ABC's "MNF" coverage, featuring Buccaneers-Vikings,
ranked No. 1 this week among total viewers, teens, adults
aged 18-34, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54, according to
Chuck Finder of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. Finder: "Take
that, wrestling" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 10/12). In N.Y.,
Phil Mushnick criticizes "MNF" Exec Producer Don Ohlmeyer
for "working off a copy of the same old new plan: The lowest
common denominator rules, thus reach out to it by selling
cheap, vulgar junk." Mushnick requests that ABC staffers
stop calling him "to attest, off the record, of course, to
how embarrassing and disgusting Monday Night Football
telecasts have become. I already know" (N.Y. POST, 10/12).
BOOMER SPEAKS OUT: In San Jose, Tim Kawakami profiles
former "MNF" analyst Boomer Esiason under the header:
"Esiason Emerges As Real Winner Of 'MNF' Shake-Up."
Esiason, who is now calling NFL games on CBS radio: "People
think I sound different [on the radio broadcasts]. But I'm
the same guy. The reason I sound different is I'm working
with different people. When you're working with people who
like you and respect what you're saying, and then kind of
play off of that, it's so much more enjoyable to do a
football game." Esiason says that his "attempts at byplay
fell flat" during "MNF" broadcasts because Al Michaels
"wouldn't play along, and then the legendary play-by-play
man would complain about it later to the producers."
Esiason: "I tried to bring levity and be fun in the booth
but it takes two to tango, you know what I mean? Now they
bring a comedian in there to try to bring levity into the
booth. Whatever" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 10/13).
TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM? In Milwaukee, Bob Wolfley
writes Fox analyst Cris Collinsworth "might be an unpopular
network broadcaster among players, but that's a testament to
his value as a commentator." Collinsworth said that he
"didn't want to name players who have taken him to task for
an opinion he had expressed on air." Collinsworth: "But
then you walk in the locker room ... [and] those guys say,
'Aw, there he is.' Or they might walk by and make a snide
remark. Typically, what I'll do is tell them, 'Say it. Say
it. Tell me what's on your mind. I don't hold back on you.
Tell me what you think'" (MIL. JOURNAL SENTINEL, 10/13).
