Former CBS golf reporter and Golf Channel interview show host David Feherty has been making his presence felt on NBC’s golf coverage this year, and that’s going to continue at August’s Rio Olympics, and in a role beyond just golf. NBC announced Monday that Feherty will not only work on their golf coverage in Rio (golf is in the Games for the first time since 1904), but will also be a general correspondent doing features on Brazilian culture and will appear on their coverage of the opening ceremonies. From their release:
NBC Sports Group golf analyst and Emmy-nominated personality David Feherty will join NBC Olympics as a correspondent for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, bringing the off-beat humor and candid interview approach that have become his trademarks as he explores Brazilian culture in Rio. Feherty will offer commentary on NBC’s primetime coverage, as well on other shows and platforms. He will also contribute to NBC’s Opening Ceremony coverage on August 5.
In addition to his correspondent role in Rio, Feherty will serve as an on-course reporter and tower analyst during the men’s golf competition (August 11-14, Golf Channel), and contribute to Golf Channel’s Live From the Olympics coverage of both the men’s and women’s competitions, as golf returns to the Olympics for the first time since 1904.
As the host of the award-winning, self-titled Feherty series on Golf Channel, he has interviewed nearly 100 guests to-date since his show premiered in 2011, from politicians like Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, to entertainment icons like Samuel L. Jackson and Larry David, to athletes like Charles Barkley and Michael Phelps.
“David’s television skills are perfectly suited to the Olympics; he’s a master storyteller who will bring a genuine sense of wonder and more than a little bit of mischief to these Games,” said Jim Bell, Executive Producer of NBC Olympics. “He’s inspirational and passionate, and we’re somewhere between excited and nervous to see what he’ll get into while immersing himself in Brazilian culture.”
It looks like cultural coverage and features will be a big part of NBC’s Olympic plans, as they have Olympic vets Mary Carillo and Jimmy Roberts on board, and Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski will also be doing those. Feherty’s style could be an interesting addition here, too; given his sense of humor, a feature from him is likely to be a bit different than one from Carillo or Bob Costas. He’s a big personality with plenty of fans for his work inside and outside golf, so it makes a lot of sense for NBC to add him to their Olympic coverage. He’ll be someone to watch this summer.
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