ESPN’s ‘Pardon the Interruption’ Is Not Going Anywhere
When news broke last week that ESPN had plans to end Around the Horn after a 23-year run on the network, all eyes instantly turned to the network’s other flagship studio show, Pardon the Interruption (PTI).
For almost a quarter of a century, Around the Horn and PTI have anchored ESPN’s afternoon programming. The later show, which stars former Washington Post sportswriters Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, originally debuted in 2001 and revolutionized the sports media landscape.
For a generation of viewers, Pardon the Interruption has become a daily ritual, and the idea of Tony and Michael not appearing on ESPN at 5:30 PM ET is unfathomable.
Washington D.C. – January 14, 2020 – DC Studios: Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon on the Pardon the Interruption set. (Photo by Randy Sager / ESPN Images)
Luckily, it sounds like PTI fans have nothing to worry about.
‘Pardon the Interruption’ Will Continue
Despite the massive changes taking place at ESPN over the last couple of years and the impending demise of Around the Horn, PTI will continue.
According to John Ourand of Puck, ESPN sources say that the iconic show is not going anywhere.
Washington D.C. – January 14, 2020 – DC Studios: Pardon the Interruption set. (Photo by Randy Sager / ESPN Images)
“It’s easy to hear this news and speculate about the future of ‘PTI,’ especially now that Mike and Tony are rarely in the same studio and both pushing deeper into the golfing phases of their careers,” Ourand wrote.
“But my Bristol sources insist ‘PTI’ will continue to anchor ESPN’s afternoon block for the foreseeable future.”
A New Era at ESPN
While it sounds like PTI will continue to anchor ESPN’s Happy Hour going forward, what the network will do with the 5:00 PM ET time slot remains unclear. When Around the Horn ends in the summer of next year, it will be the first time since 2002 that Pardon the Interruption has had a new lead-in.
Photo: Awful Announcing
Clearly, we are entering a new era at ESPN.
