Undisputed is taking a break 'as Fox Sports struggles to find a new debate partner for Skip Bayless

Fox Sports executives are said to be 'struggling' to find a new debate partner for Skip Bayless following Shannon Sharpe's departure from 'Undisputed' last month, as the show is set to undergo a two-month hiatus. 

The U.S. sports network announced that Bayless and his show will only return on FS1 on August 28, giving producers time to evaluate what's next for the weekday debate TV program, according to Front Office Sports (FOS).

On Wednesday, Bayless provided some sort of an explanation for his morning show's absence from being shown on-air, tweeting: 'LeBron isn't the only one in the lab this summer. Can't wait to unveil ''Undisputed'' just in time for football season.' 

However, the sports commentator's show's two-month absence from Americans' TVs has more to do with Fox Sports' inability to lineup a replacement Sharpe - one of the greatest tight-ends in NFL history - than anything else, FOS sources reported. 

Potential successors to Sharpe, who co-hosted 'Undisputed' for the last seven years, include several TV personalities laid off by ESPN in June, such as Keyshawn Johnson and Max Kellerman. 

Fox Sports is desperately trying find a new debate partner for Skip Bayless on 'Undisputed'

The U.S. sports network is cutting off Bayless' show from its channel until August 28th

Shannon Sharpe left 'Undisputed' after seven years as the show's co-host, from 2016-2023

FS1 bigwigs LeSean McCoy, Nick Wright, Emmanuel Acho and Joy Taylor are also in the running for the hot seat sitting across from the much-outspoken Bayless, per FOS.

The role is said to be turning off plenty of on-air talents too, as Bayless is believed to have the final say on everything related to 'Undisputed.' The 71-year-old is desperate to get his show back on TV and even pleaded for the much-adored Charles Barkley to take Sharpe's place, describing him as his 'dream debate partner'. 

Barkley, though, is seemingly uninterested in the position, even calling Bayless an 'idiot' last week. 

'I want one of those jobs where I can get a buyout for working with an idiot,' said the basketball Hall of Famer about Sharpe's departure from 'Undisputed,' during TNT's coverage of The Match. 'What do you think Ernie? You think I can get a buyout for working with Shaq?' 

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To make matters worse, Sharpe's replacement will have to succumb to two things: being paid less than Bayless and not having as much as a say in the show's direction as the former ESPN analyst.

It's also been widely believed that Bayless doesn't want to work with anyone other than his former debate partner, Stephen A. Smith -- the host of 'First Take' on ESPN. 

Smith and Bayless worked together on ESPN from 2012-2016, until the latter's exit to get his own shown on Fox Sports. 

Therefore, all things considered, Fox Sports execs are unable to move forward with 'Undisputed,' for the time being, according to FOS sources. 

Bayless wants TNT's Charles Barkley to join him as his new debate partner on Fox Sports 1 

Bayless is also keen to reunite with ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, who he worked with form 2012-16

'Shannon's exit moved way faster than they expected. So they had no choice but to go on hiatus,' said one source. 'Skip has never done anything like this during all his years at FS1 or ESPN. Not being on the air during all these NBA moves is killing him.' 

Another reason for Bayless' absence from TV for the next two-months may have to do with the show's one-on-one debate format. 

Producers are said to be pondering whether to completely rebrand 'Undisputed,' as a whole, and they could be inspired by Smith's 'First Take' format, which sees the ESPN personality debate against a wide range of guests from Chris 'Mad Dog' Russo to Kendrick Perkins. 

If that's the case, then the show's re-modelling could pose as a challenge for Bayless, who's been following the same debate structure as long as sports fan can remember.

For now, Fox Sports is losing ground to ESPN in terms of popularity, with 'First Take's' audience gather an estimated 421,000 viewers -- 2.7 times more than 'Undisputed's'  154,000 watchers. 

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