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Monday, October 08, 2007

Fox Buck’s For New Late Night Host

Uggggh........I’ll be putting more than fingers on his throat...and if not his, mine.

Is Fox taking another plunge into the late-night talk show wars? If there’s one thing that’s for certain, they don’t have much of a track record. First, they tried Johnny Carson-sub Joan Rivers in the 1980s, who not only failed, but sacrificed her relationship with the King of Late Night in the process. Then, in the 90s, they gave the 11pm slot to Chevy Chase, who’s attempt at a talk show has now become a industry byword for “disaster.” Now, the network is looking in-house for their next attempt to enter the Jay-vs-Dave battle: Sportscaster Joe Buck.

According to Broadcasting and Cable, Fox has shot a pilot featuring their lead football and baseball announcer. The plan is for him to host a half-hour, weekly talk show with incorporates comedy, interviews and a small studio audience (almost like the concept of the original Later, which was hosted by Bob Costas).

Repoz Posted: October 08, 2007 at 04:26 PM | 82 comment(s)
Related News: General, Business, Media, Announcers, Television

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1. Dewey, Local Boy and Soupuss Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:31 PM (#2567669)

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!

2. Robert in Manhattan Beach (nee Redondo) Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:39 PM (#2567680)

I didn't RTFA, does it say who will be doing the comedy?

3. Urban Faber Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:40 PM (#2567681)

I look forward to the endless promos.

4. Boots Day Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:42 PM (#2567684)

I can't wait to see Joe Buck pointing out hot new Fox star Joe Buck sitting in the stands during the World Series.

5. aleskel

Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:43 PM (#2567685)

joke #1:

when I think "Joe Buck," I immediately think "comedic powerhouse"

6. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life. Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:46 PM (#2567691)

Joe Buck-related comedy? Dear lord. Instead of comedy I would recommend that he act out scenes from "Midnight Cowboy", playing his eponymous role but as Joe Buck the sportscaster.

The article's citation of "The Magic Hour" as a predecessor to the proposed show says it all, except that that show's idiocy will in this case be replaced by boredom.

7. aleskel

Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:46 PM (#2567692)

joke #2:

I guess Chevy Chase wasn't available

8. BaseballDIY Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:47 PM (#2567693)

I'd like to take this as an opportunity to give a shoutout to "Night After Night with Allan Havey." In particular, I always liked the Audience of One. It also was the first place I ever saw Nick Bakay.

9. Dayton Moore is a Big Fat Idiot (AG#1F) Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:47 PM (#2567694)

Slammalammadingdong.

BTW, did anyone see Chevy Chase on SNL last week? It was about the most painful five minutes on SNL I've ever seen and that's saying a lot.

10. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:47 PM (#2567695)

A couple years ago, Craig Kilborn quit and whatever show that is was rotating through guest hosts until they settled on a permanent host. One night I happened to see Joe Buck guest host, and he was actually kind of decent. Weird, I know. I really hate him as an announcer. And I doubt I'd ever choose to watch his show. But it might not be terrible.

11. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life. Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:48 PM (#2567697)

I bet he would be better than Carson Daly.

12. Dr Love Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:49 PM (#2567698)

I'm not sure if the show would be better or worse if Tim McCarver is his comedic sidekick.

13. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life. Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:49 PM (#2567699)

It also was the first place I ever saw Nick Bakay.

That alone cancels out any good it may have contributed to the world.

14. aleskel

Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:50 PM (#2567700)

BTW, did anyone see Chevy Chase on SNL last week? It was about the most painful five minutes on SNL I've ever seen and that's saying a lot.

I was going to mention that. Dear god. train ... wreck

15. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life. Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:50 PM (#2567701)

I'm not sure if the show would be better or worse if Tim McCarver is his comedic sidekick.

McCarver would be a good Ratso Rizzo, if they carry out my suggestion to act out scenes from "Midnight Cowboy" instead of trying to do original comedy bits.

16. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:51 PM (#2567702)

I mean, it's possible Joe Buck has an aptitude for something, right? It's certainly not sports announcing, and it's probably not late-night-show hosting either. But we shouldn't expect he's a disaster in everything he tries, should we?

Or am I completely nuts here.

17. aleskel

Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:52 PM (#2567704)

I mean, it's possible Joe Buck has an aptitude for something, right?

self promotion? nepotism?

18. Edmundo is Super Average Man

Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:53 PM (#2567706)

is he just a ploy to get a bigger name in late-night if things go bad in 2009 for NBC?

Imagine the negotiations...
Contender 1: "I want $50 million a year"
Fox: "We can have Joe Buck if we want. You better come back with a more reasonable offer."
Contender 1: "Joe Buck?" [Suppressed chortle] "Did I say $50 million? I meant $100 million."

