Marcellus Wiley replacing Colin Cowherd on SportsNation
Colin Cowherd is leaving ESPN2's SportsNation. This development has been expected for months but Bristol finally made it official this week. Cowherd will remain in Bristol, where he will focus on his nationally syndicated radio show (and potentially add to those duties somewhere down the line). At the end of December, SportsNation will relocate from ESPN’s Bristol campus to a new set at ESPN's Los Angeles studio. Host Charissa Thompson will be joined by new co-host Marcellus Wiley.
SportsNation is an... interesting show, for lack of better words, that was created in 2009 and focuses on fan interaction and has a much lighter side than ESPN's other shows. It was SportsNation that launched Michelle Beadle into stardom and now it will reboot entirely with both original hosts gone. Here's what ESPN had to say about the moves:
“The light-hearted tone of SportsNation has always been focused on the intersection of sports and entertainment, and basing the show in our LA studio will give us additional opportunities to expand the pop culture tie-ins that we know resonate with our audience,” said Jamie Horowitz, ESPN’s vice president of original programming and production. “We’re excited to welcome Marcellus on board as a co-host with Charissa. They both bring a versatile mix of knowledge, fun and snarkiness to the show which creates the perfect on-air chemistry to appeal to our younger viewers.”
Wiley is an intriguing choice for the new show co-host, and it might be worth tuning in to see how he does with the tone and format of the show in a permanent role. I'm not a fan of Cowherd at all, so seeing any one of ESPN's thousands of personalities step in would be an improvement. Nevertheless, it was Beadle and Cowherd's chemistry that originally made SportsNation a success, and it'll be interesting to see whether or not Wiley and Thompson can duplicate that or come close to it.
[ESPN]
The show is wayyyyyy better now less arrogance still some wit with Clarissa Thompson but it's funnier and people can definitely put up with it haha Marcellus Wiley is a funny guy and teaming up with Thompson ESPN hit a home run here..
Im not a big fan of Cowherd's radio show b/c of his antics(raised, incredulous tone of voice. Completely unnecessary), but him and were Beadle were absolute gold together. There on-screen unique chemistry made it work so well, so it was no surprise that the show instantly sucked the minute Beadle left. not Cowherd's fault
Thought that show was dead anyway. The show is somewhat stupid. Who cares what Rhode Island thinks about Joe Flacco..... C'mon people.
Cowherd is best in business. I listen to ESPN religiously and watch ESPN/NBC Sports/CBS Sports daily and still haven't found an announcer or host who is more fun/exciting to listen to. His radio show is a daily listen.
I loved this show in the past and the only part I didn't like was Cowherd. I thought if they changed the host the show would be great. I mean, who could be any worse than Cowherd? Enter Marcellus Wiley! Is there a rule that you have to be an arrogant, blow-hard that talks incessantly about themselves to be host? Wiley's horrible and the fact that he flirts with whatever female host is on the show is bad enough, but the way that he does it is just uncomfortable. ESPN used to have the best, most professional, knowledgeable announcers and hosts. And know it's just a bunch of barely known failures that love to hear the sound of their own voices and feel they need to fight each other and yell at the audience (I'm looking at you Herm Edwards, you crazy bastard!). I used to watch ESPN every day, now I just check websites and save myself the aggravation and headache. And by the way, it's long since past time that Chris Berman was led out to pasture. That guy should've retired years ago...
Marcellus Wiley for sure can not do the skits and be as quirky as Colin Cowherd was. I liked how Colin did the show despite the fact that sometimes I feel Colin could be a weenie in regards to his biases. Example: LA Clippers due to their predominantly losing history.
I do not see Marcellus Wiley filling the shoes of Colin Cowherd. This is not a slam against Marcellus but I just think someone somewhat like Colin Cowherd in regards to personality would have been a better fit.
That is a bias I admit and I may be wrong. I will let the rest of you decide if I am. My bias does not come with a dislike or straight away dismissal. If Macellus is doing well I won't make excuses like Colin does for teams and people doing well he does not like.
Colin is a know-nothing know-it all. That is the worst type. If the structure of the show wasn't so great it would be unwatchable with him.
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Colin needed to go, now if ESPN would just wake up totally and get something interesting into his radio time slot
I guess Colin didn't want to relocate to LA.... Sports Nation will become SportsHollywood with daily appearances by all sorts of stars hawking movies... its about the benjamins people....
@tanthonyhowell I think CH would love to relocate to LA! It warm here . brah! the women are hotter too!
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Colin was the only reason Sportsnation was any good from it's beginning in 2009. His sarcasim and willingness to poke fun at himself made this show great - it will be off the air in 6 months - just another lousy breakdown of NFL and sports action wihout Colin
@wnesbit Colin like Dan Le Betard can be real a holes when it comes to their opinions and biases against certain players and teams but what you have said about the way that Colin did the show is spot on.
I may not like that people like Colin and Dan live in the past and can not give teams like this years LA Clippers credit for their success without making excuses or taking pot shots but they seem to keep me involved with somewhat catchy personalities.
Marcellus is a nice guy but I do not feel his personality is close enough to Colin's who did get some ratings to retain those past ratings.
To Matt Pelc: re: crew member audience. Those shows reminded me of the Soupy Sales TV programs on the WNEW-TV, New York, back in the day.
this show SUCKS and i don't watch it. i'd suggest they scratch it from the entire lineup. Listening to Cowherd, radio or TV is like chalk scratching on the board.
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Charissa Thompson will miss Colin. She has done an outstanding job on SN. She is as quick, as smart, and as snarky as she who went before. But she is so glamorous, well-dressed, with guns and gams to die for. Good luck CT
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I might actually watch this show now. Cowherd is abhorrent, and I like Charissa.
best show espn puts on tv other than sportscenter is 30for30..they kiss up so much to new york market and LA its hard to get perspective and refreshing news. MLB NFL and NBA networks is where you get the fresh news.
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Damn it all. I really liked SN with Colin and Michelle. It was ok with Colin and Charissa. But now, I probably won't even watch. RIP SportsNation.
Any show that has crew members off screen yelling and laughing is a horrible show. Then again every show on ESPN is horrible. Then again again ESPN is a horrible network run by horrible people.
