Keyshawn, JWill and Zubin (2020 Podcast Series) User Reviews

What a disappointment!

[ksg-47495-66196 · 2/10 · 5 October 2020]

Listened for two weeks and forced myself to a third. This program is awful. Now listen to various podcasts. C'mon ESPN you can do much better.

This is what the World Wide Sports Leader Gives Us?

[chrisglarson · 2/10 · 9 June 2021]

This is just brutal. I know in the summer months, topics can be slow, but yet every week all they talk about every hour is the ongoing saga with Aaron Rodgers and ask the same question every show, will he sit out, will he be traded or will he play. There is nothing else. At least they have toned down on the Kendrick Perkins expert analysis....the guy cannot even string along a sentence and reminds most of Br'er Bear from Disney.....

Can't Overcome Keyshawn

[koernermtimothy · 2/10 · 30 June 2021]

I have no idea what is going on with Zubin being off the show the last 400 weeks, but I feel bad for him/Hahn/other co-hosts & moderators and J-Will trying to bring energy and interesting conversation to the same table as Keyshawn. Man, is he hard to listen to and impossible to overcome as a listener or fellow staff member.

1) Why is Keyshawn so annoyed when people ask him, um, SPORTS QUESTIONS...? He has a 'too cool for school' attitude about the most standard sports radio conversations and shuts down entire segments because he doesn't feel like talking about them.

2) Is EVERY guest required by contract or screening interview to praise Keyshawn and spend 15-25% of their segment talking about him and lavishing praise on him? Get on with the conversation, I can't listen to any more Keyshawn praise. Ego much?

3) J-Will does a great job, is open to conversation, and Zubin/Hahn always contribute useful information to further the conversation. Keyshawn would be fine as a weekly contributor during NFL season, but holy cow get him off the air for all other seasons and segments. There HAVE to be better options for this morning program. I've given it about 9 different changes since it debuted last year, but I can't do this anymore. Every other sports program on the airwaves is better than this, for the simple reason that all other program hosts and contributors actually convey that they want to be there and want to be discussing sports topics. Keyshawn? Not so much.

TK.

Someone should be fired.

[judgem0811 · 1/10 · 19 August 2020]

Unfortunately the greatness of Jay Williams isn't enough to offset the unwatchableness of Keyshawn Johnson- I tried- THIS is what replaced Golic & Wingo???

All About Key

[Thagod007 · 1/10 · 14 February 2021]

Give me a penny for everytime Keyshawn makes reference to his playing time, or one of the other host leads him there...I'd be Trump rich. I now listen to Fox Sport on the am band.. quality sucks but much better than listening to these clowns. No originality, not thought provoking, just dry an flat. Please ESPN, do better.

Give me the !@#@ mike

[skrblessed1 · 1/10 · 15 February 2021]

JWill & Zubin are ok. However, Keyshawn is a bombastic, self centered, hypocritical microphone hog. I'm an African American, so you cannot accuse me of racism. He very seldom allows anyone to finish their thoughts without interrupting with a whiney diatribe. ESPN needs to find a way to bring Golic Jr. back to this time slot.

This is what happens when you let The JV play Varsity

[dash-83187 · 1/10 · 14 October 2020]

The show is absolutely unbearable. I've tried time and time again to listen and end up turning to my local morning show on a pop radio station. It's like having 3 heads say the same thing with no emotion. No real takes, very little chemistry. When every single guest is a massive upgrade, you are failing as a host. I can't wait until ESPN ditches this atrocious program so I can get back to listening to sports in the morning again.

Nope

[xmythicalfirex · 1/10 · 6 November 2020]

I don't know where else to write this, but I have to say the new KJZ morning show is just awful. I have been a loyal listener for years, but find myself turning the radio off very quickly with these guys. Please teach them how to speak properly and toss out the slang. The Dan Le Batard show could teach these guys a thing or two about quality content.

Actually causes me to change the station...

[arotz-37328 · 1/10 · 2 November 2020]

... And my radio had defaulted to ESPN for a decade. Never hear from JWill, Keyshawn has far too much to say yet rarely says anything of substance, and Zubin seems like he's trying his hardest to keep the show going the right direction.

