# "Color" commentator **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 21, 2001, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-commentator/83018 "2001-09-21T14:32:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kentsubra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kentsubra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kentsubra)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-commentator/83018/1 "2001-09-21T14:32:27Z")
In football commentary, I get sidelines and play-by-play commentator, but what about the “color” guy? Why color? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-commentator/83018/2 "2001-09-21T14:41:14Z")
From the Merriam-Webster dictionary entry for color: > [@](#): > > 4 a : vividness or variety of effects of language It’s this definition I think they are referring to. This is in the same vein as the expression “local color.” ---
**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-commentator/83018/3 "2001-09-21T18:23:07Z")
To use a drawing as an example, you can start with a pencil outline of what you want to draw, and know what it is. You can see all the details involved. To make it more aesthetically pleasing, you highlight or fill-in with color. As a play-by-play announcer gives details of what’s going on in the game, the “color” guy will usually offer his own insight into a situation. Sometimes they will mix in a story between the action, all in an effort to add entertainment to the broadcast. This is why you’ll often see an ex-football player as the color guy. For instance, Monday Night Football has used Dan Dierdorf, Boomer Esaison, and Dan Fouts, to name a few. I think it had something to do with the early days where you only had a radio broadcast to listen to, particularly in baseball. The guy behind the mike was both announcer and color guy, painting a picture of the action so the listening audience could “see” what was happening on the field. ---
**Author:** ![kentsubra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kentsubra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kentsubra)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-commentator/83018/4 "2001-09-21T18:36:08Z")
thanks guys!