Who knew Skip Bayless had morphed into Jenny Taft?
After a forced hiatus of nearly two months off, Bayless’ revamped “Undisputed Live” returned to FS1 Monday morning. His exiled former co-star Shannon Sharpe must be laughing in his beer.
In one of the strangest turns I’ve seen in sports TV, FS1 downplayed Baylesss’ role on his own show.
Taft, the former moderator, was gone. As host, Bayless could barely get a word in on his show. Instead, the rebuilt “Undisputed” was geared around new stars Michael Irvin, Keyshawn Johnson and Richard Sherman.
Bayless, FS1’s highest-paid talent at $8 million a year, was reduced to the role of mumbling moderator.
After a cringe-worthy introduction, he introduced debate topics, then looked on passively while his three new co-stars bellowed over each other.
Skip’s new partners won’t let him speak pic.twitter.com/S3q65egZMo
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 28, 2023
Occasionally, Bayless interjected with some points of his own. But every time he was rounding into the hot take-spewing TV troll we love to hate, one of his three co-stars would interrupt.
For the most part, a neutered Bayless sat hunched in his chair, blowing air through pursed lips, nodding along with the opinions of his new high-profile guest stars.
At one, he was reduced to meekly holding his hand up, like a schoolboy asking his teachers for permission to talk.
As NBA Central tweeted, “Skip’s new partners won’t let him speak (with three laughing emojis).
His three new co-stars – all former Super Bowl champions – didn’t exactly treat Bayless with the deference he was used to from Sharpe and former ESPN partner Stephen A. Smith.
Johnson called him “Skippy.” Irvin virtually took over the show, standing up from his chair and addressing the audience like an old-school preacher.
Irvin, who’s been suspended for months by NFL Network and ESPN for an incident with a woman at the Super Bowl, briefly apologized for dominating the conversation. Then he did it anyway.
I bet you any Amount of Money Skip Bayless is regretting the way he did Shannon …..
— Q (@Th3Visonary83) August 28, 2023
I just feel bad for Key, Micheal, & Sherman because when skip goes down in flames they will be in he fall guys https://t.co/nxuWwKHVOO
At one point, I felt sorry for Bayless.
Here was the enfant terrible of sports TV muzzled on his show. Here was the supposed dominating personality turned into a supporting player.
To his credit, the 71-year-old Bayless realized he’d lost control.
He complained he didn’t have time to fully address the topics because his partners “talked too much.”
He tried to play some of his greatest hits (LeBron James has no clutch gene; the Dallas Cowboys; Michael Jordan as deity, etc.). But he might be unable to put the toothpaste back into this tube.
My early take is that Bayless and FS1 made two strategic mistakes with “Undisputed.”
One, they didn’t realize what they had for six years with Sharpe, who’s now happily joining Smith’s rotating ensemble at ESPN, including Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, Marcus Spears, Mina Kimes, and Dan Orlovsky.
Skip Bayless: "I don't know how closely you watched their games, but I can— we don't have time because you guys talk too much."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 28, 2023
Keyshawn Johnson: "I know you just didn't say we talk too much."
Skip: "Yes, you talk too much." pic.twitter.com/Zcmvp4iCob https://t.co/zI1t65uMpY
Two, Bayless didn’t realize how hard it would be to merge the moderator roles with opinionist.
There’s a reason why moderators like Taft, Molly Qerim of “First Take,” and Joy Taylor are experts at their TV jobs.
They know how to set the rules of the debate, make the opinionists look good and keep the trains running on time.
Bayless needs to improve at initiating topics or listening patiently. He’s the classic over-reactor, pounding the table to make his points.
He can’t play moderator because he doesn’t know how. Now, he’s worrying about the segments running into commercial breaks.
Maybe it’s time for a less is more approach. I thought the best segment by far was when Bayless and Sherman had a one-on-one discussion about their on-air argument at ESPN in 2013. I learned things I didn’t know about what actually happened – and how live TV works.
I know one thing for a fact. No matter how many new personalities come on board, Smith is the unquestioned star and leading attraction of “First Take.”
On Monday, “Undisputed” was no longer Bayless’ show. Skip the moderator should learn that lesson before his new “Dream Team” becomes a nightmare.
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