'Undisputed' is taking a 2 month break. They can't find a replacement for Sharpe

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Bayless and FS1 are struggling to find a successor to Shannon Sharpe.

Weekday embrace debate show will be off the air until Aug. 28.

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Instead, the risky two-month layoff was driven by Bayless and FS1 management’s inability to find a replacement for Shannon Sharpe, said sources. 

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.”

“Shannon’s exit moved way faster than they expected. So they had no choice but to go on hiatus,” said one source. “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.”

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Weekday morning shows like “Undisputed” rely on loyal viewers turning them on, or taping them, daily. You never want to mess with the viewer’s habits.

More than two months off the air will only embolden Smith and ESPN’s “First Take” to widen their commanding lead over Bayless and FS1. As of June, “First Take’s” estimated audience daily audience of 421,000 viewers was 2.7 times the size of “Undisputed” 154,000 viewers.

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