Joyce Rather Fortunate to Be in Nagano

Andrea Joyce, one of the most talented and versatile women in sports broadcasting, got a big break this week.

Dan Rather was supposed to join Jim Nantz as co-host of CBS’ coverage of the Winter Olympics from Nagano, Japan, tonight at 8. But it was decided that Rather will remain in the United States to cover breaking news events in Washington and Iraq.

So Joyce will replace Rather.

She will also serve as co-host with Bill Macatee on CBS’ weekend daytime coverage, as originally scheduled.

President Clinton will make a special appearance tonight, but don’t expect anything juicy. In a taped message, he’ll simply welcome viewers.

TNT’s 50 hours of coverage, except for five one-hour weekend blocks, will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. Executive producer Mike Pearl said TNT’s coverage will be geared toward women, which is what NBC did from Atlanta, only that was in prime time.

TNT, among other things, will have a regular cooking segment as part of its coverage.

ALL-STAR FACTS

NBC will use Isiah Thomas and Bill Walton as commentators on Sunday’s NBA All-Star game. They’ll join play-by-play announcer Bob Costas. . . . NBC’s coverage begins with an “NBA Showtime” pregame show at 3 p.m. The tipoff will come 20 to 30 minutes later.

During a conference call with reporters, Thomas was asked to grade his first year as a commentator. He said it was too early for that. “It would be like tasting a pound cake when it’s only half done,” he said. Walton wanted to know if he was talking about a carrot cake, his favorite.

Producer David Neal said Thomas needs to work on mechanics, such as recognizing when he has to keep his comments short and when he can go a little longer. But he has gotten better with each telecast, Neal said.

ADD ALL-STARS

TNT’s All-Star weekend coverage begins tonight with a one-hour preview at 7.

On Saturday at 9 a.m., NBC, TNT, BET (Black Entertainment Television), Nickelodeon and Telemundo will all televise the “NBA TeamUp Celebration” honoring young people. TNT’s “NBA All-Star Saturday” will be on from 4-7:30 p.m., following its one-hour block of Winter Olympics coverage.

The All-Star Saturday show includes two-on-two games involving NBA and WNBA players, a three-point shootout, a rookie game and a fan trying to win a million dollars by making a three-point shot. There is no slam-dunk contest this year. It was canceled because of lack of interest on the players’ part.

NBC will have a special edition of “NBA Inside Stuff” on Sunday at 2 p.m. that will include much of Saturday’s activities.

BENEFITS

ESPN’s heavily promoted “ESPY Awards” show at New York’s Radio City Music Hall will be televised Monday at 5 p.m., followed by a half-hour post-ESPY show. Then at 9 p.m., after a one-hour “SportCenter,” the 2 1/2-hour show will be repeated. Norm Macdonald is the host. Proceeds from the show benefit the V Foundation, created in honor of the late Jimmy Valvano. . . . The third Bob Chandler Foundation dinner will be held Feb. 13 at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena. The foundation formed in honor of the late Raider broadcaster who played 13 years in the NFL benefits Camp Ronald McDonald and provides USC with a football scholarship. Details: (626) 793-8348.

CLASSY GOODBYE

Frank Gifford, as one would expect, said goodbye with class last Sunday during the NFL Pro Bowl. “The key number is 600 games,” he said. “That’s 1,200 airplanes, 100 hotels in 100 cities. I’m glad I’m off the road.”

Gifford is moving from the “Monday Night Football” broadcast booth to the studio as the co-host of a new pregame show.

Gifford may not have been critical enough, but he was an easy listen and he never got in the way of the game. His thinking was always that the game is what is important, not the analysis.

THE UCLA CONNECTION

Fox Sports West and Fox Sports Net were in danger of losing David Norrie, their outstanding college football commentator, had Terry Donahue taken the Dallas Cowboy coaching job. Donahue was planning to hire Norrie, who played for Donahue at UCLA, as an offensive assistant coach.

But it appears Donahue will be staying with CBS as its lead college football commentator.

CBS has told Donahue it wants to beef up its college football, and the network is putting its money where its mouth is. CBS and the Southeastern Conference just agreed to a contract extension that has an annual rights fee of $40 million, up from $19 million. The Big East is also close to getting an extension. CBS averaged a respectable 3.5 rating for college football last year, and Mike Aresco, CBS Sports vice president of programming, said, “We think we can get it up to a 4.0.”

SHORT WAVES

Because CBS’ Nantz was already in Nagano last weekend, Macatee filled in for him at the AT&T; Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and did an excellent job. With Sunday’s rainout, Macatee had to fill for three hours. “Longest three hours of my life,” Macatee said. “After that, the 14-hour trip to Japan will seem like nothing.” . . . Even without live golf, CBS got a 1.8 rating in Los Angeles, and that was going up against the Lakers and Chicago Bulls on NBC. Speaking of impressive ratings, the “Los Angeles Times High School Sports Show” on Sunday also got a 1.8. . . . Congratulations to Dodger Spanish-language broadcaster Jamie Jarrin for winning baseball’s prestigious Ford C. Frick Award. There isn’t a nicer or more classy gentleman in broadcasting.

ABC, CBS and Fox are looking to spread their financial pain incurred by the new NFL TV contract, asking affiliates to kick in cash or local advertising spots. ABC, which agreed to pay $550 million a year to retain “Monday Night Football,” is reportedly seeking as much as $50 million a year from affiliates, which so far are resisting the network’s tactics. . . . Brad Goode, formerly of CNBC, “Extra,” and Channel 2, has joined Fox Sports News. . . . Jeff Shell has been named executive vice president and chief financial officer of Fox/Liberty networks.

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What Los Angeles Is Watching

A sampling of L.A. Nielsen ratings for Jan. 31-Feb. 1 SATURDAY*--*

Event Ch. Rating Share Speedskating: World Sprint Championships 7 4.4 9 Golf: AT&T; Pebble Beach National Pro-Am 2 3.2 9 College basketball: Washington at UCLA 7 3.2 8 Hockey: Chicago at Kings 11 2.1 6 College basketball: Notre Dame at St. John’s 4 1.9 5 Softball: Pepsi Major League Challenge 4 1.7 4 College basketball: Minnesota at Indiana 2 1.3 4

*--*

SUNDAY

*--*

Event Ch. Rating Share Pro basketball: Chicago at Lakers 4 13.1 31 Pro basketball: Miami at New York 4 6.8 18 Pro football: Pro Bowl 7 5.9 11 Golf: AT&T; Pebble Beach Pro-Am (rainout) 2 1.8 3 College basketball: Michigan at Iowa 2 1.1 3 College basketball: Utah at New Mexico 2 0.7 2 Hockey: Chicago at Mighty Ducks 9 0.7 1

*--*

Note: Each rating point represents 50,092 L.A. households.