LAWRENCE, Kan. — Back for its 33rd year, Saturday Night Live kicked off the new season with host Lebron James and musical guest Kanye West, marking the second time the season premiere featured both an African American host and musical guest. Oddly enough, the previous time featured Michael Jordan as host and Public Enemy as musical guest in 1991.

Many would argue that ’91 was during SNL’s glory days, with one of its most popular and successful casts and a top-notch writing staff. However, on the heels of some unfortunate off-beat summer films starring current cast members – Hot Rod with Andy Samberg and Bill Hader and The Brothers Solomon written and starring Will Forte with Kristen Wiig and a Hader cameo, the current cast still has a lot to prove.

Filed under:
Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – After three years of coming close, MTV has finally taken one last plunge toward ruining the last shred of its original self. The cable network’s long-running Video Music Awards took a nose dive Sunday night with drastic changes to format and location, not to mention a level of payoff-less manufactured hype that would make Fox chief Rupert Murdoch blush.

After introducing the VMAs in 1984, only three years after the network’s inception, the awards grew to become a legitimate event with actual awards, known for memorable performances and surprise appearances. More recently, the show became a rare break in MTV’s schedule of non-music-related programming to pay homage to the very form that put it on the map. From time to time, there might have even been some actual anticipation of who would win the unique Moonman statues. But all that has changed.

Filed under:
Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – In a rare moment, reporter Mary Joe Fernandez landed a live interview from James Blake’s box in Arthur Ashe Stadium with older brother Thomas, who spoke candidly during the fifth set. As the younger Blake mounted a comeback, he failed to capitalize on three match points, and Tommy Haas answered by forcing a tiebreak.

Meanwhile, the trio of Dick Enberg, John McEnroe and Mary Carillo, who spent much of the afternoon in jocular exchange, flipped on the serious switch when the occasion called for it and provided excellent, meaningful commentary that viewers have come to expect; and coordinating producer Bob Mansbach, working his 27th U.S. Open, expertly selected relevant replays that director Bob Fishman interwove with dramatic live shots of the players, their families, coaches and fans in what Enberg declared the highlight of the two-week tournament.

Filed under:
Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – On a cold January night in Eastern Kansas, the heated rivalry between the Kansas Jayhawks and Missouri Tigers was reignited inside Allen Fieldhouse. The gates opened and the students poured in, decked out in their crimson and blue, filling the highly-sought-after student sections to the brim.

Meanwhile, outside the venue in the 53-foot-long high definition production truck for ESPN’s first night of “Student Spirit Week,” temperatures were also rising beneath the collars of some of the telecast’s key production personnel. As has become the custom at KU, countless students donned their royal blue “Muck Fizzou” t-shirts, displaying the now-trite spoonerism reflecting the student body’s hatred for the Tigers. And, while ESPN may be on cable, it still has standards for what it will and won’t allow on the air. The t-shirts did not make the cut.

Often the case – as with the Fieldhouse’s TV-unfriendly layout – since the school won’t change, the network must. The result: director Ken Dennis and his team of camera operators must be constantly vigilant to keep the shirts off the air. So, no matter how brilliant the paint job is on your face, if your torso is covered in a “Muck Fizzou” shirt, don’t count on getting any air time. To complicate matters further, since the game is in high definition, Dennis must be aware of the wider frame that HD allows, ruling out even more shots.

Filed under:
College, Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – With every episode of the current season of Saturday Night Live, it seems as if the show’s production crew has lost its touch.

Part of the problem is Don Roy King, the show’s new director. His qualifications were suspect in the first place, and as each week passes, it has become clear that he has no business directing the long-running variety show. His direction of SNL’s comedy sketches has been subpar at best, and he has done a horrendous job cutting the music performances. But King isn’t the only one to blame.

