More NBC Olympics Announcers Than Athletes?
OK maybe it only seems that way, but NBC said today that a record 115 commentators are set for the network’s planned 5,535 hours of Olympics coverage across its properties. The group is led by primetime host Bob Costas, working his 10th Olympics and ninth with NBC. NBC Olympics president Gary Zenkel said yesterday that there will be 3000 NBC cast and crew at the Olympic Broadcast Center by the time of the London Games’ Opening Ceremony on July 27. The commentators — including everyone in the NBCUniversal stable from Ryan Seacrest to Jimmy Fallon — will be broadcasting to an estimated 200 million viewers over the games’ 17 days. Here’s a list of the hosts, followed by a sport-by-sport breakdown of who’s covering what:
Related: An Olympian Effort: NBCUni Plans 5,535 Hours Of Coverage For London Games
HOSTS
NBC
The 2012 London Games will be Bob Costas’ 10th for NBC and his ninth as primetime host. After serving as late night host in 1988 from Seoul, South Korea, Costas earned acclaim for his work as primetime host from Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney, Salt Lake City, Athens, Torino, Beijing and Vancouver. Costas, who has the longest tenure of the network’s sports commentators, joined NBC in 1980.
Al Michaels, one of the most renowned commentators of all-time and whose legendary “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” call at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Games 32 years ago stands as one of the most famous calls in sports history, will work his second straight Olympics for NBC, serving as host of NBC’s live weekend and weekday daytime coverage from London. Michaels was the daytime host at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games in 2010, his first Olympic broadcast assignment in 22 years, when he covered hockey and hosted the Closing Ceremony at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics for ABC.
Dan Patrick will make his Olympic hosting debut, joining Michaels as host of NBC’s live weekday and weekend daytime coverage from London. Patrick, host of Football Night in America and the Dan Patrick Show, served as an Olympic correspondent for NBC in Vancouver.
Mary Carillo will host NBC’s late-night coverage for the third time, reprising her role from Beijing and Vancouver. Carillo will also serve as an Olympic correspondent and provide a look into life in the United Kingdom through a collection of features done in her own inimitable style, similar to her acclaimed work during the Beijing and Vancouver Games. London is Carillo’s 11th Olympic Games and eighth for NBC.
NBC SPORTS NETWORK
Michelle Beadle makes her Olympic debut as a host on NBC Sports Network’s coverage from London. She will also serve as a correspondent for Access Hollywood during the Games. Beadle joined NBCUniversal in May of this year.
Liam McHugh, one of the emerging voices in sports television today, continues to add to his rapidly growing workload as he hosts NBC Sports Network’s coverage from London. McHugh recently hosted NBC and NBC Sports Network’s studio coverage of the Stanley Cup Final.
Willie Geist, host of MSNBC’s Up Way Too Early and co-host of Morning Joe, makes his Olympic debut as a host of NBC Sports Network’s coverage from London.
MSNBC
Kelly Tilghman, a member of Golf Channel’s original cast and one of the network’s most versatile anchors, makes her Olympic debut as host of MSNBC’s coverage from 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
Rob Simmelkjaer will make his Olympic debut as host of MSNBC’s coverage from 30 Rock. Simmelkjaer, who also serves as Senior Vice President of NBC Sports Ventures, is a host on the NBC Sports’ Update Desk and NBC SportsTalk on the NBC Sports Network.
CNBC
Fred Roggin, the sports director at KNBC-TV, NBC’s owned-and-operated station in Los Angeles, will host CNBC’s Boxing coverage from 30 Rockefeller Plaza, his seventh Olympics assignment for NBC. Roggin’s previous Olympic assignments have included hosting curling coverage from the 2010 Vancouver Games and the 2006 Torino Games; CNBC’s coverage from the Athens Games; serving on the “Special Features Unit” at the Salt Lake Games in 2002; and working as the boxing reporter at the 2000 Sydney Games. Joining Roggin in the studio will be Laila Ali, a former professional boxer and daughter of legend Muhammad Ali, making her Olympic broadcasting debut.
BRAVO
Pat O’Brien, a veteran of five Olympic Games as a commentator, will serve as host of tennis coverage on Bravo. The London Games will be O’Brien’s fourth Olympics for NBC and sixth overall. He last worked for NBCUniversal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
OLYMPIC CORRESPONDENTS
Top TV broadcaster Ryan Seacrest will make his Olympic broadcasting debut, serving as a contributor for NBC’s primetime coverage from London.
Legendary tennis star and broadcaster John McEnroe will make his Olympic broadcasting debut in London. McEnroe, who has served as a tennis analyst for NBC since 1992, and dominated the tennis world in the 1980’s, winning three Wimbledon and four U.S. Open titles, will serve as an Olympic correspondent on NBC’s primetime coverage.
Bela Karolyi, arguably the most successful coach in gymnastics history, is one of his sports’ most-recognized personalities. He has coached and trained world-renowned gymnasts for the Olympic Games from 1976-2004, and returns to NBC as an Olympic correspondent, the same roll he filled during the Beijing Olympics.
Jimmy Roberts, a 13-time Emmy Award winner, will contribute feature stories and essays and serve as an Olympic correspondent during NBC’s daytime coverage.
GUEST COMMENTATORS
Shaun White, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and Jimmy Fallon, host of NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, will serve as guest commentators during portions the London Games.
