ESPN Upgrades Its Spelling Bee Coverage

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]