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Last week's Army-Navy game opened with a well-produced, big-game segment that was narrated by a man who has in some ways become one the voices of football in recent years: Josh Charles.
Some might know him better from TV ("The Good Wife"), classic movies ("Dead Poets Society") or short-lived sports-related TV comedy ("Sports Night"), but Charles has been narrating NFL Network's "A Football Life" since the series' inception in 2011.
Through eight seasons and 111 episodes -- the most recent aired Friday and focused on Buffalo Bills running back Thurman Thomas -- Charles has played an important role in framing generations of coaches, players and moments for fans during the high-quality program.
A Baltimore native and Colts (until they moved) and Ravens fan, Charles does not bring an overwhelming voice-of-god approach to the role.
He's not playing role. He's just being himself, moving a show along and talking football -- and it works, well.
"Because I'm a fan of the game I often know about the people being profiled, but it's always exciting when I do not," Charles said. "People often reach out to me via Twitter to let me know how much they enjoy the series and my work in it, which always makes me happy as I love doing it."
Among the 11 episodes this fall, subjects included Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor, Eagles defensive back Brian Dawkins, former Steelers coach Bill Cowher and Redskins quarterback Doug Williams.
Charles gets scripts for the episodes once production has been almost finalized. He then works from a studio, connected by phone to the episode's producers. His work takes about an hour.
Along with his appreciation of the NFL and its history, Charles enjoys the job for many reasons, including the flexibility of the work schedule. This fall, he balanced episodes around his work on "Straight White Men" on Broadway.
"If I'm acting in something during the recording season of 'A Football Life,' that can present some scheduling challenges for sure. They do a great job working around my schedule and arranging studio space wherever I may be, or whatever odd hour it may need to be done," Charles said. "We always make it work. The biggest pro? No makeup or hair required."
Tuner tidbits
n About 8.1 million viewers watched last week's Army-Navy game. That was down slightly from 8.4 million last season, but still the second-best number in the past decade. No doubt Army's resurgence, providing competitive games, has helped boost the numbers. Likewise, CBS Sports treating the game like it matters and making it special, with cinematic pre-game segments and someone like Charles narrating, has helped.
n CBS's top team, Jim Nantz and Tony Romo, will work Steelers games the next two weeks. That's Patriots-Steelers (4:25 p.m. today) and Steelers at New Orleans (4:25 p.m. Dec. 23). In both those instances, at least at this point of the season, it seems, the network's No. 1 crew is there more for the opponent than the slumping Steelers.
n Nantz-Romo are not the sport's best, but they're steady. Romo made a splash last season predicting plays and making Nantz less stiff. Sometimes Romo still sounds a bit like a player or just talks to talk. That's different and refreshing at times and uninformed clutter at other times.
n Upcoming Penn State men's basketball games against Duquesne (7 p.m. Wednesday) and Alabama (9 p.m. Friday), both on the road, will air on CBS Sports Network and the SEC Network, respectively.
Sampsell can be reached at stevesampsell@gmail.com.