It is a day unlike any other in this country (or probably any other), which is too bad for people who sell beer, chicken wings, beer, avocados and beer.
It is, of course, Super Sunday, a day so super that some people believe the next day should be a national holiday.
Getting up for work on Monday is not as big a deal out west, where the Super Bowl itself ends closer to sunset than to midnight, but Sunday’s “clock” also means the pregame hoopla starts much earlier here.
Like 4 a.m. early.
If you can handle that much talk about a game that’s already been overanalyzed for the better part of two weeks, well, let’s just say it might be time to ask where things went wrong for you. But, just in case, we present our annual look at the long(est) day’s journey into night (all on CBS unless noted):
4 a.m. “First on the Field” (NFL Network): We’re not making this up — the show really starts at 4 a.m., which is 6 a.m. in New Orleans, which means the cameras better be careful not to show too many people coming in for the night. But if you want to know what LaDainian Tomlinson thinks of the Niners-Ravens matchup — or maybe hear him take some more shots at the Chargers — you’ll be watching. Melissa Stark is the host.
6 a.m. “NFL GameDay Morning” (NFL): For the fourth straight year the league-owned network will tie its own record for longest pregame show, but for the first time Time Warner subscribers will be able to see what they did or didn’t miss. Rich Eisen hosts, which is good; analysts include former Aztecs great Marshall Faulk, Del Mar resident (and former 49ers coach) Steve Mariucci and some guy named Brett Favre, who must be mad no one talks about him anymore so he decided to the party.
7 a.m. “Sunday NFL Countdown” (ESPN): The normal two-hour Sunday pregame show annually doubles in size on Super Sunday. Of all the features ESPN is offering, one in particular sounds very promising: “A Barrier Broken,” which will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Doug Williams becoming the first black quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Williams returned to San Diego, site of the game, to reminisce for the piece, which is scheduled to air at about 8:30. A separate tribute feature narrated by Redskins QB Robert Griffin III will include prominent African-Americans discussing how Williams’ performance transcended the game.
8 a.m. “Road to the Super Bowl”: The start of coverage by CBS, but all that means is someone probably will come on the air to introduce the lineup for the day. The program itself is the annual season review by NFL Films.
9 a.m. “New Orleans: Let the Good Times Roll”: This sounds like a one-hour commercial for New Orleans, hosted by one of the city’s legends, Wynton Marsalis. Not saying that’s a bad thing, especially for those looking for non-football stories.
10 a.m. “Phil Simms All-Iron Team: Super Bowl Edition”: The CBS analyst (and former Super Bowl MVP) will feature many of his favorite Super Bowl memories, with many of the players and coaches who were involved telling their own stories. One twist: a reunion of Leon Lett and Don Beebe, who combined for a memorable moment 20 years ago.
11 a.m. “The Super Bowl Today”: The “official” CBS pregame show, hosted by James Brown and featuring the network’s usual studio cast, plus Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews. Among the features promised: an interview with the Brothers (and Coaches) Harbaugh; the story of a player from the Ravens’ championship team 12 years ago who now works for the team but suffers from ALS; a discussion of player safety; numerous player profiles; and the now traditional interview with the president, Barack Obama (at 1:30 p.m.). There will be musical performances, too.
3 p.m. “Super Bowl on CBS Kickoff Show”: The final buildup to the game, including Jennifer Hudson ing the chorus from Sandy Hook Elementary School to sing “America the Beautiful,” and Alicia Keys performing the national anthem.
3:30 p.m. “Super Bowl XLVII”: The 49ers will be in red jerseys, the Ravens in white. Play-by-play man Jim Nantz calls his third Super Bowl, analyst Phil Simms his seventh. Kevin Harlan and Boomer Esiason again have the radio call on 1090-AM. The game also will stream live on the Internet
(nfl.com, cbssports.com) and via the NFL Mobile app for Verizon customers.
5 p.m. (approx.) Halftime: Beyoncé is the headliner this year, and for those who care, she promises to be singing live.
Postgame: CBS made an interesting choice to go with the Sherlock Holmes-themed drama “Elementary” in the post-Bowl slot. Good show, but just doesn’t feel like a good fit here. There will be plenty of analysis and interviews on ESPN, NFL Network and, for the first time, CBS Sports Network.
Oh, and there will be lot of commercials. All day long. Some of them will be funny, some touching, some stupid. But you will be talking about them.
Now Watch This
“Smash” two-hour season premiere, 9 p.m. Tuesday, NBC
Singing divas! Sadistic directors! Crazy love triangles! This polarizing NBC drama about the launching of a new Broadway musical has stars in its eyes and soap on the brain, and while its first season was a symphony of sour notes, it was also one of the juiciest, most watchable hours on TV. And the retooled second season promises to be just as crazy, but half as aggravating.
Some of last year’s biggest irritants are gone (Goodbye Ellis and Dev!), Jennifer Hudson is on board as a Broadway phenom, and Katharine Mhee and Megan Hilty will be busting their lungs as they compete for the role of a lifetime. Pay no attention to the grumps and nit-pickers, because once “Smash” gets its shiny hooks into you, everything else is white noise.
Karla Peterson
