Quite frankly, I'm surprised it took this long

Stephen A. Smith is moving to ESPN2 late nights.

I called it here.

Press release on the jump.  Next time I post, it'll be from someplace a lot warmer than KC.

QUITE FRANKLY WITH STEPHEN A. SMITH MOVING TO NEW LATE-NIGHT TIME SLOT

ONE-HOUR SHOW SHIFTING TO 11 P.M. ET BEGINNING JANUARY 30 ON ESPN2

ESPN2’s Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith will move into a new weekday late-night time period beginning Monday, Jan. 30 at 11 p.m., ET.  For viewers seeking late night interviews and opinions, the one-hour weekday show will offer immediate reaction to the top sports stories of the day, while continuing to provide timely interviews with high-profile newsmakers.   Additionally, a 30-minute “Best of Mike and Mike” show is in development for early evening and will also launch Jan. 30.

Smith, known for his strong and sometimes controversial commentary on sports issues, will continue to feature his long-form interviews as well as offer his unique insights in front of a studio audience. Since its debut in August, the program has welcomed a stellar roster of guests including Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Joe Montana, Allen Iverson, Danica Patrick, Charles Barkley, Wayne Gretzky, Senator John McCain, Bob Knight, Donald Trump, Larry King, Larry Brown, Scottie Pippen and Jim Brown.   

“Quite Frankly will continue to feature Stephen A.’s cutting-edge long-format interviews, and will now be able to offer immediate reaction to each day’s storylines,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, studio and remote production.  “When an athlete has a story to tell or there is a hot topic in the sports news, viewers will know Quite Frankly will have it covered.”

Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith will air each weekday at 11 p.m., or following significant live events on ESPN2, including NBA, Major League Baseball, college basketball, college football, Friday Night Fights, among others.  During the first week at its new time, Quite Frankly will follow two Big 12 college hoops matchups – Texas Tech at Kansas, Monday, Jan. 30 and Texas at Missouri, Wednesday, Feb. 1 – and Friday Night Fights, Feb. 3.

NEW-LOOK ESPN2
On Monday, Jan. 2, ESPN2 unveiled a new morning and mid-day schedule featuring Mike and Mike in the Morning (6-10 a.m.) followed by Cold Pizza at 10 a.m. and noon (encore presentation).  In its first week, the 6 a.m. – 2 p.m. time slot enjoyed a 66% increase in viewership (180,000 HH) over the previous comparable week in 2005.

ESPN2 has experienced 11 straight years of household viewership growth and has just capped off its most-viewed year ever for both total day (236,000 HH) and primetime (504,000 HH) in 2005. ESPN2 currently reaches 89.3 million homes.

“We’ve bolstered the ESPN2 morning and mid-day schedules and this move will strengthen our late-night lineup,” said David Berson, ESPN senior vice president, program planning and development.  “The show will benefit from the tremendous collection of major events that will now serve as nightly lead-ins and will cater to the increasing number of male sports fans watching late-night television.”

Stephen A. Smith joined ESPN in 2003 as studio analyst on NBA Shootaround and NBA Fastbreak and as a reporter for other studio programming. In addition to his duties as host of Quite Frankly, Smith will continue in his role as analyst on NBA Shootaround, plus contributions to ESPN’s news and information programs.  Additionally, Smith hosts The Stephen A. Smith Show on ESPN Radio 1050 in New York City weekdays from 12-2 p.m.   Smith has been a sports writer at the Philadelphia Inquirer since 1994. Previously, he covered news and sports at the New York Daily News (1993-94) and worked at the Greensboro News and Record (1992-93) and the Winston-Salem Journal (1991-92).  Since 1999, he has also been active in television and radio, primarily in Philadelphia, but also on Fox Sports Net, Fox News Channel, Fox Sports Radio and CNN/SI, in addition to appearances on ESPN Radio.

Comments

[the pen is mightier]

Just wanted to let you know I linked to this post on my blog: patrickbobo.blogspot.com

[Bobbie Fisher]

You present an extraordinary positive image to your viewers especially blacks who tune in to your show to hear what you have to say. As an African American woman, I love your hot topics and your panel of intelligent black analysts. Here's a topic you may consider: Mothers of black athletes - pro or con to the new dress code rule.

