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Stars To Descend Upon Tampa For Big Game

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By WALT BELCHER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 23, 2009

The inauguration is over, so let the Super Bowl party begin. We move from the warm afterglow of the Obama drama to that annual celebration of pigskin prowess and spectacular beer commercials.

It's right here in our backyard, Super Bowl XLIII, Tampa's moment in the national spotlight.

It brings to town the likes of Pamela Anderson, Bruce Springsteen, Conan O'Brien, John Madden, Al Michaels, the "Today" show, Jordin Sparks, Faith Hill, Jennifer Hudson, Rihanna, Enrique Iglesias, Fall Out Boy, The ESPN crew, Martha Stewart, Snoop Dogg, Jenny McCarthy, Ashton Kutcher, Kevin Costner, Carmen Electra, Kim Kardashian and the ladies of the Lingerie Bowl - just to name a few.

Cast members from "The Office" may show up, too.

Oh yeah, there will be a slew of NFL stars and the game itself.

We've come a long way, baby, since the first Tampa-hosted Super Bowl in 1984 when the celebrity roster included Mel Torme, John Denver, Lou Rawls, Susan Anton, Barry Manilow, Phyllis George, Bob Hope, Al Hurt and Howard Cosell.

SUPER MEMORY: Madden was here in 1984, too. The guy's been around forever and he still looks the same. I was here also, but I don't look the same.

CBS carried the game and my favorite memory is a network pre-game party held at the University Club, a swanky members-only restaurant on the top floor of the Tampa City Center.

I arrived early to find CBS sports announcer Pat Summerall holding court at the bar. He was impressed by the breathtaking view of Tampa Bay from the enormous windows of the club.

"But wait until John gets here," he said, laughing. "You gotta see this."

Madden arrived later. It took him awhile to get to there because he stopped at various floors along the way to get out of that claustrophobic elevator.

When he finally stepped out, he took one look at the windows and immediately turned his back to the view. He never turned around. He didn't see the Bay. He didn't venture far into the room either. His legendary fear of heights is real.

MEDIA WATCH: WFLA, Channel 8, plans to go all-out for the Super Bowl. The News Channel 8 team will be broadcasting live from the NFL Experience at Raymond James Stadium beginning Saturday.

The anchors will be beaming in from a specially built set. You can see Gayle Sierens, Keith Cate, Steve Jerve and the rest of crew in action through game day on Feb. 1.

Meanwhile, the ESPN set is going up this weekend at the park behind the St. Pete Times Forum.

Beginning at 6 a.m. Monday, fans of ESPN will be able to see their favorite network anchors, reporters and personalities in action at the Cotanchobee Park, 601 Channelside Drive. Say hi to Chris Berman for me.

ESPN will be in front of the new "Tampa's Public Mood Ring," a 25-foot high steel sculpture of a Super Bowl championship ring that changes colors.

The guys from ESPN's Mike & Mike in the Morning can have a lot of fun with the interactive Web site where online visitors change the colors of the ring by "rating the mood" of news stories related to the Super Bowl.

VIDBITS: Sigourney Weaver makes her TV film debut in "Prayers for Bobby," a Lifetime movie airing at 9 p.m. Saturday. It's based on the true story of Mary Griffith, who didn't accept her son's homosexuality until it was too late to save him. Devoutly religious, she tried to "cure" his homosexuality through prayer. It's a well-crafted drama with a lesson in tolerance.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

"Friday Night Lights," 9 p.m., NBC

It's only the second episode of a new season and if you missed it last week, you can easily catch up. There's a new kid in Dillon whose father is big trouble for the coach.

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