MUScoop
MUScoop => The Superbar => Topic started by: GooooMarquette on October 29, 2014, 02:34:31 PM
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I'll admit I haven't followed baseball closely for many years (think Teddy Higuera as my last "favorite Brewer") because I prefer several other sports. But I was surprised a few minutes ago when I went to the ESPN homepage on the eve of Game 7...and found way more space being given to college football (Gurley suspension, Auburn-Ole Miss), NFL football (Romo, Manning), NBA hoops (LeBron, Kobe, Julius Randle) and other sports (including Roy Williams' concern about the UNC cheating scandal). Yes, there's a tab for a "Game 7 Preview" and some other small boxes...but you'd be hard-pressed to convince any casual observer that the most important game of the season for "America's Pastime" is about to occur.
It used to be that we had the "big 3" sports. Is baseball fading so far that it belongs in a lower tier, well behind football and hoops? If not, why the seeming lack of coverage? Is it just a "no east coast team" thing?
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I'll admit I haven't followed baseball closely for many years (think Teddy Higuera as my last "favorite Brewer") because I prefer several other sports. But I was surprised a few minutes ago when I went to the ESPN homepage on the eve of Game 7...and found way more space being given to college football (Gurley suspension, Auburn-Ole Miss), NFL football (Romo, Manning), NBA hoops (LeBron, Kobe, Julius Randle) and other sports (including Roy Williams' concern about the UNC cheating scandal). Yes, there's a tab for a "Game 7 Preview" and some other small boxes...but you'd be hard-pressed to convince any casual observer that the most important game of the season for "America's Pastime" is about to occur.
It used to be that we had the "big 3" sports. Is baseball fading so far that it belongs in a lower tier, well behind football and hoops? If not, why the seeming lack of coverage? Is it just a "no east coast team" thing?
I used to be a HUGE baseball fan as a kid, especially the Reds. I was pretty cocky about my broad baseball knowledge, routinely showing up my male classmates (hence the lack of romantic interest shown from said young men). This is despite growing up in a city that didn't have any professional baseball (minor leagues came in the late '70's) and never seeing a live game until my family road-tripped to Atlanta when I was 14. As luck would have it, it was halter-top night. Thanks, Ted Turner!
Not any more. Baseball is simply too damn boring. The games last too long and there are very few interesting personalities. The constant stepping out of the box, throws to first base, and switching pitchers every 2/3 of an inning is maddening. And when was the last time there was anyone truly fun to watch, such as Mark Fidrych, Luis Tiant, pre-Jane Fonda Ted Turner or pre-gambling addiction Pete Rose?
In my day, baseball was entertaining. Now get off my lawn.
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It's not unique to baseball. I think that all sports are becoming too sterile. That's why I always loved guys like Rasheed Wallace. The media would give them crap for being over the top, but at least they were interesting/entertaining. Hell, that's part of the reason I liked Buzz so much when he was here. It was something different.
The pace of play is a huge issue, though. I love baseball, but 3.5 hour games are tough to sit through.
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It's because ESPN doesn't own the television rights (Fox does)
I'm half joking here
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Baseball is beautiful game, but it is a game that many people in today's day and age just simply cannot endure. Yes, the games are long. Yes, the season is long. Yes, the players are generally more mundane that other major sports. But that is part of what makes it such an awesome game. Baseball is a marathon.
I have been a die-hard baseball fan my entire life. I probably watch 140+ of the 162 games my favorite team plays...and I watch a lot of other games too. I spend way way way too many hours playing fantasy baseball. My dad was and is the same way, which is probably largely why I like it so much. But I also get that your generic person in 2014 cannot sit down for 4 hours and appreciate the game...it is all about instant gratification. But that's the thing...it is so much sweeter when your team actually has success...it wasn't some 30 game season that earned them a spot in the playoffs..it was a 162 game battle of attrition.
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Baseball is doing fine as a regional sport. (ie, people follow their teams) Not doing so well on a national level though.
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Baseball is beautiful game, but it is a game that many people in today's day and age just simply cannot endure. Yes, the games are long. Yes, the season is long. Yes, the players are generally more mundane that other major sports. But that is part of what makes it such an awesome game. Baseball is a marathon.
I have been a die-hard baseball fan my entire life. I probably watch 140+ of the 162 games my favorite team plays...and I watch a lot of other games too. I spend way way way too many hours playing fantasy baseball. My dad was and is the same way, which is probably largely why I like it so much. But I also get that your generic person in 2014 cannot sit down for 4 hours and appreciate the game...it is all about instant gratification. But that's the thing...it is so much sweeter when your team actually has success...it wasn't some 30 game season that earned them a spot in the playoffs..it was a 162 game battle of attrition.
I didn't know George Will was a Scooper.
