After more than 23 years on air ESPN has decided to cancel the show Around the Horn hosted by Tony Reali. Every day, Reali has a four person panel of sports journalists from across the country that represent ESPN content and the best online newspapers. Around the Horn aired on weekdays at 5 pm, growing a significant following over this time.
“I had always considered the show could end; I get it. It’s a great show. It’s been on 23 years. It has a great profile and ratings that they have to be proud of. It’s got break-out characters, and we filled an incredible need and desire in the industry to break in new people. I’m proud of that,” Reali said.
Around the Horn has made over 4,900 episodes since its debut back on November 4th, 2002 where various sports media panelists compete for the most points over the half hour episode. Where they can be muted at any time if Reali does not like the take. Along with violating the infamous list of banned words. Denver Gazette writer Woody Paige holds the record for the most wins at 685 and counting.
There have been a number of famous sports writers on the show like Bob Ryan, Jackie MacMullan, Bill Plaschke, T.J. Simers, Jay Mariotti, and Tim Cowlishaw to participate on the show. These writers have come from publications such as The Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Sun-Times, and The Dallas Morning News.
A further hour of talk programming preceded the shows due to the success of Around the Horn such as shows like Jim Rome Is Burning, which influenced sports talk shows such as First Take among others on the ESPN morning programming. The “Happy Hour” block was established on ESPN from five to six where Around the Horn would air followed by Pardon the Interruption hosted by Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon drawing in the most viewers per day for ESPN.
“I think it's interesting how Around the Horn and other shows were able to provide a blueprint for different perspectives on the topic of sports. By providing perspectives from journalists all across the country and not just in one specific area for a specific team,” NHS senior James Walton said.
A number of famous sports and news people have gotten their start on Around the Horn such as Max Kellerman, who was the initial host of Around the Horn. Kellerman became a popular name at ESPN by hosting the Max Kellerman Show and collaborating with Stephen A. Smith on First Take from 2016-2023. As well as producer Bill Wolff, who has gone on to later produce The Rachel Maddow Show and The View.
Around the Horn will air its final episode on May 23rd which will be full of many tributes from sports writers across the country that have appeared on the show over the 23 years Around the Horn has been on the air. The longevity of the show will be celebrated on that final episode.
“A sports talk show that has been on the air for this long should definitely be appreciated as many sports talk shows are created and then go away after a couple of months. Around the Horn was able to sustain a huge following on ESPN and its absence will definitely impact ESPN’s brand,” NHS senior Evan Cowley said.
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