Cermony Opens Olympics Onslaught

After months of network hype, which hit a fever pitch in the past week during prime-time programming, NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics begins Friday night with the Opening Ceremony.

During the 17 days of competition in Canada, NBC and its numerous outlets -- USA, MSNBC, CNBC, Universal HD and Universal Sports -- will produce 835 hours or programming.

On its main network coverage, NBC Sports will feature Bob Costas as the lead host during prime-time hours while Al Michaels serves as daytime host. For Michaels, it's the first time he's worked an Olympics since 1988.

For its late-night coverage, NBC Sports again turns to steady Mary Carillo. Overall, NBC has 53 announcers for the Games, seven of whom are native Canadians.

On Saturday, competition begins in eight sports, with six medal events. The two sports that begin that day and do not award medals are luge and hockey -- which gets its regular Olympic hype and love from many commentators and sports-talk types during the Games.

Those folks might not normally watch hockey, but they'll pledge their willingness to do so during the Games because of the "wide-open style of play" possible on the "bigger sheet of ice."

To cover hockey, and continue the hype, the NBC Sports team includes some of the same experts it utilizes on its NHL coverage -- Mike Milbury and Ed Olczyk.

A Stern Preview for NBA All-Star Game

Few annual media tours rival that of David Stern in the week leading up to the NBA All-Star Game.

During what should be a wonderful time for the league, he somehow always manages to sound grumpy, condescending or just plain uncooperative. He does not play "what-if" games and sounds either better than the folks he's talking with or bored.

With the All-Star Game set to attrack a record crowd to Cowboys Stadium on Sunday, Stern, the league's forth commissioner, who has been in charge since Feb. 1, 1984, has been making the rounds again this week.

He has spent part of his time on ESPN Radio shows, discussing the NCAA's one-and-done rule and how it impacts his league with "Mike and Mike in the Morning," and avoiding discussion of the league's labor situation while on "The Herd with Colin Cowherd."

When Cowherd broached the labor deal, Stern corrected the host on the facts, positioned the discussion in an adversarial manner and refused to play along when Cowherd tried a more light-hearted aproach. LISTEN HERE

While the NBA has one of the better mid-season all-star events in pro sports with its dunk contest and weekend full of activities -- something that can eat up a couple nights of TV time with decent programming -- this almost reliable approach by the commissioner inevitably takes some of the lustre off the overall event.

The three days of TV coverage of All-Star Weekend activities begins Friday. As follows ...

Friday

7 p.m., All-Star Celebrity Game (ESPN)

Saturday

7 p.m., H.O.R.S.E. (TNT)

8 p.m., NBA All-Star Saturday Night (TNT)

9 p.m., T-Mobile Rookie Challenge (TNT)

Sunday

8 p.m., All-Star Game (TNT)

Football Final ... Leftovers and Tidbits

A couple little things in the wake of the Super Bowl ...

-- It was subtle, but when CBS Sports host James Brown complimented analyst/former coach Bill Cowher on his jailhouse interview with former Steelers and Giants WR Plaxico Burress, Brown mentioned that the piece might be one of the coach's last efforts before he returns to the sidelines in 2010. It was the about the only time this fall that Cowher's much-speculated status seemed to be referred to in a solid manner.

-- Both host Mike Greenberg of "Mike and Mike in the Morning" and call-in guest James Carville thought the record-setting TV numbers for the Super Bowl were small when they talked about it Tuesday. By some logic, they're correct. After all, if 105.9 million people could tune into "M.A.S.H." in 1983, how could only 106 million watch the Super Bowl 27 years later? Carville, the famous Democratic political strategist and someone certainly familiar with polls and numbers (and also an unabashed Saints fans), wondered aloud what all the people who were not watching the game were doing.

-- Two days later, the Doritos commercials (especially the dog, and the young boy protecting his chips and his mom from a boyfriend) remain funny. The Snickers commercial with Betty White got appropriate kudos, but Doritos provided chuckles with all of its commercials -- and many of the Super Bowl commercials are airing on ESPN and other major-network shows this week. Of course, they have a life online as well.

-- Conversely, the silly GoDaddy! commercials have run their course.

-- After a day of unnecessary Peyton Manning bashing Monday on talk radio nationally, the rhetoric came down a few notches by Tuesday. Yep, he made a bad throw, but that Super Bowl did not hurt his Hall of Fame chances. At the same time, Saints QB Drew Brees certainly needs several more seasons of productivity to ensure his Canton credentials.

Record-Setting Super Bowl All About the Game

As the initial ratings and viewership numbers roll in for Super Bowl XLIV -- with The Hollywood Reporter reporting that the number of people who watched the game set an all-time U.S. television record -- one of the best things for football fans about the game was that CBS Sports did a strong job focusing on the game itself and not all the ancillary activities or celebrities.

Play-by-play man Jim Nantz and analyst Phil Simms were solid, and the broadcast touched on key news (the ankle injury of Colts DE Dwight Freeney) without going overboard. Important replays were available and there were no obvious flaws. It was just a solid broadcast of a good game.

In terms of those viewership, The Hollywood Reporter put the number at more than 106 million -- which would be more than the series finale of "M.A.S.H." in 1983. That show has been the standard for major-event TV ratings for nearly three decades.

Also, viewership for the Colts-Saints game was up from 98.7 million viewers fom the Cardinals-Steelers matchup in Super Bowl XLIII.

In the past five years, viewership for the game has increased drastically -- from 86.1 million in 2005 to 106 million this year. It increased during each year in the five-year span.

Still, the latest Super Bowl did set a record in terms of ratings, which measure the percentage of U.S. households watching. The "M.A.S.H." episode attracted more than 60 percent of TV viewers while the Colts-Saints game drew about 45 percent.

