Behind The Mic: NBCUniversal Announce Over 150 Commentators and Analysts for 2024 Paris Olympics
Story Highlights
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, including new deals, departures, and assignments compiled from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week’s edition, Colin Jost of Saturday Night to join NBCUniversal’s Olympic Coverage of surfing in Tahiti, ESPN secures John Isner and Nick Kyrgios as guest commentators for the 2024 The Championships, Wimbledon; and more.
ESPN Guest Commentators for the 2024 The Championships, Wimbledon: Tennis Legend John Isner in ESPN Debut, Nick Kyrgios Returns
The historic Championships at Wimbledon are set to commence on ESPN on Monday, July 1, with comprehensive two-week coverage as ESPN welcomes two giants of the game to the commentary booth: John Isner and Nick Kyrgios.
US tennis ace John Isner, who retired following last year’s U.S. Open, will join the ESPN tennis on-air team July 1-7, from the first round to round of 16 coverage.
Isner won 16 ATP Singles titles and reached a career-high ranking as world No. 8 in singles in 2018. He’s renowned for his powerful serve and for standing as the third-tallest player on the ATP tour. One of his most famous moments came in 2010 when he competed in the longest tennis match in recorded history against Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon. The epic encounter spanned 11 hours and 5 minutes over three days, ultimately resulting in a victory for Isner. In 2018, he was again at the center of a marathon match at Wimbledon, this time in the second-longest match.
Nick Kyrgios, who made his on-air debut with ESPN during the 2024 Australian Open and captivated tennis fans immediately with his candid and unpredictable banter, returns to the ESPN booth for both weeks (July 1-14). Known for his powerful serve, exceptional shot-making ability, and unorthodox playing style, Kyrgioshas scored seven singles titles and four doubles titles throughout his career. Notably, Kyrgios is one of the few players to defeat the Big Three (Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal) at least once.
“We are thrilled John and Nick are joining us in London. John is well-known at Wimbledon, especially for his two historic matches and Nick’s on-air work this past January was a resounding success with fans,” says Mark Gross, ESPN senior vice president of production and remote events. “Their experience facing some of these players performing on grass makes them uniquely able to add candid and valuable insights to our 2024 Wimbledon coverage.”
“I am thrilled to be joining the ESPN team to cover such an amazing event,” says Isner. “I can’t wait to see what the week brings from the booth.”
“Commenting for ESPN at Wimbledon this year is a huge honor. I’ve had great matches on the court in the past, and I can’t wait to be on the other side, teaming up with ESPN to break down matches on those legendary grass courts,” says Kyrgios. “Looking forward to giving fans a fresh take on the game!”
ESPN will bring tennis fans in North America every match from every round of The Championships, Wimbledon. Exclusive tournament coverage begins in the U.S. on Monday, July 1 at 6 a.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+. Live coverage across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ will include all matches from all 18 courts, with every match in its entirety streaming live on ESPN+. Comprehensive coverage will culminate with the Women’s and Men’s Championships on July 13 and 14, respectively, at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+.
Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost to Cover Surfing Competition in Tahiti as Part of NBCUniversal’s Coverage of Olympic Games Paris 2024
More Than 150 Commentators Join NBCUniversal’s Coverage of the Olympic Games Paris 2024
- Mike Tirico serves as NBC Olympics’ primetime host for the fourth time. Daytime hosts on NBC and Peacock include Rebecca Lowe, Craig Melvin, Ahmed Fareed, and Damon Hack. Maria Taylor hosts Late Night coverage on NBC and Peacock, marking her third Olympic assignment
- Among the Olympians on Team NBC: Four-time U.S. Olympic track & field gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross, four-time Trinidad and Tobago Olympic track & field medalist Ato Boldon, two-time U.S. Olympic gymnastics medalist Tim Daggett, three-time U.S. Olympic swimming gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, two-time Olympic swimming medalist Elizabeth Beisel, two-time U.S. Olympic women’s soccer gold medalist Julie Foudy, 2008 Beijing Olympic basketball gold medalist Dwyane Wade, 1984 U.S. Olympic volleyball gold medalists Paul Sunderland and Chris Marlowe, 2012 Olympic wrestling gold medalist Jordan Burroughs, three-time Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist Misty May-Treanor, U.S. Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist Dain Blanton, U.S. Olympic equestrian gold medalist Melanie Smith-Taylor, U.S. Olympic artistic swimming gold medalist Heather Olson, six-time Olympic swimming gold medalist Amy Van Dyken, 1998 U.S. Olympic figure skating gold medalist Tara Lipinski, two-time U.S. Olympian in figure skating Johnny Weir, and Michael Phelps, who has won more total Olympic medals (28) and gold medals (23) than anyone in history. Analysts making their NBC Olympics debut include Connor Fields (BMX Racing) and Abby Gustaitis (Rugby), who each represented Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Mallory Weggeman, five-time Paralympic swimming medalist, will soon attempt to qualify to represent Team USA at the Paris Paralympics.
- MIKE TIRICO: Tirico works his fifth Olympics, serving as NBC’s primetime host for the fourth time. In Paris, he hosts his fourth Opening Ceremony, third Closing Ceremony, and will also serve as a daytime host. He hosted primetime coverage of the 2022 Beijing Olympics, the Tokyo Olympics, and the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. He also served as a daytime host on Copacabana Beach at the 2016 Rio Olympics and anchored late-night coverage in PyeongChang.
- MARIA TAYLOR: Taylor, who handles her third Olympic assignment, will host the Late Night show on NBC from different venues and hot spots throughout Paris. The Late Night show will begin following local news in all time zones. Taylor, who served as a host at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, will also report live from Team USA’s boat as it makes its way down the River Seine during NBCU’s coverage of the Opening Ceremony.
- REBECCA LOWE: Lowe handles her sixth consecutive daytime hosting assignment – beginning with the 2014 Sochi Olympics on NBCSN, followed by NBC and NBCSN for the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, and most recently on NBC for the Tokyo Olympics and 2022 Beijing Olympics.
- CRAIG MELVIN: NBC News’ Melvin, hosting daily coverage in Paris on NBC from mid-morning (after TODAY) to early afternoon ET, handles his third NBC Olympics assignment. Previously, he served as NBC’s on-site primetime and Prime Plus host during the middle weekend of the 2022 Beijing Olympics, in addition to being on-site in Beijing for TODAY. He was a reporter for NBC Olympics during the 2016 Rio Olympics. Melvin also worked for NBC News at the Tokyo Olympics and the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.
- AHMED FAREED: Host of the final portion of NBC’s daytime show, while also reporting live from around Paris each day, Fareed will handle his fifth Olympic assignment. Previously, Fareed hosted coverage on USA Network for the 2022 Beijing Olympics and the Tokyo Olympics, and hosted NBCSN coverage during the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and USA Network coverage for the 2016 Rio Olympics. He also served as a host for the last two Paralympic Games.
- DAMON HACK: Hosting daily late afternoon coverage for NBC west coast stations, Hack handles his third Olympic assignment. He previously hosted coverage of the Tokyo Olympics on NBCSN and served as an on-site biathlon reporter at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. He also covered the 2004 Athens Olympics for The New York Times.
- MIKE TIRICO: Tirico will host his fourth Opening Ceremony this summer, alongside Kelly Clarkson and Peyton Manning.
- KELLY CLARKSON: The Emmy Award-winning talk show host and Grammy Award-winning artist makes her NBC Olympics debut as a host alongside Mike Tirico and Peyton Manning. Clarkson, the original American Idol, currently hosts and produces the hourlong The Kelly Clarkson Show, distributed by NBCUniversal Syndication Studios.
