Brian Kenny (sportscaster)
Encyclopedia
Brian Kenny is a sportscaster
for the MLB Network
. He previously worked for ESPN
, where he most recently anchored the 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter
for ESPN
, served as the host of ESPN2
's Friday Night Fights. and had his own show on ESPN Radio
named The Brian Kenny Show.
at Long Island News Tonight at NY Tech.
Before working for ESPN, he worked for WTZA
in Kingston, New York
.
SportsCenter
, and was the host of Friday Night Fights on ESPN2. On Friday Night Fights, he was known for his heated, yet entertaining debates with some of the best boxers in the world, particularly Floyd Mayweather. He also previously hosted Baseball Tonight
, and The Hot List
on ESPNEWS
. Kenny also hosted the ESPN Classic
series The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame...
, which debuted in 2005.
In 2005, he hosted a brand-new special series called Ringside
. It runs three to six hours long an episode and featured on each episode one great boxer. Among the boxers that were spotlighted on the show were Joe Louis
, Muhammad Ali
, and Mike Tyson
.
Kenny appears as himself in the 2006 film
Rocky Balboa
and in the 2007 film Resurrecting the Champ
, and also served with fellow ESPN personality John Saunders as the "announcing team" for a home demolition during an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
that aired on November 2, 2008. (The episode involved a project in which the Extreme Makeover team built a new home and gym for a family that operated a youth boxing gym in Geneva, New York
.)
Prior to hosting "The Brian Kenny Show" on ESPN Radio, he co-hosted with Max Kellerman
"Kellerman and Kenny" on ESPN Radio in New York City.
. His final show was on September 2, 2011, with the 6:00 edition of SportsCenter. Kenny made his debut on MLB Tonight
on September 19, 2011, according to USA Today
. Kenny also provides studio updates during live games and hosts late night show Quick Pitch.
in 2003, was named Sports Illustrated
's Media Personality of the Year in 2004, and received the 2005 Sam Taub Award
as the Boxing Writers Association's "Boxing Broadcaster of the Year". He also received ESPN's "Volunteer of the Year" award in 2007.
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
for the MLB Network
MLB Network
MLB Network is an American television specialty channel dedicated to professional baseball. It is primarily owned by Major League Baseball. Comcast, DirecTV, Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications have minority ownership of the new network, with MLB retaining a controlling two-thirds share...
. He previously worked for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, where he most recently anchored the 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, served as the host of ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
's Friday Night Fights. and had his own show on ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
named The Brian Kenny Show.
Early career
Kenny has a BFA from New York Institute of Technology and also attended St. John's University (New York City). He got his start as a journalistJournalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
at Long Island News Tonight at NY Tech.
Before working for ESPN, he worked for WTZA
WRNN-TV
WRNN-TV is an American independent television station licensed to Kingtson, New York.Broadcasting on digital channel 48, WRNN broadcasts a schedule of mainly infomercials and home-shopping programming. The station's studios are located in Rye Brook, New York, and its transmitter is based on Beacon...
in Kingston, New York
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
.
ESPN
Kenny anchored the 6:00 pm Eastern Time ZoneET
- Film and television:*E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, a 1982 film*Entertainment Tonight, a daily television entertainment news show-Gaming:*E.T...
SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
, and was the host of Friday Night Fights on ESPN2. On Friday Night Fights, he was known for his heated, yet entertaining debates with some of the best boxers in the world, particularly Floyd Mayweather. He also previously hosted Baseball Tonight
Baseball Tonight
Baseball Tonight is a program that airs on ESPN. The show, which recapitulates the day's Major League Baseball action, has been on the air since 1990.-Air times:...
, and The Hot List
The Hot List
Sports Hit List was a news, talk and analysis television show and also the flagship program on ESPNEWS. Since its debut in January 2004, the program aired Monday through Friday from 3-6pm ET.-About the show:...
on ESPNEWS
ESPNEWS
ESPNEWS , launched on November 1, 1996, is a 24-hour-a-day sports news television channel...
. Kenny also hosted the ESPN Classic
ESPN Classic
ESPN Classic is a sports channel that features reruns of famous sporting events, sports documentaries, and sports themed movies. Such programs includes biographies of famous sports figures or a rerun of a famous World Series or Super Bowl, often with added commentary on the event...
series The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame...
