Screentime February 12–18, 2023

Your Weekly Guide to TV Entertainment

By George Dickie

It’s not lost on Fox’s Kevin Burkhardt that he’s about to join a pretty exclusive club — that he’ll be one of only a dozen to call play-by-play on a Super Bowl telecast in the game’s 57-year history. And he’s pretty psyched about it.

“I looked that up when I got the job,” the New Jersey native admits. “Like it’s important to me. I don’t take it lightly. And then the other part of it is I’m really excited to do it with Greg (Olsen, analyst).

I’ve known him for a long time, we’re really good friends and to kind of be able to jump on this journey with him this year ... and go through this together, I’m thrilled. It’s fun.”

Burkhardt will be in the booth alongside analyst Ol-

sen at State Farm Stadium near Phoenix to call the action on Super Bowl LVII between the champions of the AFC and NFC on Sunday, Feb. 12.

For Fox Sports, this represents a pretty significant changing of the guard. For years since 2005, Joe Buck and Troy Aikman fronted its Super Bowl coverage. But when they departed for ESPN prior to this season, the network promoted Burkhardt and Olsen to its “A” team.

Now ready to do his first NFL title game, Burkhardt acknowledges that there will be a few butterflies as well as the temptation to do more on what is usually the broadcasting network’s highest-rated telecast of the year. But in the

end, he says, you just have to treat it as another day at the office.

“I can promise you that the way I go about it and the way that I’ve done it for 10 years at Fox is going to be the same exact way,” he says.

“You know, when I got elevated this year when Joe went over to ESPN, every offseason you kind of look at your routine and what you could do differently to make it better and just kind of self-evaluate. But I didn’t change anything about the way that I go about my business because it’s what got me here.”

And “here” is alongside such distinguished play-byplay men ranging from Buck, Al Michaels and Jim Nantz to Pat Summerall, Curt Gowdy

and Jack Buck (Joe’s father). Burkhardt allows that at some point on Sunday, he’ll likely take a step back, look around and drink in the experience, in what is really the pinnacle of any broadcaster’s career.

“I’ve done that a lot ...,” he says. “You know, there’s a part of me that’s like, ‘Is this real?’ ”

“We did a Vikings/Giants (Wild Card) game,” he continues, “and middle of the game — it’s a great game, there’s a key third down, the crowd’s going nuts — and (Greg and I) laid out and I just kind of looked around for a second, took a quick snapshot in my head and just (thought), ‘How fun is this to be here for this.’

So I absolutely will do that, no doubt.”

‘Is this real?’ — Fox’s Burkhardt joins elite Super Bowl play-by-play club

Kevin Burkhardt calls play by play on Fox’s coverage of Super Bowl LVII on Sunday.

Learn Something News Every Day

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The STREAM Scene

“Movie: Somebody

I

Used to Know”

A career setback sends workaholic TV producer Ally (Alison Brie, “GLOW”) back to the comfort of her hometown, where she reunites with first love Sean (Jay Ellis, “Insecure”) and is reminded of the person she used to be by his fiancee Cassidy (Kiersey Clemons, “Antebellum”) in this film comedy from director/co-writer Dave Franco (“The Afterparty”) and cowriter Brie. (ORIGINAL)

WebLinks

“Wu-Tang: An American Saga”

The third and final season of this drama series finds the members of the Wu Tang Clan following their own separate musical paths as money, fame, ego and business threaten to tear the group apart for good. Ashton Sanders, Shameik Moore, Siddiq Saunderson, Julian Elijah Martinez and Marcus Callender head the returning cast. (ORIGINAL)

Where all the top choices can be found in one place!

“Perfect Match”

Single stars from Netflix series such as “Love Is Blind,” “The Ultimatum” and “Too Hot To Handle” come together in a tropical paradise to find love, play matchmaker for others or even break up other couples in this unscripted series. Nick Lachey (“The Sing-Off”) is the host. (ORIGINAL)

In Focus

“Snowfall” (FX — season premiere, Feb. 22)

It’s October 1986 in the Season 6 premiere episode “Fallout,” as civil war threatens to destroy the Saint family. Franklin (Damson Idris) is desperate and forced to rob his Aunt Louie (Angela Lewis) and Uncle Jerome (Amin Joseph) after being wiped out by former CIA officer Teddy McDonald (Carter Hudson).

“Mars: Season 1”

(Available now)

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and former Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell were consultants on this six-part miniseries following the first manned mission to the Red Planet in 2033.

