There he is, Boomer Esiason.
Mr. Esiason, the Bengals' former quarterback, goes from calling signals to calling roll when he co-hosts ABC-TV's Miss America Pageant Sept. 19.
That's about two weeks after Mr. Esiason broadcasts his first regular-season game for ABC's Monday Night Football.
"Boomer's going to be very prominent in the television world at that time, so it's a good choice for ABC, and it will be fun and challenging for Boomer," said Fred Fried, Mr. Esiason's New Jersey-based TV agent.
ABC teamed Mr. Esiason with another of its stars, Meredith Vieira, co-host of The View. Leonard Horn, president and CEO of the pageant, said, "Boomer is a star on the rise, a role model and a very charismatic fellow. A lot of people who don't usually tune us in will watch him."
Mr. Esiason, who couldn't be reached for comment Monday, is the first "nationally renowned athlete" to host the event in its 78 years, the pageant said.
Soap opera veterans Eva LaRue Callahan and John Callahan did the show last year.
Mr. Esiason won't be the only Queen City connection that night in Atlantic City, N.J. Representing Ohio is Cheya Watkins, 21, of Evendale, a freshman at the University of Cincinnati.
