This Year’s Best… According to Me

April 26, 2009 | by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kansas – For as long as I’ve been writing about the world of live television, I don’t think I’ve ever actually put forth a list of who I think is the best for on-air and production.

Here are a couple of rules: 1) individuals must still be active in their respective roles (network changes are okay); 2) there is no limit on how many people working for a particular network can be chosen (if the network happens to be that good, it wouldn’t make sense for me to suggest otherwise); 3) for sports, when I feel it is warranted, I may select multiple people holding the same position but for different sports.

Bear in mind that I am not necessarily making this a yearly thing. It will just depend on whether I think it’s worth the trouble. So, here it goes.

SPORTS

Play-by-Play Announcer: Dick Enberg (CBS, ESPN)

Analyst: Mary Carillo (NBC, CBS, ESPN), Bill Raftery (CBS, ESPN)

Sideline Reporter: Erin Andrews (ESPN)

Studio Host: Greg Gumbel (CBS)

Studio Analyst: Boomer Esiason (CBS)

Studio Show: The Road to the Final Four (CBS)

Studio Producer: Eric Mann (CBS)

Studio Director: Bob Matina (CBS)

Remote Producer: Bob Mansbach (CBS)

Remote Director: Bob Fishman (CBS)

Remote Director, Baseball: Bill Webb (Fox)

Graphic Design: CBS Sports

Innovation: ESPN Axis

Theme Music: NCAA Basketball on CBS/Bob Christianson

Obsolete Theme Music: NFL on NBC & CBS Olympic Theme

NEWS

Anchor: Brian Williams (NBC Nightly News)

Network News: NBC Nightly News

Newsmagazine: 60 Minutes (CBS)

Director: Joe Michaels (NBC News Today)

Theme Music: NBC Nightly News/John Williams

MUSIC/VARIETY SERIES

Series: Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)

Performer: David Letterman (CBS)

Director: Allan Kartun, Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC)

Writing: Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)

Head Writer: Bill Scheft, Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)

MUSIC/VARIETY SPECIAL

Special: 81st Annual Academy Awards (ABC)

Performer: Hugh Jackman (ABC)

Director: Roger Goodman, 81st Annual Academy Awards (ABC)

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