ABC's "Monday Night Blast" pregame show is examined by
Richard Sandomir of the N.Y. TIMES, who calls the program
"Pigskin Lite, designed for the casual audiences that Monday
night games draw." Sandomir writes that the ESPN Zone
restaurant, the setting for the show, "offered noise and
applause and little else." ABC Sports Exec VP Brian
McAndrews, on the show: "We were more rushed than we should
have been. At the right pace, people will learn something
about the game and have fun" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/11). Also in
N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes "Blast" looks "like the premiere
party for Spring Break III." He adds that the show's co-
host, Frank Gifford, "certainly doesn't need to spend his
last days as part of the MNF crew strapped to a chug-a-lug
presentation" (N.Y. POST, 9/11). In Miami, Barry Jackson
traces the synergy: "Let's get this straight: At halftime of
ABC's Monday Night Football, ESPN's Chris Berman presents
ESPN's top 10 Sunday highlights from the ESPN Zone
restaurant in Baltimore. Cross-promotion is one thing, but
this is getting ridiculous" (MIAMI HERALD, 9/11).
