Three Amigos

Seems like Tony Kornheiser is getting good reviews across the board for his first outing in the Monday Night Booth last night. I’ll sign on to that. I listened to about 20 minutes of the game and Tony seemed like he was fitting in amiably. He has a little bit of the Dennis Miller problem – not that funny to begin with, he obviously thinks it’s his job to be “the funny guy.” And he seems a little out of his water on the football front. “Explain to me what a silent count is Joe.” Really?

While I had the game on, I heard him make one joke worth a minor chuckle. They were talking about Rod Smart of “He Hate Me” infamy, and Tirico asked Tony if he could remember what team Smart played for in the XFL. “I don’t know,” Kornheiser said, “Barcelona?”

But to me, Kornheiser isn’t the story of the booth anyway. He has a good television voice and he’ll settle into his role over the season. He’s already made the grade on PTI – the average Joes dig him, and that’s all you need to know.

And Tirico’s a pro, a solid Al Michaels stand-in. No problems there.

The story of the booth is the only ESPN holdover in the booth - Theismann. He's unbearable, and he's always been unbearable. Terrible voice, incessant tone of self-importance (NOBODY loves himself more than Joe Theismann), ill-timed observations, and on the whole the type of meat-headed macho badinage that makes you want to blow up every football stadium in America. He’s like the aural equivalent of an anal chug. If they want a new booth, I don't understand why they don't get rid of this clown who's sucked for however long he's been doing this shit.

Kornheiser sounds good in MNF debut (Chicago Sun-Times)
Kornheiser steals the show (LA Times)
Kornehiser era begins on MNF (Sporting News)