Look up Webb in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Webb may refer to:

Places[link]

Antarctica

• Webb Neve, the neve at the head of Seafarer Glacier
• Webb Nunataks, a group of nunataks in the Neptune Range
• Webb Peak, a peak at the west end of Crescent Scarp

Australia

• Mount Webb National Park, Queensland

Canada

• Webb, Saskatchewan
• Webb No. 138, Saskatchewan, a rural municipality

United States

• Webb Air Force Base near Big Spring, Texas
• Webb, Alabama
• Webb, Iowa
• Webb, Mississippi
• Webb, New York
• Webb City, Missouri
• Webb City, Oklahoma
• Webb County, Texas
• Webb Lake, Wisconsin, a town
• Webb Lake (community), Wisconsin, an unincorporated community
• Webb House (disambiguation), in numerous US states
• Webb River, in Maine

The Moon

• Webb (crater)

People[link]

Given name[link]

• Webb C. Ball (1947-1895), US jeweler and watchmaker
• Webb Franklin (1941 - ), US Representative from Mississippi
• Webb Gillman (1870–1933), Irish General
• Webb Hayes (1856–1923), US businessman and soldier
• Webb Miller, American professor
• Webb Miller (journalist) (1891–1940), American war correspondent
• Webb Pierce (1921–1991), American country music singer
• Webb Seymour, 10th Duke of Somerset (1718–1793)
• Webb Simpson (1985 - ), American golfer
• Webb Schultz (1898–1986), American baseball pitcher
• Webb Wilder (1954 - ), American rock singer

Surname[link]

