Mohr tapped for Net duties at Fox Sports
By Andrew Wallenstein
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Fox Sports is hitting to the opposite field with actor/comedian/sports aficionado Jay Mohr in the lineup.
News Corp.'s online collaboration with Microsoft Corp., FoxSports.com on MSN, is expanding beyond box scores into more entertainment-flavored programming with a weekly video program from the performer. "The Alternative With Jay Mohr" will bow this month.
In addition to penning his thoughts on the sports world for a weekly column, Mohr will supply 20 minutes of video segments each week that mix comedic monologues, remote reports and sketch comedy riffing on sports headlines.
"I appreciate how unique this is," said Mohr. "It gives me a reason to watch more sports than I already do."
Mohr, a regular on the CBS series "Ghost Whisperer," has extensive experience as a sports commentator. He is a regular substitute for Jim Rome on his Sirius Satellite Radio program and has contributed to Fox Sports Net's "NFL Sunday Morning" and "The Best Damn Sports Show Period."
Ed Bunnell, vice president of programming at FoxSports.com, envisions "Alternative" as being the first of several "sportstainment" programs he will attempt.
"We've been doing a lot of traditional Xs-and-Os news type of programming," Bunnell said. "This is the first dip into our original productions where it's more of an entertainment focus, not just hard-core analysis."
FoxSports.com on MSN has more than 14 million unique visitors per month.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
