The New MNF debuts tonight!

[football junkie]

After being a TV staple for 36 years on ABC, tonight Monday Night Football moves to cable network ESPN. It will have a new group of announcers and a much lessened importance in the modern NFL.

Longtime ESPN talking head Mike Tirico will be the play-by-play announcer, Washington Post Columnist Tony Kornheiser and former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann will also be in the booth to provide commentary.

The viewing audience is bound to dramatically decrease, as the NFL now makes Sunday Night Football its weekly centerpiece.

What do you all think of the change? And if you answer this after you watch the game, what did you think of the new MNF?

[football junkie]

I have to say that going into the broadcast my expectation were awfully low. That said I enjoyed the game. Theismann and Kornheiser's verbal spats were amusing. I thought they might fight at one point. I hope a producer doesn't tone them down, because I and I'm sure a lot other people found it hilarious.

The game was entertaining, although of course I didn't watch all of it. Switched the channel a few times, but only when I was bored with what has going on down on the field -- not because of anything ESPN was doing.

I liked the coverage that ESPN provided. That said, MNF is still MNF for me, its just on ESPN now, sure I'll miss Al and John but I can still hear them call Sunday night games - if the Sopranos aren't in season. And even then I might just set my DVR.

I'm only in my 20s so those of you with longer reaching memories correct me if I'm wrong but I believe Mike Tirico is the first African-American announcer in the booth as a regular on MNF -- kudos to Tirico. How on Earth did that take 37 years to happen?

[brady_branch]

Not getting cable (and my ABC is staticky), I had to vote for the third option.

[Ghost_Of_Otto_Graham]

I thought Kornheiser and Theisman were good. Surprisingly, I thought Mike Tirico was the weak link.

[redbuck]

God that was terrible wasn't it? That was the most dull announcing broadcast I've ever heard.

We need to get Jon Miller and Joe Morgan on the job.

[football junkie]

God that was terrible wasn't it? That was the most dull announcing broadcast I've ever heard.

We need to get Jon Miller and Joe Morgan on the job.


Dull? Theisman kepts saying stupid things and Kornheiser kept calling him out. I thought Joe was going to throw a punch at Tony before the game was over.

[mordeci]

Kornheiser is awful. He called the game like a writer, he made his list of notes on each player before the game and spit them out when the player's name was mentioned regardless of context. I'm not sure he was even watching the game.

[football junkie]

Kornheiser is awful.

Worse than Dennis Miller?

Let's establish an all-time worst MNF line-up by vote -- shall we?

I vote for the current crew, Tirico, Theisman & Kornheiser.

And to think that there's guys like Bob Costas who could do play-by-play, Chris Berman who could do color and Steve Young or Tom Jackson who could do analysis -- it's a shame we're stuck with such jokers.

[redlegsfan21]

I completely don't care. I will only care if the Bengals play (PS week 3). Since I'm a baseball fan first and from Cincinnati, I enjoy listening to the radio with the TV volume down (Cincinnatians do this often).

[football junkie]

Last night's broadcast was awful. Terrell Owens was brought up about 116 times even though he wasn't in the game and wasn't even in the stadium. Kornheiser just kept hammering home his stupid question, "how long is it going to take T.O. to blow up the Cowboys?"

Tirico needs to take charge of that booth and call the game. Kill Kornheiser's and Theismann's mics if need be. The producer(s) of the show are failing and the booth is blowing it. Tirico is calling a football game like he calls the sport he's more familiar with: golf.

Also during one Cowboy's drive -- which I think resulted in a touchdown -- the camera's were directed on Suzy Kolber the whole time while she interviewed the Gov. of Louisiana, as if that couldn't have been done at HALFTIME! The producer(s) just chose to ignore an entire scoring drive.

I swear it's not even like watching a football game. It's like listening to Mike Tirico try to get between two little old bickering woman. And watching the game is ridiculous because half the time the producer/director or who ever is calling the camera shots is not even showing what's going on down on the field.

I was willing to give the new MNF the benefit of the doubt last week. But this week was horrible. One more game like this and I'm done. ESPN better get its act together and quick or they're going to lose their audience.

Does Kornheiser realize he's supposed to be providing commentary on a live game, not doing an episode of PTI? The worst is when he tries to crack some lame joke and for the next ten seconds there's just dead air in the booth.

[boomer]

I'll withhold comment till regular season, I really can't stand to watch pre-season, hell call them what they really are...EXHIBITION GAMES. I'm sure the ESPN crew realizes people tune in and out during the glorified scrimmages, so they are probably trying to generate some attention.

[redlegsfan21]

I'll withhold comment till regular season, I really can't stand to watch pre-season, hell call them what they really are...EXHIBITION GAMES. I'm sure the ESPN crew realizes people tune in and out during the glorified scrimmages, so they are probably trying to generate some attention.
Agreed, I really haven't watched a game past the 1st quarter but that might change this week with Palmer going (if he plays past the 1st).

[football junkie]

I'm watching the (Friday night version of MNF?) with the volume on the TV down and listening to the Rolling Stones' Beast of Burden in place of the booth -- this is a lot better.

[efin98]

I'll withhold comment till regular season, I really can't stand to watch pre-season, hell call them what they really are...EXHIBITION GAMES. I'm sure the ESPN crew realizes people tune in and out during the glorified scrimmages, so they are probably trying to generate some attention.

Exactly what I thought- this is a tune up for the regular season and the announcers are treating it like that.

Tirico needs to go frankly. He is a good announcer but he isn't up to being the #1 guy. They need someone else in there- anyone but Chris Berman!!!!!!