tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post7510699859545397644..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Super Bowl XIILCXXILLCCIX reviewBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-55940941163931071742018-02-09T08:56:02.376-08:002018-02-09T08:56:02.376-08:00As a schoolkid in the '50s, I had to learn Rom...As a schoolkid in the '50s, I had to learn Roman numerals along with everyone else in our Catholic school; it was a small but important part of our arithmetic classes for the whole eight grades.<br />The nuns were pretty straightforward about it: we ought to be able to read the cornerstones on old downtown buildings, and the copyright notices in textbooks that were published before the 1930s, and like that.<br />Of course, we also were able to read the copyright dates on the opening titles of old Three Stooges shorts (<b><i>Copyright MCMXXXVIII by Columbia Pictures Of California, Harry Cohn, President</i></b>); it was a kid way of showing off ...<br />Of course, the SuperBowl wouldn't be invented for years yet; am I the only one who remembers that the NFL initially resisted calling it that?<br /><br />Well, anyway, That Was Then, This Is Now, and Yada Yada Yada ...<br /><br />Actually, the NFL should have started using the years long ago.<br />Bear in mind that MLB's World's Serious would be up in the CXs by now ...<br />(Think about that - if you dare.)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05527404061764217504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90697828019197909682018-02-08T23:55:49.690-08:002018-02-08T23:55:49.690-08:00I was hoping that the Super Bowl's organizers ...I was hoping that the Super Bowl's organizers would've abandoned the Roman numeral nonsense once they got stuck with having to use the not-really-powerful-looking "L" after all those decades of "X"s. They had it right when they decided to call the one a couple of years ago "Super Bowl 50." ("Super Bowl L" ... that would've just looked like a stutter.) The NFL should go back to using regular 21st century numbers for this game, or maybe just insert the year (i.e. "Super Bowl 2019").David G.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37486350681969444452018-02-08T09:07:20.585-08:002018-02-08T09:07:20.585-08:00Al Michaels seems to be a nice man, but he made so...Al Michaels seems to be a nice man, but he made so many mistakes on the Super Bowl broadcast that it may be time for him to give up covering football. He had trouble seeing where the football was placed on the field, mixed up team names, and worst of all, said the Patriots had taken the lead when they had just tied the score. You can just hear an NBC guy in his ear saying "They tied the game, Al, until they kick the extra point, remember?"Mr. Teachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03375471944722379400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16502205728419990062018-02-07T12:08:34.637-08:002018-02-07T12:08:34.637-08:00Collingsworth was fawning over Brady so much that ...Collingsworth was fawning over Brady so much that I was expecting him to ask Tom to the prom. JoeyHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12710864245535772665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70836000497435855582018-02-06T15:22:25.842-08:002018-02-06T15:22:25.842-08:00I didn't watch but I'm glad of the outcome...I didn't watch but I'm glad of the outcome.<br /><br />What burns me, though, is that they refused to run an ad praising US veterans but they accepted one from the Scientology Organized Crime Family. Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-36919049912053901672018-02-06T00:25:33.719-08:002018-02-06T00:25:33.719-08:00I like Al Michaels, other than hearing his caps or...I like Al Michaels, other than hearing his caps or dentures clatter as he calls the game, but I find Chris Collinsworth insufferable. He belabored the Ertz catch, ignoring the byzantine NFL rules that made Ertz no longer a receiver but a runner after his second full step. (I skipped trigonometry in high school, which is why I don't follow the NFL closely. If only I had taken an analytics class I could have been an NFL or MLB GM by now.) Sadly, Michaels began agreeing with him. Yet, the ex-NFL officials on hand, better experts than Collinsworth and a little more objective, said the call was spot on. But why ruin a three-minute rant when you have 100M people hanging on every word.