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My local minor league team, The Bridgeport Bluefish, is a member of the Independent Atlantic League. Supposedly, the Atlantic League enacted a bunch of new rules to speed up the game. From what I read MLB was paying attention to see how some of the changes worked.
* Such as enforcing the existing rule about batters leaving the batters box to adjust gloves, grips, etc. Making them stay in the box.
* Intentional Walks - skip the 4 pitches, just tell the ump and he sends the batter to first base as an intentional walk.
* Reducing the number of pitches a pitcher gets when he the enters the game for a pitching change
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Baseball is doing fine as a regional sport. (ie, people follow their teams) Not doing so well on a national level though.
Someone caught Frank Deford on NPR this a.m....
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Someone caught Frank Deford on NPR this a.m....
Naw. My mornings are reserved for Bob & Tom. Read this a few weeks back:
http://sportsjournalism.org/sports-media-news/if-local-baseball-tv-ratings-are-so-strong-why-are-world-series-all-star-game-numbers-so-low/
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I always have to wonder when people say baseball games are too long. They typically are about 3 hours, (ok longer if the yanks or red sox are involved). NFL games, also run about three hours long. There have been several studies I've seen that time the amount of actual game play, and the NFL is always last, the game is predominantly waiting to get plays in and started. The last 2 minutes of a basketball game last a half hour and can be excruciatingly dull. Most every sport is full of downtime and mental gamesmanship. But people really can't stand the time in baseball. I don't really get it. A batter stepping out for 5 seconds is intolerable, but waiting 40 seconds for a play to begin is the most exciting game ever. It is just odd to me.
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My local minor league team, The Bridgeport Bluefish, is a member of the Independent Atlantic League. Supposedly, the Atlantic League enacted a bunch of new rules to speed up the game. From what I read MLB was paying attention to see how some of the changes worked.
* Such as enforcing the existing rule about batters leaving the batters box to adjust gloves, grips, etc. Making them stay in the box.
* Intentional Walks - skip the 4 pitches, just tell the ump and he sends the batter to first base as an intentional walk.
* Reducing the number of pitches a pitcher gets when he the enters the game for a pitching change
There is also a rule in place that says how much time the pitcher has between pitches. This is the biggest culprit to me. There are so many pitchers that take forever to pitch.
I know MLB is trying out some new approaches during the Arizona Fall League, including a pitch clock. It will be interesting to see if anything happens.
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I always have to wonder when people say baseball games are too long. They typically are about 3 hours, (ok longer if the yanks or red sox are involved). NFL games, also run about three hours long. There have been several studies I've seen that time the amount of actual game play, and the NFL is always last, the game is predominantly waiting to get plays in and started. The last 2 minutes of a basketball game last a half hour and can be excruciatingly dull. Most every sport is full of downtime and mental gamesmanship. But people really can't stand the time in baseball. I don't really get it. A batter stepping out for 5 seconds is intolerable, but waiting 40 seconds for a play to begin is the most exciting game ever. It is just odd to me.
Baseball games are, on average, 40 minutes longer than they were in 1974. And it's not like they have added 40 minutes of exciting, wall-to-wall action. If the NBA changed the rule so that each team could have 20 additional timeout minutes each game, would professional basketball be as fun to watch?
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My local minor league team, The Bridgeport Bluefish, is a member of the Independent Atlantic League. Supposedly, the Atlantic League enacted a bunch of new rules to speed up the game. From what I read MLB was paying attention to see how some of the changes worked.
* Such as enforcing the existing rule about batters leaving the batters box to adjust gloves, grips, etc. Making them stay in the box.
* Intentional Walks - skip the 4 pitches, just tell the ump and he sends the batter to first base as an intentional walk.
* Reducing the number of pitches a pitcher gets when he the enters the game for a pitching change
I hate the Intentional walk speed up, they should be forced to throw those pitches. Plenty of wild pitches and passed balls over the years have occurred while a pitcher tries to throw an intentional walk. PLUS, it sometimes throws the pitcher off after throwing 4 wide ones to then be forced to throw strikes, especially if the intentional walk loaded the bases.
Reducing the number of pitches, the players union is going to scream about that one as a safety issue in warming up. Scioscia is on the competition committee, they are working on some things but I don't think a shot clock is happening any time soon...it would turn off so many people. Having said that, rule 8.04 is in existence and known as the 12 second rule. If the bases are empty, the pitcher is required to pitch the ball within 12 seconds to the batter upon receiving the ball AND the batter is in the box. This is one they could enforce to cut some time.
Overall, baseball is doing fine at the gate, fine on tv when the numbers are properly viewed in context. People that are complaining about the time, this sport isn't for you. It's a timeless game for a reason.
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Baseball games are, on average, 40 minutes longer than they were in 1974. And it's not like they have added 40 minutes of exciting, wall-to-wall action. If the NBA changed the rule so that each team could have 20 additional timeout minutes each game, would professional basketball be as fun to watch?
