During the late 80s and early 90s, at a time when the NFL was beginning to rise in popularity, a highlight show on late Sunday afternoon would change the way any highlight show would cover the NFL.
NFL Primetime was a staple on ESPN from 1987 to about the mid-2000's. The network renamed it The Blitz for a short time towards the end, but it wasn't the same. NFL Primetime had that in-your-face mentality to get you to watch the highlights of the day in the NFL. On the forefront of this show was an anchor named Chris Berman. Berman started when the network began in 1979 and really separated himself from the other anchors with his outlandish catchphrases and nicknames. His bravado in his voice made people tune in to see what he had to say. The phrases "He...could...go....all...the...way", "Rumblin'....Bumblin......Stumblin", and "FUMBLE!" are etched into many of our football loving brains. His nicknames were clever also. "Scott 'Won't You Let Me Take You On A' Secules", "Ben 'Amazing Technicolor Dream' Coates" and "Mike Alstott 'You're In Good Hands With Alstott" have been catchy even to this day.
Joining Berman would be former Denver Broncos linebacker Tom Jackson. Jackson was the one responsible of breaking down the play as the highlight was running. He made you understand what happened during that play. He could say "Aikman did a pump fake on the corner Nate Odomes as Michael Irvin did a slant route and Aikman hit Irvin for the touchdown because of the pump fake". Jackson would join Berman in some tomfoolery. Whenever an NFL player from the University of Louisville would make a good play during the highlights, Berman would say "Mark Clayton from?" and Jackson would respond "LOUISVILLE!" honoring his alma mater. Jackson would retire from ESPN after 29 years.
They had a third person who had a Shakespearan aspect to the game, but knew the betting odds of the game named Pete Axthelm. Axthelm was ESPN's version of Jimmy "The Greek", but he was tamer. Axthelm would throw his two cents in, if something wasn't wrong with the NFL. Sadly, during this run, I didn't get to see more of Axthelm because he passed away in early 1991 around the time I actually taped every show of NFL Primetime. Yep, I did that. VHS was remarkable back then.
NFL Primetime had a rotating third person doing the highlights for the lesser teams starting with the late great John Saunders. Saunders was brilliant in his role, but he had bigger roles at ESPN, so they decided to a female perspective on the show. ESPN brought in Robin Roberts, (pre Good Morning America) and Roberts was great at her role covering the highlights, then in 1995, they replaced Roberts with Bill Pidto. Pidto was ok, but he didn't draw me into the show then. In 1997, they replaced Pidto with an upstart anchor named the late great Stuart Scott. Scott brought energy into that show, but he got bigger roles at ESPN around the 2000's.
The background music on this show just meshed with the highlights. Berman is doing the big game of the day, when and you hear "International Statement", it makes realize this is the game of the day. Since I'm a music lover, this show just drew me in.
So, enclosing, NFL Primetime was ahead of its time. NFL Network can do that now, but?
Sources: The Internet, and me remembering old NFL Primetime footage.