Joy Taylor is out at FOX Sports as part of a significant shake-up that will see multiple programs, including FS1’s Speak, come to an end. According to a report from The Athletic, Taylor’s exit coincides with the cancellation of three underperforming studio shows: Speak, Breakfast Ball, and The Facility.
Sources told The Athletic that the shows failed to gain meaningful traction with audiences, which ultimately led to the decision to move in a different direction. Taylor, who had been with Fox Sports for nearly 10 years, co-hosted Speak alongside Keyshawn Johnson and Paul Pierce. Her contract expired and was not renewed.
This marks a dramatic shift in FS1’s daytime programming strategy. The canceled shows were all greenlit under the leadership of former top programming executive Charlie Dixon, who was ousted from the network earlier this year following serious misconduct allegations.
In one of two lawsuits against Dixon, a make-up artist claimed Taylor told her to “get over it” in reference to a reported incident of sexual battery. Taylor has denied the claim.
Breakfast Ball was hosted by Craig Carton, Mark Schlereth, and Danny Parkins. The show represented Carton’s second venture with the network after stepping away from WFAN’s afternoon drive two years ago.
Schlereth spoke to Barrett Media in late April about how Breakfast Ball was aiming for a different style of program that allows the audience a choice for sports on morning television.
“What we’re trying to present is an alternative. Something new, something fresh. Building a show and finding an audience it just takes time,” said Schlereth in late April. “I don’t feel pressure if we don’t make this happen, or if we don’t get a certain rating by this time. I just think of it more from the standpoint of let’s just keep getting together. Let’s just keep having fun, keep creating good content, and eventually my hope is that we find a large audience.”
While nothing official has been released from FOX Sports, there will be some speculation surrounding Carton’s next move, a return to WFAN appears to be a possibility.
Meanwhile, The Facility was a newer addition to FS1’s lineup, launching less than a year ago. The show featured a rotating panel of former NFL players, including Emmanuel Acho, Chase Daniel, James Jones, and LeSean McCoy.
FOX Sports has yet to issue an official comment on the changes, but The Herd with Colin Cowherd and First Things First featuring Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes will remain in their current time slots. FS1 is expected to fill the vacated hours with new programming in the coming months, though no announcements have been made about what shows may replace the outgoing lineup.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
