Michael Wilbon’s recent comments about the future of Pardon the Interruption stunned Bill Simmons. Wilbon said he would do the show with Frank Isola if Tony Kornheiser retired.
What We Know: Simmons addressed the topic on a recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast. Specifically, he took issue with Wilbon naming Isola as a potential partner after Kornheiser. Simmons felt Wilbon should have committed to Kornheiser for as long as he wants to work. Additionally, Simmons noted that PTI aired an hour-long episode a few weeks ago which he enjoyed, a format Kornheiser has long resisted.
What They Said: (All quotes via The Bill Simmons Podcast):
Bill Simmons was stunned that Michael Wilbon said he’d continue hosting Pardon the Interruption without Tony Kornheiser: “I didn’t like when [Michael] Wilbon gave the answer about if Tony [Kornheiser] retired. When he said [he] would do it [Pardon the Interruption] with Frank Isola. I was really surprised he said that. The correct answer would have been it’s my show with Tony. I want to do the show with Tony for as long as he wants to do it. I’m not going to think about what’s happening after. It was weird that he had somebody warming up at the bullpen. I was really, really surprised by that.”
Bill Simmons says Tony Kornheiser has been teasing retirement forever: “Tony’s [Kornheiser] been retiring for 12 years. [We’re] almost at the end of 2026. I’m so old. Nobody wants to look at me. I just don’t see him [retiring], and the ratings are fine.”
Bill Simmons says he wouldn’t mind Pardon the Interruption moving to an hour long program: “They had an hour long show [Pardon the Interruption] maybe like three, four weeks ago. Which Tony [Kornheiser] has resisted forever. He feels like that would be the death of the show, the moment it went for an hour. Wasn’t not interesting. They made the little five good minutes interviews were longer, and they figured out a way to string [it] along. You basically have to do 42 to 43 minutes of content instead of 22. But I wasn’t against it.”
What Remains Unclear: However, Kornheiser’s timeline on the program remains a mystery. Simmons, for his part, doesn’t see him stepping away anytime soon. It’s also unclear whether Wilbon’s Isola comment reflects any real planning by ESPN. Likewise, nobody knows if the hour-long format could return regularly.
What It Means: Ultimately, Simmons’ reaction shows how closely the Wilbon-Kornheiser partnership remains tied to PTI‘s identity. After nearly 25 years, the pairing is the heart of the show. Consequently, any succession talk draws scrutiny from peers and fans alike. For now, though, Simmons insists the ratings are fine and sees no reason to rush a change.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
