Ok, you’re owed a notebook. It’s been too long so let’s provide a full set of features for you. We have to do it in two parts.
NEWS
With Super Bowl Sunday just mere days away, NBC has released its plans for pregame programming. NBC will provide a full six hours of pregame programming beginning at noon ET running up to the Super Bowl telecast at 6 p.m. Remember that the kickoff will be at approximately 6:30 p.m. or thereabouts.
Bob Costas will be the overall host. He’ll be joined by a cast of thousands including Dan Patrick, Josh Elliott, Liam McHugh, Carolyn Manno, the bald-headed Randy Moss, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison, Mike Florio, Peter King, Hines Ward, Doug Flutie, Tara Lipinski, Johnny G. Weir, Rebecca Lowe and the Men in Blazers.
You’ll also see the annual interview of President Obama. This year’s Today co-host Savannah Guthrie will conduct the Q&A session at the White House.
Here’s the entire press release from NBC.
NBC SPORTS PRESENTS SIX HOURS OF SUPER BOWL XLIX PRE-GAME COVERAGE
NBC Super Bowl XLIX Pre-Game Show Begins on NBC at Noon ET on Sunday, Feb. 1
Dan Patrick, Josh Elliott, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison, Hines Ward, Mike Florio, Peter King, Bob Costas, Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya Preview Super Bowl XLIX with Analysis and Commentary
Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh Serves As Guest Analyst
NBC Sports Commentators Have Combined to Win 7 Super Bowls
NBC News’ Savannah Guthrie Interviews President Barack Obama
Josh Elliott Interviews Katy Perry
Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski To Report From Super Bowl Tailgate PartyPHOENIX, Ariz. – Jan. 27, 2015 – Bob Costas will open NBC Sports’ six-hour Super Bowl XLIX Pre-Game Show with a live report from Arizona at Noon ET on Sunday, Feb. 1, on NBC. In the hours leading up to the game, NBC Sports will surround the Super Bowl with live reports from the team hotels and the stadium, in-depth features and interviews with players and coaches from the Seahawks and Patriots, and X’s and O’s analysis from its roster of expert commentators.
In addition to Costas, NBC Sports’ Football Night in America team of Dan Patrick, Josh Elliott, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison, Hines Ward, Mike Florio and Peter King, and NBC Sports’ Sunday Night Football team of Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya, will contribute to the pre-game coverage with interviews, features, and live on-site commentary and analysis. Liam McHugh will serve as an on-site host at the stadium, Carolyn Manno and Randy Moss will report from the team hotels, and Doug Flutie will appear in on-field segments.
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh will join NBC Sports’ Super Bowl XLIX coverage as a guest analyst. Harbaugh led the Ravens to a win in Super Bowl XLVII in 2013, has reached the postseason in five of his six seasons as Baltimore’s head coach, including twice defeating the Patriots in postseason play.
NBC Sports’ Super Bowl XLIX commentator roster has combined to win seven Super Bowls (Dungy-2, Harbaugh-1, Harrison-2, Ward-2) and one Super Bowl MVP award (Ward, Super Bowl XL).
Coverage will also feature the events surrounding the Super Bowl, including an interview with halftime headliner Katy Perry; live musical performances from the NFL Experience; reports and interviews by NBC Sports’ popular figure skating analysts Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski with celebrities attending the game; reports from the festive atmosphere at the NFL Experience and Super Bowl XLIX Tailgate Party; and much more.
NBC News’ Savannah Guthrie will interview President Barack Obama as part of the Super Bowl XLIX Pre-Game Show airing late Sunday afternoon.
Following is a summary of NBC Sports’ Super Bowl XLIX pre-game coverage:
THE GAME
Football America: Our Teams: Inspired by the season-long “Together We Make Football” campaign, NBC and NFL Films kick off the NBC Super Bowl XLIX Pre-Game Show with Football America: Our Teams at Noon ET. The film will feature “Together We Make Football” winners Christian Osterhout and the Boron Bobcats High School Football Team, telling their stories of how football has played an integral role in their lives and communities.
