HOLDING COURT
First Take stars stage ‘takeover’ as Molly Qerim and Stephen A. Smith continue extended absence from ESPN show
Stephen A. and Molly will return for a special live show next week
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.
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Regular trio Stephen A. Smith, Shannon Sharpe, and host Molly Qerim were all missing from the taping.
It's been a summer of personnel changes and channel switching on First Take, with NFL Hall of Famer Sharpe not seen since July 2.
Smith and Qerim both fronted a special live broadcast of the show last Friday in Chicago, Illinois.
But other than a quick cameo from Molly on Wednesday, neither has settled back into their regular spot in ESPN's Manhattan studios.
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Cronin and Yates both appear together on the ESPN radio show Around The Horn.
They have impressed First Take viewers throughout the week with their takes on the Olympics and the upcoming NFL season.
With the big hitters set to return from vacation soon, Courtney couldn't resist teasing a "takeover" prior to Friday's broadcast.
"An @AroundtheHorn takeover on @FirstTake today. See you at 10 @espn!" she wrote on her X account.
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"Love it. Have a great show! You look beautiful in that dress," replied one fan.
"You need a raise Courtney," said another, referencing Cronin's weekly appearances.
ESPN viewers brand First Take 'hard to watch' and 'painful' as stars Molly Qerim and Stephen A. Smith continue absences
First Take has enjoyed a stunning year, with ratings "skyrocketing" since the arrival of NFL Hall of Famer Sharpe.
And following the success of last week's live show, the crew are back on the road next week.
Molly and Stephen A. will be reunited at the Fanatics Fest in New York City.
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.
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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.
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