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Thursday, June 13, 2013

Sports Media Watch: MLB Teams Beat NHL, NBA Finals on Local RSNs

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posted 5 days ago by Greg Franklin to media, nba, nhl, ratings, television | 16 comment(s)

Are baseball fans the new silent majority?

Regular season baseball games outdrew Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final in fifteen television markets Wednesday night, including NHL strongholds Pittsburgh and Detroit.

The Giants/Pirates game on Root Sports earned an 8.95 rating in Pittsburgh, beating Bruins/Blackhawks Game 1 (5.99) by 49% head-to-head. In Detroit, the Tigers/Royals day game earned a 7.46 on Fox Sports Detroit — beating Game 1 (5.75) by 30%.

Baseball won the battle in seven other ...

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1. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) posted on February 20, 2012 at 11:15 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

While dining at the Millionaires' Club with the owner of the Shelbyville Power Plant, a cocky Burns agrees to a handshake bet worth (you guessed it) $1 million.

Mitt Romney scoffs.

Good to hear Sax made good after finally getting out of jail.

Why Canseco? He was known for being a bad boy, not particularly popular among general fans. Plus, the club needed a left-fielder, and Canseco played right. Just poor GMing by Burns on that one. Rickey would have made that episode epic.

2. Dale Sams posted on February 20, 2012 at 11:35 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Coaches' inspirational talk is often clichéd gibberish? You bet. Ballplayers sometimes drink too much and get into barroom trouble? Hell yeah, they do. Acute radiation poisoning, cranial gigantism, and pits of eternal darkness? Meet your 2011 Red Sox.

A touch a touch, I do confess!

3. Ron J posted on February 20, 2012 at 11:43 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

#1 The thing is that for all of the kvetching about Canseco, his segment actually works really well. Maybe not quite as clever as the Boggs or Mattingly bits, but still quite good.

I

4. YR Misses Reggie Bars posted on February 20, 2012 at 11:53 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

You tell kids today that The Simpsons used to be funny and they won't believe you.

5. Mike A posted on February 21, 2012 at 12:00 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Great article, and great episode.

And man, am I glad they added the 'Pitt The Elder' vs 'Lord Palmerston' bit. One of my favorite Simpsons moments.

Someday, somewhere, I hope to have a Simpsons internet discussion without hearing 'The Simpsons suck now.'

6. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) posted on February 21, 2012 at 12:29 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

You tell kids today that The Simpsons used to be funny and they won't believe you.

The Simpsons has a message for them.

I think the show has bounced back a bit the last 2-3 seasons.

7. YR Misses Reggie Bars posted on February 21, 2012 at 12:45 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Oh it isn't like they didn't see this all coming. I think they really did "Moe gets a cellphone."

8. Gamingboy posted on February 21, 2012 at 12:46 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

GET RID OF THOSE SIDEBURNS!

9. Monty posted on February 21, 2012 at 12:52 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I think they really did "Moe gets a cellphone."

They decided that was too silly. So instead, Moe got a talking bar towel.

10. McCoy posted on February 21, 2012 at 01:03 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I don't think the Simpsons were ever funny. They had some moments but it was a cartoon sitcom born in an era when a sitcom had to have a message and a lesson and that really kills it for me. I remember when the Simpsons first came out on DVD, I went out and got the first couple of seasons and I found them unwatchable.

11. Dale Sams posted on February 21, 2012 at 01:06 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

And SNL hasn't been funny in 40 years!!

12. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines posted on February 21, 2012 at 01:07 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Oh yeah, well I haven't laughed at the TV once since Sgt. Bilko went off the air.

13. Dale Sams posted on February 21, 2012 at 01:34 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I think Strawberry and his "Skip" routine are the best part.

14. YR Misses Reggie Bars posted on February 21, 2012 at 02:55 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I don't think the Simpsons were ever funny. They had some moments but it was a cartoon sitcom born in an era when a sitcom had to have a message and a lesson and that really kills it for me.

I'm trying to think of the messages and lessons to be gleaned from my favorite episodes. Don't sell your soul to Millhouse? A monorail is a poor civic investment?

15. UCCF posted on February 21, 2012 at 03:17 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm trying to think of the messages and lessons to be gleaned from my favorite episodes. Don't sell your soul to Millhouse? A monorail is a poor civic investment?