I'd be curious to know how much of that time is during innings and how much is between innings. I would guess a big part of that is more ad time between innings, but maybe not.
For example, with a quick search, the average time of an NBA game last year (regular season) was 137 minutes, the average time of a playoff game was 160 minutes. An additional 23 minutes. How about that.
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MLB is thriving.
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I'd be curious to know how much of that time is during innings and how much is between innings. I would guess a big part of that is more ad time between innings, but maybe not.
For example, with a quick search, the average time of an NBA game last year (regular season) was 137 minutes, the average time of a playoff game was 160 minutes. An additional 23 minutes. How about that.
Baseball doesn't need any "TV timeouts" because there is already plenty of dead time built right into the game. Between switching sides and pitching changes, that's at least 20 extended opportunities to run ads in a 3-hour game.
And comparing NBA regular season and playoff games isn't exactly apples to apples. I wouldn't care how long they took to play the game if I was watching the World Series. But a regular season game between basement dwellers? Forget it.
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Baseball games are, on average, 40 minutes longer than they were in 1974. And it's not like they have added 40 minutes of exciting, wall-to-wall action. If the NBA changed the rule so that each team could have 20 additional timeout minutes each game, would professional basketball be as fun to watch?
A number of reasons. Pitching changes. Back in 1974 and that era, starting pitchers pitched longer and the number of pitching changes were fewer. Setup men, 8th inning guy, closers, pitch counts, most of that stuff has been put into overdrive in the last 15 years. Yes, there were closers back then but not used like they are today. Situational pitching matchups add time.
Every game is on tv now, that wasn't the case back then. TV means commercials and commercials add time to the game.
Replay added time starting this year for replay reviews, etc.
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Kids can multi-task nowadays...if the game is on (and is boring) they'll be on their phones/tablets with the game on in the background.
Baseball is not a game for people with ADD.
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Baseball doesn't need any "TV timeouts" because there is already plenty of dead time built right into the game. Between switching sides and pitching changes, that's at least 20 extended opportunities to run ads in a 3-hour game.
And comparing NBA regular season and playoff games isn't exactly apples to apples. I wouldn't care how long they took to play the game if I was watching the World Series. But a regular season game between basement dwellers? Forget it.
Just an example of how more commercials really adds up in that average game time.
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It's because ESPN doesn't own the television rights (Fox does)
I'm half joking here
I actually pondered that possibility...but ESPN is all over the Super Bowl, even though they've never owned the rights to it.
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I hate the Intentional walk speed up, they should be forced to throw those pitches. Plenty of wild pitches and passed balls over the years have occurred while a pitcher tries to throw an intentional walk. PLUS, it sometimes throws the pitcher off after throwing 4 wide ones to then be forced to throw strikes, especially if the intentional walk loaded the bases.
Reducing the number of pitches, the players union is going to scream about that one as a safety issue in warming up. Scioscia is on the competition committee, they are working on some things but I don't think a shot clock is happening any time soon...it would turn off so many people. Having said that, rule 8.04 is in existence and known as the 12 second rule. If the bases are empty, the pitcher is required to pitch the ball within 12 seconds to the batter upon receiving the ball AND the batter is in the box. This is one they could enforce to cut some time.
Overall, baseball is doing fine at the gate, fine on tv when the numbers are properly viewed in context. People that are complaining about the time, this sport isn't for you. It's a timeless game for a reason.
These were just a few of the trial things from this season. Not sure if they are keeping all of them. The preliminary review showed it cut 14 mins out of a game and an average under 3 hours.
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Back in the day there were only three networks and most households were lucky to get 7 TV stations. Now you have over 200 choices. Though I still love the game and my Yankees still win more than their fair share I started loosing interest after free agency. When I was a kid I could name every player and their position on the Yanks, Dodgers and Giants when they all played in New York and Brooklyn. I miss the 20 game winners and more than half were complete 9 inning games. The thing I miss most of all is the doubleheader. Today the game is more science than art. I know. I'm an old fart nostalgic for the good old days.
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Back in the day there were only three networks and most households were lucky to get 7 TV stations. Now you have over 200 choices. Though I still love the game and my Yankees still win more than their fair share I started loosing interest after free agency. When I was a kid I could name every player and their position on the Yanks, Dodgers and Giants when they all played in New York and Brooklyn. I miss the 20 game winners and more than half were complete 9 inning games. The thing I miss most of all is the doubleheader. Today the game is more science than art. I know. I'm an old fart nostalgic for the good old days.
I get ya. Guys used to go up to the plate and hit the ball. Now, every at-bat is an event.
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I used to be a HUGE baseball fan as a kid, especially the Reds. I was pretty cocky about my broad baseball knowledge, routinely showing up my male classmates (hence the lack of romantic interest shown from said young men). This is despite growing up in a city that didn't have any professional baseball (minor leagues came in the late '70's) and never seeing a live game until my family road-tripped to Atlanta when I was 14. As luck would have it, it was halter-top night. Thanks, Ted Turner!