Interviews: During the two weeks leading up to the game, NBC Sports conducted extensive interviews with Super Bowl XLIX players and coaches, including:
- Bob Costas with Patriots QB Tom Brady
- Dan Patrick with Seahawks QB Russell Wilson
- Josh Elliott with Seahawks WRs Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse
- Tony Dungy with Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, and with Seahawks CB Richard Sherman and FS Earl Thomas
- Rodney Harrison interviews Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski and DT Vince Wilfork, and conducts an on-field session with Patriots CB Darrelle Revis
Hotel & Arrival Reports: Randy Moss will provide updates from the Seahawks’ team hotel, while Carolyn Manno will report from the Patriots’ team hotel. They will also report on their respective teams’ arrivals at the stadium.
On-Field X’s and O’s: Hosted by Liam McHugh, former NFL QB Doug Flutie and Tony Dungy will be on-field at University of Phoenix Stadium to walk through different offensive plays, and demonstrate how those plays are executed.
Hometown Hero: How does a player get to the Super Bowl? NBC Sports will visit the hometowns of six of Sunday’s featured players – Tom Brady, Jamie Collins and Patrick Chung of the Patriots, and Russell Wilson, Earl Thomas and Jon Ryan of the Seahawks. The visits include the people who made an early impact on their lives, including former coaches, teachers and neighborhood friends.
Coach’s Clicker: Throughout the NBC Super Bowl XLIX Pre-Game Show, John Harbaugh will join Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison and Dan Patrick for Coach’s Clicker segments, breaking down specific elements and schemes from both teams. Segments focus on Marshawn Lynch, and Tom Brady and the Patriots offense. In addition, Harbaugh will illustrate how he would attempt to stop New England as coach of the Seahawks, while Dungy will assume the role of Patriots head coach and discuss how to limit the Seattle offense.
Pat Tillman’s Legacy: NBC Sports presents a feature on the legacy of former Arizona Cardinals S Pat Tillman, who left the Cardinals to join the U.S. Army Rangers, and was killed in Afghanistan in 2004. Josh Elliott sits down with Ed Woodward, a recipient of the Pat Tillman Scholarship who was forced to retire from the Air Force due to a medical condition, but has persevered to live out his twin brother’s dream of becoming a doctor.
Great Super Bowl Moments: NBC Sports reviews some of the most memorable moments in recent Super Bowl history. Flashback segments will include a look back at Super Bowl XL with game MVP Hines Ward, a review of former Giants WR David Tyree’s miraculous catch in Super Bowl XLII with Rodney Harrison, which took place at University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona, and a conversation with Seahawks LB and Super Bowl XLVIII Malcolm Smith about what it will take to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
Super Bowl Super Fans: NBC Sports’ Jimmy Roberts tells the story of the only three fans in the world known to have attended every Super Bowl to date. Patriots fan Don Crisman, San Francisco 49ers fan Larry Jacobson, and Pittsburgh Steelers fan Tom Henschel sit with Roberts to discuss their favorite Super Bowl memories and devotion to one of sports’ biggest spectacles.
Dude Perfect: NBC Sports Group has teamed with trick-shot experts and comedy stars Dude Perfect to create a trick-shot video that will debut during the pre-game show. Participating in the video will be Giants rookie WR Odell Beckham Jr. and two-time Super Bowl winner, Super Bowl XL MVP, and NBC NFL analyst Hines Ward. The content will be pushed out on NBC Sports’ social media platforms, and the trick-shot video will be available on NBCSports.com/dudeperfect following its release.
Super Bowl Wives: Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski will spend a day with wives of Patriots and Seahawks players during Super Bowl week to get a glimpse of spouses of Super Bowl players prepare for Super Bowl XLIX.
