Comedian Nikki Glaser is making waves in the world of football by blending humor and sports, offering a fresh take on postgame coverage on Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football.
From the Tom Brady Roast to Football Commentary
Glaser first captured football fans’ attention during her standout performance at the Tom Brady Roast in May. Her comedic wit and candid approach earned her a spot as a recurring figure on Prime Video’s postgame show, where she presents her “Late Hits” segment.
“The football audience is kind of familiar with me already,” Glaser explained, noting how her self-professed lack of deep football knowledge has become part of her charm.
Learning Football Through Comedy
Glaser’s journey into football fandom began modestly. While she started casually watching Kansas City Chiefs games due to Taylor Swift’s relationship with Travis Kelce, her interest soon evolved.
“I went my whole life putting on blinders because I was scared to look stupid if I tried to learn,” Glaser shared. “But football fans are eager for you to understand and explain.”
She likened learning about football to picking up a new language, with her humor serving as a tool to navigate the sport’s intricacies.
Live Comedy Meets Live Sports
Unlike traditional pregame comedy sketches, Glaser’s “Late Hits” segment is performed live after games and often roasts both teams. This real-time approach challenges her and her team to craft jokes on the fly, reacting to the unfolding events of the game.
Spoon Daftary, Prime Video’s senior coordinating producer, commended the risk taken with live stand-up comedy on a sports show:
“There’s no way we could have rehearsed what our first one was going to be like. None of us knew what the reaction would be in the crowd.”
Boosting Engagement and Viewership
Glaser’s segments have contributed to an 11% increase in Prime’s postgame show viewership compared to last season, with an average of 2.05 million viewers. This success even surpasses some network late-night shows, underscoring the appeal of her unique blend of comedy and football.
A New Era of Sports Entertainment
By combining humor, relatability, and a willingness to learn, Nikki Glaser is reshaping the way audiences engage with football postgame coverage. Her ability to entertain while embracing her learning curve adds a refreshing dynamic to traditional sports programming.
