Showtime announced today that Brendan Schuab will host a sports and pop culture talk show, Below The Belt, which will present 30-minute episodes twice a month, starting Feb. 28, 2018, on YouTube and Facebook.
The launch is timed to preview and promote Showtime Boxing’s next main event, a WBC heavyweight title bout between Deontay Wilder and Luis Ortiz.
Schaub, a former UFC fighter and runner-up on Spike TV’s The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights, has been co-hosting the popular podcast, The Fighter & The Kid, with comedian and actor Bryan Callen.
His “Big Brown Breakdown” podcast, averaging over four million downloads per month, transitions under the BELOW THE BELT franchise. Parlaying his hosting talent from podcasts to television, Schaub was named a correspondent on “After Party” for the E! Network, and co-hosted this year’s Golden Globes and Grammy Awards after-shows. Schaub is set to reprise his role in the upcoming Academy Awards after-show. Additionally, Schaub performs sold-out live comedy shows across North America, Australia, London and Dublin, including regular solo stand-up sets at the world-famous Comedy Store, Hollywood Improv and The Laugh Factory.
Schaub’s initial guest list for Below The Belt includes Stone Cold Steve Austin, Paulie Malignaggi and Joe Rogan.
“Brendan brings an edge that resonates with today’s fight fans,” said Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports and Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.. “He has a fresh voice that is equal parts knowledgeable, funny and opinionated. BELOW THE BELT will complement SHOWTIME Sports programming to a broad audience on our digital platforms.”
The show and companion podcast also includes a highlights package that will air monthly on TV via Showtime Extreme. Regular episodes of Below The Belt will premiere on the Below the Belt YouTube Channel and the Below the Belt Facebook Page. Dates: Feb. 28, March 14, March 28, April 11, April 18, May 2 and May 16. The Below The Belt podcast premieres on March 6, and the composite program premieres on March 29 on SHOWTIME EXTREME.