Rich Talks Knicks & More with Guest Host O’Shea Jackson Jr

For once, Rich was the guest on his own show, beaming in by video while O'Shea Jackson Jr. held down the chair, a role reversal Jackson compared to a polar bear touring the Coca-Cola factory. Rich played along, thanking his guest host for two things: expertly running the show, and finally handing him an Emmy. By his own count, Rich is 0 for 11 across his personal nominations as best studio host and the shows he has hosted, so he was happy to accept the honorary one, which he insisted he richly deserves.

That tied into the gag of the week, the self-portrait Jackson had brought in and hung by the desk. The crew joked about mounting it in the back, next to a Belichick photo in the bathroom, and Rich learned the painting's true origin: it was made by Jackson's ex-girlfriend's mom for Christmas one year. He asked that it stay up so he can admire it in person Monday.

The real reason Rich was away, though, was a good one. He was in Kansas City for Big Slick, the charity event now in its 17th year supporting Children's Mercy Hospital. From a window overlooking the World War I memorial near Union Station, where the NFL draft was once held, Rich explained the weekend: he and the six Kansas City hosts, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, Rob Riggle, Jason Sudeikis, Eric Stonestreet, and Heidi Gardner, would head to Children's Mercy to play games with kids and parents before a massive fundraiser at the T-Mobile Center.

He walked through the logistics with real affection. Normally Big Slick pairs a charity softball game at the Royals' ballpark with a Saturday event downtown, but with the World Cup coming to Kansas City next month, they could not find a free weekend, so the schedule shifted. Last year, Rich noted, the event raised four million dollars. He also confirmed the most important tradition: Eric Stonestreet handles the barbecue, handing out the finest meats in town. Rich, by his own admission, would mostly be lending his spirit, which he joked is about all he has left.

Then, because it was Friday, business resumed with What's More Likely. On AJ Brown's 2026 home, Rich stuck with the Patriots over the Eagles and the field, admitting his only hesitation was surrendering a first-round pick, which spun off a tangent about a muscled-up Drake Maye, now branded Cake Maye and rumored for the American Century Championship golf field. He called Minnesota the more interesting quarterback competition over Cleveland, citing the bizarre dynamic of JJ McCarthy and Kyler Murray describing themselves like two teachers on opposite sides of a classroom. He took Joe Burrow over Lamar Jackson as the likelier AFC North MVP finalist, and dart-threw Deebo Samuel as the first of the lingering free-agent receivers to sign.

The NBA question got the loudest answer. Asked who wins the Finals, Rich delivered his triumphant bing bong for the Knicks, then made the real case: Brunson, the floor-stretching Karl-Anthony Towns, the do-everything Josh Hart, a ring-wearing OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, the deepest bench they have had, momentum, and a defense not far off the Thibodeau years. He even relayed a question from his son Cooper's friends about whether Madison Square Garden is the best home-court advantage in sports.

Of course, the Knicks themselves were front of mind, with Mitchell Robinson's broken pinky scare resolved by news he will play in a cast. That, plus drawing an opponent fresh off a seven-game series, only helps a team that has not lost in over a month. Rich could not wait for game seven, hoping for something competitive like game one, while griping about the lopsided whistles that have favored Oklahoma City all series.

He closed by keeping his much-mocked Shohei Ohtani take alive, predicting more home runs than runs allowed, before Jackson capped the segment by picking the Lakers over Den of Thieves 3 and tuning out Brockman's pointed use of the word "legit." A guest on his own show, signing off to go play games with kids in Kansas City.