19. Boots Day Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:53 PM (#2567707)

McCarver would be a good Ratso Rizzo, if they carry out my suggestion to act out scenes from "Midnight Cowboy" instead of trying to do original comedy bits.

"You know, Fats Domino had a big hit back in the Fifties with 'I'm Walking.' And that's exactly what I felt like saying to that Chrysler Newport driver in that situation: I'm walking, here."

20. Dayton Moore is a Big Fat Idiot (AG#1F) Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:53 PM (#2567708)

A couple years ago, Craig Kilborn quit and whatever show that is was rotating through guest hosts until they settled on a permanent host.

They settled on Craig Ferguson, and I believe the ratings are up, making this two shows (The Daily Show being the other) that have improved since Kilborn left.

21. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:53 PM (#2567710)

Carson Daly has the personality, and looks, of wet cement. I'll never get that one. Buck at least has a personality, nauseating as it may be.

22. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life. Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:54 PM (#2567712)

I think FOX may need some help finding a good co-host for Buck's show. I would suggest Darren Daulton, or possibly Ugueth Urbina.

23. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:55 PM (#2567715)

self promotion? nepotism?

See? I knew we could think of something.

"You know, Fats Domino had a big hit back in the Fifties with 'I'm Walking.' And that's exactly what I felt like saying to that Chrysler Newport driver in that situation: I'm walking, here."

Tim McCarver knows how to use a computer? And calls himself Boots Day? How peculiar.

24. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life. Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:57 PM (#2567718)

If Doug Glanville had a TV show I would watch. Or, as stated earlier, Darren Daulton.

25. aleskel

Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:57 PM (#2567719)

I think FOX may need some help finding a good co-host for Buck's show. I would suggest Darren Daulton, or possibly Ugueth Urbina

a pantsless Randy Moss?

26. TVerik and his cavalcade of whimsy Posted: October 08, 2007 at 03:58 PM (#2567721)

Can you be good at the receiving end of nepotism?

More broadly, can someone who was given a job through nepotism ever rise above that original sin?

27. aleskel

Posted: October 08, 2007 at 04:00 PM (#2567724)

More broadly, can someone who was given a job through nepotism ever rise above that original sin?

some politicians - Al Gore, Chris Dodd, whatever Daley is running Chicago at the moment ...

28. Repoz

Posted: October 08, 2007 at 04:01 PM (#2567725)

I hear Joe Buck is gonna rip-off Jimmy Kimmel's "Uncle Frank" routine by dragging out "Poppa Jack"...although using the International Casket Wheelers Union might put them over budget.

Stay tuned!

29. bunyon Posted: October 08, 2007 at 04:02 PM (#2567730)

I'm not sure if the show would be better or worse if Tim McCarver is his comedic sidekick.

I guarantee that Joe Buck would be better at hosting a talk show than doing play by play for baseball. Though it could turn out that he has some reverse wiring in his brain to explain his sucktastic baseball announcing. My theory is that while doing baseball he actually thinks he's hosting a talk show. To test this, give him the talk show and see if he starts doing baseball play by play.

If nothing else, this talk show would get him out of the booth. Which would make it a success in my book. If it bankrupted FOX in the process, that would be like icing on the cake. If it caused Tim McCarver to retire, that'd be like a stunning beauty popping out of the cake.

30. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life. Posted: October 08, 2007 at 04:02 PM (#2567731)

a pantsless Randy Moss?

It's a shame Eddie Griffin died, he would have been perfect.

I assume the goal is to make Buck as uncomfortable as possible, since I can't imagine him getting laughs any other way.

31. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: October 08, 2007 at 04:03 PM (#2567733)

a pantsless Randy Moss?

That's disgusting.

32. Repoz

Posted: October 08, 2007 at 04:06 PM (#2567739)

Or, as stated earlier, Darren Daulton.

They better hurry up in signing him...cause it will most definitely be cancelled on Dec. 21, 2012.

33. BaseballDIY Posted: October 08, 2007 at 04:10 PM (#2567743)

Tim McCarver knows how to use a computer? And calls himself Boots Day? How peculiar.

Ouch.

34. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: October 08, 2007 at 04:11 PM (#2567744)

That alone cancels out any good it may have contributed to the world.
I liked Sports Monster as well.

35. Dingbat Charlie

Posted: October 08, 2007 at 04:19 PM (#2567756)

I'm approaching 40 and still watch Adult Swim at least a little bit each night. When, oh when, will I grow up?