Lisa needs braces?

16. Red Menace posted on February 21, 2012 at 03:21 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Dental Plan!

17. AJM posted on February 21, 2012 at 04:02 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm trying to think of the messages and lessons to be gleaned from my favorite episodes.

Was he really the head of the Kwik-E-Mart?

18. Greg (U)K posted on February 21, 2012 at 04:22 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I don't think the Simpsons were ever funny. They had some moments but it was a cartoon sitcom born in an era when a sitcom had to have a message and a lesson and that really kills it for me. I remember when the Simpsons first came out on DVD, I went out and got the first couple of seasons and I found them unwatchable.

I think the problem might be that the Simpsons (much like Star Trek: The Next Generation) was absolutely awful in its first season, pretty bad with moments of glory in the 2nd. Seasons 3 to...I don't know...9? are some of the best TV that's ever existed.

19. Random Transaction Generator posted on February 21, 2012 at 08:42 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I think the problem might be that the Simpsons (much like Star Trek: The Next Generation) was absolutely awful in its first season, pretty bad with moments of glory in the 2nd. Seasons 3 to...I don't know...9? are some of the best TV that's ever existed.

This is how I view things.

I would propose that seasons 3 to 8 are the best 6 consecutive seasons of sitcom in TV history.

I stopped buying the DVDs after season 10 because they just weren't worth the money at that point.
I had watched it "live" until about season 14 or so, but then various factors made Sunday night viewing difficult, and it was in the time between regular VCR usage and PVRs for me. I've tried to watch it since (like when they switched over to HD), but I can't get back into it. I'm always comparing it to older classic episodes (Monorail, Softball, B-Sharps, etc) and finding it seriously lacking.

20. billyjack posted on February 21, 2012 at 08:52 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Thursday nights I think in the 92-93 season had The Simpsons (Fox), and Seinfeld and Cheers on NBC between 8 and 10pm. I forgot what show benefited from being the fourth (in the open slot)... maybe Wings? Plus the shows had the TGIF bonus attached to them... ;o)
Edit at #19: Things aren't as funny on Sunday nights... that's why I rarely laugh during 60 Minutes...

21. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) posted on February 21, 2012 at 09:41 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm trying to think of the messages and lessons to be gleaned from my favorite episodes

Well kids, you tried and failed spectacularly. The lesson here is - never try.

22. Blastin posted on February 21, 2012 at 09:51 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

"Books are useless! I only ever read one book, "To Kill A Mockingbird", and it gave me absolutely no insight on how to kill mockingbirds! Sure it taught me not to judge a man by the color of his skin... but what good does *that* do me?"

23. Kyle S at work posted on February 21, 2012 at 10:14 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I still remember being 10 years old, eating dinner at a restaurant and bugging my parents to finish so we could get home in time to watch this episode. I could not _wait_ to see it.

The season 6 "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" cliffhanger was great, also.

I don't watch the Simpsons any more, but it's a truly great show. It doesn't bother me if you disagree, because I know you're wrong :)

24. zonk posted on February 21, 2012 at 10:17 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

While I agree that 3-~8 (I might extend that to about season 10 or so) is just pure Pedro+ peak -- I would also agree that the Simpsons has recovered a bit. I thought the 500th episode was quite solid and the (Christmas?) Lisa and Bart as parents episode was actually quite stellar. The show mainly seems to suffer nowadays when it tries to weave episodes around guest appearances, which is unfortunately, almost every other week.

I will say this - FG has absolutely fallen through the floor into non-watchability... just awful. American Dad has become Sunday's most reliable, to me at least.

Cleveland is tepid, at best.

Napoleon Dynamite is surprisingly watchable.

Bob's Burgers is strangely growing on me -- I don't much care for the parents, but the kids (particularly the Kristen Schaal character) are hilarious.

That awful Jonah Hill debacle... Gregory Allen or whatever... well... I sincerely hope we've seen the last of that thing.

25. Blastin posted on February 21, 2012 at 10:20 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Allen Gregory is indeed gone.

26. Booey posted on February 21, 2012 at 10:27 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

In my young teenage mind, the two best things about the 90's were the totally underrated golden age of baseball we were witnessing, and the Simpsons. To see them come together for one wonderful evening was just a perfect storm of awesomeness.

