After he was dumped from Fox NFL Sunday, it appeared sports fans saw the last of Frank Caliendo. But in a strange move, ESPN has brought him back to do his comedic segments (and I use comedic loosely) on Sunday NFL Countdown. I don’t watch Sunday NFL Countdown so I’ll be able to avoid Caliendo. But if you watch, you’ll notice that he’ll begin this weekend on set with Chris Berman and the 30 analysts ESPN employs on the show.
In his 9 seasons on Fox NFL Sunday doing the comic NFL picks segment, I can honestly say I laughed three or four times. And sports fans can remember how TBS shoved promos for “Frank TV” ad nauseum during the MLB Postseason in 2007.
I’m not sure who Frank appeals to, but ESPN execs love him and he’ll probably have a long run on Sunday NFL Countdown.
Here’s the press release.
Frank Caliendo to Contribute to ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown
With a single addition, ESPN has added over 100 new voices to its roster.
Comedian and impressionist Frank Caliendo is joining ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdownas a contributor.
His first appearance is this Sunday, Oct. 16 (10 a.m. ET) when he joins Chris Berman and company at the ESPN studios in Bristol, Conn.
“As a sports fan, ESPN has always been the place to be,” Caliendo said. “This network is why I graduated (from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) with a broadcasting degree in the first place — and now I finally get to use my degree!”
Caliendo will make a handful of other appearances on the three-hour pregame show during the regular season and playoffs, primarily in taped comedy segments.
“We have always admired Frank’s comedy, impressions and his NFL-centric humor,” said ESPN’s Seth Markman, senior coordinating producer who oversees ESPN’s NFL studio shows. “He’s been working on some new material in anticipation of this opportunity which promises to be a great addition to Countdown and to our overall NFL presentation on ESPN.”
No stranger to football fans, Caliendo was a regular on Fox NFL Sunday for nine seasons (2003-11). He also starred in the self-titled sketch show Frank TV on TBS in 2007-08. He has released six solo CDs and has performed in the neighborhood of 120 different impersonations. He continues to tour across the country throughout the year.
A Chicago native who was raised in Waukesha, Wis., Caliendo, 38, is also very familiar to ESPN’s audience for his regular appearances on ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning and other shows.
“Not only does ESPN have some of the best minds in all of sports, it is also home to some of the biggest characters in sports,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to do some new and different things that will shape new subjects and material. It’s going to be fun.”
There you have it.
