ESPN's "Monday Night Football” is undergoing a makeover this season, ridding itself of much of the fluff that detracted from the game telecasts. Input from focus groups in Boston, Chicago and San Diego convinced ESPN executives that changes were needed. Many TV critics have been saying that for two seasons, ever since the storied franchise moved from ABC to the cable network.
While "MNF” has been catering to casual fans, the focus groups told the executives that avid fans made up most of the audience, and they wanted the telecast to focus on the game.
"You can call us the old ABC on steroids, but the truth of the matter is we are a sports network, and people tune in to ESPN for a sporting event,” said senior coordinating producer Jay Rothman. "We were trying to service too many and found we were doing too much.”
The changes will be evident when "MNF” debuts with a doubleheader Monday: Minnesota at Green Bay at 6 p.m. and Denver at Oakland at 9:15 p.m. The regular crew of Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski and Tony Kornheiser will call the opener, and Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic and Mike Ditka will broadcast the West Coast game.
Gone are:
•The long celebrity booth interviews. If viewers wanted celebrity interviews, they would watch "Entertainment Tonight” or late night talk shows.
•Chatty feature stories from sideline reporters. To put more emphasis on booth announcers, only one sideline reporter will be used each week — either Michele Tafoya or Suzy Kolber — with the mandate of giving only vital information. The reporters still will play a big role in pregame and postgame coverage.
•Kornheiser's "Pardon the Interruption” halftime segments with Michael Wilbon. They didn't work as well outside the studio.
Other changes:
•A smaller on-screen scoreboard. Viewers are tiring of huge graphics, especially in the age of big-screen high-definitions televisions.
•More commentary from "Jaws,” former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski. "We're going to make him the new Madden,” said executive producer Jed Drake.
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Oohh, I can't wait to see the new Monday Night Football team. Gimmee a break. Tony Kornheiser is a total joke! That booth still stinks. Bring back Patrick, McGuire and Theismann and Suzy.
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