I remember when the Simpsons first came out on DVD, I went out and got the first couple of seasons and I found them unwatchable.

I agree with the above posters that you didn't watch the right seasons. Season 1 is very boring, and season 2 isn't that great either with a few exceptions. Seasons 4 and 5 are IMO the greatest two seasons of any show in TV history. If you can watch those and still say you don't like it, well, then I'll concede your point and just say that we have very different tastes on what's funny.

27. zonk posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:01 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Allen Gregory is indeed gone.

Angels sing... I'm pretty sure that show was a secret CIA project to breed serial killers.

28. jacksone (AKA It's OK...) posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:06 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I remember when the Simpsons first came out on DVD, I went out and got the first couple of seasons and I found them unwatchable.

Aren't the dvd's about 10 years behind when the seasons aired? A lot of topical humor can be lost after 10 years.

29. Dale Sams posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:11 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Are you all having a Western Animation discussion without mentioning the second best show on TV? Archer? (after 30 Rock)

30. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:23 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Are you all having a Western Animation discussion without mentioning the second best show on TV? Archer? (after 30 Rock)

Surprised it hasn't come up in the Uehara thread since they're discussing terrorists and Canada.

"I'm looking for a terrorist and an ocelot. Not necessarily in that order.'

31. Fernigal McGunnigle has become a merry hat posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:31 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I remember when the Simpsons first came out on DVD, I went out and got the first couple of seasons and I found them unwatchable.

Aren't the dvd's about 10 years behind when the seasons aired? A lot of topical humor can be lost after 10 years.

The problem is more that during the first year or two the show hadn't yet worked out what it was trying to do. It started as a show about a rascally kid and then grew into a show more about the dad. Also, the characters voices and appearances were still in flux. It wasn't sure what it was yet. Still a few great episodes.

Around 1995-97 there was a mediocre Mexican restaurant in my town that had Margarita Wednesdays with pitchers for some ridiculously low price. My girlfriend and I would go and sit at the bar for the hour that one of the local stations showed two consecutive Simpsons reruns (6-7 pm, I think). The place had a bartender with a big stringy Jewfro that he'd shaved on the sides, IOW a Sideshow Bob haircut. It was truly magical when we were a pitcher in and the second episode featured Sideshow Bob and Sideshow Bob's doppelganger brought us nachos.

32. Moloka'i Three-Finger Brown (Declino DeShields) posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:32 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

To alcohol -- the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems.

Also: But I'm using my whole ass!

Haven't seen a new episode in probably 9 years. Haven't enjoyed a new episode since about 1998. Still love anything before then -- Seasons 3-5, especially -- and look back on the first two seasons as awkward but quaint.

33. AndrewJ posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:32 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

At this juncture I wouldn't mind if The Simpsons ended and only returned with annual Treehouse of Horror episodes and theatrical movies every 2-3 years.

34. BDC

posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:35 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Even before the first season of the Simpsons, the short segments on the Tracey Ullman Show were kind of dull and pointless (and badly drawn). I was a big fan of Matt Groening's Life in Hell cartoons, which depended on a lot of repetition to make a basically melancholy point – and I think initially that kind of humor didn't translate well to TV. When the Simpsons got campier and more manic, more in the idiom of old animation (Itchy & Scratchy shows one inspiration, from Tom & Jerry; Bullwinkle is definitely another), they really took off.

35. Booey posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:51 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Oh, and regarding The Simpsons and baseball, the segment with McGwire was perfect (I'm paraphrasing off memory here, so the words might not be exact).

McGwire: You were right Bart, Major League Baseball is watching you pretty much around the clock.

Bart: But why?

McGwire: Well, I could tell you the terrifying truth...or you could all forget about it and watch me hit dingers!

Everyone: DINGERS!!!!

(Mac cherry bombs a ball and blasts it a mile)

I don't remember exactly when this episode aired (I'm guessing 1998 or 1999), but intentional or not, if you substituted spying with PED use, I think this sums up MLB's and the general public's attitudes towards steroids at the time perfectly.

36. Nasty Nate posted on February 21, 2012 at 11:52 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I think season 2 deserves inclusion with the peak, and not with the finding-their-feet first season.

