Tuned In: A Barkley Alt-Cast? - Front Office Sports

November 22, 2024

The news that Inside the NBA would be licensed to ESPN starting next season set off shockwaves in the basketball world, as the program and its superstar commentators carved out a reputation as perhaps the greatest sports studio show in history.

Today, we can report ESPN is having early discussions about new ways to possibly deploy the cast: in alternative telecasts, similar to the ManningCast that complements Monday Night Football.

—Michael McCarthy

ESPN Discussing Alt-Cast Ideas for Charles Barkley, ‘Inside the NBA’

Inside the NBA

As ESPN basks in the glow of scoring Inside the NBA, there have been “early discussions” about using TNT Sports’ Charles Barkley & Co. on alternative telecasts, sources tell Front Office Sports.

Using Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny “The Jet” Smith, and Ernie Johnson on alt-casts would align with ESPN’s strategy of offering viewers alternate versions of major games or events across its fleet of channels and streaming options.

On Dec. 9, ESPN will telecast an animated, Simpsons-inspired version of Monday Night Football with Simpsons Funday Football. ESPN and parent company Disney previously collaborated on a Toy Story Funday Football kids-cast last fall.

A source outside ESPN, however, says alt-casts are not a possibility given the terms of the deal, which are specific to Inside the NBA appearing on ABC/ESPN. Given the commentators’ status as TNT employees, any additional appearances by Inside cast members would be on WBD/TNT platforms, the source said.

Ultimately, it’s well known that Sir Charles makes up his own rules. While the rest of the cast kept quiet this summer, Barkley gave repeated interviews on the state of WBD-NBA negotiations and his fear that TNT Sports would lose rights to air games.

Peyton and Eli Manning’s ManningCast of MNF on ESPN2 has become the country’s most popular alt-cast. Pat McAfee has offered his own freewheeling version of ESPN’s biggest college football telecasts on CFB Primetime with The Pat McAfee Show. ESPN has “Megacast” its coverage of the College Football Playoff’s national championship game since 2014. This January, for example, ESPN offered 11 different versions of Michigan vs. Washington, including McAfee’s Field Pass.

Under the licensing deal forged between ESPN and the NBA, Barkley, O’Neal, Smith, and Johnson remain TNT employees. TNT retains complete creative control of the show—which will continue to film in Atlanta.

And no, Stephen A. Smith will not be joining the cast of Inside the NBA, the winner of 21 Sports Emmy Awards, when the show moves to ESPN/ABC starting with the 2025–2026 season. If there were any doubts, ESPN president of content Burke Magnus laid them to rest during an appearance on the SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast.

“Why would we take something so successful and so iconic, bring it over and then be like, ‘We know better, we’re gonna change it’?” he asked.

Added Magnus: “We don’t want to change it. We don’t want to interject new talent into it. We don’t want to really do anything to it.”

So be it, Burke. But I think alt-casts could eventually provide an opportunity for ESPN to pair Smith and Michael Wilbon, its two leading NBA voices, with Barkley, O’Neal, Smith, and Johnson.

Crossover Appeal

There’s precedent. Don’t forget, ESPN and TNT teamed up for an innovative television “crossover” during their coverage of the NBA’s In-Season Tournament semifinals in December. As part of their collaboration, the casts of both Inside the NBA and NBA Countdown took turns appearing on each other’s pregame shows for extended segments. Barkley, a big football fan, has already appeared on the ManningCast as a guest. During that episode, Sir Charles recalled lasting one day as a high school football player. “I don’t want to get hit every play,” he cracked.

Both Smith and Wilbon have praised ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro’s masterstroke to bring Inside the NBA to their airwaves—even if it relegates their own NBA Countdown to second-string status.

“To know that these brothers are going to stay together, and continue to do the NBA for years to come, I can’t be more happy for them,” said Smith, who’s in the middle of multimillion contract negotiations with his bosses in Bristol. “Because I know that it created a lot of chaos once TNT lost its deal with the NBA … it’s the right thing.”

Wilbon told his Pardon the Interruption cohost Tony Kornheiser he’s thrilled TNT’s award-winning show is moving to ESPN.

“Whoever came up with that, good. There’s enough real estate out there. ESPN’s going to have several nights of games, so it’s not gonna threaten Countdown. Good!” said Wilbon, who’s co-written two books about Barkley.

Would TNT and the Inside the NBA cast want to participate in alt-casts? I bet they would. Ask any of the celebrity guests who’ve appeared on Omaha Productions’ ManningCast. These freewheeling, bros-talking-in-a-bar shows are fun for talents conditioned to more rigid TV productions.