• Alan Webb (disambiguation)
• Alexander Russell Webb (1846–1916), American writer and publisher, converted to Islam
• Alexander S. Webb (1835–1911), United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War
• Alexandra Kay Webb (1992-),
• Alison Webb (1961-), Canadian judoka
• Aston Webb (1849–1930), British architect
• Beatrice Webb (1858–1943), British reformer; wife of Sidney Webb
• Benjamin Joseph Webb (1814–1897), Catholic editor, state senator for Kentucky, and historian
• Billy Webb (character), Billy "Spider" Webb, a fictional character from the Australian TV drama Sea Patrol
• Billy Webb, alias of Greg Johnston, member of Goldie Lookin Chain
• Bradie Webb, drummer in Short Stack
• Brandon Webb (1979-), baseball player
• Carl Webb (1981-), Australian rugby league player
• Charles Webb (author) (1939-), American author of The Graduate
• Charles Webb (architect) (1821–1898), Australian architect
• Charley Webb (1988-), English actress
• Chick Webb (1909–1939), US jazz musician
• Chloe Webb (1960-), US actor
• Clifton Webb (1889–1966), US actor
• Daniel Webb (disambiguation)
• David Michael Webb, a Hong Kong sharemarket analyst
• David Webb (footballer) (1946-) English footballer and football manager, father of Daniel Webb
• Del Webb (1899–1974), American real estate developer
• Derek Webb (1974-), American singer-songwriter
• Donald Eugene Webb (1931-), fugitive on the FBI's most wanted list
• Douglas Webb (1922–1996), British photographer
• Electra Havemeyer Webb (1888–1960), U.S. art collector, founded the Shelburne Museum
• Francis Webb (engineer) (1836–1906), Locomotive designer for the London and North Western Railway
• Gary Webb (disambiguation)
• George Webb (disambiguation)
• George James Webb (1803–1887), British-American composer
• H. Walter Webb (1856–1919) U.S. railway executive
• Henry Webb (disambiguation)
• Howard Webb (1971-), English football referee
• Harry Webb, singer better known by his stage name Cliff Richard
• Jack Webb (1920–1982), US actor, most famous for his role as a detective in the television series Dragnet
• James Webb (disambiguation), includes James, Jim and Jimmy Webb
• Jim Webb, Senior United States Senator for the Commonwealth of Virginia (Incumbent Democrat)
• John Webb (disambiguation)
• Karrie Webb (1974-), Australian golfer
• Keith Houghton-Webb (1959), Australian TV co-host; brother of Mike Webb (pastor)
• Lara Honos-Webb, American psychologist and author
• Leonard Webb (1921-), World War II veteran
• Lizzie Webb, British exercise television show host
• Lorna Webb (1983-), English professional cyclist
• Lucy Webb Hayes (1831–1889), First Lady of the United States during the presidency of her husband Rutherford B. Hayes
• Marti Webb (1944-), English musical actress
• Mary Webb (1881–1927), English romantic novelist
• Matthew Webb (1848–1883), first person to swim the English Channel without the use of artificial aids
• Maynard Webb (1955-), CEO of LiveOps, former COO of eBay
• Mike Webb (pastor) (1956-), Australian TV co-host turned church minister; brother of Keith Houghton-Webb
• Mike Webb (radio announcer) (1955–2007), murdered American radio personality
• Morgan Webb (1978-), US television host
• Neil Webb (1963-), British footballer, Nottingham Forest and England international
• Nick Webb (author) (1959-), British author
• Nick Webb (musician) (1954–1998), British musician
• Paddy Webb (1884–1950), New Zealand unionist and politician
• Paul Webb, MD, developer of the Space activity suit
• Philip Barker Webb (1793–1854), English botanist
• Philip Carteret Webb (1702–1770), English barrister, involved with the 18th-century antiquarian movement
• Philip Webb (1831–1915), British "Father of Arts and Crafts Architecture"
• Phyllis Webb (1927-), Canadian poet
• Ralph Humphreys Webb (1887–1945), mayor of Winnipeg
• Rhys 'Spider' Webb (1983-), musician with The Horrors
• Richard Webb (actor) (1915–1993), US actor
• Richard Webb (cricketer) (1952-), New Zealand cricketer
• Rita Webb (1904–1981), English actress
• Robert Webb (actor) (1972-), British actor and comedian
• Robin Webb, runs the Animal Liberation Press Office in the UK
• Russell Webb (1945-), American water polo player
• Sam Webb, Chair of the Communist Party USA
• Sarah Webb (1977-), British Olympic sailor
• Sidney Webb, 1st Baron Passfield (1859–1947), British reformer; husband of Beatrice Webb
• Simon Webb (disambiguation)
• Skeeter Webb (James Laverne Webb, 1909–1986), Major League Baseball player
• Suhaib Webb
• Spud Webb, (Anthony Jerome Webb, 1963-), National Basketball Association basketball player
• Steve Webb (1965-), United Kingdom politician
• Tamilee Webb (1960-), US personal fitness personality
• Taylor Webb, Missouri Politician
• Timothy James Webb (1967-), Australian artist
• Thomas William Webb (1807–1885), British astronomer
• Travis "Spider" Webb (1910–1990), US Formula One driver
• Watt W. Webb
• Wellington Webb (1941-), US politician
• William Webb (disambiguation)

Education[link]

• Webb Institute, US college
• Gardner-Webb University, a private 4 year college located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina
• The Webb School (disambiguation)

Other uses[link]

• Webb and Knapp, development company
• A house of Adams' Grammar School, Newport, Shropshire

See also[link]

• web (disambiguation)
• Webbe
• Weber
• Webber (disambiguation)

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Mitchell and Webb
Robert Webb and David Mitchell in 2007
Medium	Television, radio, film
Nationality	British
Years active	1995–present
Genres	Sketch comedy Character comedy
Influences	Morecambe and Wise, Monty Python, The Two Ronnies, Fry and Laurie[1]
Notable works and roles	That Mitchell and Webb Look Peep Show
Members	David Mitchell Robert Webb

Mitchell and Webb are a British comedy double act, composed of David Mitchell (born 14 July 1974) and Robert Webb (born 29 September 1972). They are best known for starring in the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show and their award-winning sketch show That Mitchell and Webb Look. The duo first met at the Footlights in 1993 and collaborated for the 1995 Revue whilst studying at Cambridge University.