36. Greg Pope Posted: October 08, 2007 at 04:35 PM (#2567781)

They settled on Craig Ferguson, and I believe the ratings are up, making this two shows (The Daily Show being the other) that have improved since Kilborn left.

Craig Ferguson is the best of the late night hosts (not counting The Daily Show, which is a little different). He doesn't do 20 jokes, he does a rambling monologue each night. He has some really funny recurring bits, and he's actually a very good interviewer. Leno's interviews are obviously read from note cards. His only role is to set up what the guest wants to talk about: "So, have you ever been to Acupulco?" "Why yes, Jay, I was there last week and..." (5 minute story). Ferguson does a real interview and is very quick on his feet.

37. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: October 08, 2007 at 04:36 PM (#2567783)

Ouch.

That was actually intended to be a compliment....I thought Boots comment was very McCarveresque. Poorly done on my part.

38. Robert S. Posted: October 08, 2007 at 04:38 PM (#2567784)

How many people at Fox have to approve to let this get so far?

39. TVerik and his cavalcade of whimsy Posted: October 08, 2007 at 04:40 PM (#2567785)

To get him on the air? Maybe a dozen.

To get a speculative piece in B&C;? About half of one person.

40. Trevor Crowe T. Robot (Dan Lee) Posted: October 08, 2007 at 04:42 PM (#2567788)

I wonder what this means for Fox's proposed Artie Lange late night show.

41. andrewberg Posted: October 08, 2007 at 04:53 PM (#2567800)

They settled on Craig Ferguson, and I believe the ratings are up, making this two shows (The Daily Show being the other) that have improved since Kilborn left.

Those are two pretty excellent replacements, but I actually liked Kilborn. Ratings themselves do not tell much about the quality of a host, like Jay Leno. Of course, in the aforementioned case of Chevy Chase, the ratings were right on.

42. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: October 08, 2007 at 04:57 PM (#2567804)

The plan is for him to host a half-hour, weekly talk show

That's a pretty tepid "plunge" into the late-night talk show wars.

43. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: October 08, 2007 at 04:58 PM (#2567806)

Why the cynicism? Michael Kay has totally taken the entertainment world by storm with his sitdown "CenterStage" show, so this is a guaranteed blockbuster.

Can you be good at the receiving end of nepotism?
More broadly, can someone who was given a job through nepotism ever rise above that original sin?

Jack Buck in Heaven says, "I can't believe... what I just sired!"

44. Dewey, Local Boy and Soupuss Posted: October 08, 2007 at 05:00 PM (#2567808)

Those are two pretty excellent replacements, but I actually liked Kilborn.

Craig Ferguson? He's terrible.

45. JMM Posted: October 08, 2007 at 05:02 PM (#2567810)

Carson Daly has the personality, and looks, of wet cement. I'll never get that one.

And yet, he does look like Johnny Carson meets Edward R. Murrow compared to Ryan Seacrest.

46. Dread Pirate Dave Roberts Posted: October 08, 2007 at 05:03 PM (#2567811)

If nothing else, this talk show would get him out of the booth. Which would make it a success in my book

47. Michael Kay Posted: October 08, 2007 at 05:05 PM (#2567812)

Michael Kay has totally taken the entertainment world by storm with his sitdown "CenterStage" show

Well thank you, Gonfalon Bubble, I certainly appreciate your spending part of your evenings watching my show.

Next week on GMC Truck Presents CenterStage, my interview with Knicks owner Jim Dolan. It's a really good show and he's such a nice guy, so you don't want to miss that.

48. Joe Dimino Posted: October 08, 2007 at 05:08 PM (#2567815)

I really like Kimmel, but Ferguson is pretty funny too - and I'm still a Letterman guy, always liked him, even better than Carson when I was growing up.

Kilbourn was absolutely hysterical on both shows. Maybe the ratings have improved without him, but both shows were LOL funny when he was on them. I guess you either 'get' Kilbourn or you don't, but I definitely got him.

49. Joe Dimino Posted: October 08, 2007 at 05:08 PM (#2567816)

Oh, and I really liked Later, but I've always been a big Costas fan.

50. bunyon Posted: October 08, 2007 at 05:10 PM (#2567817)

Don't hold your breath. I'm sure the sports execs at Fox have been watching TBS over the last week and are salivating over the chance to hire Chip Carey as his replacement. I think he and Joe Buck were separated at birth.

I'm not saying Chip is good or anything, but I'd take him anyday over Joe Buck. Maybe after ten years of Chip and Tony, I'd feel toward them as I do now toward Joe Buck and McCarver, but I'd be willing to find out.

51. The elusive Robert Denby Posted: October 08, 2007 at 05:14 PM (#2567821)

In lieu of a monologue, he can read some of his dad's crappy poems.

