…and Rush is NOT on there!!! It’ll be Al Michaels, Dan Fouts, and…DENNIS MILLER!!! WOOOOOHOOOOOOO! I can’t WAIT for football season now.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43928-2000Jun22.html
Dan Fouts and Dennis Miller? Spectacular! Now we just gotta get rid of Al Michaels. Mebbe replace him with Art Donovan.
Dennis Miller?? That was a strange choice. I enjoy the guy, but I’m not sure his act is really what MNF is looking for. Pretentious and superior are not something that Joe Sixpack appreciates very much, And how many obscure references do you really want to waste processing power on while watching 300 pound uglies beat up on each other?
I’m with Wolfman – and I love Miller’s humor.
Maybe it will be so odd or out-of-place that it will work. Or maybe it will be a one-season disaster, and heads will roll at ABC Sports.
I can’t imagine a sports broadcasting icon like Michaels (remember, this is the guy that called the US Olympic Hockey “Miracle on Ice” in 1980) will enjoy feigning amusement at Miller’s every joke for 16 games.
I think Miller was chosen, and Rush was considered, because they want to get somebody that a large segment of viewers will not be able to stand – the way it was with Cosell. But, like Cosell, someone you can’t resist tuning into every week, to complain about how much you dislike him.
Actually that sounds a lot like Howard Cosell.
I wish Dennis Miller luck, because I’m a fan. I’ve listened to Dan Fouts before and he’s a pretty good commentator, so no problem there. But Dennis Miller, I don’t know. I remember his pre-HBO talk show, and it sucked, mostly, I thought, because he couldn’t cuss his ass off, which he does on Dennis Miller Live. We’ll see, I guess.
If nothing else it should prove to be an interesting season. With all the Monday Night Blowouts in recent years, maybe ABC figures they need a comedian on the team to get through those long 3rd and 4th quarters.
Anyway, I’m looking forward to hearing what Miller has to say about it on his show tomorrow.
Regarding Joe 6-Pack, I don’t think he drives a Lexis or has an investment portfolio either, but look who advertises on MNF.
I wonder if Dennis Miller can make it through a 3 hour football game without saying “fuck” though?
Are we going to have a regular halftime rant, or do you think he’ll just spontaneously combust?
Miller: “Wow, baby. He opened that hole quicker than Monica can open trou! And what the fuck’s up with Randall Cunningham? Hey Randall, hear of social security? And why screw around with the extra point? Why not make a touchdown worth 7 points and be done with the chicanery!”
Michaels: “Shut up, Dennis.”
Dennis Miller!! This is going to be a GREAT year!! Love his HBO show, but I wonder how tight the leash on him will be. Teaming him up with Al Michaels is like pairing up John Rocker and Sinead O’Connor.
With the Raiders’ top draft place kicker busted on felony drug charges; Keyshawn the Mouth in Tampa Bay; the on-going travelling circus that is the Miami Dolphins; the hot-cold-lukewarm Giants; Deion in Washington; Randall Cunningham in Dallas, and an almost once-a-week NFL player co-starring in “Cops” or “America’s Most Wanted”, placing Dennis Miller amidst all of this is a stroke of genius. At least the inevitable 49-3 Monday Night blowouts will get a fresh look from Miller’s viewpoint.
'Course that’s my opinion, I could be wrong…
I dunno, it would have been interesting to hear Rush give play-by-play…
Michaels: And Davis makes a run to the left…
Rush: OH MY GOD! THE IDIOT! GO RIGHT! GO RIGHT!
Dan Fouts: Not again…
(Jesse Ventura appears, smacking Rush over the head with a folding chair, leaving Rush as a quivering mass of conservative body fat…)
Michaels: Hey, Jesse! Wanna sit in?
Ventura: I ain’t got time to bleed!
Dan Fouts: What?
(Ventura reaches for the chair, but Dan Fouts sees him and goes after him. Then Vince McMahon shows up…)
Dennis Miller? Well I didn’t see that one coming. As a fan of the man, I don’t think it’s going to work. His humor is based more on extended wordplay and elitist references rather than ad-libbed quips, so I don’t think he’ll mesh with the timing of commentating on a live game. He’ll be halfway through some elaborate set-up and a breaking play will cut him off before the punchline. I’d say if they’re going with a comedian they should have picked Dennis Leary or Chris Rock. Should be interesting anyway.
Why not Dennis Leary instead of Dennis Miller? Or hell, better yet, why not both of them?? That would be the best announcing crew…
ABC broke into “Whose Line Is It Anyway” to announce this, I swear to God I thought it was a gag at first. I am still not entirely sure it isn’t. But hey look at the bright side, if Dennis miller can call football games, then anyone can. I wanna do baseball !! Perhaps I shall forward my resume to ABC Sports.
I think Dennis and the boys at ABC had a long sit down before this contract was signed.
The more I think about this, the better the idea seems. I can’t wait to hear some color commentary in the NFL from Dennis Miller.
Holy shit, did you see that sack? Bruce Smith! Jesus Christ, this guy is more persistant than Keith Richards’ morning cough
Dennis Miller - Ye Haw!
I can hardly wait…
Al: “Davis is tackled by Jevon Kearse for a loss…”
Dennis : “What pursuit! Kearse on that play was as persistant as Keith Richard’s morning cough. He was on him quicker than Oprah on a Dorito, Davis went down faster than a ten dollar whore getting a 50 dollar tip…”
Group: “SHUT UP DENNIS!”
I can’t believe they turned down my idea of a dream team of announcers: Emo Philips (the comedian), William Shatner, and Brian Lamb (from Booknotes on C-Span).
Dennis Miller in the booth. I like it.
Why don’t they go for the whole ball of wax and make the sideline people Adam Sandler and Pamela Anderson Lee?
Adam: “We’re here with Ray Lewis. Tell us, Ray, what was more exciting? Making that sack on 3rd and long or STABBING THAT GUY AFTER THE SUPERBOWL LAST YEAR?”
Pamela: “I’m with (fill in player name here). Tell us, how do you feel your team will do the rest of the season? Or would you rather have another picture of me licking Tommy’s balls?”
Raw is War and Monday Nitro ratings will go to hell. I guarantee it.
LOL, I would LOVE to see Dennis Leary snap during a bad call that costs his team some yardage! Too bad we would only hear half of what he’s saying if he stays true to his stage persona though; they would have to bleep much of it out.
I think Dennis Miller is a great choice! He’s hilarious. Sure, he might be over the head of the average fan (I can picture my dad watching…“What the Hell is this guy talking about? Bring back Frank Gifford!”) The booth needs a shake-up. Even if he bombs terribly, he can’t be any worse than Boomer. Boomer had me pining for the days when Dan Dierdorf would blow hot air for 3 hours.
Hey UncleBeer – what’s wrong with Al Michales? He’s the best play by play guy on TV right now. And he’s not as straight-laced as most people think. Hell, he’s been on Howard Stern’s show a few times and has come across as a pretty funny guy. I think Al and Dennis could be a hoot together.
I’m looking forward to the start of football season and the first Monica joke from the booth.