37. Slivers of Maranville (SdeB) posted on February 21, 2012 at 12:00 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I've been slowly rewatching season 2, and I agree it's somewhat hit and miss. Homer meeting his brother is a true classic. Simpson and Delilah is also pretty good. And of course the election episode with Blinky -- still topical today. Dancin' Homer is pretty cool, as is the Fugu episode.

But I don't really care for the Bart-heavy episodes: Bart Gets an F, Bart vs. Thanksgiving, Bart Gets Hit By Car, Bart's Dog Gets an F, nor was I a big fan of Principal Charming or Homer vs. the 8th Commandment.

38. Home Run Teal & Black Black Black Gone! posted on February 21, 2012 at 12:18 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Season 1 is very boring, and season 2 isn't that great either with a few exceptions.

Bullshit soldier. Look, I love the crazy absurd silliwhacks of season 2-6. But seasons 1 and 2 are _human_ stories. They have far more humanity and empathy than the following seasons; they're actually shows about a family, warts and all, as opposed to shows about Crazy McWhackadoo and his Whackadoo Crew (which I love, but it's a different show). They're funny AND touching, which is something missing from the following seasons.

39. zonk posted on February 21, 2012 at 12:36 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

It's a bit amazing how the seasons blend together post-golden age... but just started walking through seasons 11-current and I gotta say -- there are winners in the post-peak period.

40. Booey posted on February 21, 2012 at 12:39 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Look, I love the crazy absurd silliwhacks of season 2-6. But seasons 1 and 2 are _human_ stories. They have far more humanity and empathy than the following seasons; they're actually shows about a family, warts and all, as opposed to shows about Crazy McWhackadoo and his Whackadoo Crew (which I love, but it's a different show). They're funny AND touching, which is something missing from the following seasons.

Eh. To each their own. I personally thought the show became a lot funnier when they stopped trying to moralize and just tried to be witty instead (and when Homer became the main character rather than Bart).

But I agree about the family part. The people who used to criticize the show (like George and Barbara Bush) and say it's about a dysfunctional family and compare it to shows like say, Married With Children, clearly never saw it beyond a few select clips here and there. Aside from the bizarre situations they get in, I always thought it was a pretty acccurate representation of a typical family. They fought a lot (as opposed to unrealistically squeaky clean family shows like Full House), but they still clearly loved each other and they'd always resolve their disagreements by the end.

41. Don't want the truth; just wanna see some dingers posted on February 21, 2012 at 12:43 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Well, I could tell you the terrifying truth...or you could all forget about it and watch me hit dingers!

Yes indeed.

One of my favorite episodes is the "Springshield" one: "I've had a lot of jobs in my day......[endless list of episode themes]"

"Finally a way to combine my love of helping people with my love of hurting people"

"because that's the kind of guy I am this week"

42. Home Run Teal & Black Black Black Gone! posted on February 21, 2012 at 12:44 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Married With Children

Talk about a show ahead of its times.

43. zonk posted on February 21, 2012 at 12:45 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

######## soldier. Look, I love the crazy absurd silliwhacks of season 2-6. But seasons 1 and 2 are _human_ stories. They have far more humanity and empathy than the following seasons; they're actually shows about a family, warts and all, as opposed to shows about Crazy McWhackadoo and his Whackadoo Crew (which I love, but it's a different show). They're funny AND touching, which is something missing from the following seasons.

Which is why I think the most recent Christmas episode/Lisa and Bart grown-up with kids of their own worked really well... Sure - as with any 'future Simpsons' episode, it's got it's fair bit of 'McWhackadoo' but I think it does have a bit of the touching side to it.

44. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) posted on February 21, 2012 at 12:51 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

But I agree about the family part. The people who used to criticize the show (like George and Barbara Bush) and say it's about a dysfunctional family and compare it to shows like say, Married With Children, clearly never saw it beyond a few select clips here and there.

I had a fairly religious friend who said she loved the show because it was the only sitcom on TV that actually showed a family going to church.

Which is why I think the most recent Christmas episode/Lisa and Bart grown-up with kids of their own worked really well... Sure - as with any 'future Simpsons' episode, it's got it's fair bit of 'McWhackadoo' but I think it does have a bit of the touching side to it.

