ABC's "MNF" coverage, featuring Packers-Dolphins,
earned a 7.7/13 final Nielsen rating, down 15% from last
year's third preseason game, which featured 49ers-Raiders
and earned a 9.1/16. Through three preseason telecasts,
"MNF" is averaging a 7.2/13, down 24% from last year's
9.5/16 (ABC). Inside.com's Tom Bierbaum notes Monday's
overnight rating was better than the two previous "MNF"
telecasts this season, but "that seems mostly to reflect the
more favorable 8 p.m. starting time." The two previous
games started at 7:00pm ET, due to the Democratic and
Republican National Conventions. Bierbaum said "MNF"
analyst Dennis Miller "is hardly making a Nielsen splash so
far. ... It remains to be seen if these sluggish numbers
will follow the NFL into regular season" (Inside.com, 8/23).
IMG Senior Group VP Barry Frank, on the ratings drop:
"What's happened is that people are realizing that preseason
games are absolutely meaningless" (USA TODAY, 8/23).
MILLER LINES: USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke reviews Monday's
telecast and writes that Miller "has performed like the TV
sports rookie he is -- up and down." Martzke: "Monday was
an 'up' night for Miller, as he cut back on forced one-
liners and helped draw out the expert opinions from a
suddenly expansive [Dan] Fouts in moving toward a cohesive
three-man booth." "MNF" Exec Producer Don Ohlmeyer: "I said
this would be a work in progress, and it still is. I've
been guilty of over-rehearsing the first two games. We're
going to keep trying to get a little better every week.
We're not finished refining the show." Ohlmeyer "targets
mid-October" for the "MNF" team to complete the
"refinement." Meanwhile, announcer Al Michaels gets an A-
rating from Martzke, as he "is the best of all time on
network TV at NFL play-by-play. But, hey, not every line
deserves a chuckle." Martzke, on giving Miller a B- rating:
"A lot of entertainment potential if he doesn't break too
far from the huddle and become Dennis the Menace." Martzke
then gives Dan Fouts a B- rating, and sideline reporters
Melissa Stark and Eric Dickerson B+ and D- ratings,
respectively. Ohlmeyer, on Dickerson: "I have to construct
the proper role for Eric, and I don't think I've done that
yet." Martzke: "Try getting Eric out of those laid-back
Ralph Lauren T-shirts." Martzke also gives the show's
graphics a B rating. (USA TODAY, 8/23). In Oakland, Dave
Newhouse notes that when the Packers were winning 14-10,
Miller commented that "if the Dolphins scored a field goal
and an extra point, that would mean overtime." Newhouse,
noting the ratings drop for "MNF," writes: "Don't be
surprised if they don't shoot up that much, not after Miller
revealed that he thinks an extra point comes after a field
goal. What an embarrassment, and after all the cramming on
football that Don Ohlmeyer ... has put Miller through. But
you either know the game or you don't" (OAK. TRIBUNE, 8/23).