Not any more. Baseball is simply too damn boring. The games last too long and there are very few interesting personalities. The constant stepping out of the box, throws to first base, and switching pitchers every 2/3 of an inning is maddening. And when was the last time there was anyone truly fun to watch, such as Mark Fidrych, Luis Tiant, pre-Jane Fonda Ted Turner or pre-gambling addiction Pete Rose?
In my day, baseball was entertaining. Now get off my lawn.
I'm watching game #7; chick isn't. At least I got the good TV tonight.
In all seriousness, I enjoy baseball differently than the way I enjoy other sports. It's a game to be experienced in person on a slow afternoon or on the radio while doing something else in the backyard. I rarely watch on TV. But the long flow of the season, taken a series at a time, and followed via the morning paper still has much charm for me. This year's absolute highlight for me was an August camping trip with my son. We listened to all 3 Brewer/Dodger games in what had to be the high water mark of the season as we split wood, drank Leine's, cooked over the fire, and dodged raindrops during a poor weather weekend in the northwoods. We discussed everything from the offseason trade of Aoki to my seeing Hank Aaron play as a Brewer in my own youth.
But I do agree with all those who believe that with each at bat magnified and too frequent pitching changes that the game has suffered. I also generally hate free agency. Yount was a Brewer; Banks a Cub, etc.
And if you're not watching, tonight's game is a gem so far. Been a great series even though I don't have a vested interest in either team. At least it's not the Cardinals (I'm just jealous of their success.)
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Managers are over-managing.
Too many mound visits, too many pitching changes, too many long replay challenges.
Pitchers take too much time on the mound too. Don't think, meat; just throw
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A number of reasons. Pitching changes. Back in 1974 and that era, starting pitchers pitched longer and the number of pitching changes were fewer. Setup men, 8th inning guy, closers, pitch counts, most of that stuff has been put into overdrive in the last 15 years. Yes, there were closers back then but not used like they are today. Situational pitching matchups add time.
Every game is on tv now, that wasn't the case back then. TV means commercials and commercials add time to the game.
Replay added time starting this year for replay reviews, etc.
Add in the DH as well. More so, IMO stats have slowed the game with an emphasis now on OBP (taking more pitches, walks) and the digital grading of umpires that has tightened the strike zone.
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Too much spittin' and yankin' at the crotch for me, hey?
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Too much spittin' and yankin' at the crotch for me, hey?
I pegged you for more Morganna the Kissin Bandit.
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The simple answer is that rednecks and hillbillies don't watch baseball. And rednecks and hillbillies watch them a helluva lot of tellievision.
If you ain't popular with Bubba, you ain't winning no ratings awards. But if you're NASCAR, football or Duck Dynasty, you can live on forever entertaining the yokels.
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I always have to wonder when people say baseball games are too long. They typically are about 3 hours, (ok longer if the yanks or red sox are involved). NFL games, also run about three hours long. There have been several studies I've seen that time the amount of actual game play, and the NFL is always last, the game is predominantly waiting to get plays in and started. The last 2 minutes of a basketball game last a half hour and can be excruciatingly dull. Most every sport is full of downtime and mental gamesmanship. But people really can't stand the time in baseball. I don't really get it. A batter stepping out for 5 seconds is intolerable, but waiting 40 seconds for a play to begin is the most exciting game ever. It is just odd to me.
Football, especially the NFL variety, has a certain cadence to it.
QB at the line, barking signals, announcer says a few words, the snap, the play, the color commentary, the replay, the replay from another angle, the slo-mo replay, various comments by the announcers, then the QB back at the line.
Lather, rinse, repeat.
While a 9-inning baseball game can last anywhere from 2 hours with Mark Buehrle pitching to 4+ hours with the Red Sox playing, one can pretty much bank on an NFL game lasting just about 3 hours.
Unlike baseball, which has let games get longer and longer, the NFL actually addressed the issue successfully. Some might not remember, but the NFL was being criticized awhile back for its games being too long. It listened to focus groups and had its competition committee draft changes. Halftime is only 12 minutes. The clock keeps running in many instances where it used to stop. Officials are encouraged to keep the clock moving if forward progress was stopped a nanosecond before a ballcarrier is knocked out of bounds, etc.
I like each sport for the unique features it brings, but I confess that I now have trouble watching any game in any sport from beginning to end. I much prefer using the DVR and then watching an NFL game in, say, an hour or a baseball game in even less. Even Marquette games ... if I'm not out at a bar with friends, if I'm just watching by myself or with my wife, I will DVR it and zip through the commercials and halftime and injuries and replay stoppages.