Classically-trained musician, cookbook author, and blogger Molly Yeh shares her favorite dishes and gives viewers a peek into farmhouse life and family traditions in “Girl Meets Farm” Sundays on Food Network. Find delicious recipes at https://www. foodnetwork. com/shows/girlmeets-farm

Sports Zone

WSEE-35 College Basketball Michigan State at Ohio State. (N) (Live) Å

FS1 College Basketball Iowa at Minnesota. (N) (Live) Å GOLF PGA Tour Golf WM Phoenix Open, Final Round. (N) (Live) Å

2:00 p.m. WKBW-7 NBA Basketball Memphis Grizzlies at Boston Celtics. (N) (Live) Å

3:00 p.m. WIVB-4 WSEE-35 PGA Tour Golf WM Phoenix Open, Final

9:30 p.m. TNT NHL Hockey Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild. (N Subject to Blackout) (Live) Å 10:00 p.m. ESPN NBA Basketball New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Lakers. (N) (Live) Å

FS1 College Basketball Boise State at Colorado State. (N) (Live) Å Thursday

4:00 p.m. GOLF PGA Tour Golf The Genesis Invitational, First Round. (N) (Live) Å

5:00 p.m. FS1 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series NextEra Energy 250, Practice. (N) (Live) Å

7:00 p.m. ESPN Women’s College Basketball Louisville at Notre Dame. (N) (Live) Å

ESPN2 College Basket-

Solution is on page 6.

BY GEORGE DICKIE

Grizzlies among NBA’s elite thanks to Ja Morant

A quick look at the NBA standings tells you something special is going on in Memphis, where the Grizzlies are distinguishing themselves as one of the West’s elite and Ja Morant has established himself as a premier point guard.

Indeed, in their four-year floor general out of Murray State, the Grizz have a legitimate MVP candidate who is among the league leaders in several key categories on a team that is leading the Southwest Division and grappling with the Denver Nuggets for the best record in the Western Conference.

As of mid-January, the second overall pick in the 2019 draft had some pretty robust numbers: 27.5 points (10th in the league) on 46.9 percent shooting, 5.7 rebounds, 7.9 assists (fifth), 1.0 steals, and 1.7 three-pointers made per game.

He’s also led the way during the Grizzlies’ January winning streak that saw them register convincing victories over teams such as the Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans.

His continued excellence has caught the attention of none other than Hall-of-Fame big man and “Inside the NBA” analyst Shaquille O’Neal, who feels Morant should be mentioned in the same breath with Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Luka Doncic, among others, in the 2022-23 MVP conversation.

“(Experts) don’t say Ja Morant’s name enough ...,” he said. “This kid is an exciting player, he can do it all.” Morant and the Grizzles can be seen in action Sunday, Feb. 12, when they pay a visit to the East-leading Boston Celtics in a game airing on ABC.

FULL NAME: Temetrius Jamel

“Ja” Morant

BIRTH DATE: Aug. 10, 1999

BIRTHPLACE: Dalzell, S.C.

HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6 feet 3 inches/174 pounds

TEAM: Memphis Grizzlies (2019-present)

tional, Second Round. (N) (Live) Å

4:30 p.m. FS1 NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300, Practice. (N) (Live) Å

5:30 p.m. FS1 NASCAR Cup Series Bluegreen Vacations Duel At DAYTONA, Practice. (N) (Live) Å

7:00 p.m. ESPN 2023 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game (N) (Live) Å

ESPN2 College Basketball Dayton at Loyola-Chicago. (N) (Live) Å ROOT NHL Hockey Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders. (N) (Live) SNY College Basketball Harvard at Columbia. (N)

(Live)

7:30 p.m. FS1 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series NextEra Energy 250. (N)

(Live) Å

9:00 p.m. ESPN NHL Hockey Los Angeles Kings at Anaheim Ducks. (N) (Live)

Å ESPN2 Women’s College Gymnastics Florida at LSU. (N) (Live) Å TNT 2023 NBA Rising Stars (N) (Live) Å

SHO Boxing ShoBox: The New Generation. (N) (Live)

Å

10:00 p.m. FS1 College Basketball Air Force at Wyoming. (N) (Live) Å saTurday

7:30 a.m. USA Premier League Soccer Aston Villa vs Arsenal. (N) (Live) Å

10:00 a.m. USA Premier League Soccer Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City.

(N) (Live) Å

11:00 a.m. FS1 NASCAR Cup Series Bluegreen Vacations Duel At DAYTONA, Final Practice. (N) (Live) Å

11:30 a.m. FS1 NASCAR Xfinity Racing Series Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.

