NBC Using Various Shows, On-Air Personalities To Hype NFL Season Opener

NBCUniversal has been featuring "football-themed programming, including on-site segments with players and NBC Sports commentators" leading up to tomorrow's Saints-Packers NFL season opener, according to Tim Baysinger of BROADCASTING & CABLE. "Today" hosts Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford had an NFL-themed segment on this morning's show, and hosts Al Roker and Matt Lauer tomorrow will "report on-site from Green Bay, Wis., including interviews with NBC Sports commentators and features with players." Saturday's edition of "Today" will feature an interview with "one of the analysts for the network's Sunday-night studio show 'Football Night in America.'" NBC late-night show hosts Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon "will also feature football-themed segments and sketches throughout the week." "Access Hollywood" will "air a behind-the-scenes feature football-themed segments and sketches throughout the week." The Weather Channel tomorrow will feature Roker and Stephanie Abrams "on-site in Green Bay reporting live" for "Wake Up with Al" and "Your Weather Today." E! tomorrow will "report live from Green Bay" for "E! News," and CNBC's Darren Rovell will "be on-site in Green Bay reporting live for CNBC's daytime coverage" (BROADCASTING & CABLE, 9/7).

COMING TOGETHER: In New Orleans, Dave Walker writes both the Packers and Saints are winners in the "clever NBC Sports promo that's been running for several weeks in which a Packers tailgate party outside Lambeau Field is crashed by second-lining Who Dats complete with brass band." Walker notes except for the band, "all of the Saints fans are portrayed by Green Bay locals," and the Packers fan who says "Back to football!" is Mike Kostelnik, son of late former Packers player Ryan Kostelnik (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 9/7).