I wasn’t sure where to put this, as it could go in Cafe Society or even in the Pit, depending on how this goes. I’ll leave it to the Mods to move it if it makes sense to them.
I have largely stopped watching ESPN, since each of their “shows” has turned into a shouting match. But, since the Pirates are in first place and have the best record in baseball, I decided to try ESPN’s MLB Now. Sadly, it is the same argumentative, created conflict dialog that drives me crazy.
Brian Kenney and Harold Reynolds are the two idiots, and they are, of course, “moderated” by some woman with a 4-pack a day habit who serves no purpose other than to read the topics and announce to each combatant that the “bell” rang. They have also tried to set this up as a “new school” vs. “old school” contest, but it is so tedious to watch… you cannot disagree on EVERYTHING, and have such passion for each of these topics, but Brian Kenney in particular seems especially psychotic. Reynolds, to his credit, seems to try to keep his voice and blook pressure down, but when someone is saying “you are wrong!” with the smarmy grin of a loser like Kenney, it gets a little old.
This show is added to the list of ESPN-created verbal slugfests, including the ridiculous show with Stephen A. Smith vs. Skip Bayless (ESPN First Take?)… and the more lighthearted but still annoying show with Colin Cowherd and the blonde, where they don’t necessarily argue but instead just speak very loudly. Of course, we can never forget the two half-hour screamfests, Pardon The Interruption and Around The Horn. ATH is interesting for a number of reasons… the first is that it is hosted by a guy who used to be called “stat boy” on PTI, and second, it has sports reporters like Woody Paige and Bill Plaschke (sp?) who actually CARE if they win, particularly the bald, chubby lisping Plaschke, who always cringes and verbally bursts out when someone bests him… he also whines “awww Tony” or “oh, come on!” and pouts when he loses. Pathetic. I enjoy PTI because I like Mike Wilbon, and can tolerate Tony Kornheiser in small doses. Very small doses.
Anyway, I started to think when this trend started… and I came up with the pathetic arguments between Sean Salisbury and John Clayton during the NFL season, when they argued about everything and started insulting each other for ratings. I believe Salisbury quit or was fired for his dislike of the daily faux-bickering.
Is this what TV is going to be like now? insta-polls and reading tweets from idiots?
The dumbing down of America continues at a break-neck speed.
In 20 years, I fear shows will be two people crouching opposite each other, grabbing feces from their own butts and throwing it at each other… or the camera or audience, depending on what the home viewer votes on. I can’t wait.
I know I’m getting old, since I don’t need the constant viewer polls,