Skip Bayless reportedly taking extended hiatus from ‘Undisputed’ due to struggles finding replacement for Shannon Sharpe

Skip Bayless is reportedly taking an extended hiatus from Fox Sports 1’s Undisputed amid a struggle to find a replacement for Shannon Sharpe, according to Mike McCarthy of Front Office Sports.

Sharpe wrapped up his duties as Bayless’ cohost after the 2023 NBA Finals, ending a seven-year partnership with the controversial hot take artist. The two were paired after Bayless left ESPN’s First Take.

After the sudden departure of Sharpe, there’s no clear direction for Bayless and the show, leading to the rest of the summer off.

“But like many of Bayless’ statements, it’s not accurate, sources tell Front Office Sports,” McCarthy wrote. “There are plenty of potential Sharpe successors, ranging from the laid-off Keyshawn Johnson and Max Kellerman at ESPN to FS1 personalities LeSean McCoy, Nick Wright, Emmanuel Acho and Joy Taylor. 

“But not many on-air talents want to take the hot seat opposite the domineering Bayless. To make matters worse, Bayless has the final say on everything internally at Undisputed.”

The statement referred to by McCarthy was Bayless taking to Twitter.

“LeBron isn’t the only one in the lab this summer,” he wrote. “Can’t wait to unveil ‘Undisputed’ just in time for football season.”

On the surface, one can’t blame Bayless for taking time off during these months, where the biggest sports topics dry up until football resumes with training camp at the end of the July and ramps up in mid-August.

McCarthy also reported Bayless would prefer to reunite with Stephen A. Smith, the original pairing on First Take. Basically, the search for Sharpe’s replacement hit a “gridlock,” per the report. Obviously, reuniting with Smith seems like a fantasy with the amount of control Smith has at ESPN.

“Shannon’s exit moved way faster than they expected,” the source said to McCarthy. “So they had no choice but to go on hiatus. Skip has never done anything like this during all his years at FS1 or ESPN. Not being on the air during all these NBA moves is killing him.”

If Bayless has a hope at resurrecting the show, McCarthy reported Undisputed could go the way of rotating cohosts like First Take.

“Another reason for the delay could be that Bayless and FS1 are scrapping the mano-a-mano style of the show,” McCarthy wrote. “Instead, Bayless could replicate Smith’s formula at First Take, where he debates a rotating series of guests ranging from Chris “Mad Dog” Russo to JJ Redick.

“It would be a stretch. The rigidly disciplined Bayless has been basically following the same format for 15 years. But it would be an insurance policy for Bayless preventing any debate partner like Sharpe from approaching him in popularity or power again.”

As the report states, FS1’s morning show needs something considering the ratings battle. As of June, First Take’s estimated audience was 421,000 viewers compared to Undisputed’s 154,000.