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The simple answer is that rednecks and hillbillies don't watch baseball. And rednecks and hillbillies watch them a helluva lot of tellievision.
If you ain't popular with Bubba, you ain't winning no ratings awards. But if you're NASCAR, football or Duck Dynasty, you can live on forever entertaining the yokels.
Wow. You've just summarized everything I hate about television today.
Let's admit it: entertainment in 2014 is driven by white trash tastes.
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Wow. You've just summarized everything I hate about television today.
Let's admit it: entertainment in 2014 is driven by white trash tastes.
Top 25 Cable Shows for Week ending 10/26/14
1 Walking Dead AMC Sun 09:00P-10:01P 13801
2 NFL REGULAR SEASON L ESPN Mon 08:15P-11:38P 13275
3 TALKING DEAD AMC Sun 10:01P-11:00P 5320
4 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PRIME L ESPN Sat 07:15P-10:55P 4952
5 American Horror Story FX Wed 10:00P-11:23P 4439
6 Sons Of Anarchy FX Tue 10:00P-11:31P 4285
7 NASCAR SPRINT CUP L ESPN Sun 01:30P-06:03P 4083
8 WWE Entertainment USA Mon 09:00P-10:00P 3864
9 WWE Entertainment USA Mon 10:00P-11:11P 3631
10 WWE Entertainment USA Mon 08:00P-09:00P 3589
11 NFLN THU NT FOOTBALL NFLN Thu 08:26P-11:15P 3365
12 NFLN THU NT FBALL-SUS NFLN Thu 11:15P-11:32P 3276
13 Gold Rush DISC Fri 09:00P-10:00P 3249
14 Walking Dead AMC Sun 08:00P-09:00P 3220
15 SPORTSCENTER: L ESPN Mon 11:38P-01:00A 3211
16 COLLEGE FOOTBALL AFT L ESPN Sat 12:00P-03:14P 3061
17 THE OREILLY FACTOR FOXN Wed 08:00P-09:00P 2952
18 THE OREILLY FACTOR FOXN Thu 08:00P-09:00P 2926
19 19 Kids and Counting TLC Tue 09:00P-10:01P 2829
20 Pawn Stars HIST Thu 09:31P-10:03P 2699
21 THE OREILLY FACTOR FOXN Mon 08:00P-09:00P 2696
22 Project Runway LIFE Thu 09:00P-10:31P 2629
23 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PRIME L ESP2 Sat 07:30P-11:02P 2589
24 Big Bang Theory, THE TBSC Wed 09:00P-09:30P 2549
25 COLL FTBL SCOREBOARD L ESPN Sat 03:14P-03:30P 2547
With exception of Project Runway, Big Bang Theory and presumably Walking Dead and American Horror Story (haven't seen the latter two), that's pretty much the perfect lineup for a White Trash cable channel... Football, Wrestling, O'Reilly Factor and NASCAR. Though I'm sure if you simply retitled Big Bang Theory as "Four Nerds and a Hot Chick," it would play quite well in the sticks, too.
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Top 25 Cable Shows for Week ending 10/26/14
1 Walking Dead AMC Sun 09:00P-10:01P 13801
2 NFL REGULAR SEASON L ESPN Mon 08:15P-11:38P 13275
3 TALKING DEAD AMC Sun 10:01P-11:00P 5320
4 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PRIME L ESPN Sat 07:15P-10:55P 4952
5 American Horror Story FX Wed 10:00P-11:23P 4439
6 Sons Of Anarchy FX Tue 10:00P-11:31P 4285
7 NASCAR SPRINT CUP L ESPN Sun 01:30P-06:03P 4083
8 WWE Entertainment USA Mon 09:00P-10:00P 3864
9 WWE Entertainment USA Mon 10:00P-11:11P 3631
10 WWE Entertainment USA Mon 08:00P-09:00P 3589
11 NFLN THU NT FOOTBALL NFLN Thu 08:26P-11:15P 3365
12 NFLN THU NT FBALL-SUS NFLN Thu 11:15P-11:32P 3276
13 Gold Rush DISC Fri 09:00P-10:00P 3249
14 Walking Dead AMC Sun 08:00P-09:00P 3220
15 SPORTSCENTER: L ESPN Mon 11:38P-01:00A 3211
16 COLLEGE FOOTBALL AFT L ESPN Sat 12:00P-03:14P 3061
17 THE OREILLY FACTOR FOXN Wed 08:00P-09:00P 2952
18 THE OREILLY FACTOR FOXN Thu 08:00P-09:00P 2926
19 19 Kids and Counting TLC Tue 09:00P-10:01P 2829
20 Pawn Stars HIST Thu 09:31P-10:03P 2699
21 THE OREILLY FACTOR FOXN Mon 08:00P-09:00P 2696
22 Project Runway LIFE Thu 09:00P-10:31P 2629
23 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PRIME L ESP2 Sat 07:30P-11:02P 2589
24 Big Bang Theory, THE TBSC Wed 09:00P-09:30P 2549
25 COLL FTBL SCOREBOARD L ESPN Sat 03:14P-03:30P 2547
With exception of Project Runway, Big Bang Theory and presumably Walking Dead and American Horror Story (haven't seen the latter two), that's pretty much the perfect lineup for a White Trash cable channel... Football, Wrestling, O'Reilly Factor and NASCAR. Though I'm sure if you simply retitled Big Bang Theory as "Four Nerds and a Hot Chick," it would play quite well in the sticks, too.
