ESPN’s ‘Happy Hour’ is getting cut in half.
Around the Horn, the sports debate show that features reporters from around the country debating the day’s topics, will air its final episode in the summer of 2025, concluding a 23-year run.
The news was first reported by the New York Post.
The show originally aired in 2002 and was a spin-off of Pardon the Interruption, another ESPN staple cohosted by former Washington Post columnists Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon. Around the Horn airs at 5 p.m. ET on weekdays, ahead of PTI, and the tandem drew high ratings for the network for years. It’s unknown why ESPN is canceling the show.
Max Kellerman was the original host, but replaced by Tony Reali in 2004 after he left for the now-defunct Fox Sports Net. The show helped launch the careers of many ESPN faces, including Jemele Hill, who went on to host SportsCenter; Mina Kimes; Israel Gutierrez; Monica McNutt; Pablo Torre; Michael Smith; and Bomani Jones, among others. The show was filmed in Washington, D.C., its first 10 years, but moved to New York in 2014 when Reali was named a correspondent for Good Morning America.
Around the Horn was famous for its mute button, which Reali used at his discretion and allowed him to silence panelists for a multitude of reasons, including interruptions, time constraints, or general buffoonery. The winner of the day’s episode was awarded “Face Time,” which gave the panelist 30 seconds to talk about whatever they wanted.
While the cancellation leaves a programming void in the 5 p.m. slot, Erik Rydholm, who serves as executive producer for both shows, will now develop new ideas for that window, sources told Front Office Sports. Rydholm has been highly regarded at ESPN for decades since developing PTI in 2001. PTI will not be impacted by Around the Horn’s cancellation, according to sources.
ESPN declined a request for comment.
Over the years, celebrities such as Mark Cuban and Snoop Dogg appeared on the broadcasts.
Reali, the show’s current panelists, and most notable alums were silent on social media in light of the report, though Woody Paige, the all-time wins leader on the program, retweeted a post on the reported cancellation.
Michael McCarthy contributed reporting.
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