The show’s producer Steve Higgins has somehow managed to keep his job amid the program’s plummetting ratings, and the timing of this season’s shows has been some of the worst in recent memory. For two straight weeks, there have been issues with how much time is left at the end of the show. The final sketch of last week’s episode hosted by Annette Bening had to be prematurely cut off because the show was going too long. For this week’s show hosted by Justin Timberlake, there wasn’t even enough time for a sketch in the last segment of the show. Instead, the SNL band played on camera before the final commercial break.

Filed under:
Late Night TV, Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Television by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Saturday Night Live may have suffered one of the biggest losses in the show’s 32-year history. The show returned last weekend without director Beth McCarthy Miller calling the shots, for the first time in 11 years. Reports from USA Today and Variety have been unclear about who made the decision to end McCarthy Miller’s reign as director, and it’s even more baffling how Don Roy King was chosen as her replacement.

McCarthy Miller came to SNL after rising to the rank of senior director at MTV before leaving to direct The Jon Stewart Show, whose short lifespan perfectly coincided with the late Dave Wilson’s retirement from SNL. Wilson’s departure, however, appeared to have been far more premeditated as a live shot in the control room showed him salute at the close of the 1994-95 season finale. McCarthy Miller had no such curtain call.

Filed under:
Late Night TV, Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Television by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Despite correcting some errant judgment from the last couple of years, MTV’s recently-announced lineup for its upcoming Video Music Awards still leaves much to be desired. While the cable network has returned the VMAs to Thursday night instead of Sunday and back to it’s home in New York City, both of which are for the first time in two years, scheduling may have kept MTV from getting the director it deserves. With this year’s VMAs occurring within days of the Emmy Awards, the show’s last three directors – Beth McCarthy Miller, Louis J. Horvitz and Bruce Gowers – are all unavailable because of their nominations for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program. Horvitz is also directing the Emmy Awards telecast. MTV, therefore, had to hire UK director Hamish Hamilton for its longest-running award show. Hamilton, who has directed the MTV Europe Music Awards as well as countless music DVDs, has no doubt made a name for himself internationally, but his ability to cut a show on the fly is still debatable. His style of employing erratic camerawork and cutting often results in a jarring visual chaos that is, at the very least, unsettling. He was the director behind the Live 8 performances in London, of which I was very critical, and has directed the last few U2 concert DVDs. If his style remains unchanged, this year’s VMAs could be dizzying, but I will gladly eat my words if he proves me wrong.

Filed under:
Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. — For the fifth time in her career, Beth McCarthy Miller has been nominated by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for Outstanding Directing for Variety, Music or Comedy programming. McCarthy Miller, nominated for last season’s episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Steve Martin, has never won an Emmy despite past nominations for America: A Tribute to Heroes, Saturday Night Live: The 25th Anniversary and Saturday Night Live. This year, her category consists of fellow veterans Louis J. Horvitz (78th Annual Academy Awards) and Bruce Gowers (American Idol) as well as Chuck O’Neil (The Daily Show With Jon Stewart) and newcomer Jim Hoskinson (The Colbert Report). Unlike in prevous attempts, however, McCarthy Miller is the lone representative of non-cable late-night programming. Her nomination is one of only two for the 31-year-old show; the other went to SNL’s technical crew for the episode hosted by Jack Black.

Filed under:
Music/Variety by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Two months have passed since my hectic schedule last allowed me an opportunity to vent. I’ve seen a lot of television in these eight weeks, so here’s what I’ve concluded:

The first year back to multi-network coverage of the Triple Crown was disappointing at best. NBC’s telecasts at Churchill Downs and Pimlico Race Course were almost entirely comprised of cuts (rather than dissolves or other effects) that were exceedingly jarring, and director David Michaels seemed to be cutting out of sync with the field. His cutting during The Preakness Stakes, when jockey Edgar Prado was forced to pull up heavy favorite Barbaro, at least provided a silver lining in the cloud over the first two races. ABC/ESPN’s coverage of The Belmont Stakes, however, had no such upside. As The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir pointed out in his June 13th column, “an inferior ESPN production showed how unprepared it was to carry a Triple Crown race.” Indeed, there was nothing positive to be taken from the broadcast except for the hope that it can’t possibly get any worse next year.

