| 17 May 2010
Everyday at 4pm, I am patiently awaiting for a show that is quickly becoming not just my favorite sports talk show but one of my favorite shows on television across all genres.
Sportsnation is a daily 60 minute long talk show on ESPN2 that usually airs around 4pm. It features radio sports talk show host Colin Cowherd and the increasingly desirable Michelle Beadle. It's centered around the social sports arena that has seem to take a hold of all forms of media.
While the TV version of Colin is a very scaled down version vs his radio show, he still has a bit of an edge to him that balances out the funny and quick-witted Michelle.
Hit the jump to continue reading on why you should be watching this show... 
Sportsnation, as with many other talk shows, start off with the main stories of the day and compare their opinions to that of the viewers through various polls they place on their website daily.
Fans are prompted daily via Twitter and Facebook their opinions on certain topics that will be covered in that day's show and fans are even featured on the opening credits should you create a noteworthy basketball shot.
And that's not the only video like this you will see; everything from a monkey waiter to guessing "what happens next" in a weird web video, its never short of highly entertaining.
Regular segments on the show include Three Cheers/Jeers/Tears, Website of the Day (::cough GuysGirl.com) Pulse of the Nation, Power Rankings and a ton more. There are even some special segments and shows that frankly, no other sports show would touch.
For example, recently the former-exposed "psychic" Ms. Cleo was invited on to tell the future on certain topics like "Where Lebron Will End Up Next" in which she chose the Washington Wizards of all places. Its segments like this that truly mixes sports and entertainment together magnificently.
My absolute favorite moment on the show is when talk-show host Maury Povich paid a visit to the set to do a spin off of his now famous "you are/are not the father". Check out the acting job Beadle pulls off complete with a "running off the stage in horror". If only they had a couch in the back she could have thrown herself on.
I know that many critics of ESPN will go with the old "this is just another way for ESPN to not actually talk about sports" but in today's culture, the show and its set up work perfectly with American 30 second attention spans.
The only beef I would have with the show is the constant time change or wondering "will Sportsnation be on today or do I have to find something else to fill that time slot?"
Its clear that the show is really working on tv as both hosts have been offered additional gigs on other shows while the show hasn't even been running for a year yet.
Sportsnation is also a huge hit online obviously due to the high priority the show has for social media. When doing a search for "ESPN SportsNation", besides a couple official ESPN sites, the rest of the search results are sports blogs and videos ecstatic to be featured on the show for a 5 second mention.
Whether or not ESPN gives Sportsnation the respect they deserve in a solid time slot remains to be seen but the show is definitely worth taking a peek. (on ESPN2 at 4pm eastern)
