ESPN Wants Oprah Winfrey in the Monday Night Football Booth Posted Aug 12th 2007 7:48AM by Michael David Smith Filed under: NFL Media Watch http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007...h-winfrey-in-the-monday-night-football-booth/ Although the decision to move Monday Night Football to ESPN last year was a big success as far as the ratings were concerned, one thing ESPN did infuriated fans week after week: Celebrity interviews. If Tony Kornheiser considers talking about Christian Slater's acting career more interesting than talking about an NFL game that's going on right in front of him, he's entitled to that opinion. But if he has that opinion, he should probably find another line of work. There's good news and bad news on that front from Michael Hiestand of USA Today: The Monday Night Football celebrity interviews aren't going anywhere, but D-listers like Slater won't be back. ESPN says it will still have celebs drop by the booth -Oprah Winfrey has a standing invite - but now will sometimes go without if it can't land good ones. I think it's fair to say that most hard-core NFL fans wouldn't consider Oprah Winfrey a "good one," but ESPN knows that hard-core NFL fans will watch Monday Night Football anyway. ESPN wants to build its audience by attracting people who wouldn't normally watch. And given her incredible popularity among a demographic not known for watching football, getting Oprah in the booth would certainly do that ______________________________________________________ I don't want to see celebrity interviews! I could give a rat's ass who's got a new movie/album/book out. Kornheiser gushing over these people make me want to puke. SHOW THE DAMN GAME! I remember a game last year and I think it was Jeff Gordon in the booth (could be mistaken) anyway, they missed a KEY play because Tony and Co were too busy licking up to him.
I usually enjoy those segments. It's fun to watch a celebrity that knows nothing about sports try to talk like he is somewhat knowledgeable.
What Femi-Nazi group, lead by some angry dike with a Rick Springfield mullet, infiltrated ESPN and pushed this idea? Thank God for NFL Network...
I think if Joe Theisman still worked in the booth and had the chance to interview Oprah on MNF, my head would explode.
Seriously, ESPN knows/doesn't care about it's target demographic at all. I know it's all about getting new audiences to tune in, but these retarded ideas like having Oprah on MNF and the whole "Who's Now?" fiasco do more to alienate the current audience more than bringing in new viewers. These really needs to be a good alternative to ESPN. I refuse to believe that "The Best Damn Sports Show, Period" is as good as it's going to get. It's sports highlights and feature stories. It can't be that hard to mess up.
The Jets-Dolphins game last year was the worst broadcast of the Jets all year. Luckily, Jets fans don't have to deal with that this season. Who did they interview during the Jets game again? I remember being annoyed. Ha ha, that could of been because of the Pennington bashing though.
I'd say don't care. The bastards more or less said it in the article. They KNOW we hard core fans will watch.
