Undisputed (TV series)

Undisputed
GenreTalk show
Starring
Theme music composerLil Wayne
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Production locationsFox Network Center (Fox Studio Lot Building 101), 10201 W Pico Blvd, Century City, Los Angeles, California
Running time150 minutes
Original release
NetworkFox Sports 1
ReleaseSeptember 6, 2016 (2016-09-06) –
August 2, 2024 (2024-08-02)

Undisputed is an American sports talk show program broadcast by Fox Sports 1 from September 6, 2016 to August 2, 2024. Originally titled Skip and Shannon: Undisputed, episodes aired live Monday through Friday from 9:30 am EST until noon. The show was broadcast from the Fox Network Center in the Century City neighborhood and business district of Los Angeles, California.

History

Logo during Shannon Sharpe's tenure on the show (2016–2023)

The series premiered on Fox Sports 1 (FS1) on September 6, 2016.[1][2]

On June 13, 2023, one day after that year’s NBA Finals ended, co-host Shannon Sharpe officially announced that it would be his final episode co-hosting the show with Skip Bayless.[3] Soon after the show went on a brief hiatus the following month.[4] In late August the show returned with a brand new cast featuring former NFL Stars Richard Sherman, Keyshawn Johnson, and Michael Irvin alongside Bayless.[5][6]

On August 2, 2024, Bayless announced that it would be his final episode of Undisputed and that he would be leaving Fox Sports. On August 5, 2024, FS1 began showing reruns of The Herd with Colin Cowherd and First Things First in Undisputed's time slot with the fate of the show unknown.[7] A week later, it was confirmed that Undisputed had been cancelled by FS1.[8]

Cast

Host (full-time)

Frequent & past guest analysts

Theme song

The show's opening theme song, "No Mercy", was recorded by American rapper Lil Wayne, a friend of Bayless' and a frequent guest from his former ESPN show First Take. The song was written and produced by Jared Gutstadt, president and CCO of Jingle Punks Music, which had partnered with Fox Sports prior to the show's launch. The full-length version of "No Mercy" was released by Cash Money Records to iTunes in September 2016, and Lil Wayne appeared on Undisputed's inaugural episode on September 6 and has since regularly made guest appearances.[25] In 2023, Lil Wayne released the new opening theme song for the revamped Undisputed called "Good Morning".[26]

Viewership

Undisputed averaged 107,000 viewers per episode from September 9 to December 31, 2016, and 155,000 viewers during 2017, representing a 45% increase in viewership.[27]

During July 24–28 of that year, it averaged 136,000 viewers, 65,000 of which were adults in the 18–49 years of age range. Compared to competing weekday morning sports programs in the same time slot, it outdrew ESPN2's edition of Sportscenter (117,000) but fell behind First Take (320,000) in overall viewership.[28]

In 2018, Undisputed averaged 165,000 viewers, and in 2019 through August 9, 2019), averaged 169,000 viewers.[29][30] In 2021, the show averaged 199,000 viewers during the month of October, which beat the show's previous October peak of 182,000 viewers in 2019 and granting the show its most successful October to date.[31][32]

As of November 2022, the series' highest-rated broadcast occurred following FS1's English language telecast of England vs Iran, when the show averaged 499,000 viewers.[33][34]

