Monday, January 24, 2005

Weird:

New York Post Online Edition: Entertainment"LOS ANGELES (AP) -- ABC's first choice for the infamous 'Monday Night Football' dropped towel episode wasn't Terrell Owens - it was announcer John Madden.

For reasons that are unclear, Madden couldn't find the time to perform for the skit. Owens, the Philadelphia Eagles receiver, filled in for him in the steamy sketch that drew viewer protests and a network apology, said ABC entertainment president Stephen McPherson on Sunday.

I've tried to tune in for MNF's pre-show lead-in ever since the early 1990s, when I was tuning in for a game and...there was Bill Clinton, talking about some "important questions facing our nation." I freaked out, paced up and down the living room floor, yelling at the TV, and then Bill catches a football and says The Line - "Are you ready for some football?"

I've been a fan ever since.

That said, I missed the one with whatshername and The Jerk From Philly, so I guess I missed my opportunity to be offended. But I think with Madden, it would have been funnier, and probably wouldn't have offended people nearly as much. If Madded had survived it, that is.

1 comment:

Steve Burri said...

I saw a parody of that skit on a 'prematch' show for some professional wrestling. Some wrestling star was being lured in the same way as Owens. But one of the infamous promoters stepped in and argued that the integrity and wholesomeness of the sport could not be abrogated like that. It was hilarious. No, I didn't stick around to see the match!