Filed under:
Late Night TV, Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Chalk another one up to Sean McManus, the president of CBS News and Sports. McManus, whose 9-year term at the helm of the network’s sports division has been marked by over a dozen high-profile on-air additions, can now add Katie Couric to that list. This morning, the 15-year veteran of NBC News’ Today Show officially announced that she will leave NBC in May to assume the roles of anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News. The highly-anticipated announcement comes after a year of speculation regarding Couric’s future, and McManus was the perfect person to seal the deal. While the Today show has lost ground in the morning ratings game, CBS Evening News has been on the way up under the leadership of interim anchor Bob Schieffer. The two networks’ news divisions seem to be heading in opposite directions. With people like McManus and Couric revamping CBS News, the eyes have it. As for NBC News, the peacock is for the birds.

Filed under:
Opinion/Editorial, Television by Scott A. Winer

ROSWELL, Ga. – As the 2006 NCAA Tournament enters its second week of competition, I will be in Atlanta, somewhere neither of “my teams” – the Kansas Jayhawks and Syracuse Orange – will be: the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight. In the Atlanta bracket, a superior #12 Texas A&M team defeated Syracuse, an overrated 5 seed that only made the tournament because of its unlikely run in the Big East Tournament. Meanwhile, #4 Kansas was in early-season form, looking like a shadow of the Jayhawks that won the Big 12 Tournament the week before, losing to Missouri Valley runners up Bradley, an at-large 13 seed triumphant in the opening weekend. Bradley will play top-seeded Memphis in the Oakland regional semifinal tomorrow night. The early departure for the Jayhawks and Orange marks the second straight year that both 2003 finalists have failed to win their first round games.

Filed under:
Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer

ROSWELL, Ga. – During the chaotic first round of the NCAA Tournament, details are likely to fall through the cracks. Such was the case on CBS Sports’ broadcast of the Kansas-Bradley game Friday night when a graphic, identifying legendary Kansas broadcaster Max Falkenstien, contained an incorrect spelling of Falkenstien’s last name. While it’s an easy mistake, and one that I made on a graphic promoting Falkenstien’s appearance on Jayhawk Sports Talk: Monday, the error is just as inexcusable on KUJH as it is on CBS. Falkenstien, who has been calling KU football and basketball games since 1946, ended his 60-year career as the voice of the Jayhawks when Kansas lost to the Bradley Braves, 77-73, in their opening round game at The Palace of Auburn Hills. On February 27, he was a guest on Jayhawk Sports Talk: Monday two days before calling his final home game at Allen Fieldhouse. The first-round broadcast was produced by Mark Wolff and directed by Suzanne Smith.

Filed under:
College, Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – A new feature produced by SWPnet, “From Allen Fieldhouse to Your House,” aired tonight on Jayhawk Sports Talk: Monday, taking a behind-the-scenes look at CBS Sports’ production of college basketball at Allen Fieldhouse. Conversations with CBS director Mark Grant and announcers Craig Bolerjack and Dan Bonner complement exclusive footage of pregame preparation to provide unprecedented access for college television to take an inside look at network sports production. The premiere coincided with legendary announcer Max Falkenstien’s appearance on the show. Watch Part 1 and Part 2 of the interview.

Filed under:
Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – I’m back at KU for the spring semester, introducing a new look to the site, to me and to Jayhawk Sports Talk. While specifics of the coming season at KUJH are still pending, I will share my recommendations for the weekend programs you shouldn’t miss:

Filed under:
Late Night TV, Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer

ROSWELL, Ga. – I wrapped up the last weekend of my winter break in exciting fashion, on the road in Chicago for last weekend’s NFC Divisional Playoff between the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears. Splitting time at the new Soldier Field between national television and radio coverage on Fox and Westwood One/CBS Radio Sports, respectively, I now feel confident that I have seen two of the three best NFL TV crews in action, both of which were working last Sunday.