References

  1. ^ "'Most hated man in sports' tries to get viewers to love Fox". Chicago Tribune. 2016-09-06. Retrieved 2016-09-11.
  2. ^ "Skip Bayless rising early, promises 'deeper' debate for new Fox Sports 1 show". LA Times. 2016-08-29. Retrieved 2016-09-11.
  3. ^ Chavkin, Daniel (June 13, 2023). "Shannon Sharpe tears up while thanking Skip Bayless on the final episode". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  4. ^ Price, Joe (July 7, 2023). "Undisputed 2-Month Hiatus to Find Skip Bayless New Co-Host After Shannon Sharpe's Departure". Complex. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  5. ^ Rasmussen, Karl (August 21, 2023). "Skip Bayless Announces Undisputed's New Dream Team; Date of Next Episode". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  6. ^ "Undisputed returns Monday, unveils new lineup featuring Michael Irvin, Richard Sherman, Keyshawn Johnson". Fox Sports. August 27, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  7. ^ Yoder, Matt. "Questions remain if 'Undisputed' will return to the FS1 lineup". Awful Announcing.
  8. ^ Axelrod, Ben. "Danny Parkins and Emmanuel Acho to reportedly join FS1's morning lineup; 'Undisputed' won't return". Awful Announcing.
  9. ^ "Skip Bayless Bio & Career Accomplishments". Fox Sports. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  10. ^ Mendoza, Jordan (June 13, 2023). "Shannon Sharpe tears up in emotional goodbye to 'Undisputed,' Skip Bayless". USA Today.
  11. ^ "Keyshawn Johnson will join FS1's 'Undisputed' as Skip Bayless' new co-host, per reports". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  12. ^ "Paul Pierce likely joining FS1's 'Undisputed' with Skip Bayless". nypost.com. 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  13. ^ "Michael Irvin reaches deal to join Undisputed". NBC Sports. 2023-08-21. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  14. ^ McDaniel, Mike (August 9, 2023). "Rachel Nichols to join FS1's 'Undisputed' with Skip Bayless, per Report". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  15. ^ Horton, Ari (August 28, 2023). "Seahawks Legend Richard Sherman Makes Debut On 'Undisputed'". Seahawks.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  16. ^ Contes, Brandon (April 29, 2024). "Richard Sherman returns to 'Undisputed' for first time since DUI arrest". Awful Announcing. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  17. ^ Hernandez, Ernest (August 4, 2023). "Skip Bayless confirms lakers fan Lil Wayne to co-host 'Undisputed' after Shannon Sharpe exit".
  18. ^ Novak, Chris (August 30, 2023). "Josina Anderson to join FS1's Undisputed Cast". awfulannouncing.com. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  19. ^ Maglio, Tony (June 7, 2018). "Joy Taylor leaves FS1's Skip and Shannon for 'The Herd'; Jenny Taft Named New Undisputed Moderator". thewrap.com. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  20. ^ "Jennifer Hale Bio & Career Accomplishments". Fox Sports. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  21. ^ Contes, Brandon (2023-08-28). "Skip Bayless relegated to being Undisputed's moderator". Awful Announcing. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  22. ^ "Chris Broussard Bio & Career Accomplishments". Fox Sports. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  23. ^ "Rob Parker – Fox Sports Press Pass". FoxSports.com. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  24. ^ London, Adam (February 22, 2018). "Eddie House Destroys Lebron James For Quitting In 2011 NBA Finals". NESN.com. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  25. ^ Platon, Adelle (August 31, 2016). "Lil Wayne Helms Theme Song for Fox Sports' 'Skip and Shannon: Undisputed': Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  26. ^ Lamarre, Carl (August 29, 2023). "Lil Wayne Pens New Theme Song 'Good Morning' for Skip Bayless Sports Show Undisputed". Billboard.com. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  27. ^ Brown, Maury (January 19, 2018). "How Are Skip Bayless, Colin Cowherd And Jason Whitlock Doing In The Ratings?". Forbes. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  28. ^ Pucci, Douglas (August 5, 2017). "Ratings: 'Undisputed' on FS1 Outdraws Weekday-Morning 'SportsCenter' on ESPN2 for Two Consecutive Weeks". Awful Announcing. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  29. ^ "Skip Bayless 'still fighting' after three years at Fox". Newsday. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  30. ^ Brown, Maury (May 10, 2018). "FS1, Undisputed Ratings Up, But Are Skip Bayless And Colin Cowherd Worth It?". Forbes.com. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  31. ^ "Ratings - "Foxtober" Delivers Record Numbers and Key Gains Across Linear and Digital Platforms | TheFutonCritic.com". www.thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
  32. ^ Staff, S. V. G. (2021-11-12). "Ratings Roundup: Packers-Chiefs Without Aaron Rodgers on Fox Tops NFL Week 9; NBA Viewership Increases From 2020-21 Regular Season Average". Sports Video Group. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
  33. ^ "Ratings: World Cup, NBA, college hoops and more". Sports Media Watch. 2022-11-23. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  34. ^ "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Monday 11.21.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED". ShowBuzzDaily. 2022-11-23. Retrieved 2022-12-12.

Further reading