FOX Sports rolls out red carpet for Super Bowl XLII pregame show
by FOX Sports
During each of the four previous Super Bowl pregame shows on FOX there's been at least one element, sometimes more, that individuals might consider somewhat untraditional. Some of those features include a salute to voodoo ('97, New Orleans), a re-creation of the signing of the Declaration of Independence ('02, New Orleans) and a golf tournament at Sawgrass ('05, Jacksonville). It's now abundantly clear that the untraditional has become a Super Bowl tradition at FOX: this year's Super Bowl pregame show includes a celebrity red carpet hosted by American Idol's Ryan Seacrest and a get-out-to-vote/register to vote appeal.
"Given four hours of pregame coverage, I fully expect to have a show that will fully cover the Giants and Patriots, giving proper respect to both teams and the historic implications of the Patriots' attempt to achieve an undefeated season," said FOX Sports Chairman David Hill. "At the same time, the Super Bowl, with its mass audience, attracts millions of casual fans who are equally interested in the excitement which surrounds the game, as the game itself. We hope to balance both and have something for everyone, and if the criticism on the Monday after goes 50-50, we did our jobs."
FOX SUPER BOWL XLII PREGAME SCHEDULE — SUNDAY, FEB. 3
FOX NEWS SUNDAY/FOX SUPER SUNDAY (9 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET)
The special will kick off with a one-hour edition of FOX News Sunday with Chris Wallace, followed by a two-hour block of political and sports coverage with FOX News anchor Shepard Smith live from Glendale, AZ just two days before the 22 state primary contests on Super Tuesday.
Following a special edition of FOX News Sunday, Smith will be joined at 10 a.m. ET by co-hosts Bill Hemmer and Megyn Kelly who will be live from election studio headquarters in New York. FOX Super Sunday will also include a behind-the-scenes look as the action gets underway for the Super Bowl. FOX Business Network's Alexis Glick will offer a peek at the best commercials and the economics behind the biggest sporting event of the year.
ROAD TO THE SUPER BOWL (12-1 p.m. ET)
Narrated by Alec Baldwin, and produced by Emmy Award-winning NFL Films, Road to the Super Bowl captures the most dramatic moments of the 2007 NFL season, from the opening kickoff of Week one in September, through the AFC and NFC Championship Games. The best material from over 100 players and coaches wired for sound make this a memorable look back at an unforgettable season.
INSIDE THE RINGS WITH TROY AIKMAN (1-1:30 p.m. ET)
"Inside the Rings" with NFL on FOX lead game analyst Troy Aikman is a close up look at select quarterbacks and their personal journeys to Super Bowl victory. Each one took a road less traveled and we hear their story straight from them. Aikman and FOX Sports reporter Chris Myers host. Among the quarterbacks featured are John Elway, Kurt Warner and Doug Williams. The show is produced by Barry Landis and Bill Richards.
HOWIE LONG'S TOUGH GUYS "SUPER BOWL EDITION" PRESENTED BY CHEVY
(1:30-2 p.m. ET)
FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst Howie Long pays tribute to the NFL's roughest and toughest with a little help from "tough guy ambassadors" of the past in this 30 minute presentation. Old meets new as legendary tough guys like quarterback Jim Kelly, tight end Mark Bavaro and others interview and comment on current players who show the grit and determination that make them special. The show is hosted by Long, who at the end reveals this year's "ultimate" tough-guy. The show is produced by P.T. Navarro.
FOX SUPER BOWL SUNDAY PREGAME SHOW (2-6 p.m. ET)
Following the network's early day schedule, FOX Sports kicks off its "traditional" pregame show with co-hosts Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee, analysts Howie Long and Jimmy Johnson, reporters Pam Oliver and Chris Myers, comedic prognosticator Frank Caliendo NFL Insider Jay Glazer and Jillian Reynolds from a specially constructed set on the field inside University of Phoenix Stadium. However, the Super Bowl XLII pregame show is anything but traditional as viewers will notice a little more glitz and show-biz than in years past, and a get-out-to-vote message, as well.
First and foremost, FOX SUPER BOWL SUNDAY offers a thorough analytical breakdown of each team's offense, defense and special teams, player/coach features, interesting statistical tidbits, historical perspective, keys to the game and late breaking injury news as only FOX Sports can deliver. Also, in what became a FOX Super Bowl trademark at the post-9/11 Super Bowl XXXVI, the network presents a refreshed reading of the Declaration of Independence by distinguished leaders from the NFL community both past and present, done in conjunction with our own "get-out-to-vote" campaign given the Super Bowl's proximity to Super Tuesday's 22 state presidential primary elections. An appeal will also be made to unregistered voters to get registered in time for the fall elections. While it's unlikely that there have ever been appeals to vote and for voter registration during a Super Bowl pregame show, no Super Bowl prefix has ever had an "entertainment host" to guide the game's diverse audience through the celebrity-packed afternoon, until now.
Ryan Seacrest, host of FOX's AMERICAN IDOL, the No. 1 television series in the nation, joins the cast of FOX NFL SUNDAY for the biggest day on the sports calendar. The popular television and radio host serves as "entertainment host" for the FOX Super Bowl XLII pregame show. While Bradshaw & Co. cover the Xs and Os, FOX plans to utilize Seacrest's expertise to wrap the program's musical offerings and to interview numerous celebrities who annually attend the grandest spectacle of American sport. Musical performances are expected from Seacrest's American Idol cast-mate Paula Abdul, Alicia Keys, Jordin Sparks and a duet between Willie Nelson and Sara Evans.
Editor's Note: Super Bowl XLII on FOX photography, logos and a camera location diagram is available on www.foxflash.com. Log on with your username and password and click on the FOX Sports logo (right side). Contact Ileana Peña at ileana.pena@fox.com with questions.
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