On the Air
By Laura Nachman
April 5, 2002

"H-Bob-O"

Bob Costas has signed a three-year deal with HBO, making him a co-host of "Inside the NFL," a host of four HBO pay-per-view boxing events a year, other specials, and continuing his interview series "On the Record."  Under the terms of the deal, Costas, who is under contract to NBC until July, is free to work for a broadcast network, but is exclusive to HBO on the cable side (which means he could work for ABC, but not ESPN which are owned by the same company).  In a conference call, Costas, who has worked for NBC 22 years, admitted that the circumstances at the network have changed, since it no longer carries Major League Baseball, the NFL, and is losing the NBA after this season.  With Costas joining "Inside the NFL," longtime hosts Nick Buoniconti and Len Dawson have been dropped after more than 20-years apiece.  This season's lineup will be Costas, Cris Collinsworth, Dan Marino, and Wanda Sykes.

"Show me the Funny"

Before Jay Mohr sweetened his career by playing sports agent Bob Sugar in "Jerry Maguire," he was just another comedian, appearing in bad network sitcoms and lame game shows on MTV. But post "Jerry Maguire" Mohr created his own niche as a "sports comedian."  Last year he got a gig as the resident wise-guy on Fox Sports Net's "NFL This Morning" pre-game show, and now he hosts the first sports variety show "Mohr Sports" on ESPN Tuesdays at 12:30 a.m.  In the witty debut installment that aired Tuesday night, Mohr eased through a sports related monologue that included a joke about Scott Rolen, an interview with outspoken former Fox Sports Net colleague Deacon Jones, and a taped piece at the racetrack.  Robert Morton, formerly with David Letterman, is the producer of the show, with upcoming features such as a report from the "Gay Rodeo," a trip to the mall with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, and sports talk at an African-American barbershop. "Mohr Sports," which will move to Mondays at 8 p.m. in June, has a 25-episode commitment from ESPN.  Unlike Dennis Miller, who was ill-fitted for the sports world, Mohr makes the cut, but it still doesn't excuse him for "Pay it Forward."

"One and Done for Glenn-bo"

There will be a new announcing battery for Comcast SportsNet's "Phillies Post Game Live" this season. Former Major League Baseball pitcher Joe Kerrigan, who this spring was fired as manager of the Boston Red Sox and former Temple catcher John Marzano will act as analysts, replacing Glenn Wilson who only lasted one season. CSN will televise 104 Phillies games this year. 

The Phillies have made arrangements with Urban Cableworks to air the five games that are scheduled for CN8 in April. Over 65,000 subscribers in Manayunk, City Avenue, Roxborough, Andorra, Wynnefield, and more have Urban Cableworks, which doesn't air CN8.

"I'm not an Athlete, I'm a Dad"

Viewers won't be seeing John Kruk on "The Best Damn Sports Show Period" on Fox Sports Net this month.  "The Krukker," who lives in South Jersey when not taping the show in Hollywood, is on paternity leave to be with his wife Melissa and their first child, which is due April 8, fittingly in time for the beginning of baseball season. The show airs on CSN weeknights at 11 p.m.

"Bet on It"

"Big Shot:  Confessions of a Campus Bookie" was a sure thing for FX, as it was the highest rated original movie in the network's history with 1.4 million viewers. 

"Philadelphia Journal, Millennium Style"

A new web site devoted to Philadelphia sports, www.phillysportszone.com debuts this week.