I'd argue The Walking Dead also largely appeals to a white trash audience. Although it does have a wider crossover appeal, but I will guarantee you it has the same base audience as NASCAR.
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The simple answer is that rednecks and hillbillies don't watch baseball. And rednecks and hillbillies watch them a helluva lot of tellievision.
If you ain't popular with Bubba, you ain't winning no ratings awards. But if you're NASCAR, football or Duck Dynasty, you can live on forever entertaining the yokels.
http://www.theonion.com/articles/tlc-producer-wants-list-of-100-unnatural carnal knowledgeedup-families-o,37282/
EDIT: Our mod's Puritan censoring policies have messed up the link. You have to fix it in your browser.
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I'd argue The Walking Dead also largely appeals to a white trash audience. Although it does have a wider crossover appeal, but I will guarantee you it has the same base audience as NASCAR.
And I'm sure your TV is always tuned to PBS and Masterpiece Theatre, right?
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And I'm sure your TV is always tuned to PBS and Masterpiece Theatre, right?
No, there is plenty of great television on nowadays. The Walking Dead simply isn't one of those shows. Its cheap thrills, action, and gore with little to no real dialogue, character development, or plot. Believe me, I've watched it. They spent an entire season sitting at a farm killing zombies, and another season and a half sitting in an prison, killing zombies. Each season is exactly the same, in a new setting, with a few different characters to replace those who have been killed. Its terrible television.
For a contrast, watch Breaking Bad, The Wire, Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, or even Game of Thrones. There's plenty of good television out there. Walking Dead isn't it.
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With exception of Project Runway, Big Bang Theory and presumably Walking Dead and American Horror Story (haven't seen the latter two), that's pretty much the perfect lineup for a White Trash cable channel... Football, Wrestling, O'Reilly Factor and NASCAR. Though I'm sure if you simply retitled Big Bang Theory as "Four Nerds and a Hot Chick," it would play quite well in the sticks, too.
The irony in all of this is if you break it down by geographic regions, this is hardly southern, hardly white trash (or simply just white). Stereotypes in abundance on this one.
You also excluded broadcast which changes those ratings configurations dramatically.
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No, there is plenty of great television on nowadays. The Walking Dead simply isn't one of those shows. Its cheap thrills, action, and gore with little to no real dialogue, character development, or plot. Believe me, I've watched it. They spent an entire season sitting at a farm killing zombies, and another season and a half sitting in an prison, killing zombies. Each season is exactly the same, in a new setting, with a few different characters to replace those who have been killed. Its terrible television.
For a contrast, watch Breaking Bad, The Wire, Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, or even Game of Thrones. There's plenty of good television out there. Walking Dead isn't it.
Actually, I'd argue that there is a lot of character development.
I'd never argue that Walking Dead is highbrow entertainment, but a big portion of the show is watching the characters evolve/devolve as they are forced into moral dilemmas. Killing zombies is an easy-to-solve moral dilemma, but everything else they do to survive is a rationalization, and that's a big part of the show.
I would NOT say that it's groundbreaking television, but the show is good entertainment.
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No, there is plenty of great television on nowadays. The Walking Dead simply isn't one of those shows. Its cheap thrills, action, and gore with little to no real dialogue, character development, or plot. Believe me, I've watched it. They spent an entire season sitting at a farm killing zombies, and another season and a half sitting in an prison, killing zombies. Each season is exactly the same, in a new setting, with a few different characters to replace those who have been killed. Its terrible television.
For a contrast, watch Breaking Bad, The Wire, Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, or even Game of Thrones. There's plenty of good television out there. Walking Dead isn't it.
Yup. Haven't checked out Boardwalk Empire, but it looks good. Thinking about getting the DVD's (my usual exposure to TV). I just went through the Shield this year, as well. Excellent show. Loved the ending.
