Erin Andrews said she “loves trying to be the female version of Michael Strahan,” who became a media giant after his NFL retirement in 2007.
In the recent episode of the “Calm Down” podcast, a seasoned sideline reporter from Fox Sports shared her emotional ups and downs as she works on a new Fox game show called “99 to Beat” with actor Ken Jeong.
It’s Andrews’ first hosting gig in the game show space since she left “Dancing with the Stars” in July 2020.
“I’m really nervous and experiencing a lot of anxiety,” said 47-year-old Andrews. “But I’m thrilled to step back into that arena. It’s been some time since I was let go from ‘DWTS’ alongside [co-host] Tom Bergeron.”
“I affectionately love to tell that story. My agent is like, ‘Don’t say that! You weren’t fired, you were replaced.’ I was fired.”
Andrews, who chuckled about her departure from “DWTS,” mentioned that she is enthusiastic to re-enter the game show scene and is eagerly anticipating “an enjoyable challenge.”
“I’m excited to have this opportunity,” she said. “But yeah, we’ll see how it goes. It’s going to be real interesting… It’s with Ken Jeong, also a Fox family member. So I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to run during the football season… really exciting.
“I don’t know how much I’m supposed to share. It was a British game show. I’ve watched it on YouTube, it’s hilarious and fun. And here’s to the show and more season to come after that. I hope I crush. So it’ll be a fun challenge.”
Taking to her Instagram Story, Andrews reposted a clip of her and Jeong backstage while filming “99 to Beat” — a show where 100 players compete in various games for the chance to win $100,000, while last place finishers are eliminated.
Andrews cohosted “DWTS” for 11 seasons with Tom Bergeron, from season 18 in 2014 through season 28 in 2019.
In July 2020, ABC announced Andrews and Bergeron’s departures, saying the show was heading in “a new creative direction — and they were replaced by Tyra Banks ahead of season 29.
Andrews said she had been taking meetings to try and get back into the game show world.
“I liked the live element of ‘DWTS’,’ This will be taped so it will be a little different… I was on [the show] ‘Pyramid’ one time with [Michael] Strahan… I love that whole vibe and had been really taking meetings and trying to get back in that world… I’m super pumped I don’t have to wear a ballroom gown… I’ve also been very open about the whole morning show world, too.”
Strahan built a media empire after his NFL retirement following 15 seasons with the Giants.
The former Super Bowl champion defensive end joined Kelly Ripa as a cohost on “Live! with Kelly” in 2012, and the show was renamed to “Live! with Kelly and Michael” at that time.
Andrews guest co-hosted with Strahan on numerous occasions before he left to join “Good Morning America” full-time as a morning anchor.
He is also a Fox Sports NFL analyst.
“I had a blast,” Andrews said, referring to her time cohosting on the “Live!” with Strahan. Those worlds are something I’m really interested in. I kind of live trying to be the female version of Michael Strahan.
… He has so much swagger and he is so good with everyone… his bank account wouldn’t be bad to have either. But that’s one thing we say about Stra, Stra works his ass off.”
Andrews announced that “99 to Beat” is coming to Fox at the network’s upfronts earlier this month in New York.
That week, she cohosted “TODAY With Jenna & Friends” with Jenna Bush Hager, which films at NBC Studios in New York.
