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James Brown (born February 25, 1951), commonly called "J.B.", is an American sportscaster known for being the host of The NFL Today on CBS Sports and Thursday Night Football on CBS Sports and the NFL Network. He is also the Special Correspondent for CBS' news division. He was also the former host of the FOX network's NFL pregame show, Fox NFL Sunday.

On Married... with Children, he made two guest appearances as himself during Season 11.

Early Life[]

James Brown was born on February 25, 1951, in Washington, D.C. to John and Maryann Brown. He is the nephew of famed Hollywood actor Clifton Powell.

Brown attended DeMatha Catholic High School and was named to the All-Metropolitan boys basketball teams in 1967 and 1968 with teammates Sid Catlett, Steve Garrett, Aubrey Nash, and Wayne Locket. The team topped the high school national rankings that year under Coach Morgan Wootten; seven players on that squad went to Division I college teams.

Brown later attended Harvard University, graduating with a degree in American government. He played for the school's basketball team, the Harvard Crimson, receiving All-Ivy League honors in his last three seasons and serving as team captain in his senior year.

He was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 1973, but failed to get a roster spot by the mid 1970s. He then went on to work in the corporate world for several years before beginning his career in sportscasting in 1984.

Episode appearance[]

James, along with his then former Fox NFL Sunday co-hosts, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, and Ronnie Lott, made a guest appearance as themselves, in the Thanksgiving holiday themed episode titled "A Bundy Thanksgiving".

James Brown at Aunt Maddie's wake

James at the wake of his "Aunt Maddie" in "A Bundy Thanksgiving" in Season 11 of MWC.

In the episode, James, who was mourning the passing of his Aunt Maddie, meets Al Bundy at her funeral. Al, who grew up ejoying a sweet potato pie from Maddie's bakery every Thanksgiving, found out that she had recently died.

While mourning at the funeral, James introduces himself to Al and Griff, who recognize him as one of the commentators on FOX NFL Sunday. Al then tells James that he had fond memories of Maddie as his parents would take him to her bakery every Thanksgiving and how she would slap him for trying to take a cookie, before letting him have the cookie.

Upon hearing Al's story, he realizes that Maddie had told him about Al before. Believing that she spoke fondly of Al, he asks James if she really did talk about him. He reassures Al that she talked about him quite often, noting that because of what she told him about Al, he was able to become the person that he is today. He then reveals that Maddie would always tell him: "James, do your homework or you'll wind up like Al Bundy!"

During the ceremony, Al learns from Reverend Hightower that Maddie will be buried with one of her last pies. Al eventually comes up with a plan to retrieve the final potato pie she baked for Thanksgiving. As the congregation lowers their heads in prayer, Al pretends to lower his head while standing over Maddie's coffin and tries to quietly snatch the pie. Despite his effort, Al is caught red handed, causing the congregation to get up and try to catch Al. Using his football skills and having Griff run interference, Al is able to outmaneuver everyone, include James, who used his larger body frame to block Al from the door and escape with the pie.

At the end of the episode, James appears on set of FOX NFL Sunday with his fellow commentators. Terry Bradshaw (who previously appeared in "Dud Bowl II"), proceeds to mock Brown for not being able to stop a middle-aged shoe salesman as they watch the instant replay. James then gets into a spat with Howie Long (who appeared in the "Al Bundy's Sports Spectacular") and nearly starts a fight.

James brown damn bundys

James talking with Al "Shoehorn" Bundy before the start of the Super Bowl in "Damn Bundys"

He also makes a guest appearance as himself in the Season 11 episode "Damn Bundys" with Nightmare on Elm Street horror film series star Robert Englund. After Al sold his soul to Lucifer, in exchange to play for the Chicago Bears and lead them to the Super Bowl, James interviews Al just before the start of the game and asks him what he did to get where he is at now. After revealing that he sold his soul, James tells the viewers, particularly the older ones, that anything is possible if they put their soul into it. Later, after Lucifer decides to take away the vitality and athleticism that he granted Al in order to play professionally, James is seen commenting on Al being killed on the field before telling viewers to watch the instant replay.

Appearances[]

External links[]

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