With additional equipment and personnel on hand, producer Richie Zyontz and director Artie Kempner told the compelling story of the Bears’ comeback in the midst of an uncharacteristically poor defensive effort on its home field. While Carolina dominated early and often, Fox’s top production duo never counted the Bears out, following the game’s story to its unfortunate end. The game was surprisingly high scoring, with the Chicago defense giving up around three touchdowns more than its per game average at home, but the Bears were within striking distance until just before the two-minute warning when Chicago’s Rex Grossman threw a game-ending interception. It was a very exciting finish to say the least. Fox, however, had a hard act to follow.

Filed under:
Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer

ROSWELL, Ga. – Chalk one up for the BCS. This was the last year of the Bowl Championship Series’ TV contract with ABC, and without a last minute deal with Fox, we might have witnessed a change in the bowl system. Needless to say, the BCS is here for at least another four years. For all the criticism that the system has endured since its inception in 1998, however, this year it appears to have worked – more or less.

While the rankings may still need some work as a majority of top ten BCS-ranked teams lost their respective bowl games, the elite bowl games certainly lived up to expectations. As my trusty stat man pointed out to me after last night’s National Championship, all but the Fiesta Bowl were decided by three points, each with its own set of quirks. The Sugar Bowl had a huge lead and a subsequent comeback; the Orange Bowl was slow developing and mistake prone; and the Rose Bowl was an exhilarating neck-and-neck race of two tremendous football teams. Blowouts are no fun to watch, and this year’s games were infused with endless storylines and matchups that endured well into the final minutes of each game.

Filed under:
Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer

ROSWELL, Ga. – Relatively true to form, I have remained fairly busy despite being on a month-long break from KU and KUJH. Since returning to Atlanta, I have been on the road, attending NFL games in St. Louis and Green Bay on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, respectively. In St. Louis, I spent the Rams-49ers game in the Rams Radio booth with play-by-play man Steve Savard and Coach Jim Hanifan, filling in for the irreplaceable Jack Snow. For my first ever game at Lambeau Field, an essential destination for any NFL fan, I sat in the CBS Radio/Westwood One booth for the national radio broadcast, where Dave Sims and Jeff Bostic called the 170th meeting between the Packers and Bears with Kevin Kiley on the sideline. This weekend, with bowl season in full swing, I will likely attend the Peach Bowl and Sugar Bowl, both of which will be at the Georgia Dome this year, as well as the Falcons-Panthers game. Translation: a weekend chock-full of football is in store, a good time to say the least.

Filed under:
College, Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – After directing 32 shows in just over four months, my first semester as a director for KUJH wrapped up last night with two shows in a span of 90 minutes: the Wednesday edition of Jayhawk Sports Talkand the Jayhawk Sports Talk: Bowl Special. Doing two shows on back-to-back nights takes a lot of energy, but I’ve had the pleasure of working with 15 people, who have made my first foray into studio directing a truly memorable experience.

Filed under:
College, Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer

ROSWELL, Ga. — After a series of poor live programming decisions by MTV, such as the Live 8 debacle, the 2004 MTV Movie Awards and Video Music Awards, and the Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show, the cable network seems to be headed back on the right track for the upcoming Video Music Awards.

For the second straight year the show will be on a Sunday at the American Airlines Arena after having been held on Thursdays for the past several years in either New York or Los Angeles at various locations, including Radio City Music Hall, New York’s Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center and the Universal Amphitheatre.

Filed under:
Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Television by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – I’ve needed a couple of weeks to recover from the unfortunate event known as Live 8. It seems every media outlet has weighed in, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t share my own thoughts.

First of all, it was painfully obvious that MTV and VH1′s July 9th re-broadcasts of two consecutive, commercial-free five-hour blocks of Live 8 performances (one block on VH1 followed by another on MTV) were responses to the overwhelming number of scathing reviews of their previous week’s telecast of the concerts on July 2, 2005. It was not out of generosity to their audience, as they would have liked people to believe. They made some big time errors that they couldn’t rectify until a week later.

Filed under:
Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Television by Scott A. Winer