Rich Eisen Will Host More ‘SportsCenter’ After His Triumphant Return This Week
Rich Eisen returned to the SportsCenter desk Monday for the first time in over two decades.
The presentation kicked off with a vintage SportsCenter opening, as Eisen previewed the big events to come. From there, it was off to the races. Like riding a bike, Eisen fit seamlessly back into his role as SportsCenter host, reminding viewers of how the program became an institution in the first place.
It was a nostalgia-filled run through the day’s sporting events.
Photo: ESPN
Ending the show with a tribute to his late partner, Stuart Scott, Eisen delivered the kind of SportsCenter presentation that fans have long been pining for.
A Ratings Bonanza
According to a report from Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy, Eisen’s return garnered 708,000 viewers, which was 67% higher than the 11 PM SportsCenter’s average viewers.
Photo: Clutchpoint
Additionally, Eisen had the most-watched SportsCenter since mid-June and even outdrew his last presentation in 2003.
Photo: The Rich Eisen Show
Finally, Eisen set social media abuzz with his return. Many fans called the presentation a return to SportsCenter’s golden age, and the kind of highlight show that has long been missing from ESPN.
Eisen Will Host More ‘SportsCenter’
Following the overwhelmingly positive reception to Eisen’s SportsCenter return, ESPN announced that the anchor will return to the program later this fall.
Photo: ESPN
According to an ESPN spokesperson, the anchor will host “periodic special editions” of SportsCenter moving forward.
As ESPN prepares to enter a new era in network history with the launch of its streaming app today, The Worldwide Leader has struck gold by looking backwards. In Eisen’s return, the network was able to lean into its storied history, even as it moves forward.
ESPN
That is a win for everyone.
