2016By Alex Putterman on

Is there any show on TV that changes cast members more than ESPN’s NBA Countdown? Being on that show sometimes seems like teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts.

The latest

Anyway, ESPN is reportedly tinkering with the lineup once again, with SportsNation’s Michelle Beadle joining on as a part-time host, per The Big Lead. Beadle has filled in as a Countdown host before but will now be part of the regular rotation. She will split the role with incumbent host Sage Steele, with Doris Burke earning an extended role as an analyst.

Last year, Steele hosted Countdown on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and Doris Burke hosted Wednesdays. This year, Beadle will be on Wednesday and Friday, and Steele will do Saturdays and Sundays. In the move, Steele will become what the source described as a “face” of remote SportsCenters, where she’ll anchor on the road from big events such as the World Series, Super Bowl, Masters and NFL Draft.

So basically this sounds like a promotion for all three of Beadle, Steele and Burke. Beadle, who will remain on SportsNation, gets to host another major show, allowing Steele to assume a larger role on marquee SportsCenter sets and Burke to work more in the analyst role that serves her best.

During the 2015-16 season, Jalen Rose, Doug Collins and Chauncey Billups served as Countdown’s analysts (with Steele and Burke hosting), but with Collins reportedly leaving the studio, one of those chairs should now be open.

[The Big Lead]

About Alex Putterman

Alex is a writer and editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. He has written for The Atlantic, VICE Sports, MLB.com, SI.com and more. He is a proud alum of Northwestern University and The Daily Northwestern. You can find him on Twitter @AlexPutterman.

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