Pre-Super Bowl Winners? CBS, Irvin

Three hours before kickoff of the Super Bowl, some TV winners were already evident.

CBS Sports, which should pull a record number for the game, was in the best spot. Even a week before the game, network officials expected record-setting viewership -- if only because of the strong storlyines and the great numbers NFL games drew during the season.

After so many fans watched during the season, and with two likeable teams and leaders (QBs Drew Brees adnd Peyton Manning) infolved, it would only make sense people would watch pro football's final meaningful chapter this sesaon.

Then, with people throughout the Northeast digging out of a record snowstorm and likely to stay home, the chances for record viewership grew even more. Good news for CBS Sports.

Along with that faceless network, an unparalled personality was the other winner. After being the subject of a civil rape lawsuit late in the week, Hall of Fame WR and NFL Network analyst Michal Irvin seemed to survive a potentially dififcult situation. The accusations came from 2007, and Irvin quickly filed a countersuit.

While the talk radio station where Irvin hosted a show in Dallas let him go, the NFL Network kept Irvin on the air. He seemed contrite (or at least quiet by his usual standards) Saturday working the show when Hall of Fame newcomers were announced.

Then, when fellow NFL Network analyst Warren Sapp was arrested for a domestic battery charge in South Florida, Irvin's offense someone seemed a little less offensive -- and certainly less timely. The NFL Network pulled Sapp from its pre-game show Sunday, presenting an opportunity for Joey Porter, the outspoken Miami Dolphins LB, who earned a Super Bowl victory with the Steelers four years earlier.

Porter, although not polised, did well on short notice. Good for him.

Better still was the whole situation for Irvin. By Sunday, he seemed more confortable and loud on air (more of his usual self) than he had been just a day or so earlier. He also might survive after being in a difficult position just a few days ago.

Commericals -- A,B,C (Autos, Beer and Comedy)

Expect three things to dominate TV ads during the Super Bowl, some simple ABCs -- automakers, beer and comedy.

In terms of autos, a half dozen different automakers plan to unveil ads for the big game. Those include Dodge, Honda and Hyundai (which has Brett Farve in its commercial, as the MVP of the Super Bowl in 2010). Also, Volkswagen plans a spoof on the time-honored "punch bug" game associated with its iconic Volkswagen Bug.

As always, Anheuser-Busch leads all advertisers in terms of exposure during the game. It'll do so with several funny Bud Light commericals early in the game, another Clydesdale-oriented Bud commercial later in the game and others.

Expect the humor from Coke, Denny's, Monster Worldwide and others, including a travel company that lampoons Chevy Chase and his "National Lampoon" movies.

There's also some mostalgia (as Boost Mobile reprises the Chicago Bears and their Super Bowl Shuffle 20-some years ago) and, of course, some controversy, from the most-hyped commercial in the weeks leading up to the game. That commercial, with Tim Tebow, comes from the religious group Focus on the Family and presents a pro-life message.

Best Bites in Super Bowl Bonanza

Kickoff for the Super Bowl comes at 6:25 p.m. Sunday and by then more than 30 hours of pre-game hype and programming across several networks should be complete.

Such an abundance (overkill might be the correct term) of choices might scare off some, but there are highlights before the game -- some programs worth watching and some talking heads worth at least having as background noise in your home.

A chronological tour of the best bets includes ...

SATURDAY
3 p.m., "Full Color Football" (CBS)

A heavily praised documentary from NFL Films follows the rise of the American Football League. The hour-long program originally aired on Showtime and NFL Network. It makes its broadcast television debut Saturday afternoon.

5 p.m., Hall of Fame Announcement (NFL Network)

NFL Network provides live coverage of the announcement of the latest class for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Probably the only real news to come from Saturday, and it should be a standout class.

9:30 p.m. Super Bowl XLIII (NFL Network)

As a Steelers fan, with little else on TV on a Saturday night, it'll be worth watching last year's Steelers-Cardinals game one more time.

SUNDAY
6 a.m., "Mike and Mike in the Morning" (ESPN2)

The weekday radio hosts go live again from South Florida with a four-hour show that will include a live interview with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Hosts Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic provide the best sports talk show on the airwaves and they're always on their game when on site for the Super Bowl. They were great during the week, and they'll probably continue to do solid work. Worth turning on before or after church.

9 a.m., "NFL Gameday Morning" (NFL Network)

Not as necessary to watch at "Mike and Mike," but the Network's personalities do provide entertainment and insight. Of more note this weekend, though, might be how NFL Network deals with the rape charge filed Thursday against analyst and former Cowbowys WR and ESPN analyst Michael Irvin. He was fired from his ESPN Radio gig in Dallas on Friday.

After that, take a break for a couple of hours. While "The Super Bowl Today," the official, four-hour pre-game show from CBS Sports, begins at 2 p.m., expect the show's best features to pop up in the final hour or so before the game. So, there's no need to tune in until then. And, by that point, 90 minutes or so of pre-game programming is more than enough.

4:30 p.m., "The Super Bowl Today" (CBS)

Announced features include: an interview by Steelers coach-turned analyst Bill Cowher with former Steelers and Giants WR Plaxico Burress, who remains in jail after being convicted for a gun-law violation in New York; and interviews by CBS News anchor Katie Couric with Saints QB Drew Brees and President Barack Obama.

Certainly, the live interview with President Obama will be one of the final features before the game itself.

Other notes about the pre-game show plans: a feature with Steelers WR Hines Ward, who with his personality and smile must consider any on-air opportunity and audition for when his career ends; a segment with former 49ers coach Bill Walsh; and live reports from analyst Randy Cross with U.S. troops in Iraq. Some of those might come before the last 90 minutes of the show, but missing them would be no major loss.

Finally, after all that, you can focus on the game -- and the commercials.