Like OMG! Zac and Vanessa are at the game! No way!
Disney synergy strikes again.
After Mike Tirico mentioned that Disney stars Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens were attending today's Lakers/Jazz game, NBA fans were treated to multiple shots of the teen duo. First, a zoomed out shot of the booth where Tirico and analyst Hubie Brown were seated that managed to catch the very tinest edge of the Disney stars, who were sitting directly to the left.
Then, a taped shot, showing a seemingly borderline giggly Tirico having a meet and greet with Efron and Hudgens, presumably before the game.
And in the third quarter, an uncomfortably close shot of Efron and Hudgens on the bench, leading into fellow pseudo-celebrity Dana Delany reminding people that they were watching the NBA on ABC.
Thank goodness. I might have mistaken it for Entertainment Tonight.
After six years, NBA fans -- and Monday Night Football fans for that matter -- have to be getting numb to all of this. For ESPN, it is imperative not to let the game get in the way of the show.
Who cares about football, when James Denton is in the booth? Or Drew Carey, or even Hannah Montana? Oh, is it halftime of Game 6 of the NBA Finals? Then lets have Tirico preview the summer movie schedule with the late Joel Siegel. Are the Spurs playing? Then by all means, please get shots of Eva Longoria.
And don't forget the music. It's not the NBA on ABC, it's Def Leppard and Tim McGraw. It's Hank Williams Jr. and his all star band. It's Coldplay presenting Euro 2008. Who doesn't get pumped up by Coldplay?
Now, one could say ESPN is hopelessly out of touch. There is no 'but'.
By the way, what are the odds you'll catch Kobe Bryant saying "Thanks for watching Desperate Housewives on ABC", or Donovan McNabb making a guest appearance on Lost?
About the same odds of ESPN putting on a sports broadcast that actually focuses on the game, not the show.
11 comments:
Yet another pathetic display by the NBA on ABC. What else is new?
Are the Spurs playing? Then by all means, please get shots of Eva Longoria.
Though to be fair, I suspect even sports fans would rather see Eva than the Spurs...
Eh who cares, not like the whole game was overshadowed. Nothing new here, if it's that much of a problem actually go and watch then.
Damn. I missed today's game but I was watching last night's Celtics/Cavs game and ABC actually appeared to be getting BETTER at televising the NBA...finally after six years. They even showed the starting lineups live for that game...that must be a first for ABC, showing the SL for a non-Finals game. Major props to them for that. The announcers were tolerable, even decent for once. The next step is to stop quieting the crowd. That's where the excitement comes from!
It also wouldn't hurt to ditch that awful camera angle of the "court skycam".
Too bad they couldn't keep it up, though. So close, yet so far.
The Mickey Mouse Corporation strikes again and sadly.....We all lose.
Paulsen ... I suspect some sour grapes here! Your beloved NHL is being rather badly beaten by the NBA and you simply cannot bear it! This commentary is a little bit of much ado about nothing and exposes your NBA resentment a little more.
Yea I've been sick of ESPN/ABC's antics for years now. I really hope NBC would buy the rights back.
I think we all NBA diehard fans miss the NBA on NBC
but I really like the Def Leppard/Tim McGraw song ABC is using for the playoffs since I love that kind of music.
but just one thing, anonymous 12:35 am..if I'm not mistaken, Paulsen doesn't have anything against the NBA..actually, I remember him defending it, especially when idiots bashed it.
plus, a few weeks ago I have seen a few hockey fans getting mad at Paulsen because, in their opinion, he always bashes the NHL.
oh well..
If all sides are mad at you, you must be doing an even-handed job of coverage :-) I don't think this article is bashing the NBA at all, just ESPN/ABC's coverage of it. ESPN/ABC do this kind of crap to every sport, from endless shots of David Beckham sitting on the bench while a MLS game is in progress to endless shots of Martin Brodeur's wife in the Stanley Cup Finals a few years back for no reason that anyone can figure out. The game comes secondary to celebrity and hype with ESPN/ABC and I think that's all Paulsen was saying.
You could also add the sideline reporters. What a waste of time. That is why I like the NFL on CBS. They eliminated that nonsense.
As much as it pains me to admit, Turner Sports has also taken part in the cross-promotion, celebrity nonsense. Kyra Sedgwick's mug pops up during every telecast to me about THE CLOSER premiere and thanking me for watching the NBA on TNT? Ugh.
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