Overview

• Former first lady Michelle Obama said on her IMO podcast that spending an hour on ESPN felt like watching Real Housewives of Atlanta because of its dramatic debates.
• She characterized the network’s lineup as “just sociological drama” after noting frequent on-air yelling and lack of rapport among hosts.
• Podcast co-hosts Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers joked that Stephen A. Smith would be a perfect fit for the Real Housewives franchise.
• Media outlets have widely covered her comments, prompting fresh scrutiny over ESPN’s evolution toward entertainment-driven panels.
• ESPN’s recent cancellation of “Around the Horn” after more than 20 years underscores its broader shift from analytical shows to debate-centric programming.