or


[12/20/11 - 07:38 AM]
ESPN & ABC NBA Pregame Show Moving to L.A.; Expanded Role for Magic Johnson
Johnson will be a featured analyst - joining Jon Barry, Michael Wilbon and Chris Broussard - throughout the entire season.

[via press release from ESPN]

ESPN & ABC NBA Pregame Show Moving to L.A.; Expanded Role for Magic Johnson

Kia NBA Countdown, the NBA pregame show airing on both ESPN and ABC, will originate from the ESPN Los Angeles Production Center at L.A. LIVE - across the street from STAPLES Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers - beginning Christmas Day, Sunday, Dec. 25, at 2 p.m. ET.

Additionally, Hall of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson will expand his ESPN responsibilities this season. Johnson will be a featured analyst - joining Jon Barry, Michael Wilbon and Chris Broussard - on Kia NBA Countdown (both ESPN and ABC) throughout the entire season. Johnson will also continue to conduct one-on-one interviews with some of the NBA's biggest stars and provide analysis on SportsCenter and other ESPN news and information shows.

"We're reinventing our NBA pregame experience with a new studio and a less scripted, more dynamic show," said Norby Williamson, executive vice president, production. "We're thrilled Magic has agreed to expand his role and look forward to his consistent presence throughout the entire season."

"It's been a lot of fun working with ESPN and its NBA team the last four years," said Johnson. "I've enjoyed it so much I'm looking forward to making even more appearances this season and I'm very excited about the show moving to L.A."

Kia NBA Countdown will include several new elements this season:

· a lively roundtable format offering strong opinions, discussion and debate centered on the games about to tip off and top storylines around the league

· increased access to some of the NBA's biggest stars

· re-occurring segments, such as those incorporated into ESPN's NBA season preview shows (e.g. trade him/keep him, step up/step back)

· increased interaction with fans via social media (e.g. commentators will more frequently answer fan questions submitted using social media)

Kia NBA Countdown is generally televised leading into ESPN's NBA games on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the season and preceding NBA Sunday game broadcasts on ABC.

SportsCenter recently televised a five-part series which offered a glimpse of the new Kia NBA Countdown:

Quotes

On Miami's title chances:

Magic - "The only way the Heat win, it must be LeBron James' team. He must dominate the ball. He must get everybody into the flow of the game because he was the man for seven seasons in Cleveland. He always had the ball in his hands. He must have it in his hands to be effective. He must dominate the action in Miami.

"If they don't win it this season, one of the big three will have to go. Their window is right now. LeBron's window is right now."

On LeBron James:

Barry - "LeBron James is more like Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan. He's a combination of the two. Yes, it has to be his team, but they are at their best when Dwyane Wade is their No. 1 scorer. LeBron needs to play more as a point guard, more like Magic Johnson, where he still can dominate the game."

On the Lakers' title hopes:

Magic - "The Lakers are not the best team in the West. Dallas is first and Oklahoma City is second. A couple things have to happen - first, an upgrade at the point guard position because the West is loaded with great point guards; second, the players must make a commitment to winning again because there are too many distractions. Lakers fans do not like that. What they want is a commitment to winning and, if Coach Brown can get them committed to winning and to each other, that's going to be a big improvement from last season... the locker room has to get better as well."

On Oklahoma City:

Magic - "Oklahoma City is the team to look out for because they have the best player in the game in Kevin Durant. It's his team now and they have an emerging star in Russell Westbrook if he learns how to get everybody involved. This team is the one to look out for, especially in the West."

On the Celtics' title aspirations:

Magic - "Doc Rivers is a great coach, but the window is closed because Miami is a better defensive team and the Chicago Bulls are a better defensive team with younger legs and more talent."

Barry - "I like this team. That series against the Miami Heat was much closer than people give it credit. LeBron James was spectacular and he won that series. I still think the Celtics make a last run. This is it."

On the Mavericks' repeat chances - window open/closed:

Magic - "Open, because they have a great coach in Rick Carlisle and a great owner in Mark Cuban who wants to win... as long as you have Dirk Nowitzki on that team you are in good position.

Wilbon - "Even though (they didn't) sign Tyson Chandler, Mark Cuban is going to find a way and people are going to want to come play with Dirk and the crew."

On the Knicks:

Barry - "Amare Stoudemire was arguably the MVP of the NBA last year before Carmelo Anthony arrived. He was playing terrific basketball. Landry Fields was arguably the Rookie of the Year and then disappeared off the map."

