CBS’ Super Bowl Overnight Basically Flat From Last Year
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CBS Earns 42.0/63 Overnight For Super Bowl XLI
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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).
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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 |
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