Charles Barkley Producing a New Sports Comedy Podcast

Key Takeaways

• Barkley partners with ChangeUp for comedy sports podcast.
• Eliot Glazer hosts, feigning sports ignorance as premise.
• Lemonada Media distributes, adding to its celebrity podcast slate.
• Podcast launches fall 2026, targeting casual sports fans.
• Barkley's TV schedule changes free up time for new projects.

Summary

Charles Barkley’s Round Mound Media is teaming with Justin Hartley’s ChangeUp Productions to launch a new sports‑comedy podcast, "So U Think U Can Sports?" The show, hosted by comedian Eliot Glazer, will feature interviews with players, coaches and owners, while Barkley serves as the sports‑authority anchor. Lemonada Media will distribute the series, slated for a fall 2026 debut. The project arrives as Barkley’s TV commitments shift after his move from TNT to ESPN, giving him extra bandwidth for side ventures.

Pulse Analysis

Charles Barkley’s recent transition from TNT to ESPN has reshaped his on‑air presence. After a brief, public retirement announcement in June 2024 and a subsequent reversal, the former NBA star negotiated a multi‑year deal that keeps him alongside Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson on 'Inside the NBA.' The move, coupled with his decision to decline offers from NBC and Amazon, left Barkley with a lighter broadcast schedule. This newfound bandwidth has prompted him to explore additional content avenues beyond traditional game analysis.

The upcoming podcast, titled 'So U Think U Can Sports?', pairs Barkley’s Round Mound Media with actor Justin Hartley’s ChangeUp Productions. Comedian Eliot Glazer, known for his work on 'Broad City' and the 'iCarly' revival, serves as host, deliberately playing the role of a sports‑illiterate outsider. Glazer will interview athletes, coaches and owners, while Barkley provides the authoritative counterpoint, creating a dynamic that blends humor with genuine insight. Lemonada Media, which already distributes high‑profile shows featuring James Corden and Meghan Markle, will handle distribution, positioning the series within a growing niche of celebrity‑driven sports comedy podcasts.

The podcast fills a noticeable gap in the sports media landscape, where most shows assume a baseline level of fan knowledge. By foregrounding a clueless host, the format invites casual listeners who may feel intimidated by traditional analysis, potentially expanding the audience demographic. For Barkley, the venture diversifies his personal brand and creates a new revenue stream independent of network contracts. Industry observers expect the Lemonada partnership to leverage its existing distribution channels, boosting advertising opportunities and cross‑promotion with its other celebrity‑focused properties. If successful, the series could inspire similar hybrid comedy‑sports productions across streaming and podcast platforms.