I'm ok with a change to the morning radio spot, but Mina Kimes and Golic Jr. with a respected anchor would have been fantastic.

ESPN is completely clueless about their fans

[litteringand · 1/10 · 13 October 2020]

The growing divide between what ESPN customers want, and what the ESPN clueless executives think, has turned into a chasm. There used to be a time when new ESPN shows were met with excitement and curiosity. Now, every new ESPN show is mostly hated upon arrival, ESPN will shuffle their talent lineup within the show or change the name, and then retire the awful show in a couple years. ESPN is completely clueless how to make TV in 2020 and this show perfectly illustrates that.

KJZ Not for me

[scottgrossman-63558 · 3 June 2021]

What to say that hasnt been said. Bottom line up front - This show is the worst. ESPN would have never acquiesced to something like this 5 years ago.

Just because there is a temporary after shock from the Pandemic called BLM (Black Lives Matter) does not mean that networks, corporations etc should hire less educated, less articulate, and basically less intelligent or talented commentators, just because they are black.

White priveldge or any other cute synical racial undertones Key and Jay want to throw out - was not how Mike Greenberg, Dan Lebetard, Tony Kornheiser, Scott Van Pelt, Steve Levy, Trey Wingo, Kenny Mayne and many other much more educated and articulate white ESPN commentators got hired They got hired because of their education and talent - and they have proven it over time on what used to be the best sports entertainment network every created. KJZ and other current shows on ESPN and ESPN podcasts are unfortunatley proving ESPN has lost its way, and more importantly ignoring the facts and ratings trends and of course its loyal viewer following who is searching frantically for another option.

Ignore the trolls

[notepadojannigan · 10/10 · 11 January 2021]

This show is great, but the people who claim "ESPN doesn't know its fans" are just mourning the end of Golic; and moreso, mourning the fact that they can't just ignore Black voices any more. It's rooted in inability to adapt and bigotry. So anyway, yes, this is a great show.

OK, But Nothing That Stands Out

[walzer-94804 · 6/10 · 27 October 2020]

I have nothing against these three men. They're not "bad", but there's nothing about them that pops and sets them apart. The lack of chemistry keeps them from setting themselves apart and doesn't give anyone a reason to choose to view or listen to them instead of the competition. The dynamics are weak in comparison to Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic, and even Golic and Wingo were much more compatible. They were bright and upbeat and energetic. The times I have watched KJZ, it was almost like they were holding an academic discussion without the academics. Again, they're not "bad", but there is nothing that will set them apart and make people "want" to watch/listen.

Terrible Show Getting Worst

[eamiller-97369 · 1/10 · 19 July 2021]

I was never a Wingo fan, but getting rid of the Golics was a terrible decision by ESPN. Johnson is awful, Williams is afraid to go to the studio, and Zubin hasn't been mentioned for months. Whoever is making the programming decisions has no idea who watches this show.

Keyshawn is horrible

[bbonnit · 1/10 · 28 May 2021]

This is a horrible show and it's because Keyshawn Johnson is unbearable to listen to take him off the air.

Keyshawn is awful.

[molley-62571 · 1/10 · 17 February 2021]

I gave this show a chance like most of the reviews I read. Zubin started shy and a little timid. I think he come around and now I like Zubin. Jay Will is ok, but Keyshawn need to go. He never thinks he's wrong, but he is most of the time. He tries to over talked the guest and his co-host. He's the problem.

I figured it out....

[anthonysmorelli · 1/10 · 18 November 2020]

I was a huge fan of Mike & Mike, then Golic & Wingo, so I gave Keyshawn, JWill, & Zubin a chance. It was difficult to listen to but I hung in there... only to realize that I have figured out Keyshawn... he is a BULLY! He doesn't let other hosts or guests talk and he constantly is calling people names. Let's hope ESPN figures something out.

No energy no chemistry. Change the station

[jordanjklein · 1/10 · 27 September 2020]

The only thing worse than listening to these guys on the radio is watching them on TV. The lack of energy oozes through the tv. I can't tell which of the 3 wants to be there the least. Is it a "who can talk the slowest" show? Or is there a "who can talk the most monotone" challenge? There is no reason to listen to this show. How the %&%¥ did this show get approved by espn executives?

