No TNF pregame comedy from Don Cheadle following big NFL scandal
Last week, CBS revealed plans to have JAY Z, Rihanna & Kanye West’s popular single “Run This Town” featured as the new opening theme song for their Thursday Night Football series to the season. The segment was set to include narration from actor Don Cheadle, star on network subsidiary SHOWTIME’s House of Lies; but CBS decided to avoid any linkage to the Ray Rice controversy with a former victim of domestic violence.
CBS This Morning anchor Norah O’Donnell, who interviewed Roger Goodell earlier this week, opened the pregame earlier Thursday night for the AFC North meeting between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.
CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus opened up on the last second changing in its opening format saying,
“It’s important to realize we are not overreacting to this story but it is as big a story. We thought journalistically and from a tone standpoint, we needed to have the appropriate tone and coverage. A lot of the production elements we wanted in the show are being eliminated because of time or tone.”
[Source]