SportsCenter: AM Has the Best Comedy Team on Sports Television

The best comedy team on television today might just reside in the world of sports. I am talking about Gary Striewski and Randy Scott on ESPN’s SportsCenter: AM. Striewski and Scott embrace a similar strain of mischievous humor. Both have made names for themselves at ESPN separately, but when paired together, they create the kind of special chemistry that rarely happens on television.

SportsCenter anchors have long been known for sarcasm, humor, raised-eyebrow commentary, and general wisecracking, but Striewski and Scott take it to another level. From props and costumes to ribald humor, they are certainly a unique duo. Striewski and Scott have no envelope to push and no lines to cross. The result is a freewheeling and creative version of SportsCenter unlike any other. They are still decked out in suits and ties, but that’s where their similarities to other SportsCenter anchors end.

Striewski and Scott sound different and approach sports differently. Their whimsical, carefree style is ideal for the morning time slot. Great comedic teams play off each other, and Striewski and Scott are no exception. Their deadpan humor and spontaneous wit are highly effective.

On SportsCenter: AM, you truly get the feeling that neither anchor knows what the other is going to do or say next. SportsCenter: AM is scripted, of course, but with this pair, a sharp swerve away from that script is inevitable. If something quirky comes up in a highlight or sound bite, Striewski or Scott jumps all over it.

They remind me of two contemporary late-night talk show hosts: Craig Ferguson and Jimmy Fallon.

They possess Ferguson’s daring unpredictability combined with Fallon’s childlike tomfoolery. Striewski and Scott never force their humor on the audience. Instead, they work together in a smooth and natural manner. Successfully mixing sports and comedy on a highlight show is very difficult, yet Striewski and Scott do it better than any duo on sports television. They are unafraid to try new things, and if a joke or gag falls flat, they recover with self-deprecating humor.

They know who they are and understand what they are doing. In an odd way, they stay in their lane, but that lane seems to widen with every edition of SportsCenter: AM.

Striewski’s and Scott’s collective sense of humor is both highbrow and hokey. They deliver clever lines and witty turns of phrase while still appreciating the cheap laugh, as Scott recently did by wearing a kilt in homage to the Scottish FIFA World Cup team.

While Striewski and Scott come across as brothers from other mothers, their individual styles are not identical. Striewski is like the kid brother you’ve never had and maybe never wanted. He’s a regular guy, as evidenced by many of his family-related social media posts. Scott is a bit more adventurous and willing to take comedic chances. Neither fits the mold of the archetypal cookie-cutter, square-jawed broadcaster.

They are less Huntley and Brinkley and more Beavis and Butt-Head—almost nerdy in their coolness.

One of the best attributes of this pair is that they do not try to one-up each other. It is not a competition to see who can be funnier. While they are easily the most creative team in ESPN’s daily SportsCenter lineup, they never push things too far. They recognize that they are, at their core, news anchors who often have to present serious and sobering stories. Both possess the ability to pivot seamlessly from humor to hard news.

They have earned that credibility, and their inanity never diminishes their integrity.

Striewski and Scott opened this past Monday’s episode of SportsCenter: AM by narrating highlights of the exciting FIFA World Cup match between Canada and South Africa. Both men understood the drama of the tightly contested matchup. They carried that same energy into the quadruple-overtime WNBA game between Portland and Washington. Whether you were a fan of soccer or basketball was immaterial. Striewski and Scott brought the highlights to life by interjecting comments and conversation as the clips rolled.

Comedy is part of the SportsCenter: AM repertoire, but both anchors know when to turn the laughs up and when to dial them back.

I loved the way they ran through highlights of the final contest in Boston’s four-game sweep of the Yankees. Striewski and Scott did not just tell viewers what happened. They also incorporated meaningful statistics, such as Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray recording the 2,000th strikeout of his career. For Striewski and Scott, the show is not all about them or the next joke. It’s about sports. They deliver the news in a way that’s both fun and inventive, combining substance with effervescence.

There is a fluidity to a Striewski-Scott highlight. One opens the description but leaves room for the other to chime in, creating a natural rhythm. Again, neither tries to upstage the other. It is a collective effort and a beautiful thing to watch. Beyond highlights, Striewski and Scott also share interviews effectively. They alternate questions naturally, as they did with ESPN soccer analyst Alejandro Moreno.

In this case, the SportsCenter: AM humor rubbed off on the guest as Moreno donned a red, white, and blue hat and mask while talking about the United States team. The anchors loved it as Striewski started chanting, “One of us!” and Scott sarcastically said that Moreno’s gesture was “freedom personified.”

On Monday’s edition of SportsCenter: AM, Striewski and Scott ran through their Sunday Standouts, featuring sports ranging from golf to Formula 1 racing. From there, they segued into the Monday Matchup segment, previewing the week’s biggest games. Their versatility and depth allow them to interact naturally with ESPN’s talented roster of reporters. NBA insider Shams Charania joined them on this edition, offering a comprehensive look at the week’s NBA free-agent frenzy.

Striewski and Scott close SportsCenter: AM with the traditional Top 10 plays, but that is about the only thing traditional about this twosome. These guys are the very best at turning a sports news show into a dialogue, and their lighthearted style brings viewers into the conversation.

Striewski and Scott do not claim to be comedians, but they are hardly your typical studio desk jockeys. In truth, they are beyond labels. They are simply outstanding SportsCenter anchors who showcase their inimitable humor, genuinely enjoy working together, and produce a broadcast that is equally informative and entertaining.

I’ll wake up to that any day.

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John Molori

John Molori is a weekly columnist for Barrett Sports Media. He has previously contributed to ESPNW, Patriots Football Weekly, Golf Content Network, Methuen Life Magazine, and wrote a syndicated Media Blitz column in the New England region, which was published by numerous outlets including The Boston Metro, Providence Journal, Lowell Sun, and the Eagle-Tribune. His career also includes fourteen years in television as a News and Sports Reporter, Host, Producer working for Continental Cablevision, MediaOne, and AT&T. He can be reached on Twitter @MoloriMedia.

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