years with the network.
She then covered college basketball and football for CBS Sports Network in New York.
Qerim balanced that with hosting duties for NFL Network in Los Angeles - fronting NFLAM and NFL Fantasy Live.
The host returned to ESPN in 2015 and immediately took the role of First Take anchor.
And Qerim has been an ever-present, popular host of the daily sports debate show ever since.
"What happened to #firsttake No sharpe, no smith, terrible," complained another.
Away from the studio, Smith is reportedly in negotiations over a new contract with ESPN.
His current deal with the network—where he has been a prominent voice since 2003—expires next year.
Stephen A. wants to become the highest-paid analyst on ESPN, per Puck.News.
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The outlet claims he hopes to secure a mega-money $25 million annual contract.
First Take airs every weekday from 10 am Eastern on ESPN.
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