Jason Kelce’s ESPN talk show dubbed ‘worst thing imaginable’ as viewers pan third episode

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles legend and Super Bowl winner, has dived into the late-night talk show world with 'They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce'

However, his venture into comedy and commentary has been met with harsh reviews, a challenging 1 am EST airtime, and less-than-stellar ratings since its debut on January 4, Saturday.

Airing on ESPN, the show has been inspired by the format of late-night icons like David Letterman but it has failed to captivate viewers.

Jason Kelce's late-night talk show debut

'They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce' premiered on ESPN with appearances from his wife Kylie, parents Ed and Donna, fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, NBA legend Charles Barkley, former Eagles player Brian Baldinger, and musician and Philadelphia native Lil Dicky (whose real name is David Burd).

The show leans into Kelce's Philadelphia roots. ESPN has described the show as “a new personality-driven, one-hour program that will run in conjunction with the finale of the NFL regular season and playoffs where Kelce will take the audience on a ride showcasing his oversized personality and infectious humor", per People.

Jason Kelce's late-night talks show faces criticism

But it seems Jason Kelce's talk show has failed to strike a chord with the audience. The premiere episode of 'They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce' attracted only 290,000 viewers, a sharp drop compared to the 700,000 who tuned into the same timeslot two weeks prior—though that figure benefited from a strong lead-in with the Indiana-Notre Dame playoff game.

The second episode aired on January 11 and the third on January 18, but the reviews have not been very encouraging.

One viewer said on X, "The Jason Kelce show is legit torture. I want to watch sports and instead ESPN airs the worst thing imaginable. The geniuses that thought this would be a good idea should all be fired."

Another viewer shared, "I forgot this show existed lol I thought it was like a one and done."

An individual pointed out, "This show is so stupid."

A follower observed, "They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce has got to be one of the worst ideas ever."

One comment stated, "They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce is the worst show in the history of television@espn."

Another comment read, "@espn- late night with Jason Kelce is one of the most pathetic shows I have ever seen. Stop selling out and just go back the roots."

"Watched 10 minutes of Jason Kelce’s new talk show and unfortunately it is just god awful man," explained an individual.

Some fans expressed frustration with technical issues, like one Sling TV subscriber who complained about being unable to watch Kelce’s show on demand.

Jason Kelce's talk show sees glimmer of hope amid viewer growth

Such brutal feedback has cast a shadow over the limited five-episode run of Jason Kelce’s talk show, which is part of his $1.8 million annual contract with ESPN.

But despite a rocky start, ESPN has noted a significant improvement in viewership for the show’s second episode, which climbed to 881,000 viewers.

As per Daily Mail, there have been some positive reviews also as viewers are slowly adjusting to Kelce’s unique approach.

"Jason Kelce’s late night show has really found its footing. Fantastic niche he’s finding here. Really like it. So much better than where he started So happy to see it!" said one viewer.

While the talk show may be underperforming, it represents just a fraction of Kelce’s value to ESPN.

His primary duties with 'Monday Night Countdown' and his massive appeal as a former Super Bowl champion provide a significant return on investment for the network.

Additionally, Kelce’s deal includes an option for ESPN to buy his and his brother Travis Kelce’s podcast, 'New Heights', by 2025.

However, the brothers opted to sign a blockbuster $100 million advertising and distribution deal with Amazon instead, cementing their podcast as a juggernaut in the sports world.

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