BRISTOL — ESPN producers briefly halted production Tuesday after Stephen A. Smith began an NBA segment at a completely normal speaking volume, prompting immediate concern that several pieces of studio equipment had failed.
Smith opened the discussion calmly, using what witnesses described as “an indoor voice.”
Within seconds, three producers were checking microphones.
One audio engineer reportedly removed his headset and asked whether the feed had been compressed.
“We knew something was wrong,” one fictional staffer said. “Stephen A. had made two full points and nobody in the control room had adjusted the levels.”
The situation became more alarming when Smith continued speaking without leaning forward, removing his glasses or saying “WITH ALL DUE RESPECT.”
ESPN briefly considered cutting to commercial.
Instead, technicians monitored the segment while Smith discussed the NBA in measured tones for nearly 40 seconds.
At that point, normal service resumed.
Smith raised his voice, pointed across the desk and informed everyone that they were “missing the bigger picture.”
The control room reportedly relaxed immediately.
“Okay,” one producer said. “We’re back.”
Engineers have been instructed not to use the setting marked Volume: Reasonable again.
