The new relationship between NBC and Versus seems to be going just fine. Over the next two days, they will work together to cover the many colorful storylines of this year’s 137th running of the Kentucky Derby. There will be some notable changes on both the production and talent side of the telecast. The new production team in the truck calling the shots will be the awarding-winning duo of producer Fred Gaudelli and director Drew Esocoff, best known for their work on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.” On the talent side, race caller Larry Collmus, the track announcer at Gulfstream Park and Monmouth Park, will replace Tom Durkin.
NBC’s usual cast will be on hand for the full day of coverage with co-hosts Bob Costas and veteran commentator Tom Hammond, three-time Kentucky Derby winner Gary Stevens, contributing analysts and handicappers Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier, reporter Kenny Rice and on-track reporter Donna Brothers.
Laffit Pincay III, son of Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr., will host the coverage on Versus along with veteran horse racing analyst Randy Moss and the Daily Racing Form’s Jay Privman. Jenna Wolfe of the “Today Show” will contribute features, and Maria Menounos of “Access Hollywood” will handle celebrity interviews.
On Friday, Versus will feature a 4?p.m. Derby classic airing of the winning race of Mine That Bird in 2009, and it will include many never-seen-before interviews. Then at 5?p.m., it will have live coverage of the Kentucky Oaks.
On Saturday, Versus will have the entire day covered starting at 11 a.m. with live updates from Churchill Downs. Programming will include all of Saturday’s races from Churchill Downs.
At 4 p.m., Versus will hand off the coverage to NBC for the lead up to the Derby and the race.
Examiner columnist Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!, on washingtonexaminer.com.
