Television: ESPN's Hot Play Caller

Mark Shapiro has a new a.m. show on his plate and the NFL on his back

Mark Shapiro stands at the back of the control room, rocking back and forth like a jittery father watching his kid's first Little League game. The head of production and programming at Disney-owned ESPN, Shapiro is visiting the set of the cable giant's latest project, Cold Pizza, TV's first morning sports gabfest. The show is Shapiro's baby, and like any Little League dad, he can't resist getting involved.

During one segment he orders Kit Hoover, the amped-up co-anchor, to mention her garlic passion as a guest dubbed the World's Fastest Pizzamaker sauces a pie. The show's last seconds wind down, and...

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