- PEYTON MANNNING: The Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback and two-time Super Bowl champion makes his NBC Olympics debut as a host alongside Mike Tirico and Kelly Clarkson. Manning starred in a promotional spot to kick off NBCUniversal’s fall campaign for Paris 2024. Since retiring from the NFL, Manning founded Omaha Productions and has won two Sports Emmy Awards for Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli, an alternative broadcast on ESPN2 that he co-hosts with his brother and former NFL quarterback Eli Manning.
- SAVANNAH GUTHRIE AND HODA KOTB: The TODAY Show hosts and Olympic veterans will be stationed together on a bridge along the route, reporting on the pageantry and excitement as the athletes sail by. During the Games, Guthrie and Kotb will host TODAY from on-location in Paris.
- MARIA TAYLOR: Taylor works her first Opening Ceremony, and will report live from Team USA’s boat as it makes its way down the River Seine.
- MELISSA STARK: In her fourth Olympics assignment with NBCU, Stark works her first Opening Ceremony in Paris, where she will report from the red carpet.
- ANDREA JOYCE: In her 13th Olympics with NBCU (17th overall), Joyce will serve as a reporter during the Opening Ceremony in Paris.
- MIKE TIRICO: Tirico will host his third Closing Ceremony this summer.
- JIMMY FALLON: The Emmy Award-winning host of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon will make his Olympics debut as a commentator this summer in Paris, 10 years after The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon launched during the second week of the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Fallon has contributed to prior NBC Olympics presentations, beginning in Vancouver in 2010, when he performed at the Whistler Mountain skiing venue medals plaza.
- TERRY GANNON, TARA LIPINSKI, AND JOHNNY WEIR: Gannon, Lipinski, and Weir – who called the past three Olympic Winter Games figure skating competitions and NBC Sports’ top skating events – will be calling their fourth Closing Ceremony together after previously served as NBCU’s Closing Ceremony hosts for PyeongChang, Tokyo, and Beijing. Gannon will also call gymnastics in Paris for the second time.
- LINDSAY CZARNIAK (USA NETWORK): Fifth assignment for NBC Olympics, previously serving as a host for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, co-host of the On Her Turf show on Peacock for the Tokyo Olympics, sportsdesk reporter at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and reporter at the 2006 Torino Olympics.
- CAROLYN MANNO (USA NETWORK): Seventh Olympics assignment for NBC Olympics and fifth as a host. Previously, Manno was a CNBC host for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Olympic Channel host for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, an NBCSN host for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and 2016 Rio Olympics, freestyle skiing reporter at 2014 Sochi Olympics, and a multi-event reporter at the 2012 London Olympics. She has served as a sled hockey reporter (2022) and studio host (2021, 2018, 2016 and 2014) for NBC Sports’ Paralympic coverage.
- KATHRYN TAPPEN (USA NETWORK): Sixth NBC Olympics assignment after hosting on USA Network at the Tokyo Olympics, serving as a hockey host for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, and 2014 Sochi Olympics, and as the beach volleyball reporter at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Tappen, who joined NBC Sports in 2014, is the sideline reporter for Big Ten Saturday Night– primetime Big Ten Football on NBC and Peacock.
- CARA BANKS (E!/CNBC): Second Olympics with NBC Sports, previously serving as a host on NBCSN for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Banks joined GOLF Channel in 2015 and serves as host of GOLF Channel’s Golf Central pre- and post-round coverage and Golf Central Live From the Majors.
- LAURA BRITT (E!/CNBC): Making her NBC Olympics debut, Britt has served as host and reporter for NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California since 2018, covering northern California sports including the San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Oakland Athletics.
- TRENNI CASEY (E!/CNBC): Fifth assignment with NBC Olympics, previously serving as a reporter in Sochi, Rio, PyeongChang, and Tokyo. A host and reporter with NBC Sports Boston since 2012, Casey currently hosts Arbella Early Edition weeknights at 6 p.m. ET, featuring discussions with the best voices in Boston sports.
