Skip Bayless returned to First Take on May 8, 2026, for a one-time on-air reunion with Stephen A. Smith, marking the duo's first collaboration since 2016.
On Pardon My Take, PFT Commenter noted that the chemistry felt entirely unchanged, remarking, "it's like they never stopped doing it. It was like, it, it took me right back to 2016, playing the hits." He specifically highlighted the nostalgic inclusion of Tim Tebow talk, which served as a specific treat for the show's long-term fanbase.
The reunion was the highlight of a busy week for First Take, which also featured guest appearances from Cam'ron and Kid Mero. Cam'ron returned again on May 12 to analyze the New York Knicks playoff run alongside Iman Shumpert. As the show pivots away from the Skip Bayless era, the integration of pop-culture figures suggests a permanent shift in how the program manages its high-volume debate format.
