Joan Jett is joining NBC’s Sunday Night Football open, which will once again be based on her 1988 song “I Hate Myself for Loving You.” Also: ESPN is looking to add Stephen A. Smith to its NBA coverage, and longtime broadcaster Jack Whitaker has passed away.
Jett joining Underwood for “Waiting All Day” reprise
The musician Joan Jett will join Carrie Underwood in performing NBC’s Sunday Night Football open this season, a modified version of the “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” song used from 2006 until 2015, NBC Sports announced Tuesday. “Waiting All Day” is based on Jett’s 1988 song “I Hate Myself For Loving You.”
Jett will be part of the open every week this season, though Underwood will still serve as the primary performer.
The previous SNF opening song was Underwood’s “Game On.” Earlier this year, a group of songwriters sued NBC and Underwood alleging that “Game On” was plagiarized from a song they created in 2016. [NBC Sports 8.20]
Smith likely to be part of ESPN NBA coverage next season
ESPN plans to add Stephen A. Smith to NBA studio coverage this season, The Big Lead reported Monday, though he would not necessarily join the cast of NBA Countdown. According to the report, ESPN would likely use Smith on Wednesday nights when no Countdown is scheduled. During his first tenure with ESPN, Smith was part of the network’s NBA studio coverage from 2003-06 and again in 2007-08. [The Big Lead 8.19]
Longtime CBS, ABC broadcaster Whitaker passes away
The longtime sports broadcaster and essayist Jack Whitaker, whose career spanned a half century and included long runs with both CBS and ABC, died Sunday at age 95.
Whitaker was perhaps best known for his time with CBS, where he broadcast occasional events until joining full-time in 1961. During his 22-year tenure with the network, which ended in 1982, he worked NFL games, Triple Crown horse races and The Masters, among other events. He was part of the broadcast team for the first Super Bowl and was infamously banned from The Masters from 1967-71 after referring to a gallery at Augusta National as a “mob,” which offended the course chairman.
After CBS, he worked for ABC from 1982-93, adding Olympic Games to his resume. Late in his career, he was part of ESPN’s 1992 America’s Cup coverage and the 1998 Winter Olympics on TNT. [CBS News 8.18]
