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ESPN First Take takeover event, explained: Why SportsCenter anchors are joining Stephen A. Smith, Molly Qerim

08-13-2024
3 min read
(Getty Images)

First Take will look a little different this week.

Don't fret, Stephen A. Smith will still be on the show, just with a supporting different cast than usual. SportsCenter anchors will be joining First Take from Aug. 13-15, giving viewers a new look on the popular ESPN program.

Matt Barrie, Shae Cornette, Elle Duncan and Randy Scott are four of the seven SportsCenter hosts set to join this week. 

"I'm excited to welcome the tremendous talent from SportsCenter this week," Smith in an ESPN press release. "First Take is a melting pot of ideas and personalities, and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to combine two of ESPN's flagship brands together."

Christine Williamson will host First Take on Tuesday, Aug. 13, and Molly Qerim will host the show on Wednesday and Thursday. Chris "Mad Dog" Russo will make an appearance on Wednesday, Aug. 14.

Here's a rundown of the First Take guest schedule as well as explaining why SportsCenter anchors are joining the show.

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Why are SportsCenter anchors on First Take?

SportsCenter anchors will be on First Take as part of a three-day takeover event at ESPN. Seven anchors will join the show throughout Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

"We're all looking forward to not only bringing the fun we have on SportsCenter to a new audience," Scott said in an ESPN press release. "We're also excited to see for ourselves that Stephen A., Molly, and Mad Dog are, in fact, real people and not just brilliant sports media legends created in a lab somewhere."

First Take will relatively remain the same during this stretch. Smith will still be a focal point with either Williamson or Qerim hosting and Russo making his weekly appearance.

SportsCenter anchors will give a different feel to the show, intertwining the two ESPN programs for three straight days.

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First Take guest star schedule

Seven SportsCenter anchors will appear on First Take this week from Tuesday, Aug. 13 to Thursday, Aug. 15.

Here's the breakdown of who to expect each day

Date First Take stars SportsCenter guests
Tuesday, Aug. 13 Stephen A. Smith, Christine Williamson Matt Barrie, Shae Cornette
Wednesday, Aug. 14 Stephen A. Smith, Molly Qerim, Chris "Mad Dog" Russo Elle Duncan
Thursday, Aug. 15 Stephen A. Smith, Molly Qerim Randy Scott, Gary Striewski, Nicole Briscoe, Michael Eaves