Bob Costas Joins CNN

Turner Info ^ | 6-8-05

[My Favorite Headache]

New York,NY(AHN)-Bob Costas, one of television’s most accomplished broadcasters and host of HBO’s Costas Now, joins CNN as a substitute host for Larry King Live, it was announced today by CNN/U.S. President Jon Klein.

“We’re thrilled to have one of television’s most outstanding broadcasters joining the CNN roster,” Klein said. “Bob’s quick wit, nimble mind and broad range of interests will engage viewers in the best King tradition.”

“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to sit in for Larry,” Costas said. “I’ve always enjoyed the long-form interview, and Larry’s program is synonymous with that television format.”

Costas joined HBO Sports in February 2001 with the debut of On the Record with Bob Costas, a compelling mix of interviews, commentary and debate. As the show’s host, he has won the Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Studio Host from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for four straight years.

Costas’s other work for HBO Sports includes co-hosting Inside the NFL, cable’s longest-running series, and hosting duties for pay-per-view boxing specials.

A 25-year veteran of NBC Sports, Costas has been a prominent figure in virtually every major sports event for the network, including six Olympics and numerous World Series, Super Bowls and NBA finals.

For six years, he hosted his own highly acclaimed late-night talk show, Later with Bob Costas. Besides garnering 17 Emmy awards, Costas has been honored as “Sportscaster of the Year” by the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association a record eight times.

[soupcon]

OK, now that we've pinned down his political leanings, it's obvious that he's an annoying twerp.

[senateforcaster]

i guess that makes him a fair journalist - the fact that you dont know what side is on makes him perfectly fair.

[Howlin]

[Howlin]

Just another guy who can't get enough of the sound of his own voice....

He'll be in a stiff competition with Aaron Brown.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

[GungaLaGunga]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

[JRjr]

Saw him interview Bob Knight, and he was a disaster. He tried to set up Knight about his antics, and Knight didn't even see the bait. When the interview was over, Costas didn't even get up to shake Knight's hand as he was leaving. He's a little guy, so I guess showing that would have been demeaning to him. Costas is a jerk who I'll not watch anymore, irrespective of where he's broadcasting from or for.

[BigSkyFreeper]

That tells me nothing. If anything, it suggests Costas is more moderate than anything.

[bmwcyle]

Bob is a jerk and he will fit in well.

[martin_fierro]

Ever wonder why you never see Costas and Katie Couric together...?

[jonsie]

What happened to King?

[threeleftsmakearight]

Wow, that picture is telling.
He's literally glowing in the presence of the great one.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

I agree that the picture tells nothing. However, it tells as much as your statements that he supports Bush and praised Reagan.

If you ever listened to Costas for any length of time on his old NBC talk show "Later" you would know what he is... and it ain't a Republican. (Well, maybe a Lincoln Chafee Republican.)

[Purple GOPer]

I don't know what his politics are and I don't think anyone in the public does either, but he is very intelligent and I really like his interviews. I think he believes in the old style of journalism and deliberately keeps his personal beliefs personal.

His style of interviewing is very fawning, however he does believes in letting the interviewee get in trouble for themselves. Read his interview with Michael Moore for an example:

Michael Moore: “What happened to the search for Osama bin Laden?...You don’t think they [the U.S. government] know where he is?”

Bob Costas (astonished): “You think they know where Osama bin Laden is and it’s hands off?”

Moore: “Absolutely, absolutely.”

Costas: “Why?”

Moore: “Because he’s funded by their friends in Saudi Arabia! He’s back living with his sponsors, his benefactors. Do you think that Osama bin Laden planned 9-11 from a cave in Afghanistan? I can’t get a cell signal from here to Queens! I mean, come on, let’s get real about this. The guy has been on dialysis for two years. He’s got failing kidneys....I think the United States, I think our government knows where he is and I don’t think we’re going to be capturing him or killing him any time soon.”

[Sprite518]

I believe it was about the McNabb comments. Rush just ran all over Bob Costas

[The Citizen Soldier]

I don't think Bob will be able to fill Larry's diapers.

Hmmmmm ....depends.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Like I said, he's more of a moderate than anything else. His praise for Reagan, and on-air bodyslamming of Couric tells me he's not a token Liberal. Most in the media were giddy when Reagan died.

[GSWarrior]

Sounds like a good hire to me...they could have done a lot worse.

[LibertarianInExile]