Carillo to Join National Dog Show Announce Team

Oct. 25, 2010 - PRLog -- New York, NY (Oct. 20 2010) – Prominent TV personality Mary Carillo, a longtime dog owner and unabashed lover of man’s best friend, will join John O’Hurley and David Frei on the commentary team for the 2010 National Dog Show Presented by Purina, NBC’s annual Thanksgiving Day special following the Macy’s Parade.

Carillo will serve as sideline reporter/interviewer for the two-hour holiday broadcast, which attracts a total of audience of almost 20 million people each year. She worked alongside Frei on the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show USA Network telecasts in 2008 and now adds the National Dog Show to her impressive list of credentials.

The assignment will be a labor of love for Carillo, who in her lifetime has owned two dogs, one for 16 years and the other for 17 years.  A French Poodle named Freenie lived for 16 years while Carillo was growing up in New York City and a Bichon Frise named Oley was with Carillo for 17 years before passing six years ago. With her hectic travel schedule precluding a new addition, Carillo fulfills her canine needs now with a Westie named Roxie, owned by a friend who visits frequently at Carillo’s residence in Naples, FL.

Carillo has an accomplished broadcasting career, serving as late night show host and correspondent for NBC’s Olympic coverage these past 10 years. She is also a tennis analyst for NBC and ESPN and a correspondent for HBO’s Real Sports.

She has received two coveted Peabody Awards, one of television’s highest honors. One was for her work on the HBO documentary "Billie Jean King, Portrait of a Pioneer," and the other for co-writing with Frank DeFord the HBO documentary “Dare to Compete: The Struggle of Women in Sport.”

Carillo was named “Best Commentator” by Tennis Magazine (1988-91), “Best Commentator” by World Tennis Magazine (1986) and “Broadcaster of the Year” by the WTA (1981 and 1985). She has co-written two books—Tennis My Way with Martina Navratilova and Rick Elstein's Tennis Kinetics.

Carillo played on the professional tennis tour from 1977-80. Teaming with Queens (NYC) neighborhood pal John McEnroe, Carillo won the 1977 French Open mixed doubles title.  She was a doubles runner-up at the U.S. Clay Court Championships and doubles quarterfinalist at the US Open in 1977.

CONTACT:  Steve Griffith, Vizion Group PR, 484 433 7757, sgriffith@viziongroup.net

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