First Take Heads West with Stops in Texas and Las Vegas, Returns to Los Angeles
The Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay, Deion Sanders, Omar Epps and More Join the Special Three-Hour Show Friday to Preview Cowboys’ Home Opener
ESPN’s morning debate program First Take will head west beginning Friday, Sept. 8, in Texas, for a three-stop swing over two weeks. The September 8 show in Dallas will preview the upcoming Cowboys home opener that weekend with a special three-hour edition, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET on ESPN. Airing live from Fort Worth’s Billy Bob’s Texas, host Molly Qerim and commentators Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman will welcome guests including The Bachelorette – and native Texan – Rachel Lindsay, actor Omar Epps and former Cowboys stars Deion Sanders and Darren Woodson. In addition, the critically acclaimed Texas musical group Los Lonely Boys will perform three songs during the show. Entry is free of charge, and doors will open to the public approximately 1.5 hours before the start of the telecast.
The following week, the First Take crew will head to Los Angeles for three shows from ESPN’s Los Angeles Production Center. NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West, LaVar Ball and more will guest, with First Take looking ahead at the Lakers’ upcoming season and much more.
First Take will close out the week with three shows in two days from Las Vegas, in advance of the hugely anticipated Gennady “GGG” Golovkin vs. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez middleweight championship unification bout. The program will air live from the MGM Grand Talent Pool on Thursday, Sept. 14, and Friday, Sept. 15, from 10 a.m. – Noon. A one-hour, prime time edition will air live from that location on Friday, at 8 p.m. Live guests on-set will include boxing analysts Teddy Atlas and Jim Lampley, and more.
In August, First Take enjoyed a 35% increase in viewership over the previous year, averaging 404,000 viewers (P2+, Nielsen’s August: July 31 – August 25). The month ended with two days on location in Las Vegas to preview last weekend’s much-anticipated Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor fight.
First Take Schedule on the Road:
Date | Time (ET) | Guest |
Fri, Sep 8 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | The Bachelorette Rachel Lindsday |
Omar Epps | ||
Los Lonley Boys | ||
Deion Sanders | ||
Darren Woodson | ||
TCU Cheerleaders | ||
Mon, Sep 11 | 10 a.m. – Noon | Jerry West |
Tue, Sep 12 | 10 a.m. – Noon | LaVar Ball |
Wed, Sep 13 | 10 a.m. – Noon | TBD |
Thu, Sep 14 | 10 a.m. – Noon | Teddy Atlas |
UNLV Cheerleaders | ||
Fri, Sep 15 | 10 a.m. – Noon | Jim Lampley |
Las Vegas Golden Knights Ice Dancers | ||
Tecate Chicas Ring Girls | ||
8 – 9 p.m. | TBD | |
Tecate Chicas Ring Girls |
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