First Things First: every day presents a new opportunity for another first. The show’s title borrows from an idiom suggesting certain items should be addressed before others. While the program has been part of the FS1 lineup since 2017, last month brought another “first” for the show: a Sports Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Daily Sports Show category.
“It was very gratifying to receive the news,” said host Nick Wright about the nomination. “I was probably way more thrilled than I should have been. I started to feel the show was really good with Kevin Wildes, Chris Broussard and myself. Every year the Sports Emmys nominees would come out, and every year I’m in a bad mood for three days afterwards because I’m angry we didn’t get nominated.”
For the last five years, First Things First has served as the network’s flagship sports debate program. Despite several roster changes and time slot shifts throughout its history, the show has achieved its greatest success since the formation of the trio of Wright, Broussard, and Wildes.
Since shifting from mornings to afternoons in September 2022, First Things First has doubled its viewership. The network says the program has grown 102% compared to its weekday morning audience.
“The show has been one of the best sports shows on television,” said Chris Broussard, who joined the program full time in September 2021. “I felt like we were in that league. So, to get the Sports Emmy nomination was gratifying. We’d love to win it, but even being nominated is a reward as well.”
Building A Winning Roster
Kevin Wildes, who has served as the moderator since joining in early 2020, said the Sports Emmy nomination reflects a team effort. The longtime producer built a strong reputation at ESPN before joining FOX Sports. Following the nomination, he added that the credit belongs to the show’s entire staff.
“There’s so many people that you don’t see that make this show work,” said Wildes. “There are so many little things that go into making the show what it is, and so many people involved with that. It’s a team effort and a team award.”
Success didn’t come easily to First Things First. The program has evolved since its 2017 debut, when Cris Carter and Wright debated the latest sports topics each morning with Jenna Wolfe as moderator. Over time, the show featured contributions from Carter, Wolfe, and Brandon Marshall across a five-year span.
However, the combination of Wright, Broussard, and Wildes has proven to be the winning formula.
“The three of us bring different things to the table. That’s what makes the show work,” explains Broussard. “Nick [Wright] always brings intelligent takes with substance. But when [Kevin] Wildes got on the show, I always enjoyed the show, but the show became more fun to do. I know they [FOX] was going for more levity when they brought Wildes in, but the show is more fun now.”
Broussard, who worked with Wildes during his time at ESPN, said that built-in relationship helped create instant chemistry.
“The biggest difference in the show was adding Kevin Wildes because of his natural instincts for what works and what doesn’t,” said Wright. “Also, with no disrespect to anyone else. Chris Broussard is the best partner I’ve ever had. I’m a tough guy at times to work with… but [Chris] Broussard is the hardest working partner I’ve ever worked with.”
First Things First also marked a new beginning for Wildes. His role on the program was his first on camera rather than behind the scenes. However, he viewed the transition as a natural progression.
“People think it was a bigger transition than I thought it was,” noted Wildes. “I viewed the opportunity as less of a left turn, and more a continuation of evolving in this field I’ve been working in for twenty years. I didn’t feel that strange. Honestly, wearing a suit and make up in the lights was a little intimidating at first.”
Being Different Matters
Another factor helping First Things First stand out in a crowded sports media landscape is its digital and social media strategy. Each show is available as a podcast and distributed across multiple platforms, while the program’s social media team continues finding new ways to present content that drives engagement.
Over the past year, First Things First has generated more than 640 million social views across its platforms—an 11% increase from the previous 12-month period. On YouTube alone, the show has grown 24%, surpassing one billion total views in February.
What makes these figures more notable is that the program has achieved them as an afternoon show, unlike many competitors that air in the morning or midday and benefit from a full afternoon of online engagement.
“The meat of our show is real opinion with real factual basis. Our show has to lead the league in both absurdity and most data conveyed per minute,” said Wright. “That’s what special about our show and the relationship between the three of us.”
Wildes said airing in the afternoon also provides an advantage by allowing the show to react to established narratives.
“There’s also an advantage to being live when breaking news happens in the afternoon,” explained Wildes. “In the morning, very few things break in sports where we could respond in real time. The afternoons also provide that opportunity more often than in mornings.”
Navigating Change
As the show approaches its tenth year on FS1, the network’s approach has remained steady. First Things First has settled into its core trio while continuing to grow in the afternoon slot. Last summer, FS1 expanded the program to three hours, adding Danny Parkins, Eric Mangini, and Greg Jennings for the additional hour.
The expansion was part of broader changes to the network’s daily studio lineup. FS1 canceled Breakfast Ball, Speak, and The Facility, removing several high-profile talents from its roster.
Despite those shifts—and the ongoing challenges networks face in producing in-house studio programming—First Things First remains focused on what it can control.
“On the top of my script I have for the show, I have a picture of Secretariat with blinders on. It’s a constant reminder that the only thing I need to be focused on is trying to be best for the show at 3 o’clock,” said Wildes. “What’s happening in the industry is not part of my focus. Obviously, I know it’s there, but it doesn’t affect me. Because I keep my focus on the show exclusively.”
For Nick Wright, who just celebrated ten years with FOX Sports on Monday, the opportunity to continue building First Things First stands as his proudest accomplishment with the network.
“If you do anything long enough, you know whether or not the show as a whole is a good show or a bad show,” explained Wright. “My proudest moment is a continual moment of creating what is the best sports show on television. It is incredibly gratifying, and I’m incredibly proud that I get to be a part of that everyday.”
For a show built on the idea of prioritizing what matters most, First Things First has spent nearly a decade doing exactly that—refining its voice, sharpening its chemistry, and earning its place in an increasingly crowded space.
The Emmy nomination may be the latest milestone, but it also signals something deeper: after all this time, the show isn’t chasing relevance. It’s continuing to define it.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
