Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, including new deals, departures, and assignments compiled from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week’s edition, NBCUniversal continues to bolster Olympic on-air talent; The Kid Mero to host 2024 Sports Emmy Awards; and more.

12-Time NBA All-Star Chris Paul Joins ESPN and ABC’s NBA Countdown for Eastern Conference Finals Coverage 

ESPN announces at The Walt Disney Company’s Upfront that 12-time NBA All-Star guard Chris Paul will join its NBA Countdown show for the 2024 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. Paul will serve as both a pregame and halftime guest analyst throughout the series. NBA Countdown airs one hour prior to the Eastern Conference Finals games on ESPN and 30 minutes before ABC games. The full schedule is below.

Paul joins host Malika Andrews, analysts Stephen A. Smith and two-time NBA Executive of the Year Bob Myers, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame sportswriter Michael Wilbon and senior NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski on the show.

Paul, a 19-year NBA veteran and current member of the Golden State Warriors, is one of the most accomplished NBA players ever. In addition to being a 12-time NBA All-Star, Paul was the 2005-06 NBA Rookie of the Year, a four-time All-NBA first team member, a six-time leader in steals and a five-time leader in assists, as well as being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

NBA Countdown on ESPN is presented by Hennessy and NBA Countdown on ABC is presented by Chime. The show will emanate from ESPN’s Los Angeles Production Center in Los Angeles, Calif. during the Eastern Conference Finals.

ESPN Signs Super Bowl Champion Jason Kelce, Adds the Dynamic Personality to Monday Night Countdown 

ESPN has signed Super Bowl Champion Jason Kelce to a multi-year agreement, adding the vibrant personality as an analyst on the company’s marquee programming around premier NFL telecasts. The 13-year NFL veteran joins Monday Night Countdown each week (6 – 8 p.m. ET), leading into Monday Night Football throughout the regular season and ESPN’s Super Wild Card and Divisional Round playoff games. Each Monday Night Football and ESPN playoff game, Kelce will join Scott Van Pelt and Ryan Clark during halftime.

The six-time NFL All-Pro will also become a member of ESPN’s Super Bowl studio coverage each year, including Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles (February 2027) when America’s Biggest Game airs on ESPN and ABC. Additional postseason studio appearances will occur annually, including during the NFL’s Conference Championship weekend. Further opportunities will be explored.

“Jason is a highly respected, Super Bowl Champion with a strong connection to fans,” says Burke Magnus, ESPN President of Content. “Walking off the field and immediately to ESPN, viewers will benefit from his perspective which has been shaped through his years as an established locker room leader and a future Hall of Fame center. Jason’s addition to Monday Night Countdown will greatly strengthen our NFL coverage.”

Jason Kelce adds: “Turns out, it was a short retirement! I’m excited to join ESPN, and particularly the Monday Night Countdown team. ESPN was a consistent presence in our household growing up and the network helped shape who I am and my love of all sports. To now appear on that same screen is a full circle moment. And, I mean it’s freaking Monday Night Football! and I’m ready for some football.”

Kelce Joins Scott Van Pelt, Ryan Clark, Marcus Spears, Adam Schefter and Michelle Beisner-Buck on Monday Night Countdown

On Monday Night Countdown, Kelce will join Van Pelt, Clark and Marcus Spears. The three former players, collectively, played more than 30 seasons in the NFL, with multiple Super Bowls won and a multitude of honors. Van Pelt was named host of the Monday Night Football pregame show prior to the 2023 season, adding to his marquee career which includes hosting the popular SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt and signature events such as the Masters and the PGA Championship.

Adam Schefter will continue to contribute to the show as the industry’s leading NFL insider and Michelle Beisner-Buck will bring viewers in-depth storytelling with interviews and features.

Serena Williams Set to Host The 2024 ESPYS Presented by Capital One Airing Thursday July 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC

The 2024 ESPYS Presented by Capital One will be hosted by tennis legend and cultural icon Serena Williams. The multi-Grand Slam champion and global sports influencer will bring her charisma to the stage as she joins top celebrities from sports and entertainment to celebrate the past year in sports by recognizing major sports achievements, remembering unforgettable moments, and honoring the leading performers and performances. The ESPYS will air live on Thursday, July 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC from The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

“I couldn’t be more excited to host The ESPYS,” says Williams. “This is a dream come true for me, and something I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember. It has been a sensational year for sports and an unprecedented one for female athletes. I can’t wait to celebrate everyone on-stage in July.”