52. asinwreck Posted: October 08, 2007 at 05:14 PM (#2567822)

The only way I will support this move is if it removes Joe Buck from announcing sports. That said, I would rather watch a late night show hosted by Jack Buck in his present condition.

53. The elusive Robert Denby Posted: October 08, 2007 at 05:15 PM (#2567823)

In lieu of a monologue, he can read some of his dad's crappy poems.

54. asinwreck Posted: October 08, 2007 at 05:18 PM (#2567826)

They settled on Craig Ferguson, and I believe the ratings are up, making this two shows (The Daily Show being the other) that have improved since Kilborn left.

Channel 35 in Salinas had better newscasts after Kilborn left the sports beat to join ESPN.

55. AndrewJ Posted: October 08, 2007 at 05:27 PM (#2567835)

More broadly, can someone who was given a job through nepotism ever rise above that original sin?

Bobby Kennedy.

56. Fumbduck Joe Bivens Posted: October 08, 2007 at 05:31 PM (#2567838)

More broadly, can someone who was given a job through nepotism ever rise above that original sin?

How could you prove that it was nepotism, then? Sean McDonough is an example. He is good enough on his own merits to have been hired to announce Red Sox games, but I guess some people figured nepotism got him the job.

57. Greg Pope Posted: October 08, 2007 at 05:35 PM (#2567842)

Craig Ferguson? He's terrible.

Yeah, well, anyone who likes to listen to Hawk Harrelson can't really be counted on for good judgment in these areas.

58. Dewey, Local Boy and Soupuss Posted: October 08, 2007 at 05:40 PM (#2567846)

Yeah, well, anyone who likes to listen to Hawk Harrelson can't really be counted on for good judgment in these areas.

I don't like to listen to Hawk Harrelson.

59. Joe Dimino Posted: October 08, 2007 at 05:49 PM (#2567849)

He is good enough on his own merits to have been hired to announce Red Sox games,

He is awful. The worst monotone voice I've ever heard as an announcer. I grew up with Rizzuto, White and Messer. And I would occasionally wiggle the rabbit ears and get a Boston game, and I couldn't believe how God-awful those announcers were - I think he was with Bob Montgomery at the time?

Just one other reason why I was so happy I was born a Yankee fan. I thought being born in NY relative the rest of the United States was just as lucky as most Americans feel for being born in the US compared to the rest of the world. And Sean McDonough was a big part of that.

60. Portia Stanke Posted: October 08, 2007 at 06:02 PM (#2567856)

I thought being born in NY relative the rest of the United States was just as lucky as most Americans feel for being born in the US compared to the rest of the world.

I have friends from North Korea who once thought the same thing.

61. Fumbduck Joe Bivens Posted: October 08, 2007 at 06:02 PM (#2567857)

I grew up with Ken Coleman and Ned Martin. I thought Rizzuto was awful, and his interplay with White was awful. "Huckleberry", indeed.

That has nothing to do with McDonough. I liked him. He and Remy made a decent team.

62. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: October 08, 2007 at 06:02 PM (#2567858)

Maybe you're thinking of Ned Martin. . . in which case you're even more off-base!

In any case, both are examples of terrific broadcasters who would never keep, or even get, a job in this day and age.

63. Fumbduck Joe Bivens Posted: October 08, 2007 at 06:04 PM (#2567862)

both are examples of terrific broadcasters who would never keep, or even get, a job in this day and age.

Martin and who? McDonough? McDonough is young enough to get another regular gig.

64. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: October 08, 2007 at 06:07 PM (#2567866)

I mean his style, not his age; I think that's a big reason why the Red Sox chose Orsillo over him when they consolidated everything on NESN. That and the fact that when Orsillo started out, hard as it is to remember now, he was a McDonough clone except without the likeable personality (I sort of liked him anyway, but I'm a generous person. . .). And Martin's dead.

65. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: October 08, 2007 at 06:16 PM (#2567878)

Hmm, those comments appeared in the wrong order. Don't worry, Joe, I'm not mad at you :)

66. Fumbduck Joe Bivens Posted: October 08, 2007 at 06:20 PM (#2567884)

The Red Sox chose Orsillo over McDonough because Orsillo was much cheaper. I don't think style had much to do with it. It didn't hurt that he sounded a lot like McDonough. They got a McDonough clone for much less that the real thing would have been paid.

67. Dan Evensen Posted: October 08, 2007 at 06:35 PM (#2567905)

He is awful. The worst monotone voice I've ever heard as an announcer.

