The Kentucky Derby has been held since 1875, and this year the sport of kings will have its jesters on hand.
This year’s Derby will be run on Saturday, and to spice up its coverage, NBC is calling in practically everyone from the network to get involved. In what it calls a “Big Event Strategy” in a press release, NBC promises it will be “focusing on the food, fashion, celebrity and entertainment spectacle that is the Kentucky Derby.”
What that means, precisely, is that many of its programs will feature Derby-themed segments. More than that, however, NBCUniversal theme parks will blast Derby commercials on their jumbotrons, and even the iVillage women’s digital brand will feature “coverage all week of party planning, fashion, celebrity and style of the Derby.”
What will probably be most entertaining to viewers, however, will be the comedy stylings of the Saturday Night Live cast and Jimmy Fallon.
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon will feature two segments during his Friday night show with a Derby twist, including his “Puppy Predictor” running gag and a faux interview with a Derby horse. SNL, meanwhile, will have this week’s host, actor Zach Galifianakis, and the rest of the cast contribute content to be aired during the race coverage.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Churchill Downs