Works[link]

Television and radio[link]

After graduating from university, the duo did two-man shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and some sketch writing, including a series of Big Train and also for Armstrong and Miller's eponymous show.^[2] Their big break came in 2000 when they joined the writing team for the BBC Two sketch show Bruiser. The following year, the short-lived Play UK channel invited them to write their own sketch show, The Mitchell and Webb Situation. Despite the low ratings of the channel, the show was reasonably well-received by viewers. After the success, they wrote and starred in the Radio 4 sketch show, That Mitchell and Webb Sound – which was later adapted for television on BBC Two as That Mitchell and Webb Look. The first series of That Mitchell and Webb Look won the BAFTA for "Best Comedy Programme" in 2007.

They often appear with Olivia Colman, James Bachman, Mark Evans and Paterson Joseph.

In 2008, the duo wrote a pilot script for their first original sitcom; in Playing Shop, the two star as Eric and Jamie, friends who set up a business together after they are made redundant from their old jobs. Hartswood Films recorded the pilot episode on 20 December, with a view to producing a full series for BBC Two.^[3] Although approved by BBC, plans for future episodes fell through as Mitchell and Webb decided not to proceed with it.

Mitchell and Webb collaborated with Armstrong and Miller again for the 2009 Red Nose Day fundraising event. They co-wrote and starred in two short sketches incorporating Armstrong and Miller's iconic World War II airmen characters from The Armstrong and Miller Show and their characters Sir Digby and Ginger from their radio show That Mitchell and Webb Sound.

Other[link]

Mitchell and Webb have also appeared in the short-lived U.K. regional versions of the 'Get a Mac' advertisements for Apple.

They also voiced a pair of peas on the Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway sponsorship adverts for Birds Eye.

Magicians, a film starring the pair was released on 18 May 2007.^[4]

They have also released the book This Mitchell and Webb Book.

References[link]

This biographical article related to British television is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (July 2009)

Graham Norton
Norton in May 2010
Birth name	Graham William Walker
Born	(1963-04-04) 4 April 1963 (age 49) Clondalkin, Dublin, Ireland
Medium	Television, radio, stand-up
Nationality	Irish
Years active	1992–present
Genres	Observational comedy
Subject(s)	Everyday life, pop culture, current events, celebrities, sex
Notable works and roles	So Graham Norton V Graham Norton The Graham Norton Effect Graham Norton's Bigger Picture The Graham Norton Show

Graham William Walker, known by his stage name Graham Norton, (born 4 April 1963)^[1] is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist. He is the host of comedy chat programme The Graham Norton Show on BBC One in the UK and BBC America in the US. Hot Press has described him as "the 21st century's answer to Terry Wogan", with both men sharing an Irish background and the common link of being a BBC Radio 2 presenter and the BBC television commentator of the Eurovision Song Contest.^[2] Norton has won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Entertainment Performance on five occassions.

Early life and career[link]

Norton was born in Clondalkin, a suburb of Dublin, but grew up in Bandon, County Cork, Ireland to a Protestant family. He was educated at Bandon Grammar School, in County Cork and then University College Cork but did not complete his studies.

In 1992 his stand-up comedy drag act in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as a tea-towel clad Mother Teresa of Calcutta made the press when Scottish Television's religious affairs department mistakenly thought he represented the real Mother Teresa.^[3]

His first appearances in broadcasting were in his spot as a regular comedian and panellist on the BBC Radio 4 show Loose Ends, when the show ran on Saturday mornings, in the early 1990s. His rise to fame began as one of the early successes of Channel 5, when he won an award for his performance as the stand-in host of a late-night TV talk show usually presented by Jack Docherty.^[4][5] This was followed by a comic quiz show on Channel 5 called Bring Me the Head of Light Entertainment, which was not well received as a programme, but did further enhance Norton's individual reputation as a comic and TV host. In 1996, Norton co-hosted the late-night quiz show Carnal Knowledge on ITV with Maria McErlane.

In 1996, Norton played the part of Father Noel Furlong in three episodes ("Hell", "Flight Into Terror", "The Mainland") of the Channel 4 series Father Ted. Father Noel Furlong was often seen taking charge of a small youth folk-group.

Channel 4[link]

After this early success, Norton moved to Channel 4 to host his own chat shows including So Graham Norton and V Graham Norton. As a performer who is not only openly gay,^[6] but also camp and flamboyant, it was here that Norton's act was fully honed as a cheeky, innuendo-laden joker.

