"MNF" booth analyst Dennis Miller "was such a hoot
Monday night that I can't wait for the next Monday night,"
according to Jay Mariotti of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.
Mariotti notes Miller "was looking to find a balance between
comedic timing and passable football knowledge. He thrived
in both arenas, firing off an impressive flurry of info
nuggets and observations while turning an unwatchable
exhibition blowout into a must-hear howltrack from start to
signoff. This was a closer version of the HBO Miller, the
wickedly sarcastic Miller. ... He knows his football. He
just happens to present it differently than the rest"
(CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 8/15). In L.A., Shav Glick calls
Miller's performance "unconventional" (L.A. TIMES, 8/15).
NEWSDAY's Steve Zipay writes Miller "seemed more at ease
with the mechanics of the telecast." Zipay: "If you give
Dennis Miller a mulligan for his disjointed debut on ABC's
Monday Night Football two weeks ago, he shot mostly par last
night. If he just eases up on the verbal accelerator,
Miller will make the cut by the season's kickoff." Zipay
adds that Miller, Michaels and Dan Fouts "found the right
chord more often in the first half compared to Game 1"
(NEWSDAY, 8/15). In Nashville, John Shiffman: "Mostly,
Miller kept it on Joe Six Pack's level, and improved in his
second show." More Shiffman: "Miller came up lame a few
times, ... [but] most times Miller scored. ... By fall, he
should be ready for prime time" (TENNESSEAN, 8/15).
MILLER KNOWS HIS ROLE, JABRONI: USA TODAY's Rudy
Martzke writes Miller "had a better idea of his role" on
"MNF" during last night's broadcast. Miller: "I believe I
can be a conduit to pro football for the regular fan. I
want to be a point guard coming down the land to dish off to
guys who know the game better than me, Al and Dan." Martzke
writes Miller "knows his place" on "MNF." Martzke: "He's
not there necessarily to boost ratings but to liven up a
show that has become dull and make casual fans want to watch
for entertainment value again" (USA TODAY, 8/15).
