ABC earned a 13.5/22 preliminary overnight Nielsen
rating for last night's Patriots-Jets "MNF" game, down 8%
from last year's 14.6/23 overnight for the Falcons-Cowboys
(THE DAILY). When previewing last night's match-up, ABC's
Dennis Miller noted Jets Owner Robert "Woody" Johnson and
Patriots C Damien Woody: "As is often the case in life, I
think it's probably going to come down to who has the better
woody" ("MNF," ABC, 9/11).
SHOULD THE FOCUS BE ON FOUTS SANS MILLER? In Boston,
Howard Manly notes Miller's eclectic references and writes
that Miller "might want to host a new game show, 'Guess What
I'm Talking About.'" Manly: "With everyone focused on
Miller, the real key is the other new man in the booth,
[Dan] Fouts. Through three exhibitions and two regular-
season games, Fouts has been just all right." "MNF" Exec
Producer Don Ohlmeyer said he has talked with Fouts about
being "more opinionated," but Manly writes that "has proven
to be a work in progress." Meanwhile, Manly writes that
having actor Michael Douglas "visit the booth was a good
thing," but "not giving him a microphone was inexcusable"
(BOSTON GLOBE, 9/12). Also in Boston, Jim Baker notes
Douglas' appearance in the booth and other features of ABC's
broadcast last night and writes, "More names. More over-
reaches. More booth guffaws over zilch." Baker also calls
Miller an "out-of-place irritant" (BOSTON HERALD, 9/12).
WALK IN HIS SHOES: "MNF" Coordinating Producer David
Israel noted sportswriters who have "panned" the selection
of Miller as an analyst because he "does not have [a]
broadcasting or sports background." Israel: "How many
sportswriters covering the game ever played it? Would it
have been better for us to hire a former football player who
couldn't communicate?" (MEDIAWEEK, 9/11 issue).
STUTTERING JOHN AMBUSHES MILLER: NEWSDAY's Steve Zipay
writes that while ABC "has made an effort to shield" its
"MNF" announcing team from the media, the "shroud of silence
was cast aside" yesterday "in the holy name of promotion,"
as ABC and ESPN agreed to have the announcers "mingle with
Jets fans" at the ESPN Zone in N.Y. But Zipay writes,
"Chances are, it won't happen again. What was planned as a
cross between a town meeting and a Jets pep rally started
off more like 'Crossfire,' with a testy exchange between
Miller and Stuttering John from The Howard Stern Show." The
announcers "were taken aback by the heckling," as
Stuttering John, standing about 25 feet away from the
announcers, said to Miller: "Is it possible to call a game
without scripted jokes? Are any of your jokes relevant to
football?" Miller said, "I built my career on jokes nobody
gets. Yes, I do take some scripts of jokes into the booth,
as you've done here today." When ESPN security "attempted
to eject" Stuttering John, Miller "went to his defense."
Miller: "Don't throw him out. If he goes, I go." Zipay:
"After John left on his own ... things went smoother," but
an "uneasy tone had been set" (NEWSDAY, 9/12).