“In a year where women’s sports are being watched and celebrated like never before, it is a perfect fit to have perhaps the greatest female athlete of all time host The ESPYS,” says Kate Jackson, VP, Production, ESPN. “Given Serena’s spectacular on-court achievements and her overall cultural impact, she’ll bring elite star-power and dynamic energy as host of the show. We are thrilled to work with her to shape a powerful and entertaining show celebrating the best moments in sports this year.”

Williams’ turn as host of The ESPYS will immediately follow the July 10 premiere of the first episode of the ESPN+ Original Series In the Arena: Serena Williams, an 8-part series that provides the most complete, intimate, and compelling account of her legendary career, featuring firsthand perspective from Williams and key figures throughout her life.

Williams’ impact on and off the tennis court is a testament to her enduring legacy, making her a role model for athletes and fans worldwide. With 23 Grand Slam singles titles to her name, she is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Beyond her tennis accolades, Williams is a passionate advocate for gender equality in sports and has used her platform to promote other social causes, including Black maternal health advocacy and racial equality.

Beyond her athletic prowess, Williams is also a successful entrepreneur. In 2017, Williams established her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, which focuses on investing in women and founders of color and has built a portfolio of over 20 early-stage companies. In April 2023, she introduced her multimedia production company Nine Two Six Productions. The endeavor aims to elevate female and diverse voices through content that speaks to all. Last month, Williams launched WYN Beauty in partnership with Ulta Beauty. Inspired by Williams’ locker room routine and its evolution throughout her life, WYN Beauty was developed as makeup you can move in. WYN is meant to inspire people to show up for themselves and for others.

The ESPYS are co-produced by ESPN and Full Day Productions. Connor Schell and Dave Chamberlin executive produce the show for Full Day.

Mike Tirico, Rebecca Lowe, Craig Melvin, Ahmed Fareed, and Damon Hack to Host NBC Daytime Coverage of the Olympic Games

Mike Tirico, Rebecca Lowe, Craig Melvin, Ahmed Fareed, and Damon Hack were announced as NBC daytime hosts for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 this summer. The Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics is Friday, July 26 on NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo.

Lowe and Melvin will host daily coverage in Paris on NBC, from mid-morning (after TODAY) to early afternoon ET, followed by Tirico, who in addition to serving as NBC’s primetime host, will anchor NBC coverage in the afternoon. Melvin, the news anchor and 3rd-hour co-host of TODAY, will continue in his TODAY role throughout the Paris Olympics.

Fareed will host the final portion of NBC’s daytime show, while also reporting live from around Paris earlier each day. In addition, he will co-host with Lowe on select days when Melvin is on assignment for NBC News.

Hack will host daily late afternoon coverage for NBC west coast stations.

Specific times for NBC daytime hosts may shift as event timing dictates.

From July 27 – Aug. 11, NBC will provide Olympic fans with at least nine hours of daytime coverage of the Summer Games’ most exciting events, including live finals coverage of swimming, gymnastics, track & field, and more. With Paris six hours ahead of the United States’ eastern time zone, the daytime takeover will feature that day’s most popular events live on NBC in the morning and afternoon.

Programming on NBC will air from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. ET and PT, and from 8 a.m-5 p.m. CT and MT every weekday, with the Noon-6 p.m. ET window live across the country. On weekends, NBC programming expands, beginning as early as 5 a.m. ET, with extended hours live across the country. Paris 2024 will have more programming hours on the NBC broadcast network than any previous Olympics. All NBC coverage will be streamed on Peacock.

“We’re excited to have a strong group of hosts throughout NBC’s daytime coverage, guiding viewers through all of the day’s excitement live as events unfold in Paris,” says Rebecca Chatman, Vice President and Coordinating Producer of NBC Olympics Production.

Following is a closer look at the hosts:

Mike Tirico

The voice of many of NBC Sports biggest events, Tirico works his fifth Olympics and serves as NBC’s primetime Olympics host for the fourth time. In Paris he hosts his fourth Opening Ceremony and third Closing Ceremony. He has been honored with the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality – Studio Host in each of the last two years, highlighted by his role as primetime host of the Beijing Olympics (2022) and Tokyo Olympics (2021).
Tirico, who joined NBC Sports in 2016, is the play-by-play voice of primetime’s #1 show Sunday Night Football, and hosts NBC Sports’ coverage of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Indianapolis 500, and golf’s U.S. Open and Open Championship.