SPORT-BY-SPORT RUNDOWN:
GYMNASTICS/TRAMPOLINE:
Al Trautwig, Play-by-play
Elfi Schlegel, Analyst
Tim Daggett, Analyst
Andrea Joyce, Reporter
RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS:
Andrea Joyce, Play-by-play
Elfi Schlegel, Analyst
TRACK & FIELD:
Tom Hammond, Play-by-play
Ato Boldon, Analyst
Dwight Stones, Analyst
Craig Masback, Analyst
Tim Hutchings, Analyst
Lewis Johnson, Reporter
RACE WALKING:
Randy Moss, Play-by-play
Chris Maddocks, Analyst
SWIMMING:
Dan Hicks, Play-by-play
Rowdy Gaines, Analyst
Andera Kremer, Reporter
OPEN WATER SWIMMING:
Steve Schlanger, Play-by-play
Rowdy Gaines, Analyst
DIVING:
Ted Robinson, Play-by-play
Cynthia Potter, Analyst
Alex Flanagan, Reporter
BEACH VOLLEYBALL:
Chris Marlowe, Play-by-play
Kevin Wong, Analyst
Heather Cox, Reporter
INDOOR VOLLEYBALL:
Paul Sunderland, Play-by-play
Kevin Barnett, Analyst
CYCLING (Road):
Steve Schlanger, Play-by-play
Paul Sherwen, Analyst
Todd Harris, Reporter
CYCLING (Track)
Todd Harris, Play-by-play
Paul Sherwen, Analyst
CYCLING (BMX/Mountain Bike)
Todd Harris, Play-by-play
Jamie Bestwick, Analyst
TRIATHLON:
Steve Schlanger, Play-by-play
Julie Swail, Analyst
BASKETBALL:
Bob Fitzgerald, Play-by-play (London)
Chris Carrino, Play-by-play
Dave Strader, Play-by-play
Doug Collins, Analyst (London)
Ann Meyers, Analyst (London)
Tim Capstraw, Analyst
Donny Marshall, Analyst
Lisa Leslie, Analyst
Carolyn Peck, Analyst
Craig Sager, Reporter (London)
Doc Rivers, Studio Analyst (London)
ROWING:
Terry Gannon, Play-by-play
Yaz Farooq, Analyst
CANOEING (Flat Water):
Terry Gannon, Play-by-play
Eric Giddens, Analyst
CANOEING (White Water):
Randy Moss, Play-by-play
Eric Giddens, Analyst
SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING:
Randy Moss, Play-by-play
Heather Olson, Analyst
WRESTLING:
Jason Knapp, Play-by-play
Rulon Gardner, Analyst
WATER POLO:
Mike Emrick, Play-by-play
Wolf Wigo, Analyst
Julie Swail, Analyst
BOXING:
Bob Papa, Play-by-play
Teddy Atlas, Analyst
Russ Thaler, Reporter
MODERN PENTATHLON:
Eli Bremer, Analyst
WEIGHTLIFTING:
Jim Watson, Play-by-play
Shane Hamman, Analyst
EQUESTRIAN:
Tim Ryan, Play-by-play
Melanie Smith-Taylor, Analyst
SOCCER:
Arlo White, Play-by-play (London)
JP Dellacamera, Play-by-play
Glenn Davis, Play-by-play
Steve Cangialosi, Play-by-play
Allen Hopkins, Play-by-play and Analyst
Kyle Martino, Analyst (London)
Marcelo Balboa, Analyst
Shep Messing, Analyst
Cobi Jones, Analyst
Brandi Chastain, Analyst (London)
Kate Markgraf, Analyst
Cat Whitehill, Analyst
Angela Hucles, Analyst
Drea Avent, Reporter (London)
TENNIS:
Brett Haber, Play-by-play
Andrew Catalon, Play-by-play
Ted Robinson, Play-by-play (Men’s Final)
Justin Gimbelstob, Analyst
Rennae Stubbs, Analyst
John McEnroe, Analyst (Men’s Final)
Jon Wertheim, Reporter
HANDBALL:
Mike Gorman, Play-by-play
Dawn Lewis, Analyst
TABLE TENNIS:
Ari Wolfe, Play-by-play
Sean O’Neill, Analyst
BADMINTON:
Jim Kozimor, Play-by-play
Steve Kearney, Analyst
FENCING:
Craig Hummer, Play-by-play
Jeff Bukantz, Analyst
ARCHERY:
Craig Hummer, Play-by-play
Jason Knapp, Play-by-play
Rick McKinney, Analyst
SHOOTING:
Craig Hummer, Play-by-play
Jason Knapp, Play-by-play
Shari LeGate, Analyst
FIELD HOCKEY:
Mike Corey, Play-by-play
Missy Meharg, Analyst
JUDO:
Craig Hummer, Play-by-play
Leo White, Analyst
SPORTSDESK REPORTERS:
Lester Holt
Michele Tafoya
Tamron Hall
Pierre McGuire
Stephanie Gosk
Carolyn Manno
Marshall Harris
Dr. Nancy Snyderman
Apolo Ohno
TELEMUNDO:
Andres Cantor, Host
Jessi Losada
Mónica Noguera
Sammy Sadovnik
Edgar Lopez
René Giraldo
Karim Mendiburu
Kaziro Aoyama
Oscar Guzmán
Leti Coo
Verónica Contreras
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