ESPN Upgrades Its Spelling Bee Coverage

rickchand — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:40:35 EDT

Hate to ruin your day, but Mike & Mike are out as hosts of the Scripps National Spelling Bee coverage on ESPN and ABC in May. Taking their place will be the perky Tom Bergeron — whose work on America's Funniest Home Videos was once again overlooked by the Nobel Committee — and a very special sideline reporter.

It's buried in the press release, but not in our hearts: The lovely Erin Andrews will also be on hand for the prestigious event. Hey, why should Little Leaguers have all the fun?

ESPN's live telecast (simulcast on ESPN360.com) is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., ET. ESPN360.com will provide coverage of the quarterfinal rounds from 2:00-5:30 p.m., ET on Thursday, May 29 on ESPN 360.com. ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews will be a correspondent for both the ABC and ESPN broadcasts.

Where exactly the "sidelines" are marked at a spelling bee is unclear, but they'll figure it out. Here's what I imagine the first interview will be like:

ANDREWS: "Kevin, you were knocked out on the word 'ubiquitous,' which you spelled 'b-r-e-a-s-t-s.' What happened?"
KEVIN: (Blushes) "Well, I ..." (faints).

That would be only slightly more embarrassing than this.

Tom Bergeron Hosts The 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee [The Futon Critic]

It's Clearly Time For Spelling Bee Instant Replay

Rick Chandler — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 11:35:06 EST

Some Seahawks fans could maybe learn a thing or two from 14-year-old Sara Beckman. The Reno, Nev. eighth grader was dissed by the refs at the Washoe County Spelling Bee on Tuesday, ousted by a judge even though Beckman had correctly spelled the word in question, "discernible." Beckman's parents, dictionary in hand, protested the gaffe — but not until later. That wasn't enough for spelling bee officials, who said that, like in a football game, the protest had to come before the next play was run. To that, Beckman's parents replied, can you spell "lawsuit?" We pick up the story from there via the Reno Gazette-Journal:

After lawsuits were threatened in the spelling bee disqualification of an eighth-grade girl, organizers decided Thursday that the top three finishers will advance to the state competition. That means Sara Beckman, eliminated from the Washoe County Spelling Bee despite correctly spelling "discernible," now will compete in Las Vegas later this month.

Wait until we get to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May. That's when things really get cutthroat.

Top Three Finishers to Attend State Spelling Bee [Reno Gazette-Journal]

Deadspin: Spelling Bee

ESPN Upgrades Its Spelling Bee Coverage

It's Clearly Time For Spelling Bee Instant Replay