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MOLLY Qerim was forced to improvise during this morning’s edition of First Take.
The popular host, 40, was joined in the New York studio by two-time former Super Bowl champion Damien Woody.
Molly Qerim was joined by Damien Woody, Stephen A. Smith and Dan Orlovsky[/caption]
Qerim, 40, was forced to improvise[/caption]
The panel had been discussing Lamar Jackson[/caption]
Stephen A. Smith and Dan Orlovsky made up the panel via video link.
During the show, Qerim introduced a segment on two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.
“Let’s get to another quarterback,” she began. “With some things to prove, especially in the playoffs.
“Lamar Jackson will once again attempt to silence the naysayers when the Ravens kick off the season in a couple of weeks.
“A rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game, this time in Kansas City, a loss Lamar received the bulk of the blame for.
“Here’s Lamar on his critics…”
At this point, Qerim and the crew expected an interview with Jackson to begin playing.
An awkwardly silent few seconds followed, as highlights kept playing but with no sound.
“Oh, it looks like we don’t have that sound right now…” Qerim said.
“Damien, you’re not hearing that either, right?” she asked her colleague.
After Woody, 46, confirmed that he was not, Qerim attempted to carry on, before Smith interjected.
“Neither am I,” he said, as he spoke over his host.
“Okay, just making sure,” Qerim said, ever the professional.
She then continued as if the error hadn’t happened.
First Take viewing figures
First Take went from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim last year.
The weekday ESPN debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 – making it the most-watched year in program history.
Its December average of 611,000 was a 24% year-on-year increase compared to 2022.
The show also reported more than 250 million views on YouTube.
First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports’ Undisputed.
“Which quarterback do you think has the best chance to win a Super Bowl in the Mahomes era” she asked.
Orlovsky was a big fan of the question, rubbing his hands together and saying, “Mmm, I love this one.”
Yesterday, Smith wound Qerim up by commenting on her choice of outfit.
“To the matriarch herself,” Smith said at the top of the show. “Molly, you know what you’re doing.
“All I want to say is, that the color that you’re rocking today… is similar to the color you was rocking yesterday.
“But that’s alright.”
