A great deal happened during the past week in national and local media. Let's take this opportunity to catch up on the highlights.

An instant Classic

The Capitals-Penguins Winter Classic on NBC was a huge hit. The New Year's Day prime-time telecast of Washington's 3-1 win over Pittsburgh was the highest-rated regular-season NHL telecast since 1975, pulling in nearly 5 million viewers.

Kudos to WFED 1500 AM -- the Caps' flagship station -- and 106.7 FM "The Fan" for doing a great job giving hockey fans a chance to do some talking before and after the game.

Legendary cameo on Fox

On Friday, Fox will air the Cotton Bowl between Texas A&M and LSU at 8 p.m., with broadcasting icon Pat Summerall serving as part of the pregame show. Summerall, who has called four straight Cotton Bowl games for Fox, will give way to local favorites Kenny Albert and Daryl Johnston.

The 80-year-old Summerall will be joined on the pregame show by the Fox team of Chris Rose, Charles Davis and John Lynch.

Franklin fired from ESPN

Longtime ESPN broadcaster Ron Franklin was fired this week after being pulled from his assignment before the Fiesta Bowl. He apparently made sexist comments to ESPN sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards the day before.

"Based on what occurred last Friday, we have ended our relationship with him," ESPN said in a statement.

The 68-year-old Franklin had been one of the network's signature college football and basketball voices since 1987.

NFL wild-card weekend

For those of you watching the NFL playoffs this weekend, remember the Saturday broadcasts will be on NBC. Tom Hammond and Mike Mayock will call the Saints-Seahawks game starting at 4:30?p.m. The nightcap will have the Jets visiting the Colts. Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth have the broadcast duties starting at 8 p.m.

On Sunday, the Ravens play at the Chiefs at 1 p.m., with the CBS team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms doing the broadcast. Of note to area Ravens fans, Comcast SportsNet will air "Ravens Postgame Live" at 4 p.m. Russ Thaler will host the program with former Ravens Brad Jackson and Kyle Richardson, who will join him in the Comcast SportsNet studio. Brent Harris will report from Arrowhead Stadium.

Sunday's final game will be on Fox as Green Bay travels east to face the Eagles at 4:30 p.m., with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman calling the action.

Examiner columnist Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!