Showtime looking to get into late night with Stephen A. Smith

As if late-night television wasn't competitive enough, now Showtime wants into the late-night game.

The pay cable channel, which has found critical and ratings success over the past few years with original shows such as "Dexter," "Nurse Jackie" and "Weeds," is in serious talks with Stephen A. Smith, the outspoken sports commentator about hosting a late night talk show.

Smith who first rose to prominence as a sports columnist at the Philadelphia Inquirer, is no stranger to anyone who watches ESPN or Fox Sports. Besides being a regular on ESPN's basketball show "NBA Shootaround," he also had his own show on ESPN2 called "Quite Frankly." Smith, who is known for his brash style, hosts a nationally syndicated radio show.

In an interview, Smith said there is are a "lot of things still to be ironed out." Executive producers for the project are Tracey Edmonds and Sheila Ducksworth, who were executive producer and a co-producer, respectively of the Showtime drama "Soul Food." The search is on for a show runner.

Smith's show would be weekly and focus on more than sports, said a Showtime insider. Smith said there isn't much that he would "shy away from" with regard to topics. 

-- Joe Flint

Photo: Stephen A. Smith. Credit: ESPN.

For the record: In an earlier version of this post incorrectly spelled Sheila Ducksworth's last name and misidentified her title on "Soul Food." She was a co-producer.

Clicking on Green Links will take you to a third-party e-commerce site. These sites are not operated by the Los Angeles Times. The Times Editorial staff is not involved in any way with Green Links or with these third-party sites.

---

Comments

[const]

SAS is all scream, no substance. He's been fired from every gig he's had because his act wears thin after a while. Showtime will learn this too.

[Lowposts]

HOWEVA!

[Wes]

Is this a joke? Stephen A. Smith is awful and people turn off the TV when he is on. That's why his first show, "Quite Frankly", bombed. How many times does someone have to fail before the entertainment industry stops hiring them as talent?

[Bill]

Simmons!

[Kris]

Let's hope not. This guy is loud and opinionated, but his opinions are garbage. There is a reason ESPN gave him the boot. I don't want to see him back on TV.

[Ben Klein]

I'M STEPHEN A SMITH AND THESE CHEESE DOODLES ARE DELICIOUS. QUITE FRANKLY, THESE ARE THE BEST CHEESE DOODLES I'VE EVER HAD.

also:

Simmons

[Seth]

SIMMONS!!!

[dablueberry]

Really?? Really? Have the execs at Showtime lost their minds??

[Simmons_B_Boston]

BostonSportsGuy

[Core]

First Interview: Chester Cheetah

[AR]

This is not a great idea, his show was awful on ESPN. He tried to be best friends with his guests and yelled a lot. If it failed on the sports leader why would it succeed on cable?

[TheFrogBlogg]

In honor of Wimbledon, I give you my best McEnroe

"YOU CAN NOT BE SERIOUS!?"

[CJ]

Is Showtime retarded?

[BrockWayneBrock]

SIMMONS!!!!!!!!

[mike]

Simbo!

[weetie]

bill effing simmons

[Har Har Har]

SIMMMMONNNNSSS!!

[paul from atlanta]

PLEASE do not give this man a show.

I will keep watching Bill Maher.

How I like Stephen as a sports commentator, the last thing I need is someone who have had NO political background to talk about the issues.

PLEASE DON"T.

[Stike]

His Fox Sports Radio show that replaced Steve Czaban's great & funny show is a JOKE and UNLISTENABLE... What the heck is going on here???

[Tom Jones]

What's he going to talk about...like he did on The View?
Baby momma drama and living with his kid's mom...such family values