NASCAR Gridiron Challenge: NBC News anchor and NASCAR enthusiast Brian Williams and Hines Ward take fans behind the wheel by introducing them to a segment of the NASCAR Gridiron Challenge. The event paired NASCAR drivers, including Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth, with former NFL greats, including Ward and Flutie, as they raced around Charlotte Motor Speedway at speeds upwards of 180 mph.
INTERVIEWS
President Barack Obama: NBC News’ Savannah Guthrie will conduct a live interview with President Barack Obama from The White House late in the NBC Super Bowl XLIX Pre-Game Show.
Thomas Bach: Bob Costas sits down for a one-on-one conversation with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, about the upcoming 2016 Summer Games in Rio, and Boston’s bid for the 2024 Games.
Katy Perry: Josh Elliott interviews global superstar Katy Perry, who will headline Sunday’s Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show. Perry cemented her status as a best-selling superstar with the global success of three multi-platinum studio albums. She is currently touring the world on the Prismatic World Tour, which continues to be a hugely successful global spectacle, with 17 sold out arenas in the UK, 66 sold out arenas in North America and 25 sold out arenas in Australia/New Zealand during this year. Click here for more information: http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2015/01/10/katy-perry-invites-lenny-kravitz-to-join-her-during-pepsi-super-bowl-xlix-halftime-show-february-1-on-nbc/
ENTERTAINMENT
The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon: Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon will present special Super Bowl editions of his “Superlatives” segment with Patriots and Seahawks players and NBC on-camera personalities, as well as his “Puppy Predictors” segment to predict the winner of Super Bowl XLIX.
Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski: “Johnny and Tara” will be based at the Super Bowl XLIX Tailgate Party, the official NFL pre-game party for VIP guests. They will be joined by Josh Elliott to interview celebrities who annually attend the NFL’s championship game and will also provide their own Super Bowl observations. Celebrity interviews will include:
- Elizabeth Banks, who is starring in the upcoming NBCUniversal picture Pitch Perfect 2;
- Chris Pratt of NBC’s Parks and Recreation, who is starring in the upcoming NBCUniversal film Jurassic World, and;
- Adriana Lima, internationally recognized model and actress best known for her work with Victoria’s Secret
Men In Blazers and Premier League: Michael Davies and Roger Bennett of THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW on NBCSN will be featured in a segment of the Super Bowl XLIX Pre-Game Show. In addition, Premier League host Rebecca Lowe will join Dan Patrick and Tony Dungy for a quick recap of scores and highlights from “football across the pond.”
And here’s ESPN’s Super Bowl Sunday programming which includes Postseason NFL Countdown and NFL Matchup.
ESPN’s Postseason NFL Countdown Super Bowl XLIX Features
Chris Berman and Analysts Live at Scottsdale Fashion Square for Special Four-Hour Show;
Suzy Kolber with Super Bowl Champions Trent Dilfer, Ray Lewis and Steve Young at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale
Reporters Sal Paolantonio (Patriots) and Ed Werder (Seahawks) with Team ReportsESPN will present a special four-hour edition of Postseason NFL Countdown on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 10 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. MT, previewing Super Bowl XLIX from two primary locations in Arizona – Scottsdale Fashion Square (main set), and University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
Host Chris Berman, covering his 33rd Super Bowl, will be joined by analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson on the main set in Scottsdale, along with NFL Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter, and segment host Wendi Nix. Suzy Kolber will host coverage from the stadium with a trio of Super Bowl champions: Trent Dilfer, Ray Lewis and Steve Young. Reporters Sal Paolantonio (covering the Patriots) and Ed Werder (Seahawks) will also provide live team updates throughout the program.
ESPN’s roster of Countdown analysts – with a combined 10 Super Bowl rings in 15 appearances in the NFL’s biggest game – will preview the New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl XLIX game, analyzing the players, teams, key matchups and more.