Rebecca Lowe

Lowe handles her sixth consecutive NBC Olympics daytime host assignment – beginning with the 2014 Sochi Olympics on NBCSN, followed by NBC and NBCSN for the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, and most recently on NBC for the Tokyo Olympics and 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Lowe joined NBC Sports in 2013, serving as host for all 11 seasons of NBC Sports’ Premier League coverage. The 2023-24 season culminates this Sunday, May 19 with 10 “Championship Sunday” matches at 11:00 a.m. ET on NBC, Peacock, USA Network, CNBC and GOLF Channel. Lowe and the Premier League Mornings studio team will be on-location at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium to kick off this Sunday’s coverage at 9 a.m. ET on Peacock, and continuing at 10 a.m. ET on USA Network and Peacock.

Craig Melvin

NBC News’ Melvin handles his third NBC Olympics assignment. Previously, he served as NBC’s on-site primetime and Prime Plus host during the middle weekend of the 2022 Beijing Olympics, in addition to being on-site in Beijing for TODAY. He was a reporter for NBC Olympics during the 2016 Rio Olympics. Melvin also worked for NBC News at the Tokyo Olympics and the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.
Melvin joined NBC News and MSNBC in 2011 and has covered a wide range of events, including political conventions, Presidential Inaugurations and Super Bowls. He has interviewed U.S. Presidents, Secretaries of State and other high-ranking government officials as part of his political coverage. Melvin also currently hosts syndicated “Dateline NBC” broadcasts.

 
Ahmed Fareed

Fareed will handle his fifth assignment for NBC Olympics, hosting coverage on NBC for the first time. Previously, Fareed hosted coverage on USA Network for the 2022 Beijing Olympics and the Tokyo Olympics, and hosted NBCSN coverage during 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and USA Network coverage for the 2016 Rio Olympics. He also served as a host for the last two Paralympic Games. 

Since joining NBC Sports in 2018, Fareed has covered the Premier League, Big Ten Football and Basketball, MLB, rugby, horse racing, and more. This Saturday, Fareed will serve as a host/reporter on NBC Sports’ coverage of the 149th Preakness Stakes (4:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock).

Damon Hack

In his third NBC Olympics assignment, Hack previously hosted coverage of the Tokyo Olympics on NBCSN and served as an on-site biathlon reporter at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. He also covered the 2004 Athens Olympics for The New York Times.
 Hack, who joined NBC Sports and GOLF Channel in 2012, serves as host for Golf Today and Golf Central and as an on-site reporter and interviewer for NBC Sports’ PGA TOUR coverage.

Jimmie Johnson Joins NBC Sports Motorsports Coverage for Four Races in 2024

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and former INDYCAR driver Jimmie Johnson is joining NBC Sports’ motorsports coverage for four races in 2024. Johnson will contribute to pre-race and race coverage of NBC Sports’ presentation of the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 from iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) on May 26 on NBC and Peacock, bolstering NBC Sports’ robust presentation of the historic event. Previously, Johnson contributed to NBC Sports’ studio coverage for The Greatest Spectacle in Racing in 2021.

He will also serve as an analyst on NBC Sports’ NASCAR coverage of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona Superspeedway on Aug. 24 and the YellaWood 500 from Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 6, one of three playoff races in the Round of 12. In addition, Johnson will contribute to NBC Sports’ coverage for select NASCAR races in which he is competing as a driver this year, including the NASCAR Cup Series Championship from Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 10.

“To have the opportunity to experience ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ once again is such an honor,” says Johnson. “I was part of the NBC broadcast team in 2021 and it just fueled the fire I needed to make my childhood dream of racing in the Indianapolis 500 one day a reality. Competing in this race as a driver was a chance of a lifetime, so to be able to experience the pageantry again is just so special. Even though I’ve never been able to do the ‘double’ as a driver, May 26th is going to be a very busy day. After the broadcast, I’ll fly to Charlotte Motor Speedway and drive in the Coca-Cola 600. I’m so thankful to NBC for the opportunity and continued partnership.”

“Any time you can add one of the greatest drivers of all time and an icon of the sport, you jump at the opportunity,” says Sam Flood, lead producer for NBC Sports’ motorsports coverage. “We are thrilled to be working with Jimmie and adding his unique perspective on every race he covers, as well as having him become the first person ever to do the broadcast-driver ‘double’ – history awaits.”

