EPL Commentators on NBC: Feb. 8 to Feb. 10

21 Comments

1. 

   RJB

   February 10, 2022 at 3:53 pm

   Steve Wilson is always welcome

   Reply
2. 

   fishlipsmcgee

   February 10, 2022 at 2:07 pm

   Premier League TV MatchDay Live studio show:

   Steve Bower
   Emile Heskey (representing Leicester)
   Ian Wright (representing Arsenal)

   No Michael Owen or Steve McManaman tonight so no Liverpool representative in the studio

   Former referee Chris Foy is watching from the VAR Centre and will be available if needed

   Reply
3. 

   Burnsie

   February 9, 2022 at 2:29 pm

   Meulensteen is torture…just like Karen Carney. Why does NBC feel obliged to go this way? I like Arlo in the studio because i stopped watching that once they added Tim Howard. It also plays to Arlo’s strengths where he can speak a 1000 words-a-minute and summarize world football in his allotted time.

   Reply
   • 

     fishlipsmcgee

     February 10, 2022 at 9:30 am

     @Burnsie:

     NBC did NOT hire either Pien Meulensteen or Karen Carney.

     Premier League Productions and its production partner IMG hired them to call “world feeds”.

     The executive producer in charge of PLP world feed commentators is Simon Carr (not the former Univision/Fusion TV talent/producer with the same name.)

     Carr currently has 4 women in his stable of PLP world feed freelance PxP commentators and match analysts:

     Play-by-play (“Main Commentators”):

     Jacqui Oatley
     Pien Meulensteen

     Match analysts (“Co-commentators”):

     Karen Carney
     Courtney Sweetman-Kirk

     Reply
4. 

   fishlipsmcgee

   February 9, 2022 at 2:16 pm

   Wednesday’s Premier League TV studio show from IMG in Stockley Park:

   Steve Bower (“lead” host)
   Michael Owen (“lead” pundit, using touch screen)
   Tim Sherwood (pundit representing Tottenham)

   Apparently Shawn Wright-Phillips and/or Shay Given are not available so no pundit is on duty to represent Man City

   Reply
5. 

   fishlipsmcgee

   February 9, 2022 at 12:27 pm

   @KyleFansler appears to be correct.

   Mark Scott reportedly is calling Al Hilal v Chelsea for Channel 4 UK.

   That explains why Martin Tyler has been assigned to call #MCIBRE on Wednesday night to replace Mark Scott.

   If you want to watch the IMG-produced pre-match buildup show at 2pm Eastern Time, look for the “Premier League TV” channel on Peacock TV FREE.

   Steve Bower should be the host for both Wednesday and Thursday because he is the “lead”.

   The most likely pundit representing Man City on Wednesday is Shawn Wright-Phillips though Shay Given has shown up from time to time. Tim Sherwood is usually the pundit representing Tottenham unless Glenn Hoddle were available.

   Michael Owen should be on pundit duty on Thursday, representing Liverpool. Ian Wright would be the other prime suspect for Thursday, representing Arsenal.

   Reply
6. 

   greg

   February 9, 2022 at 11:55 am

   Hesitant to make note of this since it will only embolden the borderline misogyny and ridiculous claims of wokeness (just stop with that, it makes you sound like revanchist w/r/t basic equal rights & opportunity)….

   But anyway, to describe Pien Meulensteen as a “freelance hustler” is a bit much. Her dad is Rene Meulensteen, so she has some deep family ties & connections in the game. I didn’t listen to the match so have no opinion on her style & quality. My guess is she at least knows the game fairly well having grown up around it.

   She won’t be the first person to maybe get opportunities above their current skill level based on nepotism, it’s been a thing for us men for a long time. So consider it a sign of progress for women that they can now benefit from nepotism just as much as marginally talented men.

   Reply
7. 

   Greg C

   February 9, 2022 at 11:55 am

   I thought Meulensteen done well. As a Toon fan, I think it’s the first time in about 3 or 4 years that I havent shouted “f’ing idiot” at the commentator during a match. I heard her for the first time a few days ago and thought she done decent then as well.

   Reply
8. 

   MarkB

   February 9, 2022 at 8:56 am

   Meulensteen = nails on a chalkboard

   Reply
9. 

   Freelance Hustler

   February 8, 2022 at 10:48 pm

   Pien Meulensteen is only 25 years old.

   She is definitely a freelance hustler who chases down opportunities aggressively.

   She had 2 years of prior professional play-by-play commentary experience prior to the 2021-2022 season, all with Manchester United’s MUTV, calling Man Utd women’s matches.

   DAZN, in conjunction with production partner Gravity Media, hired her to be the lead PxP commentary voice of the UEFA Women’s Champions League last September. Gravity Media also hired her to call world feed of the West Brom-Brighton FA Cup 3rd round match in January.

   Premier League Productions/IMG promoted her from freelance reporter to freelance world feed play-by-play commentator last November.

