All rise for Judge Skip.
TV provocateur Skip Bayless recently agreed to a new four-year, $32 million contract to remain at Fox Sports and now the network is looking for new ways to utilize him.
According to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, one of the ideas the network is discussing internally is a potential faux courtroom sports debate show, a la “Judge Judy.”
Essentially, Bayless would preside as judge while two sides argue over various sports debates before the 69-year-old makes the final ruling.
It would likely feature some of FS1’s more younger talent, rather than his current partner, Shannon Sharpe, per McCarthy.
It is one of several ideas to give Bayless his own solo show in addition to FS1’s “Skip & Shannon: Undisputed” debate show.
McCarthy noted that giving Bayless, his own solo show would not only “justify” his $7 million per year salary, but also allow him to keep pace with his friend and former TV partner, Stephen A. Smith.
Smith began doing his own solo afternoon show in January for ESPN+ streaming service.
A source told McCarthy that “this is about Skip trying to keep up with Stephen A. He still thinks of himself as the Debate King – but their competition isn’t even a competition anymore.”
A “Judge Skip” would not be the first time someone has tried a courtroom-style sports show.
Bill Simmons experimented with this in 2016 on his HBO TV show, “Any Given Wednesday,” where he debated the merits of the Patriots’ “Deflategate” scandal with actor Michael Rapoport in front of Judge Joe Brown.
Simmons’ show was canceled after four months.
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