Tim Green to Host 'A Current Affair'

Fox Sports Commentator, Best-Selling Author, Lawyer and Former NFL Star to Host Contemporary Version of Historic News Magazine Program

First-Run Syndicated Strip to Launch This Spring

LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK, Jan. 13 -- Fox Sports commentator, best-selling author, columnist, practicing lawyer and former NFL star defensive end Tim Green will host the contemporary version of the groundbreaking news magazine show "A Current Affair." The announcement was jointly made today by Bob Cook, president and COO, of Twentieth Television; and Peter Brennan, creator and executive producer of "A Current Affair."

Green, who has been called by both Sports Illustrated and the Los Angeles Times the "Renaissance Man" of sports, will serve as host of the half-hour first-run syndicated strip, scheduled to launch on the Fox owned-and-operated broadcast stations this spring. Distributed by Twentieth Television, "A Current Affair" also will be available to the broadcast station community throughout the United States for its spring debut. Veteran producers Bob Young and John Tomlin also will executive produce the program.

Regarding his joining "A Current Affair," Green stated, "I am very excited to have the opportunity to host 'A Current Affair' and to have the chance to work with industry heavyweights like Peter Brennan, Bob Young and John Tomlin, and Twentieth Television. They have a history of uncovering unusual stories that have fascinated viewing audiences for years and I know people will be eagerly anticipating the show's return."

Cook stated, "When we decided to bring back 'A Current Affair,' we started to look at a number of people who could deliver the whole 'package' -- honesty, charisma, strong on-air presence, a witty sense of humor and the ability to tell a story that engages everyone. Far and above, Tim Green is the person who fulfills these requirements and he is the perfect person to host 'A Current Affair.' With Tim's allure, Peter Brennan's vision and fascinating stories no other program will unveil, we are now ready to fast-track 'A Current Affair' for a spring launch."

Brennan said, "Having worked in news for many years, I can recognize those individuals who have the attributes to carry a high-profile news magazine strip such as 'A Current Affair.' Once we discovered Tim, we knew we had the right individual to host the show. His intelligence, broadcasting talent, unique take on news, good looks and creativity are only a few of the overwhelming factors that confirm why we've selected Tim."

In 1986, Green was selected in the first round of the NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons, for whom he was a star defensive end for eight years. Green, a consensus All-American player recently inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, was also valedictorian of his undergraduate class and an honors law school graduate of Syracuse University. He has used his education and athletic experiences to become an increasingly popular national sports celebrity. During the fall, he broadcasts NFL games weekly for Fox and commentates on life in the NFL for National Public Radio. His other broadcast experiences have included sports contributor for ABC's "Good Morning America," Court TV's "Pros and Cons," Fox Sports Net's primetime Emmy Award-nominated show "NFL Total Access" and Comedy Central's "Battlebots."

Green, a practicing lawyer in the New York firm of Hiscock & Barclay, is the New York Times bestselling author of ten highly successful suspense novels, including the thriller The First 48; his upcoming novel Exact Revenge, to be released in May 2005; as well the non-fiction New York Times bestseller The Dark Side of the Game, which was featured on "60 Minutes." He is also the author of a memoir entitled A Man and His Mother: An Adopted Son's Search, which was featured in People Magazine and on "Entertainment Tonight" and ABC's "Prime Time." The movie rights to this memoir have been purchased by CBS for a movie of the week.

"A Current Affair" debuted in 1986, when it immediately became a television sensation and was one of the more popular first-run syndicated programs among viewers. Soon, its influence was felt by other programs in the market that, to this day, attempt to mirror "A Current Affair's" attitude, editorial style and success. The program averaged a 6.4 HH rating while on the air, reaching a series high 8.3 NTI for the 1989-90 season. During its ten year run, the half-hour strip set itself apart from other news magazine programs with its distinctive and innovative approach to the many crime, entertainment and gossip stories it reported. In 1989, "A Current Affair" received an Emmy Award nomination for "Outstanding Informational Series."

SOURCE Twentieth Television