A USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup telephone survey last weekend of
1,020 adults ages 18+ found that 78% of the 243 who
regularly watch "MNF" said that ABC's hiring of Dennis
Miller "wouldn't affect their viewing habits." Meanwhile,
12% said that they were "more likely to watch with Miller,"
9% said that they "were less likely to watch." In addition,
58% said that they "approve of Miller's hiring," while 22%
disapprove and 20% had no opinion (USA TODAY, 6/27).
THE LAST WORD ON MILLER: FSN's the "Last Word"
discussed ABC's hiring of Miller. Denver Post columnist
Woody Paige: "It was stupid and it was out of the 'Survivor'
mode. ... First of all, they hired two comedians. Not only
did they hire Dennis Miller but they brought in Eric
Dickerson who was nothing but a joke when he was a player.
... I think that there were so many qualified people out
there who could have brought back the Howard Cosell
tradition, ... and Jim Rome would have been a perfect choice
... [along with S.I.'s] Rick Reilly. ... If we're going to
do this, why didn't they bring back O.J. Simpson?" Paige:
"That's what this desperation move is all about. ... They're
just trying to attract attention and they're not really
looking at what ['MNF'] was in this society and I think it
is a tragic mistake and I guarantee it won't last past one
season." But Chicago Sun-Times columnist Rick Telander
said, "It may be stupid, but I think it will be fun. ... It
may be a complete disaster, but I think this is a stroke of
brilliance." ABC's Al Michaels: "This won't be a disaster.
At worst, we'll be OK, at best, we'll be phenomenal."
Michaels: "There will be a lot of people [Miller] will
appeal to, there will be some people that he won't, but you
name somebody who won't have his detractors" (FSN, 6/26).
REAX CONTINUES: The N.Y. Post's Michael Shain: "Mostly
everybody in television [is] talking about two things. One
is, who's going to replace Kathie Lee and the other is, what
has ['MNF' Exec Producer] Don Ohlmeyer been smoking?" ("Biz
Buzz," CNNfn, 6/26). CNNSI.com's Jack McCallum writes to
Ohlmeyer that his hiring of Miller means that he has
"acknowledged" that "MNF" is "in serious ratings trouble."
McCallum: "The move was gutsy, yes, but it also had the
smell of fear about it, as did your absurd thoughts of
bringing in that bombastic blimp, Rush Limbaugh. ... Expect
serious scrutiny, and don't start whining when it comes"
(CNNSI.com, 6/27). Redskins CB Deion Sanders: "Having
Dennis Miller probably would liven up the boring telecasts.
I just hope he's not an insult to this game just for a
gimmick, just to attract a larger audience" (WASHINGTON
POST, 6/27). In IL, Tim Cronin calls Miller's hiring "the
biggest mistake ABC has made with the Monday night package
since the hiring of Fred 'The Hammer' Williamson in 1974.
... This is gimmick. Nothing more" (DAILY SOUTHTOWN, 6/27).
NO PRE-SEASON WARM-UP FOR MILLER? In Dallas, Barry Horn
wonders that with all the buzz surrounding the Miller
hiring, does ABC "really want to unveil the Miller-Al
Michaels-Dan Fouts team at the meaningless Hall of Fame
exhibition game in July, or do you hold Miller, Michaels and
Fouts back for a ratings-grabbing gala 'Monday Night
Football'" opener in September? (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/27).
ONE TAKE: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir writes his column
in the identity of Howard Cosell: "I am concerned about
whether young Dennis's penchant for baroque smiles will work
for an audience weaned on pedestrian analyses of X's and O's
and an overdependence on scribbling with the Telestrator.
... Yet I harbor some hope for young Dennis. He had none of
my experience, yet if he can make viewers hate him ...
ratings will ascend accordingly" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/27).
