NEW YORK (AP) — What perfect timing.
An all-women sports show premieres Tuesday night after weeks of NFL domestic violence cases dominating the headlines. Co-coordinating producer Emilie Deutsch has spent a lot of time listening to that male bastion of sports talk radio to prepare for the gig, and she marvels that “I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard someone say, ‘Well, I talked to my wife about this and my wife said this.'”
A core panel of a dozen female commentators will get to speak for themselves on “We Need to Talk,” which airs on cable channel CBS Sports Network. The weekly, hour-long, prime-time show is the first of its kind.
To Deutsch and fellow coordinating producer Suzanne Smith, the all-women cast makes it completely different than other sports programs — yet no different at the same time.
Smith notes that “The NFL Today” studio is next door to that of “We Need to Talk,” and she believes any of her 12 commentators could comfortably slide onto that set.
“They can talk the talk,” said Smith, the only woman currently producing or directing NFL games.
But CBS wouldn’t be doing the show unless its executives believed their talk would offer a different perspective.
“They bring their experiences as young girls, women, mothers, daughters to the topics,” said Deutsch, a vice president of features and original programming.
The main panelists are a mix of veteran broadcasters and former pro athletes. CBS is using five of its own announcers: Pro Football Hall of Fame honoree Lesley Visser; former Oakland Raiders CEO Amy Trask; sideline reporters Tracy Wolfson and Allie LaForce; and radio host Dana Jacobson. They are joined by reporter Andrea Kremer of NFL Network and HBO Sports, boxer Laila Ali, basketball stars Lisa Leslie and Swin Cash, swimmers Dara Torres and Summer Sanders, and tennis player Katrina Adams.
This is not a show specifically about women’s sports, unless they happen to be a major source of news. The domestic violence charges against star U.S. Soccer goalie Hope Solo will likely be discussed during Tuesday’s premiere — a subject that has received plenty of mainstream media attention in the context of the NFL’s handling of the Ray Rice case.
The first two planned segments Tuesday are on the league’s response to domestic violence allegations, hardly a stretch considering that has been by far the biggest sports story of the last month.
“(Viewers) are craving these women’s voices now more than ever before,” Smith said Monday.
“We Need to Talk” was announced in late August and in the works long before that. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was facing criticism at the time for handing Rice a two-game suspension, but only later did the issue become massive national news when TMZ released video of the Baltimore running back assaulting his then-fiancee.
Goodell, who had since acknowledged that the initial punishment was too lenient, suspended Rice indefinitely after the Ravens released him.
“All these things happened that totally needed a women’s perspective also,” Leslie said. “You had men addressing abuse that’s happening to a woman. What do women think?”
Leslie also thinks, though, that she brings a perspective of a hardcore fan no different from the male sports talk radio hosts she loves to listen to in the car. The passion that makes her yell at the TV and decide to attend 7 a.m. church services so she can make it home in time to watch her favorite New England Patriots.
After the first two segments Tuesday, the premiere will turn to more on-the-field sports topics such as Derek Jeter’s retirement and the job security of Michigan football coach Brady Hoke. And there may very well be male guests in future weeks.
CBS has shown its commitment to the show by promoting it during hugely popular NFL and SEC broadcasts. Trask and Kremer will also appear on Tuesday’s “CBS This Morning” to plug it.
The audience for “We Need to Talk” will be limited, though, by the distribution for CBS Sports Network, which is in fewer than half of the country’s homes with televisions. The channel is not rated by Nielsen, so viewership numbers won’t be available.
Just the existence of the show is important to Deutsch, who respects Visser, Wolfson and LaForce’s work as sideline reporters but is frustrated that women aren’t in the booth on NFL games.
“It’s really time for women to have more of an opportunity,” Deutsch said, “than being relegated to three minutes during a three-hour football game.”
STATEMENTS FROM MEMEBERS OF THE “WE NEED TO TALK†TEAM
“I am so honored to be a part of a ground-breaking show that exemplifies knowledge and expertise in the world of sports with some of the most reputable and respected voices in the sports arena. There’s no better time than now to express our views as women in the sports world that represent such a large base of athletes and fans.†– Katrina Adams
“I am thrilled and honored to have a seat at the table for meaningful conversation with so many accomplished women in the sports world.†– Laila Ali
“As a passionate sports fan, as well as an athlete, I am excited to be a part of CBS Sports Network’s historic sports-focused program hosted entirely by women, especially at a time when the influence of women in sports has evolved to where it is today.†– Swin Cash
“I’m excited to be a part of the show. While the buzz may be about this being an all-female sports show, once we start talking, I have no doubt that what we’re saying, not the gender of who is saying it, is what will resonate most.†– Dana Jacobson
“When I first heard about the show, my reaction was ‘finally.’ I applaud CBS for taking this historic step and am flattered and grateful to join the stellar group of women on the CBS roster and beyond. I have known and worked alongside Lesley Visser and Amy Trask for virtually my entire career. It’s ironic that over the years we’ve had so many conversations that start out with, ‘We need to talk about…’ Now we all get to share our knowledge and opinions on the burning issues in sports in this unique new forum.†– Andrea Kremer
“As human beings, we have the opportunity every day to redefine the preconceived standards that others set for us. No one but ourselves can know what we are capable of achieving. This show gives women an opportunity to challenge the status quo and set higher standards for what we can achieve as broadcasters.†– Allie LaForce
“I am honored to join the CBS Sports family to inspire, entertain and deliver insight on a platform with amazing women doing what we do best – talk sports. I am excited to have the opportunity to be a part of such a ground-breaking show. Yet we cannot do it alone. We hope to have the support of men and women because it’s time, and ‘We Need To Talk!’†– Lisa Leslie
“Sports have always been a huge part of my life and my conversations. It is a thrill and an honor to be a part of this ground-breaking show. I am a competitor at heart, but a true sports fan to my core.†– Summer Sanders
“Being an Olympic Medalist was a team effort. So I am honored to be a part of CBS Sports’ WE NEED TO TALK cast of iconic women. Being part of a show with some of my broadcasting and sports idols is an honor.†– Dara Torres
“I am delighted to be part of this electrifying project. It is certainly fitting that such leading edge programming is being presented by this tremendous network. I look forward to collaborating with the many terrific people who are working on this innovative project, both in front and behind the camera.†– Amy Trask
“The sports world is in need of a show like this and there is no better place for it than CBS. I am so excited to be part of this project and working alongside these talented, knowledgeable women as we bring our view on all the hot topics in sports.†– Tracy Wolfson
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