The Simpsons were really the anti-"lesson" sitcom pretty early on, although they did have some touching moments here and there. Now that I have kids, I see some of the more subtle touching moments a lot differently. The episode where Mr. Bergstrom hands Lisa the note "YOU ARE LISA SIMPSON", the moment where Homer scoops Lisa up in his arms after she sees her future where future fiancee Hugh is dismissive of her roots, the ending of the tale of when Maggie was born, when Homer has Maggie's pictures strewn about his console - they all offer way more humanity than any cheesy canned family programming from the 50s-'80s.

45. Harmon "Thread Killer" Microbrew posted on February 21, 2012 at 01:09 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

(Actually, it's a legit question. Sax hit .265 lifetime against the Express. In their first matchup in April 1982, the rookie went 2-for-4 with a RBI triple. So, please, the next time you pass Steve Sax on the streets of Sacramento, ask him about Nolan Ryan.)

Why would a career .281 hitter consider this a point of pride? If anything, we should ask him about hitting off Roger Clemens (.357 avg in 44 PA).

46. Random Transaction Generator posted on February 21, 2012 at 01:21 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

The episode where Mr. Bergstrom hands Lisa the note "YOU ARE LISA SIMPSON"

Not the funniest episode of the Simpsons, but the one I refer to often as my favourite episode of the Simpsons.
Dustin Hoffman (under the pseudonym "Sam Etic") gave the best performance by a guest star on the Simpsons, ever.

when Homer has Maggie's pictures strewn about his console

Do it for her.
It still makes me teary-eyed.

47. Gamingboy posted on February 21, 2012 at 01:37 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

For me, the Simpsons is still good when compared to many of the things on regular TV these days. I mean, yeah, it sucks compared to the golden age, but basically everything sucks compared to the golden age, that was some of the greatest television in history. So, yeah, it isn't great television anymore, and a lot of times it isn't even good, but it's still The Simpsons. It's like pizza. Yeah, there is crappy pizza out there, but it's still pizza.

48. Yonder Alonso in misguided trousers (cardinal) posted on February 21, 2012 at 01:57 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Are you all having a Western Animation discussion without mentioning the second best show on TV? Archer? (after 30 Rock)

Archer's second season was pure insane genius from beginning to end. So was its first season, actually.

I'm surprised there's been no mention of Venture Brothers yet. Also fantastic (and also with a near-perfect second season).

edited to add, I agree pretty much with Gamingboy @47. There's no way for The Simpsons to match season 3 / season 4 era greatness, but there are some good moments still. And a lot of not-so-good moments, but even so it's still somehow comforting it's there.

49. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) posted on February 21, 2012 at 02:02 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I agree with #47. The plotlines are pretty nonsensical at this point - as they should be after exhausting 20 years of plotlines - but they still manage to make me laugh out loud with 3-4 gags each episode, which is still a positive Gags Above Replacement Value around 1.5 with say "Archer" at 5.0, "The Big Bang Theory" being at 0.0, and "Two and a Half Men" being in Neifi Perez territory.

50. Cowboy Popup posted on February 21, 2012 at 02:34 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Archer's second season was pure insane genius from beginning to end. So was its first season, actually.

I'm surprised there's been no mention of Venture Brothers yet. Also fantastic (and also with a near-perfect second season).

The growth of Archer is so similar to what the Venture Brothers went through too. I mean, its obvious the creators of Archer watched the Venture Bros, but its interesting to see Archer follow in VBs footsteps in so many ways.

Given the excellent start to the third season, I've been having sort of an internal debate as to which show is better. I thought it would be a long time before I considered a new show as coming close to what the Venture Bros. has accomplished. Venture's 3rd season was uneven, but the 4th was something to behold. I sincerely hope that I can have 4, 5, or more seasons of both shows on my DVD (blueray/whatever comes next) shelf before its all over.

The last two seasons of Futurama have been pretty darn good too, although not in Archer territory.

Also, as a side note, last time there was an animation thread that I took part in, someone pointed me in the direction of Trigun (not western, but whatever). I would like to offer them a heart felt THANK YOU!!!

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Thursday, June 13, 2013

Sports Media Watch: MLB Teams Beat NHL, NBA Finals on Local RSNs

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