A key behind-the-scenes figure for ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption is retiring. Tom Howard is stepping down as the show’s director, a job he’s had since the show’s launch in 2001.
“Tom has been the man who’s called the shots in the control room since Day 1, and now he’s retiring,” said Tony Kornheiser in a tribute to Howard during the “Happy Trails” segment at the end of Monday’s show.
“He’s younger than I am, so what the hell am I still doing here? For more than 20 years, Tom has taken all the pieces to our daily puzzle and made them look and sound great on the air. We are indebted for everything he’s done to make this show what it’s been, and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that it doesn’t all go to hell without him.”
Tony Kornheiser & @RealMikeWilbon with a great tribute tonight on @PTI to the show's longtime director Tom Howard, who is retiring after 20 years.
— bill hofheimer (@bhofheimer_espn) January 31, 2022
A great nugget: Howard also directed the DC talk & debate show "Equal Time" when Tony K made his first appearance on TV. pic.twitter.com/apJU1uVgBr
“Thanks for making Tony and me look good on TV for 20 years,” added Michael Wilbon, who needled Kornheiser for not attending the going-away party for Howard. (Very on-brand for Mr. Tony.)
As Kornheiser and ESPN senior communications director Bill Hofheimer mentioned, Howard’s work with the former Washington Post sports columnist goes beyond their time together on PTI. Howard was behind the camera when Kornheiser first appeared on television. The guess is that neither of them would have predicted that Mr. Tony’s TV career might go as long and become as successful as it has.
When PTI celebrated its 20-year anniversary on the air, Howard told Hofheimer in an ESPN Front Row interview what’s made the show so successful.
“Unlike so many talking head shows, the energy and banter between the two, especially when on set together, is like a sporting event,” said Howard. “You don’t know what’s going to happen because it’s unscripted for the most part. Learning the guys’ personalities, knowing what’s going to trigger a reaction, and catching it as it happens make cutting the show fun and fast-paced.”
As much as Kornheiser and Wilbon are associated with PTI, the show and ESPN have give due praise to those behind the scenes, including producers Erik Rydholm and Matt Kelleher. Acknowledging Howard’s role in the show’s success fits right in with the team sentiment that the production has promoted from the beginning.
Ian Casselberry is a sports media columnist for BSM. He has previously written and edited for Awful Announcing, The Comeback, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, MLive, Bleacher Report, and SB Nation. You can find him on Twitter @iancass or reach him by email at iancass@gmail.com.