<br /><br />Collinsworth seemed more interested in pushing the Brady-Belichick 6th SB win and walking into immortality hand-in-hand narrative more than commenting on the game. I'll take Jim Nantz and Tony Romo over Michaels-Collinsworth, although Romo started to go over the top in the playoffs after a nice debut season. I always love how the cameras cut to Jerry Jones or Giselle after a TD by their team, but nary a shot when things are going off the skids. Now, those visuals are reality TV (the best was Chris Christie's awkward 300-pound man hug of Jones while Jerry turned his back on the guv). My idea of hell would be to hear Joe Bucks and Chris Collinsworth on an endless loop. I would seriously considering puncturing my ear drums.<br /><br />Great game if you don't like defense or special teams perfectly executed. I've seen flag football teams play tighter D. Best news of all is it's just over a week until pitchers and catchers report. Can spring be far behind?MikeKPa.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41749037009583151172018-02-06T00:02:42.664-08:002018-02-06T00:02:42.664-08:00Damn. Just woke up here in the UK to the awful new...Damn. Just woke up here in the UK to the awful news about John Mahoney. <br /><br />His comedy timing was sheer genius. And by all accounts he was a lovely man.<br /><br />Rest in peace. Peternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-23896609379247382562018-02-05T18:42:02.883-08:002018-02-05T18:42:02.883-08:00Ken, thanks for a terrific write up of the Super B...Ken, thanks for a terrific write up of the Super Bowl; it was more fun than the game itself. Regarding the 20 seconds of black screen, I had the same thought you did about the Hawaiian missile alert guy being the culprit. Either that or NBC all of a sudden just decided to pay tribute to the series finale of The Sopranos. <br /><br />Off topic question: are you a pretty fast typist? <br /><br />Thanks again for all your great blog posts. Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02657932542572968305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-777473864501280962018-02-05T18:18:15.616-08:002018-02-05T18:18:15.616-08:00My blog post tomorrow will be my tribute to John M...My blog post tomorrow will be my tribute to John Mahoney -- a dear sweet man.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52922156259836812582018-02-05T18:15:59.915-08:002018-02-05T18:15:59.915-08:00Rest In Peace Martin Crane. Forever in our hearts ...Rest In Peace Martin Crane. Forever in our hearts John Mahoney.Issa Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10448615063317064696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-69579529186781648842018-02-05T17:51:02.070-08:002018-02-05T17:51:02.070-08:00Al Michaels is 73, and he is losing a step. Sad to...Al Michaels is 73, and he is losing a step. Sad to hear it live in front of the biggest audience in the country. I suspect that he won't be broadcasting the next Super Bowl that NBC airs in 3 years.<br /><br />When Pat Summerall was about 70, it was noticeable that he lost a step and his announcing was slow and deliberate. He retired after the 2002 Super Bowl.Edwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03428768957017762182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67479348115106097332018-02-05T17:25:37.755-08:002018-02-05T17:25:37.755-08:00Just heard John Mahoney passed. What were your tho...Just heard John Mahoney passed. What were your thoughts on John? Such a great part of the Frasier ensemble. NO reunion with him - or Eddie! Janice B.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34176033724383866952018-02-05T17:19:41.819-08:002018-02-05T17:19:41.819-08:00RIP John MahoneyRIP John MahoneyLouOCNYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16151395857835632917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4035561458282529682018-02-05T17:08:39.826-08:002018-02-05T17:08:39.826-08:00I have to disagree that NBC produced an "exce...I have to disagree that NBC produced an "excellent" broadcast, even ignoring the dead air (TV's Unpardonable Sin). It would have been a fine regular Sunday broadcast, but for a Super Bowl, I expect the best of everything. Surprisingly lackluster direction, including using a cross-field camera to awkwardly show a celebrating player when you could see on the screen that there was a much closer Steadicam (and on another score, 2 Steadicam guys inexplicably emerged in the same place and nearly ran into each other), showing Coach A on-screen when the announcers are talking about Coach B, failing to have file tape available to illustrate a historical point the announcers are trying to make, etc. There was even a score where a camera-equipped pylon was knocked over, but they didn't show the pylon shot on the replay. Fortunately for them, the game was exciting enough to make up for lack of action in the control room.Andy Rosenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84178511664695118872018-02-05T16:50:27.963-08:002018-02-05T16:50:27.963-08:00John Mahoney. Goddammit.
