FSN's new show, "The Keith Olbermann Evening News," is a "sophisticated and occasionally silly vacation" from ESPN's "SportsCenter" or FSN's "National Sports Report," according to Richard Sandomir of the N.Y. TIMES. The program "is Olbermann's innovative circus, where he juggles essays, field reports and interviews from his retro perch in what could have been Grantland Rice's office." Sandomir calls this past Sunday's report on athletes crossing the SAG picket line "terrific" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/15). CBC SEEKS SUB FOR WILLIAMS: In Toronto, William Houston reports that the job of replacing Brian Williams as the CBC's voice of the Blue Jays during the Sydney Olympics (see THE DAILY, 8/9) "was rejected by several prominent Canadian broadcasters." Sources say that the CBC approached TSN about using its Jays announcer Dan Shulman but was told Shulman and analyst partner Buck Martinez "are available only as a package." The CBC "plans to stay with its regular analyst, John Cerutti." CTV Sportsnet announcer Jim Hughson "turned down the CBC job," while FSN Detroit's Ken Daniels "also said no." CBC Sports Exec Dir Nancy Lee said that the network "spent the best part of a year" seeking a Canadian replacement for Williams, but "couldn't find anyone sufficiently qualified" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 8/15). PEOPLE NOTES: In Toronto, Craig Daniels reports that Leo Rautins, the "highest-profile Canadian basketball TV analyst, isn't wanted any longer" by CTV, but "his services are being clamored for in the U.S. by ESPN." Rautins "has been a fixture" on CTV's national NBA telecasts since the inception of the Grizzlies and the Raptors (TORONTO SUN, 8/15)....CTV Sportsnet anchor Jody Vance, who became the network's first female anchor five months ago, will take over the anchor's chair for the network's "SportsCentral" prime-time edition starting September 4 (OTTAWA SUN, 8/15).
