Al Michaels will have a few off weeks during the coming NFL season. Plus: Brian Anderson is reportedly getting the nod to call the NBA’s Western Conference Finals, Booger McFarland will cover both pro and college football this season, and more.
NBC giving Michaels weeks off this season
NBC Sunday Night Football producer Fred Gaudelli said Thursday that SNF play-by-play voice Al Michaels will have a number of scheduled “bye weeks” this season, starting with Packers-Saints in Week 3.
In addition to Falcons-Saints, Michaels is also scheduled to skip the Ravens-Steelers Thanksgiving night game and the following Sunday’s Bears-Packers game. Additional bye weeks will be determined on a month-to-month basis. While Michaels is in the age group at most risk of COVID-19, Gaudelli said that the decision to give him weeks off had long been in the making.
Mike Tirico will fill in for Michaels on those weeks he does not call games. As one would expect, Tirico will call NBC’s second Wild Card game this season. [NBC Sports PR]
Anderson reportedly getting Western Conference Finals on TNT
TNT plans to have Brian Anderson call the NBA Western Conference Finals, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald and Andrew Marchand of the New York Post. TNT’s other play-by-play voices, Kevin Harlan, Spero Dedes and Ian Eagle, have NFL commitments. TNT’s usual lead NBA voice Marv Albert is not in the NBA “bubble” as he is in the age group at most risk of COVID-19.
Per Jackson, Anderson will work with Chris Webber and Reggie Miller on the conference final.
In related news, Harlan is scheduled to return to game coverage Thursday night. He and Miller are scheduled to call Nuggets-Clippers Game 1, their first broadcast since Blazers-Nets on August 14.
Golden State Warriors F Draymond Green is also set to return to TNT as a guest studio analyst, filling in for Kenny Smith Thursday and Charles Barkley Friday. Green previously served as a guest analyst during the NBA’s “seeding” games. [Jackson/Twitter 9.2, Marchand/Twitter 9.2, Turner Sports PR]
McFarland to have pro and college football studio role
Former ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Booger McFarland will shift to a studio role this season on both pro and college football games, it was announced Wednesday. McFarland will re-join ABC’s college football studio team, of which he was previously a part in the 2017 season, working alongside Kevin Negandhi and Mark Sanchez. He will also join Monday Night Countdown. [ESPN PR 9.2]
Plus: Dungy, ESPN extensions, NFL on CBS
NBC Sports announced Tuesday that Tony Dungy will replace Doug Flutie as the game analyst on its Notre Dame football coverage, working alongside the returning Tirico. Flutie will move to occasional studio coverage, working alongside new host Jac Collinsworth. … ESPN announced a slew of contract extensions over the past week, including play-by-play voice Sean McDonough, radio host Sarah Spain, reporter Michelle Steele, and boxing analyst Andre Ward. … CBS announced its NFL broadcast teams this week, with the primary change being the previously-announced arrival of former FOX analyst Charles Davis. Davis will work alongside Ian Eagle on the #2 CBS team, replacing Dan Fouts. [NBC Sports PR 9.1, ESPN PR 8.31, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, CBS Sports PR]
