Ernie Johnson

No, you know, it is. It's just a it's when you do something the same way year after year after year after year, I've thought in past years, I said, you know, this year I'm not going to keep a file on this or I'm not going to update this every day. And I tried it for like a day and a half. And I was like, this feels very strange. I got to go back to the way I've always done things.

So no, that's it's preparation takes away any, and I don't want to say nervousness, I'm not nervousness, it's not nerves anymore like when you first start out, but it's just like any apprehension that you have, It just takes it away because, you know, you're prepared for anything.

So no, that's it's preparation takes away any, and I don't want to say nervousness, I'm not nervousness, it's not nerves anymore like when you first start out, but it's just like any apprehension that you have, It just takes it away because, you know, you're prepared for anything.

So if somebody breaks a backboard and they say, hey, you got to talk for 45 minutes, you go, OK, you sure it's not an hour?

So if somebody breaks a backboard and they say, hey, you got to talk for 45 minutes, you go, OK, you sure it's not an hour?

Well, it's been tough, and it hits you at different points. I think originally when it was floated out there, the talk became stronger that, hey, TNT might lose the NBA. You're kind of saying, oh, no, that's not going to happen. We've been together way too long.

Well, it's been tough, and it hits you at different points. I think originally when it was floated out there, the talk became stronger that, hey, TNT might lose the NBA. You're kind of saying, oh, no, that's not going to happen. We've been together way too long.

but then as it became a reality it was it's a jolt and it's sad and you think about all the years you've been around there and and and the relationship we've had with the nba and to think that's going to end um that's tough and so like opening night was was hard we were in boston And I just kind of stood out there as we were getting ready to do this live show.

but then as it became a reality it was it's a jolt and it's sad and you think about all the years you've been around there and and and the relationship we've had with the nba and to think that's going to end um that's tough and so like opening night was was hard we were in boston And I just kind of stood out there as we were getting ready to do this live show.

And I was like, this is the last time we're going to do this on TNT. It's been a year like that where it's like, oh, this is our last all-star. Oh, I better go to Kenny's party. It's his last all-star party. So it's been difficult. We've been, you know, tried to...

And I was like, this is the last time we're going to do this on TNT. It's been a year like that where it's like, oh, this is our last all-star. Oh, I better go to Kenny's party. It's his last all-star party. So it's been difficult. We've been, you know, tried to...

keep everybody up you know keep you know because it's been tough not just us i mean it's the whole crew it's everybody it's everybody we did a show the other night from the front lawn where where ted you know got the company started and i saw faces i hadn't seen in a while who came back just to be part of the show because we're a family and um And so it has that kind of an impact on you.

keep everybody up you know keep you know because it's been tough not just us i mean it's the whole crew it's everybody it's everybody we did a show the other night from the front lawn where where ted you know got the company started and i saw faces i hadn't seen in a while who came back just to be part of the show because we're a family and um And so it has that kind of an impact on you.

No, that became like this narrative. Like, Ernie's not going to go anywhere. He won't do anything. No, my feeling has always been, look, I... There's been an Ernie Johnson at Turner since the early 70s when my dad was doing Braves games on TBS. And then I've been there for 35 years, so we're kind of associated with TBS TNT.

No, that became like this narrative. Like, Ernie's not going to go anywhere. He won't do anything. No, my feeling has always been, look, I... There's been an Ernie Johnson at Turner since the early 70s when my dad was doing Braves games on TBS. And then I've been there for 35 years, so we're kind of associated with TBS TNT.

So it'll always be my place, but you'd have to be a knucklehead not to see, okay, where is this going to go? And this is before, here comes a plan that says, hey, you can continue the show. It's just going to air somewhere else. So, no, you would consider all that. But, yeah, there was, it made me laugh when, you know, folks, well, Ernie's staying at TNT. He's, no, I mean... Look, it's business.

So it'll always be my place, but you'd have to be a knucklehead not to see, okay, where is this going to go? And this is before, here comes a plan that says, hey, you can continue the show. It's just going to air somewhere else. So, no, you would consider all that. But, yeah, there was, it made me laugh when, you know, folks, well, Ernie's staying at TNT. He's, no, I mean... Look, it's business.

It's business that cost us the NBA on TNT. It's business that dictates, you know, kind of where you find yourself afterwards. But I'm gratified that we've hit on something here where we can stay together. We can do the show. It's not going to air on TNT, but we're going to have the same crew, same production folks. So basically, it's just going to be it's us again. It's just airing somewhere else.

It's business that cost us the NBA on TNT. It's business that dictates, you know, kind of where you find yourself afterwards. But I'm gratified that we've hit on something here where we can stay together. We can do the show. It's not going to air on TNT, but we're going to have the same crew, same production folks. So basically, it's just going to be it's us again. It's just airing somewhere else.

I mean, I think in certain instances it has. And, you know, I saw that Steve Kerr said it reminded him of 1997 as he was, you know, he's coaching in this Golden State Houston series. But I think everything always gets amped up this time of year. But, yeah, there have been some moments.