The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame...
The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame... is a sports series that debuted in 2005 and aired on ESPN2 and ESPN Classic. The show ran from April 2005 to April 2007. The show was canceled when ESPN Classic phased out the production of original programs. Some episodes were planned but never completed...
, which debuted in 2005.
In 2005, he hosted a brand-new special series called Ringside
Ringside
Ringside is an indie rock band from Hollywood, California, originally formed in Los Angeles. They specializing in fusing indie rock with electronic beats. The band consists of Scott Thomas, who does the vocals, guitar, and keyboard, Kirk Hellie , Sandy Chila , Max Allyn , and actor Balthazar Getty...
. It runs three to six hours long an episode and featured on each episode one great boxer. Among the boxers that were spotlighted on the show were Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
, Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
, and Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
.
Kenny appears as himself in the 2006 film
2006 in film
- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2006...
Rocky Balboa
Rocky Balboa (film)
Rocky Balboa is the sixth and final film in the Rocky franchise, directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone. The film, which was also written by Stallone who plays underdog boxer Rocky Balboa, is the sixth film in the Rocky series that began with the Academy Award-winning Rocky thirty years...
and in the 2007 film Resurrecting the Champ
Resurrecting the Champ
Resurrecting the Champ is a 2007 American drama film directed by Rod Lurie and written by Michael Bortman and Allison Burnett, based on the L.A. Times Magazine article by J.R. Moehringer. It stars Samuel L. Jackson, Josh Hartnett and Alan Alda, among others. It was filmed in Calgary, Alberta,...
, and also served with fellow ESPN personality John Saunders as the "announcing team" for a home demolition during an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is a reality television series providing home renovations for less fortunate families and community schools etc...
that aired on November 2, 2008. (The episode involved a project in which the Extreme Makeover team built a new home and gym for a family that operated a youth boxing gym in Geneva, New York
Geneva, New York
Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...
.)
Prior to hosting "The Brian Kenny Show" on ESPN Radio, he co-hosted with Max Kellerman
Max Kellerman
Max Kellerman is an American boxing commentator and sports talk radio host based in Los Angeles. He currently appears as a color commentator on HBO World Championship Boxing and HBO Boxing After Dark and as of January 3, 2011, is hosting a midday talk show on 710 ESPN radio in Los Angeles.Prior...
"Kellerman and Kenny" on ESPN Radio in New York City.
MLB Network
Kenny announced on the Aug. 31, 2011 edition of "The Brian Kenny Show" that he was leaving ESPN to become an anchor with MLB NetworkMLB Network
MLB Network is an American television specialty channel dedicated to professional baseball. It is primarily owned by Major League Baseball. Comcast, DirecTV, Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications have minority ownership of the new network, with MLB retaining a controlling two-thirds share...
. His final show was on September 2, 2011, with the 6:00 edition of SportsCenter. Kenny made his debut on MLB Tonight
MLB Tonight
MLB Tonight is the signature program that airs on MLB Network and is simulcast on MLB Network Radio. The show offers complete coverage of all Major League Baseball games from 6pm ET till 1am ET during the regular season. It is taped live in Studio 3 of the MLB Network facility in Secaucus, New...
on September 19, 2011, according to USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
. Kenny also provides studio updates during live games and hosts late night show Quick Pitch.
Awards and nominations
Brian won a National Sports Emmy for Baseball TonightBaseball Tonight
Baseball Tonight is a program that airs on ESPN. The show, which recapitulates the day's Major League Baseball action, has been on the air since 1990.-Air times:...
in 2003, was named Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
's Media Personality of the Year in 2004, and received the 2005 Sam Taub Award
Sam Taub Award
The Sam Taub Award is a yearly award presented by the International Boxing Hall of Fame for Excellence in Broadcasting Journalism. The award is named after Sam Taub, a journalist and radio broadcaster who is best known for his work covering boxing. It is similar to Major League Baseball's Ford C....
as the Boxing Writers Association's "Boxing Broadcaster of the Year". He also received ESPN's "Volunteer of the Year" award in 2007.