A New Chapter for “First Take”
Shay Cornett officially stepped into her role as the new host of “First Take” on Monday, marking a fresh start for the show after a few weeks of anticipation on ESPN. She succeeds Molly Kerim, who left the network unexpectedly in September.
Stephen A. Smith introduced Cornett in a rather extravagant manner, donning a cowboy hat and puffing on a cigar, while poking fun at the American team during the show’s introduction.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please give a round of applause to our new host,” Smith announced, referring to Cornett, who previously anchored “SportsCenter.”
Due to the show broadcasting the Monday Night Football game featuring the Cowboys and the Cardinals, there wasn’t a grand entrance for Cornett. Instead, her debut took place at a desk in Arlington.
Cornett, age 39, exuded confidence in her new moderator position, playing the “devil’s advocate” and ensuring her viewpoints were clear during the discussions that included Smith and NFL analysts Dan Orlovsky, Cam Newton, and Michael Irvin.
Dressed in a stylish sleeveless brown top, Cornett wore her hair down in soft waves, impressing many with her appearance as well.
Joining ESPN in 2020, Cornett had served as a stand-in host for Kerim in the past few years. She emerged victorious over other ESPN personalities like Amina Smith, MJ Acosta-Lewis, and Courtney Cronin in a rigorous multi-week audition process, which involved a co-host segment with Smith.
In a recent interview, Cornett expressed her excitement about taking on this significant role. She mentioned wanting to increase hockey coverage and showcase Midwest teams more often on “First Take.”
“I’m open to discussion. I’m here for it,” she noted, adding, “I think they realize that.”
Cornett appreciated Kerim’s ability to handle her job with grace over ten years but admitted that they had only crossed paths a few times. “It’s not easy to discuss various topics with different personalities for so long,” she said. “It requires stamina, knowledge, and grace, which I know she had. Everyone who spoke of her emphasized that.”
“There’s a reason this role was highly sought-after,” Cornett reflected, recognizing Kerim’s effortless style. “I don’t really like the term ‘replacement’… This feels more like a new generation’s ‘First Take.’ It’s not that there was something wrong with her; it’s just a different chapter for the show. I look forward to meeting her soon.”
Burke Magnus, ESPN’s president of content, shared insights regarding Kerim’s departure with The Athletic, indicating that plans for the future were already in motion before her exit became public. Kerim is set to leave “First Take” when her contract concludes at the end of 2025.
Magnus mentioned that while they had been discussing contract renewal, both parties ultimately did not see eye to eye. There seemed to be a divergence in direction, leading to her stepping down from the show.