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Top 25 Cable Shows for Week ending 10/26/14
1 Walking Dead AMC Sun 09:00P-10:01P 13801
2 NFL REGULAR SEASON L ESPN Mon 08:15P-11:38P 13275
3 TALKING DEAD AMC Sun 10:01P-11:00P 5320
4 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PRIME L ESPN Sat 07:15P-10:55P 4952
5 American Horror Story FX Wed 10:00P-11:23P 4439
6 Sons Of Anarchy FX Tue 10:00P-11:31P 4285
7 NASCAR SPRINT CUP L ESPN Sun 01:30P-06:03P 4083
8 WWE Entertainment USA Mon 09:00P-10:00P 3864
9 WWE Entertainment USA Mon 10:00P-11:11P 3631
10 WWE Entertainment USA Mon 08:00P-09:00P 3589
11 NFLN THU NT FOOTBALL NFLN Thu 08:26P-11:15P 3365
12 NFLN THU NT FBALL-SUS NFLN Thu 11:15P-11:32P 3276
13 Gold Rush DISC Fri 09:00P-10:00P 3249
14 Walking Dead AMC Sun 08:00P-09:00P 3220
15 SPORTSCENTER: L ESPN Mon 11:38P-01:00A 3211
16 COLLEGE FOOTBALL AFT L ESPN Sat 12:00P-03:14P 3061
17 THE OREILLY FACTOR FOXN Wed 08:00P-09:00P 2952
18 THE OREILLY FACTOR FOXN Thu 08:00P-09:00P 2926
19 19 Kids and Counting TLC Tue 09:00P-10:01P 2829
20 Pawn Stars HIST Thu 09:31P-10:03P 2699
21 THE OREILLY FACTOR FOXN Mon 08:00P-09:00P 2696
22 Project Runway LIFE Thu 09:00P-10:31P 2629
23 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PRIME L ESP2 Sat 07:30P-11:02P 2589
24 Big Bang Theory, THE TBSC Wed 09:00P-09:30P 2549
25 COLL FTBL SCOREBOARD L ESPN Sat 03:14P-03:30P 2547
With exception of Project Runway, Big Bang Theory and presumably Walking Dead and American Horror Story (haven't seen the latter two), that's pretty much the perfect lineup for a White Trash cable channel... Football, Wrestling, O'Reilly Factor and NASCAR. Though I'm sure if you simply retitled Big Bang Theory as "Four Nerds and a Hot Chick," it would play quite well in the sticks, too.
Talking Dead at #3 is pretty interesting too.........
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I'd argue The Walking Dead also largely appeals to a white trash audience. Although it does have a wider crossover appeal, but I will guarantee you it has the same base audience as NASCAR.
I'm going to argue it doesn't. Considering it garnered it's early base from Breaking Bad, I bet the demographics are similar.
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Well, people that may like sports but didn't watch that game really missed out. Just a great game. High drama, high intensity, and a historical performance by a great player. Everything you could want out of a championship game, well unless you are a royals fan.
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Well, people that may like sports but didn't watch that game really missed out. Just a great game. High drama, high intensity, and a historical performance by a great player. Everything you could want out of a championship game, well unless you are a royals fan.
+1.
It was a game that will go down in history. One of the greatest pitching performances I have ever seen, certainly for two days rest following a 117 pitch shutout performance on Sunday. When they start putting up graphics that include Cy Young from well over 100 years ago........
It was all that is great about baseball although ESPN Sportscenter highlights for the casual fan were few and far between.
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I'm watching game #7; chick isn't. At least I got the good TV tonight.
In all seriousness, I enjoy baseball differently than the way I enjoy other sports. It's a game to be experienced in person on a slow afternoon or on the radio while doing something else in the backyard. I rarely watch on TV. But the long flow of the season, taken a series at a time, and followed via the morning paper still has much charm for me. This year's absolute highlight for me was an August camping trip with my son. We listened to all 3 Brewer/Dodger games in what had to be the high water mark of the season as we split wood, drank Leine's, cooked over the fire, and dodged raindrops during a poor weather weekend in the northwoods. We discussed everything from the offseason trade of Aoki to my seeing Hank Aaron play as a Brewer in my own youth.
It's "America's Pastime." It is a sport that is perfect for the summer. It's outdoors. It's got a leisurely pace.
But when the weather changes and people get busy, a lot of people stop paying attention. Football is played once a week, almost always on the weekends, so they don't have to devote a great deal of attention to it.
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Yup. Haven't checked out Boardwalk Empire, but it looks good. Thinking about getting the DVD's (my usual exposure to TV). I just went through the Shield this year, as well. Excellent show. Loved the ending.
The Shield was outstanding. Changed the landscape of television.
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The irony in all of this is if you break it down by geographic regions, this is hardly southern, hardly white trash (or simply just white). Stereotypes in abundance on this one.
You also excluded broadcast which changes those ratings configurations dramatically.
Who said anything about regions? I would bet there's just as much white trash in California as there is in Mississippi.
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I love baseball for all the traditional nostalgic reasons. Connection with my grandfather, my dad and my son. Playing backyard catch with Dad and with my son are very fond memories. Taking baseball trips to different cities with my wife and son are great memories that I hope to continue with grandchildren some day.