POSITION: Point guard

NO.: 12

COLLEGE: Murray State

DRAFTED: Selected in the first round (second overall) by the Grizzlies in the 2019 NBA Draft

HONORS AND ACHIEVEMENTS: NBA All-Star

300, Qualifying. (N) (Live)

Å

12:00 p.m. WNYW-5 WUTV-

29 College Basketball Seton Hall at Connecticut. (N)

(Live) Å

WPIX-11 College Basketball Lincoln (Pa.) at Bowie State. Leonidas S. James Physical Education Complex in Bowie, Md. (N)

(Live) ESPN ESPN2 College

Basketball Teams TBA. (N)

(Live) Å

12:30 p.m. WGRZ-2 WICU-12

Premier League Soccer Newcastle United vs Liverpool. (N) (Live) Å USA College Basketball Saint Joseph’s at Davidson. (N) (Live) Å

1:00 p.m. WIVB-4 WSEE-35 College Basketball Tennessee at Kentucky. (N)

(Live) Å

GOLF PGA Tour Golf The Genesis Invitational, Third Round. (N) (Live) Å

1:30 p.m. FS1 ARCA Racing Series Daytona. (N) (Live)

Å

2:00 p.m. ESPN ESPN2 College Basketball Teams TBA. (N) (Live) Å

SNY College Basketball Elon at Monmouth. (N) (Live)

2:30 p.m. WNYW-5 WUTV-

29 Women’s College Basketball Connecticut at Villanova. (N) (Live) Å

USA College Basketball

Fordham at VCU. (N) (Live)

Å

3:00 p.m. WIVB-4 WSEE-

35 PGA Tour Golf The Genesis Invitational, Third Round. (N) (Live) Å WKBW-7 XFL Football Vegas Vipers at Arlington Renegades. (N) (Live) Å

GOLF PGA Tour Champions Golf Chubb Classic, Second Round. (N) (Live)

Å

4:00 p.m. WGRZ-2 WICU12 Track and Field U.S.

BEST FOOTBALL MOVIES

“Knute Rockne, All American” (1940) In this unabashedly sentimental but potent biography, Pat O’Brien plays the Notre Dame legend who facilitates the wish of one of his star players (Ronald Reagan) to “win one for the Gipper.”

“Brian’s Song” (1971) A landmark television drama, this true story made stars of James Caan and Billy Dee Williams as football-playing peers Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers, whose bond didn’t waver in the face of serious illness.

“The Longest Yard” (1974) The recent remake went for broader laughs, but director Robert Aldrich’s original is a perfect blend of humor and brawn, with Burt Reynolds as a former player who coaches fellow inmates against guards.

“North Dallas Forty” (1979) The screen version of Peter Gent’s novel has an authenticity that lets you feel every ache of Nick Nolte’s character. As a player who challenges his team’s owners, he’s superb, as is singer Mac Davis as the charismatic quarterback who knows how the game is played ... in every sense.

“All the Right Moves” (1983) This gritty but earnest high-school-football drama helped Tom Cruise along his road to stardom.

“Rudy” (1993) Sean Astin is affecting in the title role of this true drama about an unlikely player for the University of Notre Dame.

“Jerry Maguire” (1996) Actual football action is sparse in Cameron Crowe’s superb character study until the final stretch, but once Rod Tidwell (Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr.) takes the field, it’s clear to see how much his performance in the game impacts sports agent Maguire (Tom Cruise).

“Any Given Sunday” (1999) Director Oliver Stone captures every crunch on the field and every maneuver in the boardroom with his saga of a pro team facing big changes, as the coach (Al Pacino) and the team’s new president (Cameron Diaz) clash over everything including the latest quarterback (Jamie Foxx).

“The Replacements” (2000) An extremely good-humored tone informs this comedy, featuring Gene Hackman as a coach brought back to a team to guide (you

(2022); NBA Most Improved Player (2022); NBA Rookie of the Year (2020); NBA All-Rookie First Team (2020); consensus First Team All-American (2019); NCAA assists leader (2019); his No. 12 jersey retired by Murray State Racers

Indoor Championship. (N) (Live) Å

ESPN College Basketball Baylor at Kansas. (N) (Live) Å

ESPN2 College Basketball Southern vs Grambling State. (N) (Live) Å

SNY Women’s College Basketball Wagner at Fairleigh Dickinson. (N) (Live)

TNT College Basketball (N) (Live) Å

4:30 p.m. WNYW-5 WUTV-

29 College Basketball Villanova at Providence. (N) (Live) Å

5:00 p.m. FS1 NASCAR

Xfinity Racing Series

Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300. (N) (Live) Å

guessed it) replacements – including Keanu Reeves – during a players’ strike.

