ABC's coverage of the Rams-Titans Monday night earned a
6.6/12 final Nielsen rating, down 27% from last year's
second preseason "MNF" telecast, which drew a 9.1/16.
However, this year's game began at 7:00pm ET due to the
Democratic National Convention, compared to last year's game
starting at 8:00pm ET. The rating gives ABC a season-to-
date NFL preseason average rating of a 6.9/13, down 28% from
last year's 9.6/17. The game earned a 25.8/37 local rating
in Nashville, and a 14.5/25 in St. Louis (ABC). ABC Sports
VP/Media Relations Mark Mandel: "Given the fact these games
started at 4 p.m. on the West Coast and both games were
blowouts, it's not surprising what these ratings are." USA
TODAY's Rudy Martzke writes that "MNF" analyst Dennis Miller
"might not be the touchdown ABC sought, but the comedian has
scored by triggering reaction to ['MNF'] that disappeared
years ago." For example, Turner Sports Vice Chair Ted
Turner "took a shot at Miller" during TBS' Padres-Braves
telecast Monday night. Turner, appearing in the booth with
announcers Don Sutton and Pete Van Wieren, said, "We are
funnier than that guy on 'Monday Night Football.'"
Meanwhile, ABC execs "denied" that Miller's references
during Monday night's game to authors and poets "were too
highbrow for many viewers." Mandel: "We believe Dennis'
remarks will not be over people's heads. It'll be
educational as well as entertaining. Plus, we thought a lot
of his football knowledge was right on." Miller's "MNF"
partner Al Michaels "scoffed at suggestions he wasn't
pleased with Miller's demeanor" in the booth. Michaels:
"I'm having a blast. I think it's going along great. The
whole thing's a hoot. We're taking this show further than
it's ever gone before." More Michaels: "Keep in mind that
Dennis has done only two games. When you have a cumulative
score of 50-3 after two games, if people like what you're
doing, I can't ask for anything more" (USA TODAY, 8/16).
MILLER REAX: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir: "If nothing
else, Dennis Miller's presence ... is loosening up Al
Michaels. Why else would Al be calling Dennis 'baby' so
often?" Sandomir notes Miller, in return, once called
Michaels "Albeeno. But only once." Sandomir: "Terms of
endearment aside, it looks like this Miller thing might work
out." Miller is "rapidly proving his worthiness. He has
adapted his often crude one-man HBO act to the three-man
booth. He shares his time well with his playmates; yet by
being what he is, Miller is quickly becoming the defining
member of the team, the one all the publicity is about"
(N.Y. TIMES, 8/16). In Milwaukee, Bob Wolfley writes the
"opening night jitters that had a hold of the ['MNF'] crew
in their debut was markedly absent in the second game.
Technical problems were reduced. The announcers seemed more
relaxed. They dropped their shoulders. There was more
cohesiveness among [Michaels, Miller and Dan Fouts]."
(MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 8/16).
MILLER ONE-ON-ONE: Miller appeared on Chicago's One-On-
One Sports yesterday. Miller, when asked how he feels about
his performance in the "MNF" booth: "I think I'm getting
wood on the ball, I'm keeping the bat alive. I'm having a
blast, I can't believe I walk into the booth and have this
seat on the 50-yard line. I'll be honest with you: before
the Canton Hall of Fame Game, I had only been to one
football game in my life." Miller, when asked how he is
handling the media attention around his debut: "I've been
staying away from newspapers and talk radio which I usually
listen to at least 4 hours a day it seems, but it's too
pressurized a job to hear people abuse you on a regular
basis" (One-On-One Sports).
