It's in the stars: Who TV celebs like in the Super Bowl

Jonathan Storm is hanging with the suits, stars and would-be stars at the Television Critics Association winter press tour in Los Angeles.

In the TV business, apparently, there isn't a lot of time for football. Interviews with more than 30 actors found only a few who knew anything about this weekend's games, or the ultimate prize at the Super Bowl.

Among those who do, the Eagles were the favorite answer to the question: Who do you like in the Super Bowl?

Conan O'Brien picks the Steelers, but he's a big Donovan McNabb fan.

"Why did McNabb grab that phone?" he asked, referring to a bizarre sideline move by the quarterback that netted the Eagles a 15-yard penalty in Sunday's victory over the Giants. "You know what that was about?

"Is he going to be doing more stuff like that? It was very entertaining. I'd have him as a sidekick if he keeps on doing things like that. He's a comedy genius."

You may be surprised to learn the biggest TV hotbed of Philly fandom resides in the quartet who play the clueless geniuses on The Big Bang Theory.

Jim Parsons (Sheldon) and Kunal Nayyar (Rajesh) are actual fans. "Donovan McNabb and Westbrook are the best there is in the NFL," said Nayyar, who got his masters of fine arts at Temple. Simon Helberg (Wolowitz) and Johnny Galecki (Leonard) are just along for the ride.

"We're Eagles fans, apparently, this year," said non-sports fan Galecki. "I can't spell football."

With so many Brits, Aussies and Canadians playing so many roles on TV, Super Bowl awareness is low. The American actresses and writers also did little to undermine the stereotypes of females and spectator sports.

"Is that a football game?" asked Jennie Garth from 90210.

"Is it this month?" asked Diablo Cody, Oscar-winning writer of Juno and creator of a marvelous Showtime series about a woman with multiple personalities, The United States of Tara, which premieres tomorrow.

With the Birds one game away from the bowl, and Eagles fever bursting the thermometer bubble in the Philadelphia region, here's a selective look at TV people's response to the question "Who do you like in the Super Bowl?":

Liz Vassey (CSI DNA superscientist): "Men in football pants."

Craig Ferguson of CBS's The Late, Late Show: "Oh, everybody. They're all fine professionals."

Ozzy Osbourne: "You mean American football? I don't know much about it. I don't know much about British football, either."

Hugh Laurie (House): "Well, I'm an Arsenal man myself, but I don't suppose they're playing." (Arsenal's the legendary London soccer team.)

Paul Guilfoyle (Capt. Brass on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation): "The Philadelphia Eagles. I like them to go all the way. They're a little bit like our show. Kind of a wise guy in charge, Donovan McNabb, and a bunch of hard workers."

Wallace Langham (CSI's Hodges): "You have to tell me who's playing. A wild guess: the Philadelphia Eagles. I don't care at all about football. I go to my friend's house and make fun of whoever's playing at the halftime show."

Eric McCormack (Will & Grace): "I like the guys selling the beer. People that never ever watch football all season watch the Super Bowl. Why do they care?"

Dawn Ostroff (CW network president): "The Eagles. My husband's a diehard Eagles fan. My boys get dressed every weekend in Philadelphia Eagles jerseys and watch that TV."

Cheri Oteri (Philly native and former Saturday Night Live star): "I'm not an athletic supporter. I know that joke is old, but, um, the Iggles. My brother lives out here, and he lives and breathes the Eagles. He and his friends come over in their new Eagles jerseys. That's their equivalent of dressing up." (It's important to keep the flame alive so far from home.)

Edie Falco (The Sopranos): "I haven't the foggiest notion who's in the Super Bowl. I do know that New York is not."

Joss Stone (sexy British soul singer, who is soon to appear on Showtime's The Tudors): "Oooh. I sang at the Super Bowl once, and I think I supported - I don't really know because I don't live in this country - the Steelers? They were kind of cool." (Stone sang at Super Bowl XL, won by the Steelers over the Seattle Seahawks 21-10.)

Lori Laughlin (90210): "Oh, wait. I don't even know who's going. The Giants are out, right, because that would have been my pick. Are the Eagles going? And the other team is Pittsburgh and Arizona. Is that right?"

Jason Priestley (90210): "I've always had a soft spot for Phoenix, 'cause they're like the Cinderella story, right, but Philadelphia's playing pretty well. Eagles-Pittsburgh. It's going to be the battle of Pennsylvania, I fear."

Shenae Grimes (90210): "Oh my God. I'm Canadian, man. I don't know football at all. Ask me about hockey."

Carlos Bernard (Tony Almeida on 24): "I don't like anybody. But I guess I'll have to go with Baltimore."

Kiefer Sutherland (Jack Bauer on 24): "Well, my Chargers aren't in it, and there are no New York teams. So I guess I'll have to say Pittsburgh."

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