NBC's broadcast of Super Bowl XXXII brought the
network's affiliation with the NFL to an end. In his sign-
off, NBC's Dick Enberg said, "[F]or NBC Sports Super Bowl
XXXII is the end of our 32-years covering AFL-NFL action.
NBC's been there from the start, from Joe Namath all the way
to John Elway, from Curt Gowdy to those of us that had the
honor of calling this game tonight. And on behalf of all of
our crew, all the men and women who have brought you the
sights and sounds of NFL football here on NBC since 1960, we
want to thank you for your effort and for those of you
who've watched." Enberg added there was "more to come" from
San Diego, but after the break, in a staged event, NBC's
Greg Gumbel was interrupted by actor John Lithgow as NBC
went directly into "3rd Rock From The Sun" (NBC, 1/25).
REVIEWS: In L.A., Larry Stewart writes that NBC "said
goodbye to the NFL in style. Great game, great telecast"
(L.A. TIMES, 1/26). In DC, Leonard Shapiro: "For more than
six hours Sunday, NBC Sports did indeed go out with a bang,"
with "magnificent pictures and production throughout"
(WASHINGTON POST, 1/26). In Baltimore, Milton Kent says NBC
"turned in a serviceable effort," but that the net "seemed
to just miss at opportunities that would have made an
acceptable telecast something special" (SUN, 1/26). In
Boston, Howard Manly writes while he "could spend a lot of
time nitpicking NBC's Super Bowl production," including the
reports by Randy Cross and the "lack of crowd shots," the
announcers "were solid," and Manly concludes, "So thank you,
NBC" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/26). In Ft. Worth, David Markiewicz
says NBC "provided a Super Bowl-worthy five-plus hours of
football coverage" (STAR-TELEGRAM, 1/26). In Chicago,
Michael Hirsley writes NBC showed "far more finesse than
flaws," and that Exec Producer Tom Roy's decision to isolate
a camera on John Elway during the game "earned an ultimate
payoff" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/26). In Philly, Sheridan &
Bruton call NBC's coverage "a typically solid broadcast"
(PHILA. INQUIRER, 1/26). In Milwaukee, Bob Wolfley calls it
"a solid broadcast" (JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/26). In Houston,
David Barron writes under the header "NBC's Finale A First-
Rate Performance" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/26).
PRE- & POST-GAME: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes NBC's
"pregame was tough to endure because it was lousy with
players bragging on themselves -- either with NBC's
encouragement or to NBC's delight" (N.Y. POST, 1/26). Also
in N.Y., Richard Sandomir: "Too bad NBC packed a creative
popgun for its two-and-a-half-hour pre-game show. The
effort was an unoriginal succession of sit-down interviews
with the usual suspects" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/26). In
Philadelphia, Bill Fleishman calls the transition into the
"3rd Rock" special "tacky" and "one of the telecast's few
flaws in judgement" (PHILA. DAILY NEWS, 1/26). In L.A.,
Larry Stewart writes the "only bad part of the day" for NBC
was the "entertainment division's fault" -- the "ill-advised
and foolish promo" for "3rd Rock" (L.A. TIMES, 1/26).
