‘First Take’ and ‘Undisputed’ viewing figures have been revealed as fans claim Shannon Sharpe ‘carried’ his former show.
UNDISPUTED has fallen further behind First Take in TV ratings.
Stephen A. Smith, Molly Qerim and Shannon Sharpe drew 626,000 viewers, compared to 185,000 for Monday’s FS1 show.
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The gap in viewership compared to the two shows’ numbers after Undisputed returned in late August after a two-month hiatus.
But Skip Bayless and Co. performed significantly worse on Tuesday, it is said Front Office Sports.
The morning after Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon in his debut with the New York Jets, ESPN flagship Undisputed reportedly beat the ratings battle 717,000 to 118,000.
Given the crushing ratings gap, several sports fans on social media concluded that Sharpe must have “carried” the FS1 show before joining the First Take cast.
One also wrote: “Shannon Sharpe was the show.”
Another added: “I think brother was the real star the whole time.”
And a third said: “Skip has always been Robin, never.” Batman.”
The number of viewers First Take drew on Tuesday was the third-highest viewership of the year for the ESPN show, FOS added.
Only in Sharpe’s debut and the day after Super Bowl LVII were better numbers recorded.
The NFL Hall of Famer made his first appearance on September 3rd.
Since then, he has debated Stephen A. on Mondays and Tuesdays.
And two weeks into First Take’s new era, Smith offered some insight into Sharpe’s move to ESPN.
The outspoken sports anchor said the three-time Super Bowl champion had no choice but to leave FS1.
“He was forced out. He didn’t want to go.”
“He was informed that ‘your services were no longer required’. This is his story. I’ll tell you what I know. I’ll give you facts.”