In 2003, he was the subject of controversy when, on his show on Channel 4, he made a comedic reference to the recent death of Bee Gees singer Maurice Gibb. The Independent Television Commission investigated after complaints about this insensitivity were forwarded to it and eventually Channel 4 had to make two apologies: one in the form of a caption slide before the show, another from Norton in person.

Also in 2003, he was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy. (Though Norton is Irish, the bulk of his television career has been in the UK.)

In the summer of 2004, Norton moved across the Atlantic to start a new venture in American television. The Graham Norton Effect debuted on 24 June 2004 on Comedy Central, and was also broadcast in the UK on BBC Three. In the midst of controversy surrounding Janet Jackson's Super Bowl performance, Norton was wary of moving into the market.^[7]

BBC[link]

Norton at 2009 BAFTA awards

In 2005, Norton moved to the BBC and began hosting the Saturday evening reality TV series Strictly Dance Fever on BBC One, as well as a new comedy chat show, Graham Norton's Bigger Picture. He also read stories some nights on the BBC children's channel CBeebies as part of Bedtime Hour.

In 2006, Norton hosted the BBC One series How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? in which Andrew Lloyd Webber tried to find a lead actress for his West End version of The Sound of Music. Norton has subsequently presented the 3 follow-up series: Any Dream Will Do in 2007, in which a group of males competed to win the role of Joseph in the West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; I'd Do Anything in 2008, in which Andrew Lloyd Webber seeks to find the part of Nancy and Oliver for Sir Cameron Mackintosh's production of Lionel Bart's Oliver!; and Over the Rainbow in 2010, following a similar format to find a new Dorothy for a Wizard of Oz West end Production.

Norton hosted various other shows for the BBC during this time, including When Will I Be Famous? (2007), The One and Only (2008) and Totally Saturday (2009). Since 2007, Norton has also been a regular host of The British Academy Television Awards. On 7 July 2007, Norton presented at Live Earth and undertook a trip to Ethiopia with the Born Free Foundation to highlight the plight of the Ethiopian wolf – the rarest canid in the world. In the same year, he was the subject of an episode of the BBC1 genealogy documentary Who Do You Think You Are?.

Norton's chat show, The Graham Norton Show, began on 22 February 2007 on BBC Two. Although in a format that he had not been involved in for 4 years, it is very similar to his previous Channel 4 shows. On 6 October 2009, the show moved to BBC One, in a new one-hour format.

In May 2010, he stood in for Chris Evans' breakfast show on BBC Radio 2. Later that month, it was confirmed that he would be replacing Jonathan Ross's Saturday morning slot on the same station.

In December 2011, the panel show Would You Rather...? with Graham Norton premiered on BBC America in the time slot immediately following The Graham Norton Show. Recorded in New York, it is one of BBC America's earliest efforts at producing original programming, and is also the first panel game the channel has shown, either of British or American origin.

In January 2012, he called on listeners to his Radio 2 show to help find his car hours after it was stolen. He called it "The Great Car Hunt" and told listeners to “Keep your eyes out for it. It was filthy by the way."

Eurovision[link]

Norton with Josh Dubovie at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010

Norton hosted the first annual Eurovision Dance Contest alongside Claudia Winkleman which was held on 1 September 2007 in London, England. The format was based on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing and the EBU's Eurovision Song Contest. Norton and Winkleman also hosted the 2008 Contest in Glasgow, Scotland.

In October 2008, it was confirmed by the BBC that Norton would replace Terry Wogan as the BBC's presenter for the UK heats of the Eurovision Song Contest, in a show to be called Your Country Needs You.

On 5 December 2008 it was announced that Norton would also take over from Wogan as the presenter of the main Eurovision Song Contest.^[8] The 54th Eurovision Song Contest was held in the Olimpiyskiy (Olympic) Stadium, Moscow on 16 May 2009.