I agree. McDonough is awful. Not quite Buck/McCarver awful, but still bad enough to make me hit mute.

When my dad and I watched the '92 and '93 World Series together, we would mute the TV and listen to Vin Scully's radio broadcast. Occasionally the two weren't synched very well (as I recall, the radio was a little bit faster), but it was worth it.

68. karkface killah Posted: October 08, 2007 at 06:37 PM (#2567910)

What in the hell has to happen for Chris Hansen to get onto late night?

69. Fumbduck Joe Bivens Posted: October 08, 2007 at 06:42 PM (#2567928)

TV is usually on a delay of a second or so. I think it's to deter people from turning down the sound and listening on the radio.

I am not a Scully fan. I enjoyed what little I heard of Harry Caray. The guy from Detroit, Prince, was that his name? I liked him. Coleman and Ned Martin and Jon Miller. But not Scully.

70. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: October 08, 2007 at 07:16 PM (#2568079)

Bob Prince was in Pittsburgh; Detroit was Ernie Harwell. Both greats in their own way.

71. Boots Day Posted: October 08, 2007 at 07:30 PM (#2568140)

The guy from Detroit, Prince, was that his name?

Wow, the Brewers have fallen off the radar screen awfully fast.

72. Mike in MI Posted: October 08, 2007 at 07:36 PM (#2568166)

I'd like to take this as an opportunity to give a shoutout to "Night After Night with Allan Havey."

I loved that show. I wanted to be an Audience of One but never got to NY to do it.

73. Frank Rook Posted: October 08, 2007 at 07:37 PM (#2568180)

I didn't get to stay up late enough to watch Later as much as I would have liked, but I enjoyed it every time I saw it. IIRC, he did a 3 night interview with Billy Joel that I thought was fantastic.

74. Jim Wisinski is waiting till next year Posted: October 08, 2007 at 07:58 PM (#2568312)

More broadly, can someone who was given a job through nepotism ever rise above that original sin?

Mike Piazza?

75. Repoz

Posted: October 08, 2007 at 08:07 PM (#2568350)

More broadly, can someone who was given a job through nepotism ever rise above that original sin?

Michael Kay

76. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: October 08, 2007 at 08:07 PM (#2568352)

TV is usually on a delay of a second or so. I think it's to deter people from turning down the sound and listening on the radio.

I'm so tired of Caray-Gwynn-Brenly that I actually wanted to listen to Waldling tonight. Alas, the radio is a good 7-8 seconds ahead of TV, so I can't do that. So I'm just using Mobb Deep Hell on Earth as the soundtrack to A-Rod's imminent home run [pretend that was crossed out] ####### strikeout.

77. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: October 09, 2007 at 07:27 AM (#2569600)

I guess you either 'get' Kilbourn or you don't, but I definitely got him.

I get him. He's a preening, pompous, self-absorbed azsclown who wouldn't know funny if he slipped in it and broke his coccyx.

More broadly, can someone who was given a job through nepotism ever rise above that original sin?

I thought Al Unser, Jr. was a pretty good driver in his own right.

78. bunyon Posted: October 09, 2007 at 08:24 AM (#2569625)

More broadly, can someone who was given a job through nepotism ever rise above that original sin?

Jesus Christ.

79. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life. Posted: October 09, 2007 at 08:37 AM (#2569638)

Kilborn really annoys me. I know that being smug is his appeal, but he seems even more smug than that. Like he's thinking "I'm not doing anything funny, and yet I know how to make you people laugh. You must be idiots if you think this is funny...and you do!"

80. Dayton Moore is a Big Fat Idiot (AG#1F) Posted: October 09, 2007 at 08:42 AM (#2569646)

Kilborn is hilarious if you catch him once a month. But after five nights a week, I would be throwing objects at the TV.

81. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: October 09, 2007 at 09:01 AM (#2569663)

More broadly, can someone who was given a job through nepotism ever rise above that original sin?

Jesus Christ.

Gee, it wasn't that bad of a question.

82. Greg Pope Posted: October 09, 2007 at 11:42 AM (#2569839)

I don't like to listen to Hawk Harrelson.

Hmmm... I may have overstated your fandom a bit, but in this thread you said:

I just think that most broadcasters suck. Harrelson doesn't stick out to me as particularly bad.

So I'll change my comment to be:

Yeah, well, anyone who can stand to listen to Hawk Harrelson can't really be counted on for good judgment in these areas. :-)

83. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life. Posted: October 09, 2007 at 11:52 AM (#2569855)

Yeah, if your opinion of Hawk Harrelson can even be mistaken for "fandom", you took the wrong path somewhere.

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Fox Buck’s For New Late Night Host

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