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The landscape of ESPN programming has evolved significantly over the past decade.
What was once a network known for showcasing top highlights from the previous day has transformed into a lineup filled with talk shows such as “First Take,” “Get Up,” “NFL Live,” and “The Pat McAfee Show.”
This shift has caught the attention of former first lady Michelle Obama, who likened watching ESPN to watching reality TV.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama on the set of her podcast in June. (Michelle Obama YouTube channel)
“It’s all a sociological study. They think that sports is better reality TV, I’m like, ‘it’s the same thing.’ If I listen to ESPN for an hour, it’s like watching the ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta,’ you know?” Obama said on her brother Craig’s “IMO” podcast. “It’s the same drama, and they’re yelling at each other, and they don’t get along, you know? I mean, Stephen A. Smith, he’s just like every other…”
Two of the hosts then joked that he’d be a perfect fit for the show.
“So that’s why I’m like, ‘what’s the difference?’ It’s just, you know, it’s just sociological drama,” added Obama. “I mean, the fact that people over seasons of working still can’t get along. They still have the same arguments, you know, and it’s not just women. But this happens in sports, too. I find it fascinating.”
Former first lady Michelle Obama attends opening night celebrating “50 years of equal pay” during Day One of the 2023 US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Aug. 28, 2023. (Jean Catuffe/GC Images)
Recently, ESPN cancelled “Around the Horn” after a 20-year run, prompting former analyst Jay Marriotti to claim that the network had become too focused on social issues.
In one of the final episodes, former panelist Kate Fagan expressed her support for the inclusion of transgender kids in sports.
Michelle Obama compared watching ESPN to watching “Real Housewives of Atlanta.” (Youtube Screenshot/IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson)
During the final episode of “Around the Horn,” longtime guest Tim Cowlishaw criticized ESPN for prioritizing hiring athletes over journalists.
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