Norton's jokes during his debut received some positive reviews from the British media. The Guardian noted his comments on Iceland's entry, which finished in second place, had "rooted around in a cupboard and found an old bridesmaid dress from 1987" and the Armenian singers, who finished in tenth place, were sporting traditional dress, "which would be true if you come from the village where Liberace is the mayor."^[9] The Times noted his highlighting of the arrest of thirty gay rights protesters in Moscow – "heavy-handed policing has really marred what has been a fantastic Eurovision."^[9]

His comment “The bad news is you’re about to watch Albania. She’s only 17 so please bear that in mind. Where was her mother? Why didn’t she step in and say no?” which was made just before Albanian singer Kejsi Tola was set to take the stage dubbed an insult by many, sent ripples of outrage through not only Albania, but also the Albanian population in Britain. He then announced that Albania should get no points and that he didn't care what anybody else thought. There was a petition circling the net calling for a formal apology from Norton. The petition, which called his comment “very rude and insulting,” had drawn over 1,000 signatures. He never responded.^[10]

In 2011, he snarked that if Jedward's entry into the competition that year won, the twins would never sleep again. In the end, they were eighth. Earlier in that year's televote, he joked "Quick, someone take a picture", when The British entry that year went temporarily in the lead early on after high votes from Russia(4), Bulgaria(12) and Italy(10). In the end, the song dropped down the 11th, earning 100 points. Very annoyed, Norton claimed 'We were better than Jedward'.

In 2012, Norton joked about the Spanish singer Pastora Soler and the economic situation of Spain. This statements unleashed many bad reviews on the internet. Norton joked about Rona Nishliu (the singer of Albania) too. He said that Rona was a singer that "she shout a lot".

Other[link]

In July 2000 Graham was one of three judges of the Miss Lesbian Beauty Contest 2000 held at The Talk of London, Drury Lane. The contest was won by 42 year old Carol Hutchins who wowed the audience with her sit-down comedy routine from a wheelchair. Graham described Carol as a "very bright, funny lady."

Graham Norton played Mr. Puckov in the 2006 American comedy spoof film Another Gay Movie. In 2007, Norton played Taylor in the romantic comedy film I Could Never Be Your Woman.

Norton was involved in a high-publicity advertising campaign for the UK National Lottery as an animated unicorn, the stooge to a character based on Lady Luck (played by Fay Ripley). He has also advertised McVitie's biscuits.

In 2007, Norton featured in Girls Aloud and Sugababes' Comic Relief video for the single "Walk This Way."

In January 2009, Norton made his West End stage debut in a revival of La Cage Aux Folles at the Playhouse Theatre.

Since 2009, Norton has been the host of the comedy game-show Most Popular on US cable television channel WE tv.^[11]

Norton currently writes an advice column in The Daily Telegraph newspaper. In October 2010, these columns were made into a book entitled Ask Graham, published by John Blake Publishing.

Personal life[link]

Norton with a dog in 2006, supporting Crusaid.

Norton has stated that he felt "out of place" growing up in Ireland; his family are Protestant yet the Republic of Ireland is overwhelmingly Catholic. Norton took part in the TV programme, Who Do You Think You Are?, to trace his ancestry. It was discovered that his family were originally planters sent over from England to take over Irish land. Some members of his family had fought for the British Monarchy during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and taken part in a massacre of Catholics in Carnew Castle. Another member of his family was later killed in battle by the United Irishmen. Norton said he was comforted to find out that his family had resided in Ireland for generations.^[12]

In 1989 while living in London, Norton was mugged, beaten and stabbed by a group of attackers on the street. He says he lost half his blood and nearly died, and he was hospitalised for two and a half weeks.^[13][14]

Norton is openly gay.^[6][15][16]

Norton owns a holiday home in Ahakista, County Cork, which is near to where he grew up, in Bandon. The house has a private beach and overlooks Dunmanus Bay.

TV appearances[link]

Main presenting credits[link]

• Carnal Knowledge (TV series, co-presenter) (1996, 27 one hour shows)
• Bring Me the Head of Light Entertainment
• So Graham Norton (1998–2002)
• V Graham Norton (2002–2003)
• NY Graham Norton (2004)
• The Graham Norton Effect (2004–2005)
• Graham Norton's Bigger Picture (2005–2006)
• Strictly Dance Fever (2005–2006)
• BBC/Andrew Lloyd Webber musical theater talent searches (2006–present)
  • How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? (2006)
  • Any Dream Will Do (2007)
  • I'd Do Anything (2008)
  • Over the Rainbow (2010)
• The Big Finish (2006–)
• When Will I Be Famous? (2007)
• The Graham Norton Show (2007–present)
• The British Academy Television Awards (2007)
• Live Earth (2007)
• Eurovision Dance Contest (2007)
• The One and Only (2008)
• Eurovision Dance Contest (2008)
• Eurovision: Your Country Needs You (2009–present)
• Eurovision Song Contest (UK commentator, 2009–present)
• Totally Saturday (2009)
• Most Popular (2009–present)
• Would You Rather...? with Graham Norton (BBC America, 2011–present)

Other television credits[link]

Radio[link]

• Just a Minute

Sitting in for Steve Wright August 2009 BBC Radio 2

Sitting in for Chris Evans May /July 2010 BBC Radio 2

On 2 October 2010, he began his weekly BBC Radio 2 Saturday show taking over from Jonathan Ross. The show airs from 10.00am-1.00pm and combines a mixture of music, chat and celebrity guests.

2011/12 Radio 2 Saturday mornings

Filmography[link]

Stand-Up videos[link]

• Live At The Roundhouse (19 November 2001)

Awards[link]

• 1999 : Gaytime Award for Gay Entertainer of the Year
• 2000 : BAFTA Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance – So Graham Norton
• 2001 : BAFTA Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance - So Graham Norton
• 2001 : RTS Television Award for Best Presenter – So Graham Norton
• 2001 : TRIC Award TV Personality of the Year
• 2002 : BAFTA Television Award for Best Entertainment Perfromance - So Graham Norton
• 2011 : BAFTA Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance – The Graham Norton Show ^[17]
• 2012 : BAFTA Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance - The Graham Norton Show

References[link]

External links[link]

• Graham Norton Radio 2 at BBC Programmes
• The Graham Norton Show at BBC Programmes
• Graham Norton at the Internet Movie Database
• Graham Norton at the British Film Institute's Screenonline

Brent Musburger
(2007)
Born	(1939-05-26) May 26, 1939 (age 73) Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Residence	Jupiter, Florida
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Northwestern University
Occupation	Sportscaster
Home town	Billings, Montana (raised), Chicago, Illinois
Spouse	Arlene Clare Sander (1963–present)
Children	Blake Musburger, Scott Musburger
Parents	Cec Musburger, Beryl Musburger
Family	Todd Musburger (brother)

Brent Woody Musburger (pronounced /ˈmʌsbɜrɡər/; born May 26, 1939) is an American sportscaster for the ESPN and ABC television networks. Formerly with CBS Sports and one of the original members of their legendary program The NFL Today, Musburger has covered NASCAR, NBA, MLB, and NCAA football and basketball games. Musburger has also served as a studio host for games, a play-by-play man, and halftime host. He has also performed post game wrap up segments and covered championship trophy presentations. He is a member of the Montana Broadcaster's Association Hall of Fame.^[1]

Early life and career[link]

Born in Portland, Oregon, Musburger was raised in Billings, Montana by parents Cec and Beryl.^[2] He was an umpire for minor league baseball during the 1950s. He was also a boyhood friend of former Major League pitcher Dave McNally. His brother, Todd Musburger, is prominent sports agent. When he was an adult he built a log cabin in Big Timber, Montana.^[2]

Musburger's youth included some brushes with trouble: when he was 12, he and his brother stole a car belonging to their mother's cleaning lady and took it for joy ride. His parents sent him to the Shattuck Military Academy in Faribault, Minnesota.^[2] Educated at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, he was kicked out for a year for owning and operating a car without a license.^[2]

Musburger began his career as a sportswriter for the now-defunct Chicago American newspaper. In his column in that paper, Musburger referred to Tommie Smith and John Carlos as "black-skinned storm troopers" for their protest of racial injustice in the United States with a Black Power salute on the medal stand during the 1968 Summer Olympics. Decades later, Musburger granted that his words, which likened Smith and Carlos to Nazis, were "harsh", but he stood by his criticism of the pair's action:

Did [Smith and Carlos' action] improve anything?... Smith and Carlos aside, I object to using the Olympic awards stand to make a political statement.

In 1968 Musburger began a 22-year association with CBS, first as a sports anchor for WBBM radio and later for WBBM-TV. In the mid-1970s Musburger moved to Los Angeles and anchored news and sports for KNXT (now KCBS-TV); there he worked alongside Connie Chung as a co-anchor on KNXT's evening newscasts from 1978 until 1980, when he joined CBS Sports full-time.

CBS Sports[link]

Beginning in late 1973, Musburger was doing play-by-play for CBS Sports. He started out doing regular season National Football League games (future The NFL Today co-host Irv Cross was also doing NFL games at that time as well). Musburger was paired with Tommy Mason or Bart Starr, who provided the color commentary. A year later, Wayne Walker would be paired with Musburger in the booth.

By 1975, at CBS, Musburger went from doing the NFL play-by-play (and other items, mostly on CBS' Sports Saturday/Sunday programs) to rise to prominence as the host of the network's National Football League studio show, The NFL Today. Suddenly, Musburger began to cover many assignments for CBS Sports. Among the other events he covered, either as studio host or play-by-play announcer, were college football and basketball, the National Basketball Association, horse racing, the U.S. Open (tennis) tournament, and The Masters golf tournament. He would even lend his talents to weekend afternoon fare such as The World's Strongest Man contests and the like. Musburger also called Major League Baseball games for CBS Radio.

[edit] The NFL Today

But it was Musburger's association with The NFL Today that made him famous. During his tenure, the CBS' NFL pregame show was consistently the #1 rated pregame show. One of the signatures of the program was Musburger's show-opening teases to the various games CBS would cover, along with live images from the various stadiums. Musburger's accompanying intro to each visual, "You are looking live at..." became one of his catch phrases.

Musburger made headlines when he got into a fist-fight with The NFL Today's betting analyst Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder in a Manhattan bar on October 27, 1980. Only two years earlier, the two had co-announced the 1978 World Series of Poker. However, the fist-fight incident was quickly regarded as water under the bridge as the two cheerfully appeared on The NFL Today the following week wearing boxing gloves on camera.

CBS departure[link]

By the late 1980s, Musburger was CBS's top sportscaster. He was the main host and play-by-play announcer for the NBA Finals, college basketball, college football, the Belmont Stakes, and the College World Series. He also hosted a New Year's Eve countdown for CBS. Musburger is regarded as the first broadcaster to apply the term March Madness to the annual NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship tournament.^{[citation needed]}

Early in 1990, CBS underwent a significant management change. During the early morning hours of April 1, 1990, Musburger was fired from CBS. His final assignment for CBS came the following evening, doing play-by-play for the 1990 NCAA men's basketball final, which was Duke versus UNLV. When the game was completed, Musburger thanked the audience and CBS Sports, and the analysts that he had worked with through the years like Billy Packer, who was standing next to him.

At the time of his firing Musburger had been set to handle play-by-play duties for CBS's television coverage of Major League Baseball later that month; he was replaced by Jack Buck in that capacity. His position at The NFL Today was filled by Greg Gumbel. His position as the lead play-by-play announcer for college basketball was filled by Jim Nantz.

ABC Sports and ESPN[link]

Following his dismissal from CBS, Musburger considered several offers – including one to return to Chicago and work at WGN-TV. Musburger settled at ABC. With Al Michaels entrenched as ABC's top broadcaster, Musburger focused on as college football and basketball. After his hiring, ABC's merger with ESPN under the Disney umbrella alllowed him^[3] to work on ESPN and ABC Sports divisions in 2006, including Major League Baseball, NBA games, ESPN Radio, golf tournaments, horse racing, the Indianapolis 500, Little League World Series, soccer games, college football, and even some NFL games (including hosting halftime duties for Monday Night Football and Wild Card round games).

Musburger's college football duties included calling two BCS championship games, the 2000 Sugar Bowl and the 2004 Sugar Bowl. He also announced the 2010 BCS National Championship Game for ABC in January 2010 as well as the 2011 BCS National Championship Game for ESPN. Musburger has also covered the Tour de France for ABC.

Brent Musburger departs the College GameDay bus in Austin, Texas

Starting in 2006, Musburger called ABC Sports' college football prime time series, along with analysts Bob Davie and Kirk Herbstreit. Musburger called the 2007 Rose Bowl, taking over for the recently retired Keith Jackson. He also called some games on ESPN.

After Al Michaels was hired by NBC in February 2006, Musburger became the face of ABC Sports/ESPN on ABC. He was the main studio host during ABC's coverage of the 2006 World Cup and the 1998 World Cup, and was also the studio host for ESPN and ABC's NASCAR coverage.

In 2010, Musburger voiced his support for a college football playoff in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times.^[4]

Controversy[link]

On September 17, 2005, after broadcasting the Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Pittsburgh Panthers, Musburger was cited for an open container in a motor vehicle.^[5]

On September 18, 2006, University of Southern California Sports Information Director Tim Tessalone sent a letter to ESPN, complaining that Musburger revealed privileged information during his broadcast of the September 16, 2006, NCAA football game, in which the USC Trojans hosted the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Musburger disclosed that he had learned a signal used by Trojans quarterback John David Booty in a pre-game conversation with the quarterback. USC claimed this information was for private purposes only. Tessalone said "I've never seen such an egregious breach of trust. Brent is not a rookie at this, and he should know better." ESPN and Musburger released separate statements, saying they regretted the confusion. Musburger also appeared on ESPN Radio's Dan Patrick Show, saying that there was never an intention of putting team secrets on the air.^[6]

On October 5, 2010, Musburger told a class of college journalism students at the University of Montana that professional athletes under a doctor's supervision could potentially use steroids to improve performance. He said that steroid use should have no place in high school athletics.^[7]

Style[link]

Musburger has a down-home manner of speaking, often addressing his viewers as "folks". In a Sports Illustrated profile done on Musburger in January 1984, he stressed his hesitance to "pontificate" during his broadcasts. CNN Sports Illustrated's Stewart Mandel selected him as the second-best college football announcer, behind Ron Franklin. Mandel said of Musburger, "His voice will always be associated with some of the sports' most memorable modern moments."

Other media[link]

Musberger has made cameo appreances in The Waterboy and Cars 2. He appeared as himself in the episode "Lying Around" on the ABC sitcom Happy Endings.^[8]

Career timeline[link]

• 1973–1975: NFL on CBS play-by-play
• 1975–1980: NBA on CBS lead play-by-play
• 1975–1989: The NFL Today studio host^[9]
• 1981–1984: College Basketball on CBS studio host
• 1982–1988: NCAA Football on CBS play-by-play
• 1983–1988: The Masters Studio Host^[10]
• 1984: World Series commentator for CBS Radio Network
• 1985–1990: College Basketball on CBS lead play-by-play
• 1990–1996: Monday Night Football studio host ^[10]
• 1990–present: College Football on ABC Play-by-Play^[10]
• 1990–present: College Basketball on ABC
• 1991–1992, 1997–1998, 2000–present: Little League World Series Play-by-Play^[11]
• 1994–1995: Baseball Night in America #2 play-by-play for ABC
• 1996–2004: NBA Finals play-by-play for ESPN Radio
• 1998, 2006: World Cup studio host
• 2000, 2004, 2010–present: BCS National Championship Game play-by-play (television)
• 2002–2006: NBA on ESPN and NBA on ABC play-by-play
• 2007: NASCAR on ABC studio host^[12]
• 2005–present: Indianapolis 500 studio host
• 2006–present: Saturday Night Football play-by-play
• 2007–2009: BCS National Championship Game play-by-play (ESPN Radio)
• 2007–present: Rose Bowl play-by-play

References[link]

Notes

Bibliography

• Sandomir, Richard "TV Sports: Now on Film: Raised Fists And the Yogi Love Letters", New York Times, 6 Aug. 1999

External links[link]

• ESPN profile
• Brent Musburger at the Internet Movie Database