Mike Tirico to host daily afternoon show on NBCSN starting Monday

NBC’s Mike Tirico is returning to hosting a daily talk show, which will focus on the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the sports world.

The hour-long “Lunch Talk Live” will air weekdays beginning at noon on NBCSN. Tirico will host the show remotely from his home in Michigan.

This is the first time in 11 years that Tirico is doing an afternoon talk show. He co-hosted “The Mike Tirico Show” on ESPN Radio from 2007-09 with Scott Van Pelt.

Tirico is hoping the show partially will fill the void created by an absence of live events.

“When you see people seeing how much they miss games or seeing their favorite teams it does give you an energy,” Tirico said during an interview with the Associated Press. “People do love the entertainment and escape value of sports.”

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will be one of the featured guests during the show’s first week, with others to be announced. The program will feature current and former athletes, NBC commentators and other figures from sports and media.

“We’re excited to bring viewers fresh programming every day with unique, topical conversations from prominent individuals in all corners of sports,” NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood said in a statement. “This will be a daily lunch date to share sports and stories we all miss during these unique times.”