AP Review of the MNF crew.... http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FBN_MNF_DEBUT?SITE=TXHOU&SECTION=SPORTS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT TV Review: New 'MNF' trio makes debut By DOUGLAS J. ROWE AP Entertainment Writer Listen up! Tony Kornheiser had to be better than the short-lived sitcom loosely based on his life. And he was. Much better. And that's even putting aside such a low standard as "Listen Up." Kornheiser joined Mike Tirico and Joe Theismann in the booth for "Monday Night Football," which moved to ESPN this season after 3 1/2 decades on ABC. Because of the ill-fated Dennis Miller Experiment a few years ago, many ears were cocked to wiseacre Kornheiser, who once wondered how Jackonville snagged the Super Bowl, asking: "What, Tuscaloosa was booked?" As Monday night's debut approached, Kornheiser played the expectations game like a Beltway spin doctor in a way that would make James Carville and Mary Matalin proud. He was so nervous that he perspired not just through his shirt, but through his suit, Kornheiser wrote Monday in his "Monday Night Diary" in The Washington Post. He worried that on live television "it's very possible that there'll be so much water pouring off my body that I'll short out the entire electrical system at the Metrodome." His flopsweat wasn't visible like Albert Brooks' gushers in "Broadcast News." And he already has the job - unlike Brooks' character, who blew his on-air audition. Still, the low-expectations game continued through the show's opening. Tirico noted Kornheiser's 35 years as a writer, as well as his success on radio and ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption," adding: "And now you've made it to `Monday Night Football.'" "I made it to it. Now will I make it through it?" Kornheiser responded as the other two laughed. Both Theismann and Kornheiser quickly delved into the "ugly past" of the Minnesota Vikings, who were playing the Oakland Raiders, with Kornheiser pointedly talking about how the Vikings were "the most scandal-plagued team in the entire NFL last year." "I won't go through the whole laundry list, but the sex-boat thing, that was a show-stopper. As they say on `Seinfeld' - `That's gold, Jerry. That's gold.'" (A reminder of what wasn't gold, Jerry: Jason Alexander playing the fictionalized Kornheiser in that CBS series in 2004.) Tirico sustained the broadcast's tradition of solid, straightforward play-by-play men, while Theismann sometimes sounded too empathetic with the players. He also can overstate the obvious. (And while we're at it, let's just trot out that Theismann once said: "Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.") When Kornheiser pointed out that Raiders quarterback Aaron Brooks missed his first four pass attempts, Theismann quickly stated than everyone was still learning so early in the exhibition season. Theismann also came across as a little too self-serious, especially when he and Kornheiser clashed about how far removed from football new Raiders offensive coordinator Tom Walsh was. Walsh ran a bed & breakfast for about seven years. "Now I know you're going to say he stayed in football. But does that look like a guy who's staying in football?," Kornheiser said as bucolic photos with Walsh were flashed on the screen. "He's preparing menus and making beds. ... You comfortable with that, Joe?" "Actually I am," Theismann said. "Would you be comfortable if Bob Newhart were also hired? He ran a B&B," Kornheiser said, referring to Newhart's second successful series in the '80s. (The shrink Newhart played in his '70s series didn't come up.) Kornheiser also differed with Theismann about how well wide receiver Randy Moss would do in the coming season. Of course, Theismann thought he'd do better than Kornheiser did. In the second half, Kornheiser marveled that Brad Johnson, the 37-year-old Vikings QB, thinks he could start another three to four years. "I'm going to be 80, and he's still going to be in the league," the 58-year-old Kornheiser cracked. The chemistry among the new "MNF" broadcast trio failed to approach what Kornheiser has with "PTI" co-host Michael Wilbon. But that's extremely high, so it would be difficult to replicate anyway. Back on "PTI" earlier Monday, by the way, Wilbon goodnaturedly zinged Kornheiser by saying he couldn't stay up late enough to watch - something Kornheiser often says and got around to saying again in the final seconds when it appeared the Vikings might kick a last-second, game-tying field goal. "This is just a disaster for me - overtime. It's way past my bedtime," Kornheiser whined. But then Vikings head coach Brad Childress opted to win or lose in regulation, causing Kornheiser to laud him as "a member of the bald brotherhood with me."
The Chronicle wants to get in good with Disney...Richard Justice would be no longer apart of any of their brodacast if his paper bashed MNF
Honestly... the new crew will be solid, and entertaining. You can't ask for that much else. Who would you guys rather be the team? Frank Gifford and Dan Dierdorf?
i actually kind of liked it. it seemed much less intrusive than the ones used by the other networks. i've never understood why they have to use graphics that cover such a large area.
Well, if TK makes a point to rile Theisman and get under his skin, I may start watching this. As it is, I missed it last night.
I Love Tony, but the producers of MNF tried to make tony's segments like PTI, which is stupid. this guy is a genious sports writer and they should cut down on this extra bs that they have added.
I only caught a little bit, but if there's no Paul McGuire, then that's already a HUGE improvement. That guy is the worst announcer in the history of professional sports. This year has me so effin' confused. Al Michaels is doing Sunday Night Football? On NBC? The old ESPN crew (minus McGuire) is doing Monday Night Football? On ESPN? Is that how it is? Jesus, my head is spinning.
The ratings may have been down, but that was to crappy match-ups...IMO, the crew sucked last night...I never liked JoeT and the other guys were horrible...Very boring...
BINGO! That in itself, the fact McGuire isn't there is a 100% improvement. I actually thought the team was solid. I will give them time to grow. As for the scorebox overlay, I felt it was a bit too intrusive. It needs to be lower on the screen. If one is going to use a box put it adjusted left or right, otherwise use the horizontal bar. But a box in the middle of the screen makes it stand out "too much." The idea is to have the information available when needed, but at the same time tucked away in the background where it doesnt interfer with the viewing experience.
It is preseason. Maybe they just need time to gell like any other team, so their personalities will come out more. ie more arguements and jokes. I can't wait to see what Wilbon has to say about his performance. When it comes down to it, he's a writer, not an big stage entertainer.
I thought Kornheiser did very well, I think that Tirico and Theisman are just filling space though, I honestly think they add nothing to the booth. It's like they're trying to put together a decent co-host for Tony by using two lesser broadcasters.
I like the old style score thingy, keep this one but move it to the top right like it's sposed to be, you could tell the camera crew was not used to it either. They had to keep reframing the shot by lowering the camera so the score thingy wasn't covering the person's neck/jaw.
