Does anyone remember ESPN and MTV when they first started?

[Enraged_Ape]

MTV, I think, aired more video black and ID cards than anything else, and when it did show videos (which is all they showed), they were pretty low-tech and relatively amateurish in production (though still creative and innovative, by today's bogus standards).

ESPN was so starved for video that they would show third-tier full-contact karate matches in Midwestern towns, between fat guys who would smoke cigarettes in their corners between rounds.

My point is this: I've heard a lot of people complain about how Air America has some "bugs" to work out. Well, I listened to it last week and I was absolutely impressed with what I heard, and I thought the broadcast was very smooth and well-done compared to the networks I mentioned above.

I predict huge success for Air America. The nation is obviously starving for it, and I am so glad it's finally available. If it were a publicly held company, I would buying up enough stock in it as I could possibly afford.

[NWHarkness]

1. Good point

I remember when ESPN's main attractions were Korean kickboxing and Australian Rules Football.

[Enraged_Ape]

2. I guess I could have mentioned CNN as well

There wouldn't have been a CNN without the TBS Superstation in Atlanta, and about the only thing they ever showed was Georgia Championship Wrestling and reruns of the Andy Griffith Show. At night, their news crew would goof off and do things like reading the news while wearing Groucho Marx nose-and-glasses.

[jdsmith]

4. Late NIght news with Bill Tush!

Still the most surreal program in the history of tv--sorry, Ernie Kovacs. You'd sit through a Braves game from the west coast just to get to the inCREDible weirdness.

[jdsmith]

3. I'd pay $5 extra a month

for the jawdropping action of Australian Rules Football. Whenever I try to describe it to my children, they just stare at me as if I'm delusional.

[wryter2000]

7. Aussie football

My favorite was the guy dressed in white who'd grab a flag off the goal post and wave it around when they scored.

[LTR]

5. Excellent point

MTV (1981) - '50 videos, 30 of them by Rod Stewart' (paraphrased)

ESPN - Lots of Australian Rules football (which I still think is entertaining).

Current example:

SpikeTV - Lots of wrestling, and some bad attempts at talk, reality shows and cartoons. Dukes of Hazzard and Blind Date reruns. And MXC is funny the first two times you see it, but how many times can you hear the same jokes? If this thing becomes successful, I'll be shocked. But who knows?

Other examples:

Conan O'Brien - Virtually no front-of-camera experience. Very shaky at first. Not very funny. Today, one of the best late night hosts on TV.

Dan Patrick (his ESPN radio show) - A bit dry at first, and sounded like he should keep his day job at SportsCenter. Now, his show is outrageously entertaining (the Tonya Harding interview a few weeks ago was classic radio!). A nice antidote to Rush's pontificating.

AA is better than I expected, but they are pretty rough around the edges. I think Franken has the talent to improve his timing and delivery. Randi is the most experienced host there, and from what I've read on radio industry message boards, is much more respected than Franken (not many impressed with him). I used to work in radio, and harped for months to get more experienced talent to balance out the non-experienced. But I am impressed with what they have done so far. They certainly have started out better than I predicted.

They do need to spice things up a bit with a higher energy presentation and imaging. I'd hate to see them become a commercial version of NPR.

[Enraged_Ape]

9. Your Rod Stewart comment is priceless

As is that graphic of Kerry-Bush soccer. I think that is going to start the day off right.

[LTR]

10. I believe that was how MTV described it

And just imagine Kerry wearing steel-toed shoes.

[wryter2000]

6. ESPN

ESPN was laughable. The picture quality was deplorable, and I remember them showing a dart throwing championship from a bar. Even when they got good, they didn't have major US sports. Australian rules football, minor league baseball. I miss the CFL, though.

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. Yes, and ESPN picked up the National Spelling Bee coverage back

then as well. They still cover it, which always has people scratching their heads. So now, when asked which sports she plays, my daughter is always adding, "and spelling" :hi: