Color commentator
Encyclopedia : C : CO : COL : Color commentator
A color (or colour) commentator, sometimes known as a color analyst, is a member of the broadcasting team for a sporting event who assists the play-by-play announcer by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color commentator provides expert analysis and background information, such as statistics, strategy and injury reports, on the teams and athletes, and occasionally light humor. Color commentators are usually people who used to play and/or coach the sport that they broadcast.
In the United Kingdom the terminology is different: a play-by-play announcer is called a commentator. The role of color commentator is not so clearly defined, but the term summariser is sometimes used and former players often appear as pundits, filling a similar role. In Germany, most soccer matches feature just a single play-by-play announcer, without a color commentator.
Examples of the more well-known color commentators in their respective sports include:
Baseball- Bert Blyleven
- Danny Gladden
- Al Leiter
- Steve Lyons
- Tim McCarver
- Joe Morgan
- Jim Palmer
- Lou Piniella
- Bob Brenly
- Jerry Remy (Boston Red Sox games for NESN)
- Hubie Brown
- Doug Collins
- Mike Fratello
- Tommy Heinsohn (Boston Celtics games for Fox Sports Net)
- Steve "Snapper" Jones
- Steve Kerr
- Billy Packer
- Dick Vitale
- Bill Walton
- Marilyn Bodogh
- Don Duguid
- Mike Harris
- Ed Lukowich
- Joan McCusker
- Linda Moore
- Ray Turnbull
- World Wrestling Entertainment
- * Jonathan Coachman
- * Bill DeMott
- * Bobby Heenan (also worked with World Championship Wrestling (WCW))
- * Jerry Lawler
- * Josh Matthews
- * Ernest Miller
- * Mr. Perfect
- * Roddy Piper
- * Johnny Polo
- * Marcelo Rodriguez
- * Randy Savage
- * Hugo Savinovich
- * Al Snow
- * Tazz
- * Paul Heyman
- *John Layfield
- * Jesse Ventura (also worked with World Championship Wrestling (WCW))
- World Championship Wrestling
- * Scott Hudson
- * Dusty Rhodes
- * Stevie Ray
- * Larry Zbyszko
- Extreme Championship Wrestling
- * Rick Rude
- * Cyrus the Virus
- * Joel Gertner
- Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)
- * Don West
Non-sports Color Commentators
In the United States, the term "color analyst" is used far more frequently than "color commentator" though they both have about the same meaning. The job of the color analyst has spread beyond sports broadcasting to any area involving a live broadcast (often for extended periods, as during an emergency) for which additional on-air expertise and commentary is appropriate and/or necessary. So, color analyst or color commentators are now often seen during broadcast of political debates, and on the evening news while airing reports of medical, technological, or business news topics. Many local television stations now keep medical doctors, lawyers, stock brokers, and economists on staff to appear on the air and provide commentary or reporting at appropriate times.Of particular note, during the continuous broadcasts during the Persian Gulf Wars, each network employed former high-ranking military officers and commanders, and military analyst as color commentators. Some of the notable color commentators appear on these broadcast were General Al Gray (Ret.), former Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, and Col. Harry Summers, noted military analyst. During the Space Shuttle disasters, the networks appropriately employed former astronauts, NASA engineers, and former operations directors to provide color commentary.
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.