ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith is making his long-awaited return to First Take.
The 56-year-old sportscaster was away for much of July, enjoying his summer vacation.
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Smith left the show for an extended break on July 2 and has since only appeared on three broadcasts.
He wasn’t on our screens this week, ahead of a big live broadcast in Chicago.
Host Molly Qerim was joined by Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo and former NFL star Bart Scott on Wednesday’s show.
And she confirmed that Smith would make his big return when First Take hits the road on August 2.
“SA is off today,” Molly told Mad Dog and Scott after Russo’s failed opening.
“What else is new?” laughed Mad Dog in response, “It’s summer!”
“Be nice! He’ll be with me in Chicago on Friday,” Molly revealed.
“We have a big show and he will be there.”
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First Take will be recorded in front of a live audience at this year’s National Association of Black Journalists conference.
The show will take place at the Hilton Chicago as part of the NABJ festivities,” Qerim revealed to fans earlier this month.
“Admission is free and exclusive to NABJ participants only,” he added.
“Doors open at 6:30 a.m. CT, first come, first serve, seated.
“Chi-town, we can’t wait to see you Stephen A. I’m so excited, this is the best crowd.”
“Oh, we’ll have a good crowd, they’ll show up,” Stephen A. added.
First Take will return with full force in the coming weeks, after a period of instability.
First look at the numbers
First Take has grown from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim over the past year.
ESPN’s weekday debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 — making it the most-watched year in the show’s history.
Its December average of 611,000 represented a 24% annual increase compared to 2022.
The show has also recorded 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.
A series of analysts and guest presenters have replaced Qerim, Smith and Shannon Sharpe since early July.
Fans last week begged Smith to return to save the show from “falling apart.”
“The first take this time of year is really the third take, who are these people,” complained one viewer on X.
“First Take falls apart without Molly,” said another.
“Where’s Molly? Steven A? Shannon? Come on, this is getting crazy,” a third added.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
