When ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption" debuted on Oct. 22, 2001, few people believed it would last -- including its cast and crew.

"I'm delighted that it's still on, because when we first started, Tony [Kornheiser] said, 'This is going to last a month!'" said Bonnie Berko, the show's associate director who was there for PTI's first episode.

Twenty-five years later, the show is still on, with Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon debating the biggest sports topics of the day five times per week. PTI celebrates its anniversary Thursday with a special show at 5 p.m. on ESPN -- but for the folks who make it happen every weekday, each show is special. We talked with some of the show's longtime crew leading up to the anniversary.

"PTI continues with the same level of success that it had 25 years ago," said Erik Rydholm, the longtime executive producer. "And the reason for that, for us, is Tony and Mike. Because people feel connected to them and their relationship.…