Jemele Hill and Michael Smith Set to Host SportsCenter Early Next Year

Jemele Hill and Michael Smith just struck gold with their new deal, as they are on their way to SportsCenter early next year, the network has announced.

“Jemele and Michael have unique chemistry and impressive journalistic credentials, and we look forward to bringing their entertaining mix of perspective and passion to SportsCenter,” ESPN senior vice president, Rob King said in a statement. “Just as we did with the one and only Scott Van Pelt, we’ll build a new version of our program that amplifies all that makes them special.”

The dynamic duo will take over for Lindsay Czarniak, who is scheduled to go on maternity leave in November, in the 6 p.m. slot on the network. The two are set to kick off their new segment on February 6^th, the day after the Super Bowl, however, there is no set end date for ESPN2’s His & Hers.

“It won’t be a transition, because we plan to be ourselves, Hill said of the new position. “We have a great sense of pop culture. We’re naturally interested in it and we see how it blurs with sports much more than ever before. We can do that without coming off corny or forced. Or, so we hope.”

“What makes this next step perfect for us is that we don’t have to become something we’re not,” Smith said in a statement. “We have the complete support of everyone here to be who we are, and carry on the things that made ‘His & Hers’ a successful show, and us a successful pair.”

Congratulations to them both!