Wilbon - "If the Knicks disappoint this year, you know you are going to hear it and where there is smoke there is going to be real fire. Phil Jackson is not retired. He's preparing himself right now to coach next season. Phil is not going to come in for anybody this season, but you can mark it down. Phil Jackson is going to be coaching in the NBA next season."





  [december 2011]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[11/22/24 - 01:31 PM]
Video: "Suits LA" Arrives February 2025 - NBC
The all-new spinoff of the beloved legal drama, starring Stephen Amell, Lex Scott Davis, Josh McDermitt, and Bryan Greenberg, lands on the West Coast.

[11/22/24 - 12:11 PM]
Video: Peacock Releases First Look at the Third Season of Emmy Award-Winning Reality Competition Series "The Traitors" Returning January 9 with Alan Cumming as Host
Last season, "The Traitors" became the #1 unscripted series in the U.S. across all streaming platforms during launch week, according to Nielsen.

[11/22/24 - 10:15 AM]
Apple's Drama "Your Friends & Neighbors" Lands Early Season Two Renewal
Starring and executive produced by Emmy Award winner Jon Hamm, "Your Friends & Neighbors" will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, April 11 with two episodes, followed by one new episode weekly through Friday, May 30.

[11/22/24 - 09:01 AM]
Apple Original Films' "Fly Me to the Moon" to Premiere December 6, 2024
Since its debut in theaters worldwide, the film has received the Verified Hot certification on Rotten Tomatoes by fans.

[11/22/24 - 08:03 AM]
Peacock Exclusively Streams Blumhouse's "Speak No Evil" Beginning December 6
The psychological horror thriller stars James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Aisling Franciosi, Alix West Lefler, Dan Hough, Scoot McNairy, and more!

[11/22/24 - 07:35 AM]
2024 "Emirates NBA Cup" Championship Game Exclusively on ABC and ESPN+ December 17
In addition, ESPN platforms will exclusively present a semifinal game and a quarterfinal game as part of its 2024 Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Round coverage.

[11/22/24 - 07:12 AM]
Peacock and Sky's Original Hit Drama Series "The Day of the Jackal" Scores Second Season Renewal
In the US it ranked #1 on Peacock's Top 10 TV Shows on its platform and was a Top 5 streaming original in the US for its opening weekend (according to preliminary Nielsen data).

[11/22/24 - 06:31 AM]
Video: "Chef's Table" Volume 7 - Official Teaser - Netflix
Meet five world-class chefs who redefine culinary boundaries with delicious, innovative dishes honoring their diverse cultures and personal philosophies.

[11/22/24 - 05:41 AM]
"They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce" Set for January 2025 on ESPN
Airing on Friday nights/early Saturday mornings, the new personality-driven, one-hour program will take its inspiration from traditional late-night television, emphasizing a comedic approach throughout all five scheduled episodes which run in conjunction with the finale of the NFL regular season and playoffs.

[11/22/24 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "Ad Vitam" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After escaping an attempted murder, Franck Lazarev (Guillaume Canet) must find his wife Léo, who has been kidnapped by a mysterious group of armed men.

[11/21/24 - 04:01 PM]
"Rugged Rugby: Conquer or Die" Premieres December 10: A Battle for Supremacy Begins
In the shadows of Korea's rugby world, seven teams engage in a fierce battle of strength, strategy, and teamwork - all vying to be crowned champion.

[11/21/24 - 04:00 PM]
ABC Presents a Two-Night Special Event To Commemorate the Diamond Anniversary of "Mary Poppins"
First, "The Untold Story of Mary Poppins: A Special Edition of 20/20," a two-hour special from ABC News Studios chock full of rarely seen footage, photos and stories from the film's living legends, airs Wednesday, November 27 on ABC and streams next day on Hulu and Disney+.

[11/21/24 - 01:32 PM]
2024 International Emmy Nominees on Hulu
Check out these Emmy-worthy international series streaming on Hulu.

[11/21/24 - 01:12 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Semifinals Is Top Program of the Night in Adults 18-49 and All Key Women Demographics
The spectacular season 33 penultimate episode grew over the previous week's 500th episode celebration in both Total Viewers (5.19 million vs. 5.13 million) and Adults 18-49 (0.75 rating vs. 0.71 rating), hitting a season high in Total Viewers.

[11/21/24 - 01:05 PM]
NBC Orders Five Additional Episodes of Its Friday Night Comedy Hit "Happy's Place"
The "Happy's Place" premiere has hit 14 million viewers across all platforms.