Jason Kelce to Host Late-Night Talk Show for ESPN — Get Premiere Date
Jason Kelce is tackling late-night TV.
The former center for the Philadelphia Eagles is set to host They Call It Late Night With Jason Kelce, a weekly talk show for ESPN. Kelce first confirmed his new gig on Thursday’s edition of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live (see video below).
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Airing on Friday nights/early Saturday mornings, They Call It Late Night is described as a “personality-driven, one-hour program” that “will take its inspiration from traditional late-night television, emphasizing a comedic approach,” and it will run in conjunction with the finale of the NFL regular season and playoffs. (The title is derived from They Call it Pro Football, NFL Films’ first full-length film that was released in 1967.)
“They Call It Late Night With Jason Kelce will be an immersive experience from Union Transfer in Philadelphia, showcasing the Super Bowl champion’s oversized personality and infectious humor mixed with celebrity guests from the football world and beyond, in front of a live audience of NFL fans,” according to ESPN. “The show’s format will position Kelce and his guests to dissect NFL topics and storylines, mainly focused on that weekend’s games, in both conventional and good-humoredly unconventional approaches including active participation from the fans in attendance.”
And like any good late-night show, Kelce will have a house band — Philadelphia soul/funk band SNACKTIME.
They Call It Late Night will tape Friday evenings, and air later that night/early Saturday morning. Five episodes have been ordered, and the first will premiere just hours prior to the NFL’s regular season finale, on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 1 am ET. The following three episodes will lead directly into Super Wild Card, Divisional and Conference Championship weekends, while the finale will air ahead of the Pro Bowl Games, just nine days prior to Super Bowl LIX. Episodes will receive a second window on ESPN2, ESPN+, and ESPN and Kelce’s respective YouTube channels.
Following his NFL retirement in March, Kelce signed a multi-year agreement with ESPN. In addition to his late-night gig, he will continue to appear on Monday Night Countdown throughout the regular season, and join Scott Van Pelt and Ryan Clark during halftime of every ESPN NFL game.
Are you looking forward to Jason Kelce’s late-night TV debut? Sound off in Comments.
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