I played baseball and basketball through high school, and though I was much better at basketball, I loved baseball way more. There is nothing in sports quite like really crushing a well-pitched baseball. It was too rare for me as a player and very thrilling.
As for the current state of baseball, I agree that pace of play is a problem. There is just too much diddling around not playing baseball. Stuff like stepping out of the box, pitchers holding the ball forever when runners reach, conferences on the mound, multiple pitching changes in a half-inning, too much commercial time between innings. The game itself is as wonderful as ever when they're actually playing it.
Besides pace of play, the one thing I'd like to see is less strikeouts. I think when they started with Questec and grading umpires, they thought they may be increasing offense by eliminating those Greg Maddux 6 inches off the plate strikes. They have eliminated those to a large degree, but they have traded that for more (accurate) low strikes, actually increasing the called srike zone, speeding up the trend of increased strikeouts. Baseball (to me) is at it's best when the ball is put in play and fielders and baserunners are all moving around. There's not enough of that. If offense continues to tumble, that will be rectified by having more speedy contact hitters and less lumbering sluggers.
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I love baseball for all the traditional nostalgic reasons. Connection with my grandfather, my dad and my son. Playing backyard catch with Dad and with my son are very fond memories. Taking baseball trips to different cities with my wife and son are great memories that I hope to continue with grandchildren some day.
I played baseball and basketball through high school, and though I was much better at basketball, I loved baseball way more. There is nothing in sports quite like really crushing a well-pitched baseball. It was too rare for me as a player and very thrilling.
As for the current state of baseball, I agree that pace of play is a problem. There is just too much diddling around not playing baseball. Stuff like stepping out of the box, pitchers holding the ball forever when runners reach, conferences on the mound, multiple pitching changes in a half-inning, too much commercial time between innings. The game itself is as wonderful as ever when they're actually playing it.
Besides pace of play, the one thing I'd like to see is less strikeouts. I think when they started with Questec and grading umpires, they thought they may be increasing offense by eliminating those Greg Maddux 6 inches off the plate strikes. They have eliminated those to a large degree, but they have traded that for more (accurate) low strikes, actually increasing the called srike zone, speeding up the trend of increased strikeouts. Baseball (to me) is at it's best when the ball is put in play and fielders and baserunners are all moving around. There's not enough of that. If offense continues to tumble, that will be rectified by having more speedy contact hitters and less lumbering sluggers.
Clearly, I must be in the minority, but I struggle sitting through a football game. The endless commercials...injury timeouts....official reviews that take forever. A 3+ hour game has what, about 12 minutes of action? It's even worse sitting inside a stadium. There are so many breaks in the "action" that I struggle to stay awake. Luckily, I can always count on being surrounded by obnoxious, vulgar drunks to keep me from dozing off.
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Who said anything about regions? I would bet there's just as much white trash in California as there is in Mississippi.
Probably more, we also have more communists, left-handers, guys on pogo sticks, the richest of the rich, the poorest of the poor, etc. Forgive me for jumping to a conclusion with "Bubba" "Nascar" "Duck Dynasty" and assuming you meant the south.
By the way, "rednecks" is very offensive and shouldn't be used. Progress. Moving forward.
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By the way, "rednecks" is very offensive and shouldn't be used. Progress. Moving forward.
Fiiiine... I'll refer to them as the Mississippi Viewers Club.
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Yup. Haven't checked out Boardwalk Empire, but it looks good. Thinking about getting the DVD's (my usual exposure to TV). I just went through the Shield this year, as well. Excellent show. Loved the ending.
Boardwalk Empire is good, but not as good as the Shield was. The Shield was cutting edge.
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No, there is plenty of great television on nowadays. The Walking Dead simply isn't one of those shows. Its cheap thrills, action, and gore with little to no real dialogue, character development, or plot. Believe me, I've watched it. They spent an entire season sitting at a farm killing zombies, and another season and a half sitting in an prison, killing zombies. Each season is exactly the same, in a new setting, with a few different characters to replace those who have been killed. Its terrible television.
For a contrast, watch Breaking Bad, The Wire, Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, or even Game of Thrones. There's plenty of good television out there. Walking Dead isn't it.
I'd agree that The Walking Dead isn't as good as any of the other shows you named here, but it absolutely isn't terrible. In fact, I usually find something to like in each episode, and also plenty to poke fun at -- which is part of the enjoyment.
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I'd agree that The Walking Dead isn't as good as any of the other shows you named here, but it absolutely isn't terrible. In fact, I usually find something to like in each episode, and also plenty to poke fun at -- which is part of the enjoyment.
That's fair. I actually do watch it, because Mrs. Bleauteaux enjoys it. I have no problem with people who watch for pure entertainment value, and know its cheap thrills and are able to see its shortcomings as well.
It just really irks me that a lot of people do actually think it is fantastic drama.