They don't have energy. They don't have fresh takes. They don't give you anything beyond what you've probably already heard or read. These guys would be an average radio show in a local/regional market. I, like many others here, have moved to fox sports radio or will listen to an old podcast over espn radio.

Can't listen for longer than 3 minutes.

[dcox-39760 · 1/10 · 10 August 2021]

Bring back Bart Scott and whoever he was hosting with last week. I can no longer listen. Keyshawn is the worst radio host of all time. It actually puts me into a bad mood while driving to work. Please. Change the damn show.

If it was Jay and Zubin, it would be 8 stars

[cincypat · 1/10 · 11 May 2021]

I hate that boom and bluster wins over quality analysis. Key's points are usually paper thin and easy to overcome. Unfortunately Key's fights back against facts with arrogance and self assuredness. I wish they would give someone like Freddie Coleman a spot like this. Freddie Coleman has been an insightful and thoughtful analyst for years, but he gets passed up for prime slots because megaphones like Key bring the attention. I admit that diversity in race, opinions, and perspective can really bring out angles in debates that we don't see when its two white dudes arguing, but it would be nice if you didn't have to be arrogant to make your way to the top at ESPN. I just wish Key could realize that its possible to have a debate without being an immovable rock w/ a delivery that leaves no room for reasonable debate. Everyone knows a guy like Keyshawn Johnson that would rather make you look like an idiot than have a two sided discussion. Tbh, he shares a lot of similarities with Mike Golic Sr. I much preferred the more level headed approach of Jr over his dad.

Keyshawn has to go

[kevinremer · 2/10 · 20 September 2021]

I have a hard time listening to Keyshawn. Put simply, he is a fanboy of certain players/teams and make any excuse he can to talk about his chosen few. To add to that, he is terribly inconsistent with the way he evaluates players.

QBs he likes, "not their fault they have a lot of losses, bad team around them". QBs he doesn't like, "they can't win any games".

Jameis Winston can throw 30 INTs in a season, but he'll be 'just fine' because he has Sean Payton. Stafford had 1/3 as many, and is now with Sean McVay, but he's a 'turnover machine'.

As another review pointed out, he refuses to let anyone get a word in when he is on one of his tirades. He has a story about himself for EVERY topic they are discussing. When someone calls him out, or lays out a fact-based argument against what he says, all he can reply with is, "c'mon, stop it" or "that aint it". He has no business being on the radio.

Bart and Hahn teamed with Max would be entertaining as hell though. Or leave Jwill and Max and replace Keyshawn with Shea Cornette.

Keyshawn is great!

[vmmzibvkj · 10/10 · 11 September 2020]

Always have loved Keyshawn. He's a big personality and you either love him or hate him. I am a big Golic fan, but I'm not going to compare.

Reluctant at first

[malemex · 7/10 · 10 January 2021]

After listening for several weeks I change my mind not a bad show entertaining at times Keyshawn like him or not knows football

Too much Keyshawn

[sirshinypants · 1/10 · 16 March 2021]

I can understand that everyone including myself was used to Golic, but this show has no chemistry. Key dominates the conversation with off topic commentary and doesn't allow the other two hosts to get in a word edgewise. I don't think most people liked Key as a player so as a radio host its not much better. Would like to see him replaced with someone at the level of like a Strahan, Irvin or Menefee.

A Clear Miss

[sdrinella-33438 · 4/10 · 28 October 2020]

I've been listening since the show started and really wanted to like it but don't. Maybe over time the balance and chemistry will come, but now, to me, there is way to much Keyshawn, in general, including some cringe-worthy moments, such his tuna sandwich story in one of the initial episodes. (Those who listened will remember, so I won't elaborate.)

I think I understand why ESPN made the change in its morning drive-time slot, such as better reflect its diverse audience and bring in new talent; but there were better ways to approach it without blowing up the show. It's said that Wingo wanted out of the morning slot. Fine. Replace with someone new -- a woman or minority of Golic, Jr.'s generation. That would have provided a foot in the past for those of us who've come to see Golic Sr. as a morning companion, while having younger, more diverse talent.