Jason Kelce’s ESPN talk show branded ‘the worst in the history of television’ as fans slam third episode

Jason Kelce's ESPN talk show branded 'the worst in the history of television' as fans slam third episode

Already plagued by its 1am EST airtime and poor ratings, Jason Kelce’s late-night ESPN talk show is now facing a steady current of negative reviews.

‘They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce’ is the worst show in the history of television,’ one critic wrote on X.

Another took it a step further, calling the program ‘one of the worst ideas ever.’

The show, which derives its name from David Letterman’s legendary late-night show, premiered on January 3 with an underwhelming response. The culprit could have been its late start time or the content itself, but in any case, the show garnered only 290,000 viewers on its first episode, according to Puck’s John Ourand. 

For context, Ourand points out that ESPN had 700,000 viewers watching that same time slot two weeks earlier. However, he adds: ‘that figure was inflated by the Indiana-Notre Dame playoff game earlier in the night.’

DailyMail.com has reached out to ESPN for confirmation.

Former NFL player and ESPN analyst Jason Kelce, right, performs with Philadelphia Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland during a January 3 taping

Former NFL player and ESPN analyst Jason Kelce, right, performs with Philadelphia Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland during a January 3 taping 

Former NFL player and ESPN analyst Jason Kelce, right, performs a skit with a younger version of himself during the taping

Former NFL player and ESPN analyst Jason Kelce, right, performs a skit with a younger version of himself during the taping

Read More Jason Kelce reveals truth behind horrifying video of him flipping car on streets of Philadelphia article image

Most importantly, Ourand wrote on January 6, the viewership figures don’t really represent Kelce’s value to the network.

The Super Bowl winner and Philadelphia Eagles legend makes a reported $1.8 million a year with ESPN, not including a $1 million signing bonus, according to a May report in the Sun. That deal encompᴀsses Kelce’s primary duties with Monday Night Countdown as well as the limited, five-episode run of his late-night talk show.

So while there may be some negative responses to Kelce’s Steve Allen impersonation, the network likely cares much more about his Monday Night Football duties.

And that’s a good thing for Kelce because social media is a bottomless pit of criticism.

‘Late night with Jason Kelce is one of the most pathetic shows I have ever seen,’ one angry fan wrote on X. ‘Stop selling out and just go back the roots.’

‘The Jason Kelce late night show is unwatchable,’ another added.

Former NFL player and ESPN analyst Jason Kelce, right, performs a skit with NFL Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael, left

Former NFL player and ESPN analyst Jason Kelce, right, performs a skit with NFL Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael, left

Fortunately, not everyone was hating on Kelce. One fan wrote the second episode was ‘a substantial improvement.’

And another complained to the live TV streaming service, Sling, that Kelce’s show failed to record.

‘Impractical Jokers and Jason Kelce Is it Late Night isn’t on demand,’ they moaned.

What’s more, one Philadelphia sports fan declared the third episode to be a dramatic improvement. 

‘Jason Kelce’s late night show has really found its footing,’ they wrote on X. ‘Fantastic niche he’s finding here. Really like it. So much better than where he started So happy to see it!’

Kelce’s ESPN deal also gave the network the right to buy Jason and his brother Travis’ popular podcast if they chose to sell before 2025, the Sun reported. The brothers instead signed a reported $100 million podcast deal with Amazon for advertising and distribution rights to their show, New Heights, according to multiple reports.

Related Posts

Revealed: Why Shedeur Sanders fell out of first round of NFL Draft

Revealed: Why Shedeur Sanders fell out of first round of NFL Draft

In one of the most shocking moments of the 2025 NFL Draft, quarterback Shedeur Sanders slid not only out of the top 10 but all the way…

Dejected Shedeur Sanders left anxiously waiting as Steelers and Giants make shock NFL Draft decision

Dejected Shedeur Sanders left anxiously waiting as Steelers and Giants make shock NFL Draft decision

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was left to sit and watch as he continued tumbling down the 2025 NFL Draft boards in a stunning scene. While the draft…

Former linebacker Steve Kiner dies at the age of 77 just hours before NFL Draft

Former linebacker Steve Kiner dies at the age of 77 just hours before NFL Draft

Former NFL linebacker Steve Kiner died at the age of 77 Thursday, the National Football Foundation announced just hours before the 2025 Draft.  Kiner was drafted by the…

Fired-up Jaxson Dart celebrates Giants pick in jubilant NFL draft scene

Fired-up Jaxson Dart celebrates Giants pick in jubilant NFL draft scene

A fired-up Jaxson Dart could hardly contain his excitement Thursday night when the Giants traded back into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to select…

Who is Cam Ward? Meet the NFL’s newest star who went from ‘overweight’ and overlooked to the 2025 No. 1 pick

Who is Cam Ward? Meet the NFL’s newest star who went from ‘overweight’ and overlooked to the 2025 No. 1 pick

The NFL Draft’s worst-kept secret has finally been broken as quarterback Cam Ward has gone No. 1 overall to the Tennessee тιтans. Accompanied by his parents, Ward…

Joe Schoen hits bull’s-eye by snaring Jaxson Dart in Giant draft-day double

Joe Schoen hits bull’s-eye by snaring Jaxson Dart in Giant draft-day double

The main event would come later, after Joe Schoen sacked Abdul Carter with the third pick of Thursday night’s NFL draft.  Schoen got his quarterback of the…