- MALLORY WEGGEMANN (E!/CNBC): A five-time Paralympic swimming medalist, Weggemann will serve as a host for NBCUniversal’s Paris Olympics coverage on CNBC and E!, becoming the first Paralympian to host Olympic coverage for NBCU. This will be Weggemann’s third assignment for NBC Sports and first on the Olympics, following the 2018 PyeongChang and 2022 Beijing Paralympic Games, where she served as a reporter. Later this week in Minneapolis, Weggemann will attempt to qualify for the Paris Paralympic Games.
- MARY CARILLO: Carillo handles her 16th Olympic assignment overall and 13th for NBC in Paris, where she will serve as a reporter and call the tennis competition. She will also serve up a sampling of Parisian and French culture through numerous feature stories that have become synonymous with NBCU’s Olympic coverage. Since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she has introduced the people, culture, and history of the host country and city to the U.S. television audience. A two-time winner of the prestigious Peabody Award, Carillo served as a correspondent for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and was the host and interviewer for a primetime 20-year retrospective documentary on Olympic figure skaters Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. She was late night host and correspondent at the 2012 London Olympics, 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics.
- TINA DIXON: A four-time X Games medalist, Paris marks Dixon’s sixth NBC Olympics assignment after most recently serving as a snowboarding analyst/reporter at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
- SNOOP DOGG: The global megastar – who provided highlights commentary alongside Kevin Hart on Peacock during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 – will be on site in Paris to provide regular reports for Primetime in Paris beginning July 26 on NBC and Peacock. Throughout the Games, Snoop will join the primetime show to provide his unique take on what’s happening in Paris. He’ll explore the city’s iconic landmarks, attend Olympic competitions and events, and visit with the athletes, their friends, and families.
- BECS GENTRY: Making her NBC Olympics debut, Peloton instructor Becs Gentry is a long-distance runner who participated in Great Britain’s Olympic Marathon Trials in 2021. She will provide commentary as a runner in the Marathon Pour Tous, running the same course as the men’s marathon later the same evening.
- LESLIE JONES: Olympics super fan, comedian, and actress, Jones reprises her role from the 2018 PyeongChang and 2016 Rio Olympic Games. She will attend live Olympic events, meet athletes, and spread her enthusiasm for the Olympics across NBC, Peacock, and additional NBCUniversal linear and digital platforms, while also posting on her own social media handles during the coverage in Paris.
- STEVE KORNACKI: NBC News’ and MSNBC’s celebrated national political correspondent, Paris marks Kornacki’s third Olympics with NBCU. He has brought his election-style coverage to NBC Sports’ Football Night in America to break down the NFL playoff picture and has served as an insights analyst on this spring’s horse racing coverage.
- TARA LIPINSKI: Lipinski, a U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Famer who won gold at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, earns her sixth NBC Olympics assignment this summer in Paris. Previously, she served as a figure skating analyst at the 2022 Beijing, 2018 PyeongChang and 2014 Sochi Winter Games, and as a correspondent at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
- MICHAEL PHELPS: Phelps, who has won more total Olympic medals (28) and gold medals (23) than anyone in history, will offer commentary and analysis on the primetime and daytime shows in Paris on NBC and Peacock, and will also join Dan Hicks and Rowdy Gaines in the booth for select swimming competition at París La Défense Arena. He returns to NBCU’s coverage following his role on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
- ADAM RIPPON: Rippon, who won a bronze medal in the figure skating team event at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, will contribute to studio shows across NBCU platforms throughout the Paris Olympics.
- JOHNNY WEIR: Weir, a two-time Olympian and U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Famer, makes his sixth NBC Olympics appearance this summer in Paris. He has served as an NBC Olympics figure skating analyst three times (2022 Beijing, 2018 PyeongChang and 2014 Sochi Winter Games), as well as a correspondent at the Tokyo Olympics and 2016 Rio Olympics.