Michelle Beadle is the best non-PTI thing going at ESPN...and she may be on her way out, sayeth Deadspin. She's getting replaced with...a reasonable facsimile!
Now that the clock is ticking on Michelle Beadle's ESPN career—she's there for just another two weeks, according to Those Guys Have All the Fun author Jim Miller—who's set to replace her as the tolerable half of SportsNation?
ESPN sources tell us that Charissa Thompson, a frequent guest host on the show, will take her spot. Thompson's ascent at the network has been impressive: 11 months after getting hired, the 30-year-old is poised to co-host a show. (Prior to working at ESPN, Thompson worked at Versus and as a sideline reporter for Fox.) Of course, Thompson has her skeptics—people who say she's getting tapped merely because … well, she "kinda looks like Beadle," as one Bristol source put it.
So with Beadle's departure seemingly imminent, there's no way in hell I'm sticking around for douchebag supreme Colin Cowherd. BUT...he may be on his way out, too. (On his way out of the show, not out of ESPN. Don't get TOO excited!) And it looks like one of our old buddies will be replacing him.
Also of note: An ESPN insider tells us that SportsNation will be retooled sometime in the not-so-distant future. And without Beadle by his side, Colin Cowherd may well leave the show and do something else within ESPN. Who would replace him? One Bristol Kremlinologist said an early favorite is Jonathan Coachman.
SportsNation hosted by our old friend, The Coach? Sounds good to me!
"This is DIET Double Dew, Kyle! It only has half the caffeine and sugar of Double Dew!"
Originally posted by It's FalseSportsNation hosted by our old friend, The Coach? Sounds good to me!
That is hilarious. I just caught our other old pal Todd Grisham interviewing Kurt Rambis on ESPN.com the other day. The video window was small so I regcognized his voice before I saw his face. I always liked Todd.
While I would miss Beadle, Thompson's pretty decent on Numbers Never Lie, and Coach would be SUCH a vast improvement over Colin. I watched SN early on, but eventually Colin (and, admittedly, Beadle turning kind of shrill for a while after the Decision debacle) pushed me away, and Dan LeBatard's show has been a much more enjoyable replacement for me anyway.
But if Coach/Thompson do come on board, I'd give it a chance. I still think the show would be better at a half hour, as it always seems padded as it is.
"Never piss off a hawk with a blowgun" - Conan O'Brien
A dead rat is better than Colin Cowherd. I don't find Beadle all that great, so I will give it a chance if it changes. Cowherd is a deal breaker though.
The Wee Baby Sheamus.Twitter: @realjoecarfley its a bit more toned down there. A bit.
Interesting to see the hate for Cowherd. I've majorly warmed up to him in the last six months. He is good on SN and I've been known to watch the ESPN2 simulcast of his radio show on my days off.
Beadle is great as well, and I just don't think Coachman has the chops for an opinion show. I will give it a shot, but only for maybe a week tops. Besides, ATH and PTI get my full attention from 5 to 6 anyways, Sportsnation is just something to turn on when ESPN is on commercials.
"Put on your helmets, we'll be reaching speeds of 3!" "It was nice of you to give that dead woman another chance." "All right, look alive everybody...oh sorry Susan."- MST3K: Space Mutiny Click Here (facebook.com)
I've been an avid watcher of SportsNation for a few months now and, while I dislike Cowherd's radio show greatly, he doesn't bug that much on SN because Beadle rips the ever-loving crap out of him on most days as do the guest athletes they have on. In fact, just yesterday, Jeremy Roenick was on, suggesting that he and Cowherd reenact one of the top 10 hockey hits they were showing.
Cowherd is a tool, but it's fun if others are totally shoving it back in his grill. Not sure if Thompson would do that. While I like Coach doing highlights, I think you need a little witty banter back and forth on a show like that, and Coach seems a little too demure for that.
Either way, I'm gonna miss Beadle.
Also, my can't-miss afternoon show on ESPN is DLHQ so I wouldn't be too upset with whatever changes they make to SN.
I am going to tune out when Beadle leaves as I truly like her and enjoy her on the show.
However, DLHQ is a much better show and not in a million years did I ever think I would like a show with him but he is much more relaxed on this show and Papi is hysterical
With Beadle going to NBC/Universal, I think (and had this idea backed by one person in the business) it's certainly possible to see her show up on RAW, perhaps on a regular basis.
Originally posted by odessasteps With Beadle going to NBC/Universal, I think (and had this idea backed by one person in the business) it's certainly possible to see her show up on RAW, perhaps on a regular basis.
Perhaps she could take over as GM of both Raw and Smackdown. couldn't do any worse.
I liked it. The Brian and Stewie formula is working better than anything in the last few years. That Queen album is rather odd. Thought the best gag was the suicide pact with Stewie and Rupert.