Skip Bayless' 'First Take' Fill-Ins to Come from ESPN Radio Next Week

ESPN

“First Take” has named a variety of ESPN Radio hosts as temporary replacements for Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith on the television network’s hit morning show starting July 11.

Smith is on vacation and Bayless, who left ESPN for Fox Sports, has not been permanently replaced yet. In the meantime, Molly Qerim will host the show with a rotating group of radio personalities.

Steve Mason and John Ireland will join the show on Monday, while Tom Waddle and Marc Silverman will embrace debate on Tuesday. Peter Rosenberg, Don La Greca and Rick DiPietro will appear on Wednesday with Freddie Coleman and Bomani Jones taking over on Thursday. The week will end with Jalen Rose and David Jacoby serving as guest co-hosts on Friday.

Also Read: Inside ESPN's Search to Replace Skip Bayless on 'First Take'

“We looked at a lot of people and we’re close to making a decision,” ESPN vice president of production Marcia Keegan told TheWrap last week when asked about Bayless’ permanent replacement.

“First Take” will not air this week as ESPN 2 is broadcasting Wimbledon. Last week, former ESPN personality Colin Cowherd hinted that Max Kellerman is close to landing the gig. During a Periscope session, Cowherd was asked about “SportsNation,” the show he used to co-host with Michelle Beadle that is now hosted by Beadle, Kellerman and Marcellus Wiley.

“Michelle Beadle’s a friend,” Cowherd said. “Max Kellerman’s leaving that show, he’s gonna be on ‘First Take.’ Yeah, it’s a done deal. Well, pretty much.”

Also Read: Skip Bayless Subs Include Six Women, Twitter Explodes in Sexism

It is unclear if a permanent replacement will be in place when Smith returns from his three-week vacation the week of July 18.

8 Potential Skip Bayless 'First Take' Replacements (Photos)

Skip Bayless' time as ESPN's most controversial pundit is almost at an end, and the network is searching for someone to replace him on "First Take." Many ESPN personalities have been bandied about as a potential replacement, with some more likely to take up the job than others.
ESPN
ESPN commentator Jemele Hill is currently featured alongside Michael Smith on the talk show "His & Hers." She pulled out of the contender pool for Bayless' spot on Twitter, saying that moving to "First Take" would be "not a promotion for me."
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ESPN radio host and "Highly Questionable" star Bomani Jones also publicly declined interest in the job, saying that he lives in Miami and would not move to New York to do "First Take."
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Another ESPN pundit, Max Kellerman, has the argumentative style to do well on "First Take," but is currently involved with the TV show "SportsNation" and the radio show "Max & Marcellus" in Los Angeles. A move to "First Take" would require a major shift in ESPN's L.A. talent structure.
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Jon "Stugotz" Weiner, co-star of "The Dan Le Batard" show, has jokingly complained that ESPN hasn't called him with an offer for the "First Take" job.
ESPN
In 2015, ESPN hired controversial conservative political commentator Will Cain, who quickly became a guest host on "First Take." Prior to joining the network, Cain served as a columnist on Glenn Beck's website, TheBlaze.
ESPN
ESPN may consider pulling a replacement from the panelist list for their afternoon pundit show, "Around The Horn." Columnists like Pablo S. Torre and Frank Isola have experience debate sports topics on TV and could react well to Stephen A. Smith's rants.
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A more likely candidate is Ryan Ruocco, Stephen A. Smith's former radio co-host. Ruocco and Smith already have a strong chemistry together and experience debating each other, which would allow for an easy transition for the show.
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ESPN could also consider using a guest-host format, as the network did before Smith joined "First Take." The format could allow the network to bring in analysts who could promote upcoming broadcasts, such as ESPN's summer soccer coverage.
ESPN
Danny Kanell, co-host of "Russillo and Kanell," is a former NFL quarterback who has attracted controversy for his hot takes on targets like Bryce Harper and SEC football. His polarizing reputation would be perfect for "First Take."
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There’s a long list of ESPN talking heads who could replace Skip Bayless on the morning debate show

Skip Bayless' time as ESPN's most controversial pundit is almost at an end, and the network is searching for someone to replace him on "First Take." Many ESPN personalities have been bandied about as a potential replacement, with some more likely to take up the job than others.

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8 Potential Skip Bayless 'First Take' Replacements (Photos)

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