CBS’ Super Bowl Overnight Basically Flat From Last Year

CBS Earns 42.0/63 Overnight For Super Bowl XLI

CBS earned a 42.0/63 overnight Nielsen rating for Super Bowl XLI featuring Colts-Bears last night, down 0.2% from a 42.1/62 for Steelers-Seahawks last year on ABC (THE DAILY).

OVERALL GRADES: In San Diego, Jay Posner writes CBS’ broadcast was “worthy of a B-plus.” The shots from Coordinating Producer Lance Barrow, Director Mike Arnold and a “few dozen rain-soaked camera operators were excellent, especially given the conditions” (UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/5). USA TODAY’s Michael Hiestand writes the broadcast was “perfectly adequate and certainly more than the over-hyped Super Bowl ads” (USA TODAY, 2/5). In West Palm Beach, Alan Tays writes CBS “provides solid, professional coverage.” It “rarely if ever leaves viewers open-mouthed with technical tricks, but neither does it induce nausea” (PALM BEACH POST, 2/5). In Chicago, Neil Hayes writes the game “won’t go down as one of the best Super Bowl broadcasts, nor will it go down as one of the worst” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 2/5). In Baltimore, Ray Frager gives the announcers a “B” and the production a “B+” (Baltimore SUN, 2/5). In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes CBS “was mediocre — at best” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/5).

Rain Plays Factor In CBS’ Super Bowl XLI Production

RAIN A FACTOR: With rain falling throughout the game, in L.A., Tom Hoffarth writes CBS had “constant problems dealing with the condensation.” But that “didn’t seem to dampen the network’s spirits or ability to work through it.” A CBS spokesperson said that the production crew “had to cut away from many of its better angles to wipe away moisture buildup” (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 2/5). In Chicago, Ed Sherman writes the crew “did its best to keep the cameras clean, but it was a difficult battle. CBS had workers running with towels constantly wiping cameras.” The above-field CableCam was “taken down during breaks to be dried” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/5). In Toronto, William Houston notes the rain resulted in “a distorted picture, although those problems disappeared for the most part in the second half” (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/5). In Dallas, Barry Horn writes “even the occasional shots through wet camera lenses enhanced the viewing experience” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/5).

LOOK INTO THE BOOTH: The SUN-TIMES’ Hayes writes play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and analyst Phil Simms “were objective. They made all the salient points.” But their performance “wasn’t memorable” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 2/5). In New Jersey, Randy Lange writes Nantz and Simms “had good spur-of-the-moment observations throughout” (Bergen RECORD, 2/5). The UNION-TRIBUNE’s Posner writes Nantz and Simms “were on their game for most of the night” (UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/5). In Minneapolis, Judd Zulgad writes the Nantz-Simms team “isn’t flashy, but they also don’t attempt to take over the telecast.” They stayed “away from some of the story lines that already had been done to death” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/5). In Indianapolis, David Lindquist writes Nantz and Simms provided “precise observations and virtually no hyperbole” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 2/5). In Miami, Barry Jackson writes Nantz “delivered a clean, crisp call” and was “poised and diligent throughout.” Simms “was sharp, especially dissecting strategy” (MIAMI HERALD, 2/5). In Philadelphia, Marc Narducci writes Nantz “showed once again why he receives so many of broadcasting’s top assignments.” Simms “had an uneven performance” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/5). The DAILY NEWS’ Raissman writes neither Nantz nor Simms “ever really incorporated the weather story into the game” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/5).

MORE ON NANTZ: In Houston, David Barron writes, “I’ve never heard such volume from Nantz, who absolutely trashed his golf whisper” while calling the opening kickoff return for a touchdown. Nantz, who “came perilously close to Brent Musburger mode,” kept up the volume “for most of the first quarter” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/5). DAILY VARIETY’s Brian Lowry writes Nantz “fell somewhere between rising to the occasion and the melodramatic, cliché-and-trivia-spouting babble associated with Brent Musburger” (DAILY VARIETY, 2/5). In Denver, Dusty Saunders writes Simms was, “as always, a bit verbose, providing 50-word analyses when 20 words would do” (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 2/5).

MORE ON SIMMS: In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich writes Simms “did a pretty good job” (TORONTO STAR, 2/5). On Long Island, Neil Best writes Simms had “two misfires.” He said that the weather “would not be much of a factor and that ‘maybe it was a blessing’” the Colts lost the coin toss. The Bears returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown (NEWSDAY, 2/5). In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes the “common man’s touch is what makes Phil Simms uncommonly good.” Simms “made sarcastic good fun of himself: ‘I said that the rain would not be a factor in this game’” (N.Y. POST, 2/5).

