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)





[11/25/24 - 12:30 PM]
"The Curious Case of Natalia Grace" Returns This January for the Final Chapter
"The Final Chapter" offers a conclusion to Natalia's story as she strives for healing and resolution in her tumultuous journey filled with decades of unexpected twists and turns.

[11/25/24 - 12:00 PM]
Matthew Broderick and Son James Wilkie Broderick to Guest Star on CBS' "Elsbeth" in 2025
This will be the first time the father and son share the screen together.

[11/25/24 - 11:00 AM]
Peacock's "Richard Ramirez: The Night Stalker Tapes" Exposes the Troubled Man Behind the Dark Myth Through Firsthand Recordings and Accounts from Some of the Women Who Knew Him Best
Collected from more than 25 hours of audio recordings - most of which have never been heard before - and including revealing interviews with his family, friends and wife, the series explores the dark forces that led Ramirez to become the infamous Night Stalker.

[11/25/24 - 10:32 AM]
Video: Tom Hanks Narrates an Extraordinary Journey - "The Americas" - NBC
Narrated by Academy Award winner Tom Hanks comes the extraordinary journey of Earth's great supercontinent.

[11/25/24 - 10:30 AM]
Epic Landmark Natural History Series "Asia" Set to Premiere Saturday, January 25 on BBC America and AMC+
Presented by renowned naturalist and three-time Emmy Award-winner Sir David Attenborough, the cinematic series explores each corner of this remarkable part of our planet and journeys through Asia's most stunning landscapes, uncovering stories of extraordinary unseen animal behavior.

[11/25/24 - 10:20 AM]
AMC Networks' Launches Inaugural "Celebrating Indigenous Stories" Collection on AMC+
Also included in the special collection, and as part of the company's "Future of Film" initiative, which partners with indie film festivals that feature emerging talent from historically excluded communities, is the company's first-ever "Indigenous Rising Stars" collection.

[11/25/24 - 09:02 AM]
MTV's "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" Rings in the New Year with All-New Episodes Starting Tuesday, January 7 at 8PM ET/PT
MTV today announced the return of the popular docuseries, bringing viewers more drama, music, and the personal stories that keep fans hooked.

[11/25/24 - 09:00 AM]
Final Season of "Blue Bloods" to Conclude on Friday, Dec. 13 with Two Remaining Episodes
Amanda Kloots and Edward James Olmos will guest star in the final installments.

[11/25/24 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases the First-Look Teaser for "Beast Games" Competition Series
The series is set to debut weekly on Thursday, December 19 on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[11/25/24 - 08:00 AM]
Legendary Artist, Actor, Producer, Author and Entrepreneur Queen Latifah to Host "The 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors" to Be Broadcast Sunday, Dec. 22 on CBS
The Kennedy Center Honors recognizes and celebrates individuals whose unique contributions have shaped the way we see ourselves, each other and our world.

[11/25/24 - 07:16 AM]
Stream Max Today for 70% Off
This limited time deal is available now through Monday, December 2 for both new and returning subscribers on Max.com, Apple, Google Play, Roku, Samsung, and Xumo, and for new Max customers only on Amazon Fire TV.

[11/25/24 - 07:05 AM]
2024 Billboard Music Awards to Air on December 12 in First-of-Its-Kind Multi-Platform Viewing Experience Across FOX, Paramount+ and Amazon's Fire TV Channels
Hosted by actress and comedian Michelle Buteau, the 2024 BBMAs presented by Marriott Bonvoy airs on Thursday, December 12 at 8:00pm ET/PT on FOX and Fire TV Channels, and on-demand on Paramount+, with performances also rolling out across Billboard.com, and via BBMAs and Billboard social channels.

[11/25/24 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Missing You" - Official Trailer - Netflix
What would you do if your ex disappeared and came back into your life after 11 years? Your next Harlan Coben New Year's Day watch is almost here.

[11/25/24 - 07:01 AM]
5&2 Studios Announces Theatrical Debut of "The Chosen: Last Supper" (Season 5) on March 27, 2025 and Unveils First Look Trailer
Later in 2025, the season will make its streaming debut.

[11/25/24 - 06:59 AM]
Richard Gadd and Jamie Bell to Star in New BBC Drama "Half Man"
The series, previously known as "Lions," is created by Mam Tor Productions for the BBC and BBC Scotland in a co-production with HBO, which will air the series in the US.