I’ll make this my first prediction for 2025: ESPN and TNT will find a way to put Smith and Barkley on the air together. An alt-cast is the perfect way to do it.

Eli Manning’s Second Career Adds to Hall of Fame Case

Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

There’s a lot of heated debate about whether former Giants quarterback Eli Manning’s statistics are good enough to merit being a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer. Manning was “remarkably consistent” through his 16-year career, notes Trey Wingo, finishing 11th in passing touchdowns (366), completions (4,895), and yardage (57,023). But those numbers might not be gaudy enough to get him a bust in Canton in his first shot, especially since he’s also 12th all-time in interceptions and led the league in that category in three seasons.

Take a look at his head-to-head splits against fellow 2004 draftee Ben Roethlisberger, for example. Roethlisberger holds the edge in every single category listed here … except one: Super Bowl MVP trophies.

Pro Football Reference

This is one of two factors that might put the 43-year-old Manning over the top. Manning’s Giants upset the fearsome Tom Brady/Bill Belichick–led Patriots twice, spoiling their bid for a perfect 19–0 season at Super Bowl XLII. During his two Super Bowl runs, Manning won seven out of his eight games on the road against the likes of Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and Brett Favre.

Another factor beyond Manning’s on-the-field exploits: his thriving media career. His partnership with big brother Peyton Manning on ESPN2 ManningCast of Monday Night Football ranks as the country’s most popular alt-cast in any league for any sport. His comedic sketch as a walk-on quarterback trying out at Penn State for Eli’s Places inspired the new Hulu comedy Chad Powers with Glen Powell of Top Gun: Maverick. Producers are no doubt hoping to emulate Ted Lasso, which began as a Jason Sudeikis skit to promote NBC’s EPL coverage, then became an acclaimed Apple TV+ series.

Even though they’re retired, the Mannings’ high media exposure makes them the First Family of the NFL. As one source tells me: “The NFL loves the Mannings. All of their content is fun and positive for the league.”

EVENTS

Like what you see? Join us in Sept. 2025 as we bring this newsletter to life in our Tuned In virtual summit. You can catch up on what our big 2024 event looked like and sign up for updates here.

Mike’s Mailbag

Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Any time sports and politics collide in the Culture Wars, you get a reaction. We got plenty to our scoop that the NFL had “no issue” with players doing the “Trump Dance” after a touchdown or big play. A few examples:

Mike “The Reputation Doctor” Paul wrote on X/Twitter: “Freedom of speech in America. #publicopinion #matters.” … @OUsooner2010 tweeted: “Nor should they….Trump won reelection….people on the Left can either suck it up or fucking move out.” … Sterling Van Wilder III dropped a funny reference to the movie Footloose: “NFL learned from the last time someone tried to ban dancing in the small town of Bomont, Utah.”

Mike Drops

Caitlin Rejects Unrivaled, Jason Kelce’s Late-Night Show

Mark Smith-Imagn Images

Bad news for basketball fans: My colleague Margaret Fleming and I reported Caitlin Clark has informed Unrivaled that she won’t play in the start-up women’s basketball league’s inaugural season. But my sources tell me the WNBA Rookie of the Year could sign up for season 2 if the 3-on-3 league is a success.
And here’s Jason. ESPN’s Jason Kelce is getting his own late night show on ESPN, starting in January. They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce will air on five consecutive Friday nights starting Jan. 3 and continue through the NFL playoffs.
Huge congrats to ESPN’s Hubie Brown, who will wrap up his long announcing career this season at age 91.
A juicy spot on ESPN’s weekday programming lineup will become available next year from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET when ESPN closes out Around the Horn’s 23-year run in the summer of 2025. But one thing won’t change. Erik Rydholm, ESPN’s favorite producer, will get the assignment. The creator and executive producer of Pardon the Interruption, who’s also overseen ATH for decades, will develop a “new concept” for ESPN in the time slot, one source tells me. ESPN declined to comment. Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post first reported the news that ESPN plans to phase out ATH.
Warner Bros. Discovery is off to a strong start for Emirates NBA Cup coverage. The first games telecast across TNT, truTV, and Max channels averaged 1.77 million viewers, up 34% versus the first four Emirates NBA Cup games last year on TNT, truTV, and Max. As my FOS colleague Colin Salao previously reported, NBA Cup games on ESPN and TNT averaged 1.56 million viewers through six games, up 4% versus last year.

Question of the Day

Would you watch an alt-cast featuring the "Inside the NBA" crew?

Yes No

71% of you who responded to our previous edition thought ESPN would find a way to bring Charles Barkley and Stephen A. Smith together in some way.

Written by Michael McCarthy

Edited by Or Moyal, Catherine Chen