CBS’ PREGAME: In St. Pete, Tom Jones writes that with its four-hour pregame show, CBS “struck the right chord of satisfying the football diehards as well as entertaining those who watch only one game a year.” CBS News anchor Katie Couric’s piece on Steelers WR Hines Ward “would have been even better if CBS had shown it ... a year ago when Ward’s Steelers were actually in the Super Bowl” (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 2/5). The CHRONICLE’s Barron writes the “amount of transcendent material would have fit into a two-hour show” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/5). USA TODAY’s Hiestand writes CBS “didn’t fumble — or turn in any amazing plays” — during the pregame (USA TODAY, 2/5). SI.com’s Richard Deitsch gives studio host James Brown an “A-“ and writes “as usual, Brown moved things along smoothly” (SI.com, 2/5). The DALLAS MORNING NEWS’ Horn writes guest analyst Bill Cowher “sounded animated and appeared comfortable,” which “could translate into a full-time gig” next season (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/5).

PLAYING IT STRAIGHT: In Albany, Pete Dougherty writes replays “were ample but in most cases pertinent.” In the three coaches’ challenges, CBS “had the definitive view to allow the referee to make the correct call.” While networks “frequently use the Super Bowl to introduce new gadgets,” most of what CBS “trotted out was subtle,” including the super slow motion Super Vision (Albany TIMES UNION, 2/5). NEWSDAY’s Best writes CBS “helped create” a regular-season atmosphere “by limiting its use of gimmicks and graphics” (NEWSDAY, 2/5). In K.C., Jeffrey Flanagan writes CBS “played it straight, with few contrived story lines, no forced and trite sideline reports and a solid production effort in tough, rainy conditions” (K.C. STAR, 2/5).

GLITCHES & COMPLAINTS: Production glitches included sideline reporter Solomon Wilcots’ microphone going silent during a pregame interview with Bears LB Brian Urlacher, the name of Bears LB Lance Briggs being spelled “Brigss” in the opening graphics, and CBS missing a live snap in the third quarter (THE DAILY). In N.Y., Richard Sandomir notes during the opening kickoff, it was “impossible to see the ball being kicked” when CBS “gambled with a low-angle beauty shot” that picked up flashing cameras. CBS “was too reticent to reach to see how fans were reacting.” And “where were Archie and Eli Manning?” The “problem might have been that the family was in NBC’s suite,” but NBC Universal Sports & Olympics Chair Dick Ebersol indicated that he had “moved to the rear of the suite (with a camera-shy Eli) to let CBS get a clear shot of Archie” (N.Y. TIMES, 2/5).

PROMOS: The TORONTO STAR’s Zelkovich writes “The NFL Today” hit a “new low by chowing down on the sponsor’s pizzas during one segment and then having [analyst Boomer] Esiason deliver them to fans” (TORONTO STAR, 2/5). The CHRONICLE’s Barron writes CBS “sank to Fox-like depths by showing the stars” of the sitcom “Rules of Engagement” in the stands. The show debuts tonight (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/5). USA TODAY’s Hiestand writes CBS “deserved big credit for at least not going overboard hyping other CBS shows” (USA TODAY, 2/5). In Milwaukee, Bob Wolfley writes CBS “was impressive in terms of the pounding repetition promoting its network’s prime time shows, but you have to say Fox still is best at that” (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 2/5).

BLOGGERS: In Ft. Lauderdale, Jim Sarni writes a number of live game bloggers “were a blast,” including Deadspin Editor Will Leitch and Gregg Doyel on CBS SportsLine.com, Tom Curran and Alan Abrahamson on NBCSports.com and The Mighty MJD on Deadspin.com (SUN-SENTINEL, 2/5).
EARLY BIRDS: CBS’ “The Early Show” wrapped up its run in Miami this morning. All three anchors and weatherman Dave Price were in Dolphin Stadium for the entirety of the broadcast. Here is an inventory of Super Bowl-related segments on today’s show:

7:02	- highlight reel including Prince.
7:05	– Cynthia Bowers from Indianapolis souvenir store.
7:07	– Hannah Storm locker room interviews with Peyton, Archie Manning.
7:18	– Storm interview with Vinatieri via satellite from Ft. Lauderdale.
7:31	– ad reviews with Barbara Lippert.
7:42	– Storm locker room interview with Tony Dungy.
7:48	– how to treat Super Bowl hangover.
8:02	- Cynthia Bowers from Indianapolis souvenir store.
8:03	– Randy Cross from Iraq on the Baghdad Bowl flag football scrimmage and troops watching the game.
8:05	– Dave Price with CBS All-Access winners in Miami.
8:30	– more on ads, interview with Katie Crabb, Chevy Super Bowl College Ad Challenge winner and Kim Kosak, General Dir. of Advertising for Chevrolet.
8:48	– Recap of all special interviews and segments from “The Early Show” in Miami