   BBC Sport added her to its stable of Match of the Day freelance play-by-play commentators in January.

   She is definitely a “work in progress” and she has A LOT of work to do to improve including but not limited to pronunciation of names and voice control.

   Reply
10. 

    Tony

    February 8, 2022 at 8:43 pm

    Thank god for the mute button …………Pien Meulensteen commentary of the Newcastle vs Everton game was absolutely terrible. Wrong calls and a horrible voice for commentary so bland .I thought Gus Johnson was bad but she is even worse. At least Gus walked away back to doing commentary on college sports that he was good at.
    Please just use the best for the commentary and enough with the Woke-ness .

    Reply
11. 

    Dave Churchman

    February 8, 2022 at 6:09 pm

    When we thought Gus Johnson doing matches on Fox a few years ago was as low as it could get, this entire NBC bunch have elevated ineptitude to an art form. Any chance the contract they won for Prem League coverage being recompeted ?

    Reply
12. 

    MIB Fan

    February 8, 2022 at 5:01 pm

    did Arlo and gang show up on camera during the half time report?

    Reply
    • 

      fishlipsmcgee

      February 8, 2022 at 5:26 pm

      @MIB_Fan

      Arlo & both Robbies were on camera from the outdoor set outside SoFi Stadium during half time only.

      Arlo did two program promos off camera after the match. There was no post-match show on USA Network.

      Note that the IMG-produced Matchday Live pre-match and post-match shows on the “Premier League TV” channel on Peacock TV FREE were NOT blacked out. Manish Bhasin hosted on Tuesday with pundits Alan Shearer and Peter Schmeichel. Expecting Steve Bower to host on Wednesday and Thursday.

      Reply
13. 

    John Culea

    February 8, 2022 at 4:02 pm

    I stand corrected on mistaking Carney for Meulensteen. But both are awful. Diversity is good when the individuals have talent. In this case, neither woman has been done any favors. The move only satisfies Woke-ness.
    Proudfoot, Drury, and Beglin were wonderful today.

    Reply
14. 

    SteveK

    February 8, 2022 at 3:59 pm

    Arlo & the two Robbies from LA do make a legitimate and efficient appearance at the half of the 3PM ManU game on USA, don’t expect there to be any post game on USA or Peacock with Olympic coverage set to resume on USA at 5PM. If this pattern holds for Wed and Thurs we’ll see them at the half of the games on USA and that’s it, no pre or post and no Peacock until the weekend.

    Reply
15. 

    David

    February 8, 2022 at 3:11 pm

    Pien Meulensteen Is absolutely appalling. She contributes virtually nothing of interest apart from shouting the names of players on the ball. Her delivery has an explanation point every few words. She may be a good sports reporter, but commentating is a wholly different art. After 25 mins of the Everton/Newcastle game I just had to put it on mute. David Prutton has been doing his best to save her with a few enlightened comments, but she is a beginner who should not be inflicted upon us.

    Reply
16. 

    SteveK

    February 8, 2022 at 3:07 pm

    When USA switched to the ManU game at 3 Arlo, unseen, introduced Peter Drury and Jim Beglin, and then disappeared. Have to say I’m enjoying Pien Meulensteen on Everton Newcastle, good energy, gets in and out quickly, whatever criticism is being leveled at her is misplaced, she is not only perfectly serviceable but rather enjoyable. Superb Peacock picture quality on the Apple TV for that game, too.

    Reply
17. 

    Roger M

    February 8, 2022 at 2:45 pm

    That can’t be the only feed for Newcastle match. I don’t want to watch it on mute

    Reply
18. 

    SteveK

    February 8, 2022 at 2:44 pm

    Just as I expected, Olympics are on USA and looks like no NBC pregame before the USA game at 3, no sign of Arlo and the two Robbies from LA, and just the standard 10 minute intros on Peacock by the PL announcing teams for the two 2:45 Peacock games.

    The NBC press release from 1/27 touting “Arlo White, usually on the call for games, is the host from the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers. Tim Howard, Robbie Earle and Robbie Mustoe join White from SoFi Stadium not only for coverage of the midweek games, but all the way up through Super Bowl Sunday” is not off to the best start.

    Reply
19. 

    fishlipsmcgee

    February 8, 2022 at 10:38 am

    @KyleFansler:

    Please check your list of comms for #TOTSOU. @jimbeglin posted on his Twitter last weekend that Mark Scott will be the PxP comm.

    @Azer and @John_Culea:

    Before you two post more complaints regarding female PxP voices, please note that the
    PxP voice for #NEWEVE is NOT Karen Carney, who is a match analyst/co-comm/pundit & does NOT have main PxP comm skills (or the “pipes” for the role.)

    Pien Meulensteen gets #NEWEVE with David Prutton. Same comms as #BURWAT last Saturday.

    Reply