Jason Kelce’s new late-night show, They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce, has been receiving a steady stream of negative feedback since its debut on January 3.
Despite being part of the ESPN lineup, the show has not found its footing with viewers, and early reviews have been harsh.
Unfavorable Reception and Low Viewership
The show, which airs at a difficult 1am EST time slot, has garnered some scathing reviews from critics.
One person on X (formerly Twitter) declared it “the worst show in the history of television,” while another went even further, calling it “one of the worst ideas ever.”
This negative reception follows the show’s underwhelming performance in its premiere episode, which only attracted 290,000 viewers.
For comparison, ESPN had 700,000 viewers during the same time slot two weeks earlier, although that number was inflated by the popularity of a playoff game earlier that night.
Kelce’s Value Beyond Late Night
While the low viewership is notable, ESPN’s real focus may not be on the late-night program but rather on Jason Kelce’s role with Monday Night Countdown.
Kelce, a Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles, is reportedly earning $1.8 million annually with ESPN, not including a $1 million signing bonus.
His late-night talk show is a small part of his contract, with only five episodes planned, which makes it a less critical aspect of his deal.
His primary duties revolve around his work with Monday Night Football, which is likely the driving force behind his continued presence at ESPN.
Social Media Backlash and Praise
As expected, the internet has been a place for both praise and criticism.
Many fans were quick to express their disapproval, with one fan writing, “Late night with Jason Kelce is one of the most pathetic shows I have ever seen.”
Another lamented, “The Jason Kelce late night show is unwatchable.” However, not all feedback has been negative.
Some viewers noticed improvements in later episodes, with one saying the second episode was “a substantial improvement,” and another fan declaring the third episode “really found its footing.”
One fan even expressed excitement, saying it was “so much better than where he started.”
Podcast Deal and Future Prospects
Despite the mixed reviews for his late-night show, Kelce’s podcasting career is flourishing.
Along with his brother, Travis Kelce, Jason signed a significant $100 million podcast deal with Amazon, securing advertising and distribution rights to their show, New Heights.
This deal, which was finalized before 2025, underscores the Kelce brothers’ growing influence in the podcasting world.
In the end, while They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce may be struggling to win over late-night TV audiences, Jason Kelce’s broader career continues to thrive, particularly through his high-profile sports role and podcasting success.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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