Episode #197: Colin Cosell (Howard Cosell)

Rarified Heir Podcast

Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to Colin Cosell, grandson of legendary broadcaster and American cultural icon, Howard Cosell. Now, if you are born in the United States, you will definitely know Howard Cosell. But for those outside the US, that name night not be as well known. But in the 1970s and 80s, Cosell was at the Zenith of where celebrity, sports and pop culture mixed.

Famous for his “Tell it like it is” manner on air, Howard Cosell was as famous for his calls of the boxing, football, baseball & the Olympics while also being remembered for his voice, his wit and his sometimes prickly manner. He got as much hate mail as he got praise and he was often at the center of controversy for his comments on air as well as his opinions off air. For many of us, Howard Cosell will be remembered as the man who broke the news to America that John Lennon was shot and killed which we watched Monday Night Football. For others he will be remembered for as the butt playful jokes from one of his best friends Muhammad Ali. This was a man who famously parlayed his fame as a sportscaster to television, film and the larger pop culture zeitgeist of the latter half of the 20th Century as you will soon hear.

Talking to Colin, we get to see another side of Howard, a grandfather who doted on his family and young Colin. We discuss how the family all played board games together, the many dogs they grew up with and how he would see his grandfather every week or two growing up. Howard was a very present grandfather who could also pull some strings and arrange a meeting with a world famous athlete one day and hang with you eating bagels the next. Colin was a jovial guest who told stories about the other Saturday Night Live Starring Howard Coselland how Cosell impacted the late night comedy juggernaut SNL we know today. We talk Monday Night Football with Frank Gifford and ‘Dandy’ Don Meredith as well as the time Jon Bon Jovi came over to talk. This is the Rarified Heir Podcast and everyone has a story.