“Remember the Titans” (2000) The Disney studio got on a trail of inspirational sports dramas with this true story of a new high-school coach (Denzel Washington) who unites his racially divided team in early1970s Virginia.

“Friday Night Lights” (2004) A darker side of small-town high-school football comes to the fore in director Peter Berg’s fine, frank drama, with Billy Bob Thornton as the coach and country-music star Tim McGraw in an impressive acting turn as a player’s father.

“We Are Marshall” (2006)The deeply emotional story of Marshall University’s football team, which had to rebuild after a plane crash claimed many of its members, stars Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Fox.

“The Blind Side” (2009) Sandra Bullock won an Oscar for this true stor y, casting her as a woman who becomes the surrogate mother of football-star-to-be Michael Oher (played by Quinton Aaron).

James Caan in “Brian’s Song”

BY JAY BOBBIN

4 x 2”

Look Now Look Here...

“Star Trek: Picard” on PARAMOUNT+ (Words in parentheses not in puzzle)

Jean-Luc (Picard)

Geordi (La Forge)

Worf Riker

Beverly (Crusher)

Solution is on page 11.

(Patrick) Stewart (LeVar) Burton (Michael) Dorn (Jonathan) Frakes (Gates) McFadden

(Old) Crewmates Hunted Darkness Villains Final (Season)

Lauren Ash

OF ‘NOT DEAD YET’ ON ABC

BY JAY BOBBIN

What has it meant to you to get back to series work with “Not Dead Yet”?

Six years on “Superstore,” that’s a large chunk of life. I love being on a set, I love the community aspect in terms of being with a crew and with your co-stars, all of those things. I love the work so much that getting back in the swing of things was truly such a gift to me. It reminded me that, while I also like writing, I’m an actor first.

You also host the podcast “True Crime & Cocktails” with your cousin, Christy Oxborrow. Do you foresee that continuing well into the future?

People ask, “Do you think you’re going to run out of things?” And unfortunately, due to the truly depraved human condition, no. There’s always going to be subject matter. I’m fact, it sometimes can get overwhelming when trying to curate and choose what we’re going to cover on the show. There’s just such an insane, vast amount of those kinds of stories. It’s odd that it even is a genre.

You’ve turned up as a celebrity contestant on game shows including “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune,” “The $100,000 Pyramid” and “Hollywood Game Night.” What do you enjoy about doing such programs?

I just love games. I play them with my family and friends quite often, but one of the big things for me is that on one of the first shows I did, I won! And there was honestly this feeling where I had won this chunk of life-changing money for this non-celebrity person, and there’s nothing I want more.

Seeing someone win that and hearing them talk about what they’re going to use it for, it became as much an addiction for me as just playing the game. Essentially, I’m helping someone win the lotter y, and there’s just nothing better than to get to be a part of that and share in the excitement.

TRUST

In Focus

“Liaison: Season 1” (Apple TV+ — series premiere, Feb. 24)

Espionage and political intrigue play out in this contemporary original thriller that explores how the mistakes of the past have the potential to destroy the future. Daniel Francis (“Small Axe”), Eva Green (“Penny Dreadful”), Vincent Cassel (“Black Swan”) and Lyna Dubarry (“Baptiste”) head the cast of this joint France/U.K. production.

Crossword Puzzle

The identity of the featured celebrity is found within the answers in the puzzle. In order to take the TV Challenge, unscramble the letters noted

Look Now Look Here...

30. Singing critter Alvin or Simon or Theodore

34. Goes before others

36. Ringo or Bart

38. Get it wrong

39. Egg on

42. Rogers or Clark

43. Actress on “The Rookie” (2)

DOWN

1. VP Rockefeller’s monogram

2. McBride’s namesakes

3. Setting for “The King and I”

4. Initials for Ozzie’s wife

5. Commercial

6. Actor/comedian Ed

7. Swenson of “Benson”

8. Ending for Carol or Clement

9. “__ Doubts” (199193)

12. “Abbott __”

14. “The __ in the Hat”; 2003 movie

16. “Devil __ __ Blue Dress”; film for Denzel

19. “Star __”

20. “Resident __: Apocalypse”; Milla Jovovich film

22. “Mister __” (196166)

23. “Bad Times at the __ Royale”; 2018 movie

27. Professor’s degree

28. Colony member

30. Rob Reiner’s dad

31. “This __ __”

32. “__ People”;