Why Are Big Name Podcasters Going Back to the Networks?

Shower Thought - September 18, 2025

There's nothing harder for me to watch than a guest on the Jimmy Fallon show. I like Jimmy Fallon, but I can't stand watching the celebrity guest come out and do the canned back and forth while Fallon cracks up at everything they say. All of the interviews are pre screened, all of the questions and answers are prepared beforehand, and it becomes a very scripted conversation. It's overproduced, with producers all over the set fixing everybody's hair, making sure they cut to break on time, and showing the guest's cookbook at the end. It's not great, and that's why shows like this are going downhill compared to podcasts where people just talk freely and it feels more natural.

I also can't understand why big name podcasters are reverting back to hosting sports shows on Fox or ESPN. I was just watching a clip from Get Up this morning, and there were Will Compton and Taylor Lewan from the Bussin' with the Boys show. Huge podcast. Tons of listeners and sponsors. They can say whatever they want for as long as they want, but on Get Up they are surrounded by producers telling them to have a hot take about the Cowboys. You see Compton sitting there waiting for Dan Orlovsky to stop talking, then he gets about 17 seconds to squeeze in his take on the Dolphins game before he's cut off so Jeff Saturday can talk about how important the trenches will be in the game tonight. I understand they are getting paid a ton to do that show, and that's why they take the job, but it's still a step backward. What they created on their own is much better.