One year after pleading guilty to assault and battery
charges, Marv Albert made his return to TV last night as
host of MSG's nightly news show "SportsDesk." At the show's
conclusion, Albert said, "Great to be back. I'm Marv
Albert, thanks for tuning in" ("SportsDesk," MSG, 9/14).
EARLY REVIEWS: In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes that while
it was "clear" that Albert was "nervous early on," his
return "was more than credible." Raissman: "MSG's decision
to bring him back will pay off" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/15). In
Chicago, Ed Sherman writes that "after a year of therapy and
soul-searching, Albert ... tries to restart his career."
MSG Senior VP/Exec Producer Mike McCarthy: "He's got to
prove himself to people. He's got a lot of work to do. I
think he can get past it and be taken seriously. We're
betting that he can." MSG has been running ads in the New
York area featuring Bill Parcells, Wayne Gretzky and Michael
J. Fox promoting Albert's return. But Sherman writes that
women's groups have "protested his re-hiring." NOW Chicago
chapter President Lorna Brett: "It's distasteful. ... Is he
the person you want to set the tone for the entire station?"
But Pilson Communications President Neal Pilson said MSG
made a smart move in bringing Albert back: "From a public
perspective, people think Marv has paid the price. The time
is right for this" (Ed Sherman, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/15).