Planned Countdown features, in order of timing by quarter-hour (all times subject to change):
Opening Tease: The Drive (10 a.m. ET)
Actor Michael Madsen voices Countdown’s opening tease about “The Drive” – a metaphor for the hard-fought journey to Super Bowl XLIX for the teams and the players.Russell Wilson Visualization (10:30)
On Sunday, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson will be the youngest quarterback in league history to take a team to back-to-back Super Bowl games, about four months younger than Tom Brady was when he led the Patriots to consecutive Super Bowls a decade ago. Wilson also has the most wins in the first three seasons of any quarterback – regular or postseason. Countdown’s Chris Berman highlights how Wilson’s success on the field is a byproduct of his ability to visualize every situation of a game in his mind before the first snap.Depression in the NFL (10:30)
Beyond the glitz and glamor of the National Football League are former players who struggle daily to cope with life as the cheering stops and the demands of a regimented professional career slowly turn into a distant memory. Some become depressed. On the 20th anniversary of Junior Seau’s first Super Bowl appearance, ESPN’s Jim Trotter offers in-depth piece on how former pro football players cope with depression and the impact on their family members. Seau’s wife, Gina Seau, former players Boo Williams, Eddie George and George’s wife, Taj, were interviewed for the story.Bobby Wagner’s Motivation (11:00)
Coming out of Colony High School in Ontario, Calif., in 2008, Bobby Wagner was underrated by recruiters. He was deemed too slight of frame for a linebacker and unrefined in his play to be recruited by any major college football program. Utah State University was the only program willing to grant him a scholarship. Four years later, when Seattle selected Wagner with the 47th pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, many draft experts questioned the team’s choice. Countdown’s Michelle Beisner reports how the young Pro Bowl linebacker uses the doubts about his ability to play in the NFL as a motivation to excelFrank Caliendo on Bill Belichick’s Legacy (11:30)
In a faux SC Featured, ESPN’s long-form feature segment that airs on SportsCenter, Countdown comedian and impersonator Frank Caliendo delves into the legacy of Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. In the piece, Caliendo plays several characters including quarterback Andrew Luck, ESPN’s Lou Holtz, Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells and ESPN’s Chris Berman, while comedian Aries Spears plays the role of Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs.The Kansas City Turning Point (11:30)
The defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks lost 20-24 to the Chiefs in Kansas City in week 11 on November 16, 2014, falling to a 6-4 record. The team called a players-only meeting where an impassioned Kam Chancellor addressed the team. Since that meeting, Seattle has yet to lose another game and is now playing in its second straight Super Bowl. Countdown’s Chris Berman travelled to Seattle ahead of the team’s NFC Championship Game to hear more about Chancellor’s speech, which became the turning point for the ’Hawks season.Julian Edelman (12:00)
SportsCenter anchor Jade McCarthy travelled to Woodside, Calif., Julian Edelman’s hometown, to tell the story of how Edelman developed from an undersized high school quarterback to a diminutive, go-to NFL wide receiver on the cusp of becoming a Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots. McCarthy interviewed Edelman’s former coaches and parents who offered insight on the upbringing that helped shape the receivers career in the NFL after the Patriots selected him with the 232nd overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.Gronk’s Spikes (12:00)
ESPN.com senior writer Greg Garber takes a closer look at the ground-shaking, on-field celebrations that occur every time Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski scores a touchdown.Marysville-Pilchuck (12:30)
A shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck High School in October 2014 that killed two students and severely wounded four others rocked a small, close-knit community an hour outside Seattle. After the tragic event, the Seahawks organization offered the school’s football team a momentary respite from its grief. Head coach Pete Carroll invited them to practice at the Seahawks facility and several Seattle players – running back Marshawn Lynch, linebacker Bobby Wagner and tight end Luke Wilson – attended the school’s pep rallies. At the Seahawks’ home game on Nov. 2, the Seahawks wore “MP” decals on their helmets in support of the Marysville-Pilchuck community. Countdown’s Beisner story focuses on the special bond forged between the Seahawks and Marysville-Pilchuck High School in the aftermath of this tragedy.The Bill Belichick-Tom Brady Marriage (12:30)
In their 15th season together as the New England Patriots coach and quarterback, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have won 160 regular-season and 20 postseason games – the most wins in each category by a coach-quarterback team in the NFL. As the head coach and quarterback prepare to play in a record sixth Super Bowl together, Patriots owner Robert Kraft narrates the story of the relationship between the tutor and his pupil, and highlights reasons for their success.I am Confetti (1:00)
A first-person narrative of what it feels like to be a piece of confetti in the postgame Super Bowl celebration, written by Countdown producer Johann Castillo.Additional Content on ESPN’s Super Bowl XLIX Sunday Shows:
NFL Matchup – Super Bowl XLIX Edition
In a special Super Bowl XLIX edition, ESPN’s NFL Matchup (ESPN2, 7 a.m. ET) with host Trey Wingo and analysts Merril Hoge and Ron Jaworski will preview the Patriots-Seahawks game. Highlights:
- Factor Back – Marshawn Lynch Read Option Run: Hoge breaks down the Seahawks running game, which goes through running back Marshawn Lynch in a zone-read.
- X and O Files – Russell Wilson Read Option: Hoge continues the breakdown of the Seahawks run game, describing the option Russell Wilson has as a runner when the defense overcommits to stopping Lynch.
- Hoge Breakdown – Seahawks Foundational ‘Cover 3’: Hoge takes a deep dive at the Seahawks defense, and shows how and why their simple “Cover 3” scheme is so effective against opposing offenses.
- Passing Thought – Antonio Gates’ Success vs. Seattle: Jaworski shows how the Chargers used tight end Antonio Gates for some successful plays in week 2 against the Seahawks, and says the offensive scheme from that matchup bodes well for a big day from Patriots Rob Gronkowski.
- Let’s See it Hoge – Eddie Royal Beats Richard Sherman: Staying with the week 2 game vs. the Chargers, Hoge walks the viewer through a play where Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman was exploited by a great play design and argues the Patriots will look to replicate the play same offensive scheme in Super Bowl XLIX.
- Money Down – Doug Baldwin’s Third Down Efficiency: Hoge explains why wide receiver Doug Baldwin is quarterback Russell Wilson’s favorite target in the most critical down and distance situations for the Seahawks offense.
- Jaworski Covers the Field – The Gronkowski Threat: Jaworski describes a staple play from the Patriots offense that puts opposing defenses in a bind as they attempt to account for tight end Rob Gronkowski.
- Game Within the Game – Attacking the Seahawks ‘Cover 3’: Jaworski explains a play the Eagles offense used against the Seahawks base coverage that resulted in a touchdown and argues it is one example of a successful scheme against the tough Seattle defense.
- Eye in the Sky – Patriots Spy Defense: Hoge details how the Patriots defense will try to account for quarterback Russell Wilson’s threat as a scrambling quarterback by assigning a player to spy him on all passing downs.
ESPN’s Super Bowl Sunday coverage:
Sun, Feb 1 1-1:30 a.m. NFL Matchup ESPN2 7-7:30 a.m. NFL Matchup ESPN2 8-10 a.m. SportsCenter (from Arizona) ESPN 8-8:30 a.m. Outside the Lines ESPN2 8:30-9 a.m. The Sports Reporters (Arizona) ESPN2 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Postseason NFL Countdown (Arizona) ESPN 10:30-11:30 p.m. NFL PrimeTime (Arizona) ESPN 11:30 p.m.-1 a.m. SportsCenter (Arizona) ESPN 11:30 p.m.-12 a.m. NFL Countdown: Best of Countdown ESPN2
So we’ve gone to over 3,200 words here. We’ll get to part 2 of the notebook next hour.
