NFL Pregame Shows

Filed in archive NFL on September 16, 2008

© farlane

With the NFL season in full swing, football becomes all-consuming on Sunday's. Which for many fans means watching the pregame show. But with Fox, CBS and ESPN each producing one, which one should be watched?

Least Watchable - ESPN: This really isn't particularly close, either. It used to be a pretty good show a few years ago, but now it has degenerated into awfulness, mostly because of Chris Berman, who everybody got tired of a decade ago, only ESPN doesn't realize it. Astonishingly, this show is actually improved from last season, as the network removed Emmitt Smith from the Sunday morning show because, well, he's comically incoherent. Cris Carter replaced him, and he's average, at best. Tom Jackson comes off as the whiny old man nowadays, but Keyshawn Johnson can be enlightening at times.

Sometimes Watchable - CBS: It can be argued that CBS has the most talented leader in James Brown, who is as good as there is. Bill Cowher isn't bad at his role either, and Dan Marino has his moments. The frustrating part is watching Shannon Sharpe and Julius Esiason (aka Boomer) try to talk over each other. Esiason plays the whiny know-it-all, and brings the show down.

Usually Watchable - Fox: There will certainly be dissenting opinions on this, but usually the best pregame show is on FOX. Curt Menefee is passable as the anchor, and usually just lets the analysts do their thing. Terry bradshaw is one of them, and though he's goofy and at times unintelligible, he usually brings some knowledge. As does Howie Long, who is one of, if not the, best analyst on any of the three shows. Jimmy Johnson is just kind of there, but occasionally brings insight, and a really good addition to the show has been Michael Strahan, who fits in well. Frank Caliendo does the show's comedy bits, and sometimes they hit and sometimes they miss, but it's nice levity. And if none of that works for you, there's always Jillian Barberie doing the weather.