He was brilliant in ...John Mahoney. Goddammit. <br /><br />He was brilliant in "Say Anything". The scene where he's driving down the street singing along to Steely Dan was perfect.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01398155323660704945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-17776207176393256802018-02-05T14:42:34.229-08:002018-02-05T14:42:34.229-08:00WAIT WAIT got it right. The question dealt with w...WAIT WAIT got it right. The question dealt with what the cast did on the night of the final episode airing. The Emmy ceremony was not mentioned.DwWashburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03057278992504418291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61687397758706684312018-02-05T14:38:22.540-08:002018-02-05T14:38:22.540-08:00I started reading your blog post but I was afraid ...I started reading your blog post but I was afraid it was a Tide ad.DwWashburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03057278992504418291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37021495667823363442018-02-05T14:35:09.692-08:002018-02-05T14:35:09.692-08:00As the unacknowledged Prince of Laundry, I need to...As the unacknowledged Prince of Laundry, I need to correct you, Ken: it's Persil Pro-Clean, not Perisol.Persil adverts keep Mariska Hargitay's husband Peter Hermann busy, and, presumably, with no need to ever purchase detergent again in his life.therealshellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05598639173652882797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84205210145979685672018-02-05T13:38:38.025-08:002018-02-05T13:38:38.025-08:00It was a good game. An especially amazing first h...It was a good game. An especially amazing first half, but with both teams scoring, and seeming to trade the honor back and forth, it meant the game had real momentum. Heck, I even enjoyed the commercials. None were amazing, but most were at least fun, especially the dance scene. It was a hoot, and nearly as good as the Swayze/Grey original. The half time show - I can't help thinking that Justin could have stayed home. The show was in the special effects and the crowd, and anybody could have taken his place. McAlvienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24040886449650373162018-02-05T13:19:20.083-08:002018-02-05T13:19:20.083-08:00Actually Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me had it right...Actually <i>Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me</i> had it right; I just played back the segment online. Peter Sagal asks, "How did the cast and crew celebrate the airing of the show's final episode?" before giving the three alternatives including the correct one, the Tonight Show appearance.gottacooknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30254513756104720142018-02-05T12:55:15.718-08:002018-02-05T12:55:15.718-08:00I'm SO, SO GLAD that Tom Brady didn't win ...I'm SO, SO GLAD that Tom Brady didn't win his VIth Superbowl!. If anybod should be thanking GOD it should be Tom. He's arguably one of the best quarterbacks of all time. He's tall, good looking, rich, famous AND he gets to bone Gisele without a rubber. He's had more than his fair share. If there's a 1% of life, he's in it. And of course, HATE Prince! Always have. In 1981 he got bood off the stage when he opened for the Rolling Stones here in L.A.<br />M.B.Mike Bloodworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04755626259169126800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-73268638363496228662018-02-05T12:51:51.986-08:002018-02-05T12:51:51.986-08:00Eric J: I don't get them confused, but I never...Eric J: I don't get them confused, but I never know when either of them is. Only reason I know about the Super Bowl at all is Ken's post. But I'm fairly sure I'm not in the right demographic for Scientology ads.<br /><br />wgWendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4567424572304883222018-02-05T12:44:53.589-08:002018-02-05T12:44:53.589-08:00Mel Gibson is going to do a sequel of Passion of t...Mel Gibson is going to do a sequel of Passion of the Christ. What are your thoughts?<br /><br />Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46840970408797035032018-02-05T11:36:41.431-08:002018-02-05T11:36:41.431-08:00"... WJM’s Sue Ann Nivens. ..."
I thoug..."... WJM’s Sue Ann Nivens. ..." <br />I thought she gave up minn. winters and retired to Florida.<br />Kennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59997938015721104202018-02-05T11:29:49.793-08:002018-02-05T11:29:49.793-08:00As a former sports announcer who calls out Al Mich...As a former sports announcer who calls out Al Michaels for getting details wrong, you should be more careful. If Trump gets his recalls, the score doesn't become 33-27. Philly didn't kick two extra points after those scores. It was crazy they went for two after the first one, up 12 in the second quarter.MikeNnoreply@blogger.com