James Brown, Phil Simms and Cris Collinsworth to Host 'INSIDE THE NFL' as Series Launches on Showtime September 10

James Brown, Phil Simms and Cris Collinsworth to Host 'INSIDE THE NFL' as Series Launches on Showtime September 10

NEW YORK, July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- James Brown, Phil Simms and Cris Collinsworth will host INSIDE THE NFL when the series launches this September on SHOWTIME. The announcement was made today by Matthew C. Blank, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Showtime Networks, Inc. and Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports and Executive Producer, THE NFL ON CBS.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060131/SHOWTIMELOGO )

INSIDE THE NFL on SHOWTIME will premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 10 (9:00 PM, ET/PT). The show, produced by CBS Sports and NFL Films, will air each Wednesday during the NFL season through February 11, 2009.

"It's a great catch for us to get JB, Cris and Phil to anchor the show," said Blank. "They are the top football analysts in the game and their collective expertise will give the show the kind of perspective and insight that will add to INSIDE THE NFL's tradition as the best football show on television. We're thrilled to have it on SHOWTIME."

"Bringing together the best NFL studio host in the business in James Brown and two of the most colorful and talented analysts in football in Phil Simms and Cris Collinsworth to anchor INSIDE THE NFL solidifies our original game plan to continue to carry on the great tradition and style that has made this show so popular for more than 30 years," said McManus.

Brown returned to CBS Sports as host for the CBS Television Network's NFL pre-game show, THE NFL TODAY, and as play-by-play announcer for the Network's coverage of college basketball including the NCAA tournament in 2006. He will continue anchoring THE NFL TODAY along with analysts Dan Marino, Shannon Sharpe, Boomer Esiason and Bill Cowher. Brown hosted the Network's Super Bowl pre-game show in 2007 for its coverage of Super Bowl XLI in Miami. He served as host of "FOX NFL Sunday" for 12 years prior to returning to CBS Sports. Brown joined FOX Sports in June 1994 after a decade with CBS Sports. He hosts "Hang Time with James Brown," daily commentaries on Sporting News Radio, and is a reporter/correspondent for HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel," as well as a boxing host for HBO pay-per-view. Brown first joined CBS Sports in 1984 where he served as play-by-play announcer for the network's NFL and college basketball coverage, as well as reporter for the NBA Finals. He also was host of the afternoon show from the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France and the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. While at CBS he also was co-host of "CBS Sports Saturday/Sunday," a weekend anthology series. Throughout his career Brown has earned numerous awards including the 1998, 1999 and 2007 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Studio Host for "FOX NFL Sunday" and THE NFL TODAY.

Simms, Super Bowl XXI MVP and 15-year NFL veteran, joined CBS Sports in January 1998 as lead analyst for the CBS Television Network's coverage of the NFL. This season, he and Jim Nantz will be paired for their fifth season as the Network's lead NFL announce team. During his 10 seasons with THE NFL ON CBS, Simms has called Super Bowl XXXV (2001), Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004) and Super Bowl XLI (2007) for the network. Prior to joining CBS Sports, Simms served as a game analyst on NBC's top broadcast team, along with Dick Enberg and Paul Maguire (1995-98). He called Super Bowls XXX and XXXII, announced weightlifting events for NBC Sports' coverage of the 1996 Olympic Summer Games, served as a sideline reporter on "The NBA on NBC" and worked on the "NFL Quarterback Challenge" and "Run to Daylight." He also served as a studio analyst for ESPN. As an All-Pro quarterback, Simms led the New York Giants to two Super Bowl titles. He completed 22 of 25 passes in Super Bowl XXI as the Giants defeated the Denver Broncos, 39-20, to win their first Super Bowl title. He was the Giants' first selection in the 1979 NFL Draft, was selected for the 1985 and 1993 Pro Bowls and was the 1985 Pro Bowl MVP. He was named All-Pro in 1986.

Collinsworth was a three-time Pro Bowl selection during his eight-year NFL career as wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals (1981-88). Upon retiring from the NFL, Collinsworth transitioned smoothly into broadcasting as a reporter for HBO's "Inside the NFL" in 1989. The following season he graduated to the show's studio cast where he served as co-host until the show ended on HBO following the 2007 NFL season. In 1990, Collinsworth joined NBC Sports as a game analyst for the network's NFL coverage and select college football broadcasts. He was assigned to the "NFL on NBC" pre-game show in 1996, and served as track and field reporter during the 1996 Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta. He joined Fox Sports in 1998 as a studio analyst before moving back to the booth to team up with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to form the network's lead NFL broadcast team. Collinsworth returned to NBC Sports in 2006 as a studio analyst and co-host of "Sunday Night Football," where he will continue for his third season. He also returns for his third season as game analyst for the NFL Network's Thursday Night Football. Collinsworth has earned eight Emmy Awards, including a record seven for Outstanding Sports Studio Analyst, and is the most honored studio analyst in sports television.

Past hosts throughout 31 years of the award-winning INSIDE THE NFL have included Chuck Bednarik, Nick Buoniconti, Cris Carter, Collinsworth, Bob Costas, Len Dawson, Jerry Glanville, Merle Harmon, Jimmy Johnson, Peter King, Dan Marino and Al Meltzer.

Sean McManus and Steve Sabol of NFL Films serve as Executive Producers of INSIDE THE NFL.

ABOUT SHOWTIME NETWORKS

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL(R) and FLIX(R), as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2(TM), SHOWTIME(R) SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME(R), SHOWTIME BEYOND(R), SHOWTIME NEXT(R), SHOWTIME WOMEN(R), SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE(R) and THE MOVIE CHANNEL(R) XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL(R) HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND(R) and THE MOVIE CHANNEL(R) ON DEMAND. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV(R).

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060131/SHOWTIMELOGO
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Showtime Networks Inc.

CONTACT: Stuart Zakim of SHOWTIME, +1-212-708-1590,
stuart.zakim@showtime.net; or LeslieAnne Wade of CBS Sports, +1-212-975-5171,
lwade@cbs.com

Web site: http://www.sho.com/

---

Profile: International Entertainment