Skip Bayless returning to ‘First Take’ with Stephen A. Smith every Friday

ESPN has officially announced that Skip Bayless will return to the network, joining Stephen A. Smith on the popular show First Take. Bayless will join the show every Friday, while the last Friday of each month, he will appear on First Take. The duo announced Bayless would join Smith on SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio, with the last Friday of every month on First Take.

Smith emphasized that Bayless will join him on the show every Friday, promising a "beatdown" each time. Following a decade-long break from ESPN, Bayless returned to First Take for a one-day reunion with Smith earlier this year, which he called the "most fun" he had in a long time. Bayless expressed his excitement about the prospect of working with Smith again, stating that their dynamic is unique and special.

The reunion with Smith earlier this year was a precursor to Bayless' return to the show, with both Smith and Bayless expressing their desire to make it a regular occurrence. The loss of Cam Newton and Ryan Clark from First Take due to layoffs over the summer further solidified ESPN's decision to bring Bayless back. While Bayless' role on the show will be less prominent than his previous tenure, it also presents a promotional opportunity for the former focal point of First Take.

Bayless recently launched Gridiron with Aqib Talib and will leverage ESPN and Smith's platform to promote his digital show. Their reunion in May allowed them to revisit old debates and debates, generating interest without overexposing their dynamic. Once-a-week appearances on radio and once-a-month on TV seem like a perfect balance to generate buzz without becoming too repetitive.