Skip Bayless unveiled his new “dream team” on FS1’s ‘Undisputed’ this week, and many were amused that the fiery debater seemed to be overshadowed by his new debate partners during the first few episodes.
A trio of current and former ESPN broadcasters -- Dan Le Batard, Pablo Torre, and Mina Kimes -- discussed the early returns of the ‘Undisputed’ format that saw Bayless have a diminished role and whether or not it made for “good television” on a preview episode of Torre’s upcoming new podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out” on Aug. 30.
DON’T MISS: Dan Le Batard reacts to 'fascinating' Skip Bayless return, awaits rebuttal from Stephen A. Smith and ESPN
Le Batard, who has been publicly critical of Bayless’ role as an antagonist of professional athletes, particularly Black athletes, said he’s “enjoying” the idea that Bayless’ evolution seems to be bringing in athletes he’s criticized to potentially take his spotlight.
“Skip Bayless is trying to keep up with the changing times in his 70s by opening the gates of hell to three generations of, ‘This is the loudest Black guy who played football during his generation,’” Le Batard said.
"Skip Bayless is trying to keep up with changing times in his 70's by opening the gates of hell."
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) August 31, 2023
Dan @lebatardshow gives his honest thoughts on the new Undisputed format to @pablotorre and @minakimes. pic.twitter.com/Zu3JZFHjZ5
Bayless’ new debate partners are Richard Sherman, Michael Irvin, and Keyshawn Johnson, three very talented former NFL players who have also been known to be some of the most outspoken media personalities. Bayless struggled to take command of his own show, at least during the initial episodes.
*Keyshawn Johnson, Richard Sherman and Michael Irvin talking over one another on Undisputed*
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 28, 2023
Skip Bayless: 😶pic.twitter.com/Yaklum0YwP
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“All of them are talking at the same time and Skip Bayless shrinks to the size of a postage stamp on his own show because how the hell are you going to get in the way of those three personalities,” Le Batard said.
Kimes, who currently works on-air ESPN for shows such as “NFL Live” and frequently guests on “First Take,” admitted that the difference between this version of “Undisputed” and its ESPN counterpart “First Take” is that it's well-established that the latter caters to a clear head honcho.
“[First Take] is very much Stephen A. Smith’s show,” Kimes said. “You go into the arena knowing that you’re being incentivized to attack, but there’s limits to it. It’s very clear who the boss is.”
This distinction is particularly interesting because of a past report saying that Bayless did not want his new debate partners to overshadow him.
But “Undisputed” was still the talk of the internet during the debut of its new team, and Torre -- who has still consistently appeared on ESPN programs despite joining Le Batard’s Meadowlark Media earlier this year -- argued that it’s precisely because of Bayless’ new role that the show was able to garner so much attention.
“Let us get to the core of this: What we like is that Skip Bayless has been drowned out as the ultimate Sports TV villain. He cannot win on his own show,” Torre said. “That is why this is going viral.”
And Le Batard agreed, saying that the “modern currency” is “attention,” and the changes have achieved that for Bayless and “Undisputed, whether or not Bayless is happy about how it came about.
Kimes argued that the jury should still be out on the long term success of this new evolution of Bayless’ show, but said she wouldn’t be shocked to see it succeed through other means.
“I don't think that's going to continue getting this level of attention -- They have to do other things,” Kimes said. “I do not underestimate these gentlemen's ability to find other ways to get attention though."
The three concluded their discussion with a little skit, talking over each other loudly and incoherently for a few seconds in an a satirical attempt to imitate the "Undisputed" format.
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