Out of sight and out of mind to sports fans since his departure from ESPN in May, Stephen A. Smith has remained a television star in the world of cable news.
Smith has been a frequent guest on cable news networks in recent weeks. On MSNBC alone, Smith has made multiple appearances on shows like Morning Meeting, The Ed Show and Hardball, voicing his opinions on everything from Michael Jackson to President Obama.
On Friday, Smith will appear on MSNBC’s The Ed Show at 6:30 PM, followed by an appearance on CNN’s Campbell Brown at 8. The topic of discussion on both shows will be Eagles QB Michael Vick. Earlier this week, Smith appeared on MSNBC and CNN Headline News to discuss the Rick Pitino scandal.
Smith has also popped up on FOX News Channel’s FOX and Friends, the entertainment show The Insider, and was even set to appear on NBC’s newsmagazine show Dateline NBC last Sunday, discussing “Steve McNair, athletes, infidelity and society,” but the segment was pushed back.
Smith appears to be interested in a future on cable news, noting that MSNBC, CNN and FOX News are “all great in their own ways. If I’m lucky/fortunate enough to end up [with one] of them, I’ll be me.” He described hosting a TV show “talking news/politics” as one of his “[two] missions.” And when a fan hoped that Smith would return to ESPN, Smith noted that “TNT would work just as well, personally. Or even NBA-TV. Anyone that doesn’t stand in the way of me talking [news or politics].“
Outside of cable news, Smith has also said he would “love to do” a daytime or late night talk show. And he has not closed the book on talking sports again, specifically the NBA. When asked whether he could go to TNT or NBA TV, he said he would “love to do it … I think Barkley and myself together would be a show for the ages, personally.”
