Dan Patrick's Q-rating must have skyrocketed today after several reputable news sources, not just ESPN.com, CNNSI.com and this blog, reported his departure from ESPN Radio. The speculation that he is actually interested in The Price Is Right seems to have been rekindled. There is an excellent fit between Patrick and TPIR, as Patrick is a good personality for the elderly and housewives (who the show is marketing the Hotpoint and Frigidaire products to), and he has a rapport with college kids. No other candidate can offer that, other than maybe Howie Mandel.
I, however, am reading a little more into Dan's comments last week. He admitted that he had been invited to audition for TPIR, but explained that he did not want to be the man who followed The Man. He referred to David Lee Roth's failed attempt to take Howard Stern's time slot for another CBS division. That brings us to another story.
In an interview with New York magazine, Katie Couric admitted to slapping a news producer for using the word "sputum" in a story about tuberculosis last month. Apparently Katie was unfamiliar with the not-very-technical medical term for phlegmy spit. In addition, Katie talked about occasionally regretting going to the CBS Evening News anchor chair. She said she is looking forward to doing more work for 60 Minutes next year. It sounds like she is paving her way out the door. I think Dan Rather also transitioned to 60 Minutes before finally breaking ties with CBS.
Dan Patrick has experience in a live news-like setting from his days on SportsCenter. He also has experience in a fill-in role on ABC's Good Morning America. Perhaps Dan Patrick does not want to follow The Man, Bob Barker. Perhaps he would be willing to follow the woman who followed The Man, Dan Rather. How jealous would Keith Olbermann be?
2 Responses:
I'm skeptical. I don't think CBS would take a sportscaster and make him the face of their news coverage. One of the late show jobs seems much more likely to me.
There aren't any late show jobs available though. Conan is moving into Leno's spot and Carson Daly is moving into Conan's. Kimmel is employed by ABC, so there wouldn't be any reason for Dan Patrick to leave the Disney/ABC/ESPN family. I think CBS is happy with Craig Ferguson, and you might recall that they didn't have a good experience with their last former SportsCenter anchor, Craig Kilborn.
I suppose Fox could take another stab at a late night show, but since Chevy Chase and Magic Johnson didn't work out so well I think they're out of that market.
Patrick asks very tough questions and is not afraid of conflict. Just yesterday he kept pushing Bud Selig on what he was waiting on to make his decision about whether or not to attend Bonds' record chase. Most guys would be so grateful to land the interview that they would not risk offending a high-powered guest.
Really, his association with Olbermann might be the only thing that could derail him. CBS, partly due to Dan Rather, already has the reputation of being the most liberal of the network news divisions. Olbermann himself is not liberal per se, but more of a rabble-rouser of the same ilk of a Lou Dobbs. Given the current administration, he comes off as more liberal than he really is.
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