[Mark Jeffries]

Pretty fly for a white guy, Aaron.

(Somebody have the heart to tell her that the Knight-Ridder paper Steven A. Smith works for is the Philadelphia Inquirer?)

[Benjamin Wonce]

Dear Stephen A.,

With all the moves that the Miami Heat made during the offseason and with them not playing up to potential. Do you think that they will try to make one more trade before the deadline?

[Diderot Nicolas]

I have never seen a town that is so dominated by what idiots write. I can't believe how fast this freaking media can take off with an unproven story. It seems to me that anyone (prostitute, etc) can come out and fabricate a story, and that story will make headlines, especially if it implicates a well known figure. They are so freaking greedy to sell papers, they don't even take their times to investigate the story before printing it.

What a phucking pity.....the only reason they are still surviving is because most New Yorkers are ignorant. If we were to protest their actions, I can guaranty you that they would stop printing unproven stories. Again, an accusation is nothing but what it is, an accusation; an act of accusing or the state of being accused. A rape can be proven through DNA, but an accusation can be falsely thrown out there to diminish one's reputation. Does Ms. what's her name have witnesses that can attest to what she claimed went down with Zeke? I have yet to hear anyone step out and say that they have witnessed Zeke doing the things that she claimed happened. I am not saying that Zeke is innocent and I am not saying that Anucha Browne Sanders is guilty...All I am saying is that the media need to stop writing the B.S. that they are polluting our minds with.

Truth to the matter is, regardless of the outcome, Zeke's reputation will be tinted because of this well publicized accusation. However, Anucha Browne Sanders will not even be remembered when all this is over with.

No one should be allowed to go out and basically tarnish anyone's reputation, especially if the story is false. This lady should get incarcerated if her story can't be proven. Too often you hear people trying to get money from celebrities by accusing them of doing things that are not true. There should be a law forbidden those false accusations. It is not fair to a good citizen to forgo those types of humiliations just because of someone's greed.

All I can say is there is something very fishy about this story. Zeke and Brown were very mad at the fact that they had to play on a Sunday morning right after the long West Coast trip, and it was all because of Anucha Browne Sanders. Apparently Zeke said something to either her or Mr. Dolan and as a result she got fired. She got mad and is now going after Mills and Zeke.

In my opinion, her accusation has no ground...unless if she has videos or voice recording to prove that she was harassed by Zeke. Besides, there is nothing wrong with chewing an employee behind for doing things that are detrimental to an organization. However, as a GM or president of an organization one has to be very careful when counseling a female subordinate. 9 times out of 10, if the counseling is negative, chances are that that female will cry harassment. That is why it is imperative a male to counsel female subordinate at the presence of a witness.

TNT and ESPN should have strongly attacked those reporters. There should be countless of radio debates about that type of reporting. I am kind of shocked that no one has yet to step out and condemned what the N.Y. media is doing. Where are Barkley, John Thompson, Steven A. Smith, and others when we really need them? Until someone from the media condemned that type of reporting, it will continue to pollute the air.

I do believe that Vescey is behind this....Wasn't he at point mentioned as the replacement for Layden?????? Could all of this reporting have to do with him wanting Zeke's job????

(NOTE: I have no idea what this guy is writing about ... I'm just amused he would expend all this energy posting it to TV Barn.--AB)

[bernard b. tanpua]

hi stephen im a big fan of yours show n i always believe evrything you say keep up the good work

[Jim Waggoner]

Just finished watching Stephen A with the Big "O". Best sports interview I've ever seen! Hey I'm 65. Grew up on the West Coast(CA) Huge Boston Celtics fan. Never missed a Sunday game on TV. Big Bill R was my man.

Loved to see "O" play. Now I love to hear him speak.

Strphen A. you are the best and getting better every time I wath Quite Frankly.

Love the new tims slot.

Thanks for bring out the best in all your guest!

[Shawn Willis]

Stephen i dont like you and why are you always talking about of how sorry the far end roster players if there not so good how did they make the nba.

NOTE: Stephen A. Smith does NOT read this page! This is a comment page for a review of "Quite Frankly" that appeared in the Kansas City Star and online at TVBarn.com. Don't post your comments to SAS here. He's somewhere else on the Internet. Go find him there.

Aaron