Color commentator
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A color commentator, sometimes known as a color analyst, is a member of the broadcasting team for a sporting event who assists the play-by-play announcer by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color commentator provides expert analysis and background information, such as statistics, strategy and injury reports, on the teams and athletes, and occasionally light humor. Color commentators are usually people who used to play and/or coach the sport that they broadcast.
In the United Kingdom the term is largely unknown: a play-by-play announcer is called a commentator. The role of color commentator is not so clearly defined, but the term summariser is sometimes used and former players often appear as pundits, filling a similar role. In Germany, most football matches feature just a single play-by-play announcer, without a color commentator.
Examples of the more well-known color commentators, current and former, in their respective sports include:
- Troy Aikman
- Dan Fouts
- Bob Griese
- John Madden
- Phil Simms
- Joe Theismann
- Don Daniels (formerly of the American Broadcasting Company)
- Howard Cosell (deceased, American Broadcasting Company)
- Bert Blyleven
- Bob Brenly
- Danny Gladden
- Keith Hernandez (New York Mets)
- Al Leiter (New York Yankees)
- Steve Lyons, (formerly of Fox Broadcasting Company)
- Tim McCarver
- Joe Morgan
- Jim Palmer
- Jerry Remy (Boston Red Sox games for NESN)
- Hubie Brown
- Doug Collins
- Mike Fratello
- Tommy Heinsohn (Boston Celtics games for Fox Sports Net)
- Steve "Snapper" Jones
- Steve Kerr
- Billy Packer
- Dick Vitale
- Bill Walton
- Cal Ramsay
- Marilyn Bodogh
- Don Duguid
- Mike Harris
- Ed Lukowich
- Joan McCusker
- Linda Moore
- Ray Turnbull
- Daryl Reaugh
- Derek Sanderson
- Bill Clement
- Brian Conacher
- John Davidson
- Pierre McGuire
- Harry Neale
- Mickey Redmond
- John Garrett
- Danny DiLiberto
- Daryl Halligan
- Peter Ropati
Color commentators in wrestling tend to have an agenda; generally, they are partial to heels. They usually applaud such "illegal" actions as use of weapons and attacking referees or managers when performed by heels, but will make face wrestlers out as heels when they do something similar. This is in direct opposition to play-by-play announcers, who usually call things fairly, or lean toward supporting fan favorites (even if they are rule-breakers).