SI.com's Richard Deitsch reports Fox last week "quietly canceled" FS1's "Crowd Goes Wild" due to lagging ratings. The show featured some "talented on-air people but never figured it out exactly what it was, a recipe for disaster in a tough timeslot with ESPN and ESPN2's offerings and local news throughout the country." Viewers can look for show co-hosts Katie Nolan and Georgie Thompson to "appear on Fox Sports 1 programming elsewhere." The final episode of "Crowd Goes Wild" will air May 8 (SI.com, 4/28).
FOX HOLE: In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote ever since Fox unveiled FS1 and FS2 and "dedicated much of its programming initiative" toward MLB action, the NFL has been "pounding away at the Foxies." The league "stuck it to Fox" when it unveiled its '14 schedule last week and the new "cross-flexing" feature, which allows CBS to broadcast games usually shown on Fox. Meanwhile, the NFL scheduled a Packers-Saints "SNF" game for Oct. 26. Raissman: "We believe this is called 'intentional scheduling'" (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 4/26).
WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S: In Cleveland, Terry Pluto wrote of why WKYC-NBC removed former NFLer Bernie Kosar as its color analyst for Browns preseason games, "They don't know what Kosar will say on the air, and they don't want any problems with the NFL or the Browns." The station also was "bothered by the complaints" after Kosar's controversial comments during a preseason game last year against the Rams. Also, there is "something about Kosar they just don't like, and it appears the Browns didn't step in to insist the station keep him." When "locked into the game, Kosar is so good, so insightful -- few can match him," and the Browns and WKYC "should realize that" (CLEVELAND.com, 4/26). In Ohio, Jim Naveau wrote the removal of Kosar is "another sign" that Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam III "doesn't understand his fan base very well or doesn't care about its opinions." Naveau: "You'd think a gas station billionaire would check the gauges a little more often" (LIMA NEWS, 4/27).
