ESPY Awards host is the latest distinction added to Stephen Curry‘s resume. Plus: Charissa Thompson has been officially named Amazon’s NFL studio host, and NBC’s Peacock is trying something different on Major League Baseball coverage this weekend.
Warriors’ Curry to host ESPY Awards
Golden State Warriors G Stephen Curry, the reigning NBA Finals MVP, has been named host of next month’s ESPY Awards. Not counting the pre-taped, fanless edition two years ago — which was hosted by Russell Wilson, Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe — Curry will be the first active pro athlete to host the annual awards show since Danica Patrick in 2018 and the first NBA player to do so since LeBron James in 2007.
This year’s ESPYs is returning to its normal spot on the calendar — the night after the MLB All-Star Game — for the first time since 2019.
Charissa Thompson officially named Amazon TNF studio host
Amazon officially announced Tuesday that Charissa Thompson of Fox Sports will serve as the studio host for its Thursday Night Football coverage. The news had been previously reported by the New York Post. Thompson will work alongside previously announced hires Richard Sherman, Tony Gonzalez and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Former NFL Good Morning Football host Kay Adams had also reportedly been a contender for the role.
In addition to those officially-announced names, Amazon is also expected to add Aqib Talib and Andrew Whitworth to its studio team, per the New York Post. Marshawn Lynch has also been repeatedly named as a likely contributor to the studio team.
NBC going without booth announcers for Tigers-Royals on Peacock
NBC Sports announced this week that Sunday’s Tigers-Royals Major League Baseball game on Peacock will go without traditional announcers in the broadcast booth. The broadcast will instead feature NBC Sports reporters Ahmed Fareed and Britney Eurton and Tigers analyst Craig Monroe touring Comerica Park and interviewing fans as part of an effort to duplicate the in-game experience. To that end, it will also include special camera angles and enhanced stadium audio.
It should be noted that this is far from an announcer-less game and more along the lines of the NASCAR broadcasts NBC has done in which the announcers were stationed at various points around the track. [NBC Sports PR]