Johnson is one of the most successful NASCAR drivers in the history of the sport. His seven Cup Series championships are tied for the most all time with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, and he is the only driver to ever win five consecutive championships (2006-2010). His 83 NASCAR Cup Series race wins are third-most in the modern era (1972-present) and, in 2009, he became the first and only NASCAR driver to ever be named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year. Earlier this year, he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. In 2022, Johnson turned his attention to open-wheel racing and competed in the NTT INDYCAR Series, including that year’s Indianapolis 500, where he was named the 2022 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year.

Former Washington Wizards Coach Dean Oliver Returns to ESPN as a Data Scientist

ESPN has agreed to hire former Washington Wizards assistant coach and well-known statistician Dean Oliver as a data scientist. In his role at ESPN, Oliver will focus on basketball player metrics and the NBA Basketball Power Index (BPI).

This marks Oliver’s second tenure at ESPN, where he previously served as the Director of Analytics from 2011-2014.

“When I was at ESPN the first time, we did tremendous work that the company has carried on while I’ve been in the NBA,” Oliver says. “I’ve stayed in touch with the group there and am really excited to work with them again as we take on the challenges of developing intricate storytelling basketball metrics.”

Prior to the Wizards, Oliver continued and expanded his analytics work with TruMedia, an engineering firm that focuses on sports analytics. Before that, he held positions across the NBA, including: the Sacramento Kings, 2014-15 (Director of Player Personnel and Analytics), Denver Nuggets, 2006-11 (Director of Quantitative Analysis), and Seattle SuperSonics, 2004-06 (Consultant).

In 2002, Oliver wrote Basketball on Paper, which became the handbook for how to do basketball analytics. His second book, Basketball Beyond Paper, is due out this fall.

Oliver joins an already impressive team inclusive of BrianBurke, who is regarded by many in the industry as a pioneer in football analytics, along with Analytics Content Specialist Seth Walder, and many others who allow ESPN to provide analytical storytelling.

The Kid Mero To Host 45th Sports Emmy Awards With Presenters From Sports World

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) announces that award-winning comedian/author The Kid Mero is set to host the 45th Annual Sports Emmy Awards on Tuesday, May 21. Presenting at the ceremony will be familiar names from the sports world, including Noah Eagle (NBC Sports), Kaylee Hartung (Amazon), Mina Kimes (ESPN), Valeria Marin (Univision), Siera Santos (MLB Network), and Tracy Wolfson (CBS Sports). Three-time Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster James Brown will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to him by Sean McManus, former Chairman, CBS Sports. A group of professionals who have made significant and lasting contributions to sports television will be inducted that evening into the 2024 Gold and Silver Circle.

“Audiences have been entertained for years by The Kid Mero’s take on timely and provocative subjects,” says Adam Sharp, President & CEO, NATAS. “The ultimate sports fan with a cutting wit, we can’t wait to see what he has in store for the Sports Emmy audience.”

About The Kid Mero: 

Hailing from the vibrant streets of the Bronx, The Kid Mero has emerged as an entertainment tour de force. His unapologetic wit, razor-sharp cultural commentary, and ability to comedically dissect life’s complexities have captivated audiences. Recognized by Variety as one of 10 Comics to Watch, by the New York Times as bestselling author of God-Level Knowledge Darts: Life Lessons from the Bronx, by the Writers Guild of America as Winner for Best Comedy/Variety Talk Series for Showtime’s Desus & Mero, as well as several nominations by the NAACP Image Awards and Critics’ Choice Awards, Mero’s impact is undeniable. After recently being selected as Chair Honoree by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute for his dedication to the Latino community, Mero is crafting his next literary work, a comedic exploration of parenting, while also developing the video version of his culturally resonant podcast, Victory Light. From hosting the profane and profound Victory Light podcast – where he wields humor as a powerful tool to dissect geopolitics and celebrity culture – to co-hosting with NBA legend Carmelo Anthony on 7pm in Brooklyn – where he curates captivating conversations for sports enthusiasts and casual fans alike – Mero’s fearless authenticity and uncompromising comedic prowess solidify his cultural icon status, inspiring a new generation of voices to emerge and shatter conventions.

The Gold and Silver Circle Society honors individuals who have performed distinguished service within the television industry, setting standards for achievement, mentoring, leadership and professional accolades for 25 or 50 years. They represent the best and brightest in the industry.