Page 14 - aruba-today-20220412

a14 people & arts
Tuesday 12 april 2022
ESPN's 'KayRod Cast' looks to blend conversation with game

By JOE REEDY my skin today, and we're
AP Sports Writer going to let it rip."
Seven months after Peyton Mark Gross, ESPN's senior
and Eli Manning provided vice president for produc-
a template on how alter- tion and remote events,
nate broadcasts could suc- said guests during the
ceed, Alex Rodriguez and broadcast are likely to lean
Michael Kay think they can more toward players who
improve on it. played well on Sunday af-
The "KayRod Cast" with Ro- ternoon or during the past
driguez and Kay debuts week. It also will include
Sunday night on ESPN2 batting and fielding demos
when the Boston Red Sox by Rodriguez.
take on the New York Yan- Sunday's show will have
kees. It will be the first of Kay and Rodriguez togeth-
eight this season that will er at ESPN's Seaport District
take place while "Sunday Studios in New York. Some
Night Baseball" airs on ESPN. subsequent broadcasts
"Well, we're presently in the could take place remotely,
legal maneuverings to get depending on their sched-
adopted by a pair of peo- ules. Rodriguez is spending
ple so we can actually be Alex Rodriguez, partial owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves NBA team aims a shot at the basket most of his time in Minneso-
brothers, so that will give before the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Saturday, March 12, 2022, ta as part of the ownership
us more of a 'Manningcast' in Miami. group of the NBA's Timber-
feel," Kay said jokingly dur- Associated Press wolves.
ing a conference call ear- When it comes to ratings,
lier this week. "I thought the Yankees games since 1992 stay in the "YES Network" pension for taking perfor- comparing "KayRod Cast"
'Manningcast' was great. I while Rodriguez spent 12 of booth with Kay and David mance-enhancing drugs to "Manningcast" would be
think we're going to pay a his 22 major league seasons Cone during a 2019 game — and the criticism he got unfair. The "Manningcast"
little bit more attention to in pinstripes. against the Los Angeles from many, including Kay averaged 1.58 million view-
the game." Rodriguez has managed to Dodgers. — helped prepare him for ers per game last season.
Alternate broadcasts can transition into broadcasting "I think it was the best four his new opportunity. By comparison, "Sunday
go off the rails because the despite some controversies innings I've ever done on "That's what's going to Night Baseball" was up
game becomes second- on and off the field. While TV because I was in the make this show really, I 18% in 2021 according to
ary to the interviews and he has been engaging middle of two very close think, good, is because Nielsen, and averaged 1.46
personalities, but baseball while doing studio work for friends, and it was going you're going to get forth- million.
might be the one sport that Fox, he struggled as an an- back and forth," Rodriguez rightness from both him A better gauge might be
can blend both due to the alyst during his four seasons said. "Michael knows ex- and I," he said. "Honestly, audience percentage.
pace of play. as an analyst in the "Sun- actly how to set me up be- pre-suspension, I think the Last season, 12% of the to-
While Rodriguez and Kay day Night Baseball" booth. cause he knows me so well, show wouldn't have been tal "Monday Night Football"
aren't related like the Man- But Rodriguez thinks he so I think this format will do as good because I wasn't audience watched the
nings, they are longtime did some of his best ana- well for me." as comfortable. I think I'm Mannings compared to the
friends. Kay has broadcast lyst work during a short Rodriguez also thinks his sus- just more comfortable in main broadcast.q

Kelsea Ballerini to co-host CMT Music Awards from home

said CMT is setting it up so third year," said Brown in a feature performances by
she can perform and co- statement. "Everyone has Kenny Chesney, Mickey
host from her house. been working hard to put Guyton and Black Pumas,
"It has been set it up in a on an amazing show for Cody Johnson, Miranda
way where I can safely still the fans and I'm excited to Lambert, Little Big Town,
co-host the Awards and get to work with Anthony Maren Morris and Ryan
perform on the show to- and Kelsea and have a Hurd, Old Dominion, Carly
night," Ballerini said in a great night that celebrates Pearce, Cole Swindell and
statement. "This is not what country music." Lainey Wilson, Carrie Un-
we had planned for, but I Mackie, who starred in derwood and Keith Urban.
am ready to make lemon- Marvel's "The Falcon and The Judds are also reuniting
Kane Brown, left, and Kelsea Ballerini, center, appear at the CMT ade out of these lemons." the Winter Soldier,'' prom- at the CMT Music Awards
Music Awards in Nashville, Tenn., on June 9, 2021, and Anthony
Mackie appears at the 76th edition of the Venice Film Festival, T he leading nominee for ises a fun night. for their first major awards
Venice, Italy, on Aug. 30, 2019. the night, Kane Brown, "Being a host of the CMT show performance in over
Associated Press has been tapped to help Awards is something I have two decades.
Mackie with in-person co- wanted to do for a long Underwood is the most
By KRISTIN M. HALL Ballerini and actor Anthony hosting. Brown has twice time," said Mackie in a awarded artist in CMT his-
AP Entertainment Writer Mackie were set to host hosted the fan-voted show, statement. "I was excited to tory with 23 prior wins and
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) the Monday night awards including with Ballerini last be able to do it with Kelsea has a chance to extend
— Country star Kelsea Bal- show airing on CBS from year. Ballerini. Now, I get to co- her lead with nominations
lerini is making a last-minute Nashville. But on Monday "I'm honored the team at host with both Kelsea and for music video of the year
pivot to co-hosting the CMT morning, CMT and CBS an- CBS and CMT asked me my friend, Kane Brown. Get and collaborative video of
Music Awards remotely af- nounced that Ballerini will to step in as a co-host and ready cuz it's gonna be a the year for her duet with
ter testing positive for COV- remain home. She is as- I am so glad to be back fun night!" Jason Aldean, "If I Didn't
ID-19 days before the show. ymptomatic, and Ballerini again hosting for a bonus The CMT Music Awards will Love You."q