[vincesanity82]

If Fox expands its NASCAR prerace show to an hour next season, as its producer Bill Richards hopes, he says it will probably add a comedian � "we're looking into that." It would be a natural evolution as Fox continues to apply the showbiz sensibility of its NFL pregame show to its NASCAR shows. Richards produces and helps write comedian Frank Caliendo's NFL pregame bits. But since Fox's NASCAR show is on-site at tracks rather than in a studio like the NFL show, he suggests that could mean complications for comedy: "We're out there and see these guys, so we have to be careful how much we make fun of them." He added that maybe any comedian on prerace shows could be safely based in Fox's Los Angeles studios instead of being anywhere near pit row. Fox's prerace show already strays far from topics such as loose lug nuts. Analyst Jeff Hammond, an ex-crew chief who has dabbled in pro wrestling, has bobsledded, parachuted, ridden a fighter jet and crushed cars in a monster truck for footage to liven things up. On Sunday's show, singer Toby Lightman and analyst Darrell Waltrip go to the track's infield to sing NASCAR Love. It's a Fox theme song written, in case you're wondering what TV execs actually do, by Fox Sports Chairman David Hill. -- USA Today



NFL draft analysis has its own language - USATODAY.com

[LSC9901]

I always thought DW was a some sort of a clown.

[Bob Tanner]

Oh, my God!

Let's take a walk down Memory Lane, folks. Remember back to 2000 when the announcement was made that FOX and NBC was going to have coverage of the Cup races? Remember the jokingly made theories that we would see Kelly Bundy, Bart Simpson, John Madden or some other dolt who knows nothing about stock car racing showing up?

It's happening!

Last year SPEED treated up to Tommy Tattoo, or whatever his name was. This season Fox went up Brokeback Mountain and brought down the Rutledge Wood character. Now ESPN/ABC/Disney is going with Frank Caliendo?

This has all the earmarks of being as successful and as fulfilling as having Dennis Miller on Monday Night Football. Maybe having all the wonderful TV coverage isn't what it's cracked up to be?

[Phils20]

Oh please no. I will start turning on the radio. The telecasts are damn near unwatchable now between digger and DW practically achieving "deep inner harmony" everytime he says "Junebug."

I can't take anymore BS.

[Lefty Noob]

Could it work? I mean, is there any comedian out there where you'd say, "Okay, I can go for that."
Bill Engval, maybe? That'd be cool with me at least.

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Could it work? I mean, is there any comedian out there where you'd say, "Okay, I can go for that."
Bill Engval, maybe? That'd be cool with me at least.

Yea I think any one of the blue collar crew could work..

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Could it work? I mean, is there any comedian out there where you'd say, "Okay, I can go for that."
Bill Engval, maybe? That'd be cool with me at least.

I know I'm probably all by myself here but...

I turn on a race to watch the racing, not to have some bendejo cracking wise, trying to entertain me. If I want to watch an entertainer, I'll go over to the boats in Biloxi. If I want to watch a race, I'll switch to a race on TV or go to one of my local tracks.

Keep the entertainers off the races (even Foxworthy, Ron White and Larry) and let the racing be the main focus of the program and NOT some foul-mouthed dolt.

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I know I'm probably all by myself here but...

I turn on a race to watch the racing, not to have some bendejo cracking wise, trying to entertain me. If I want to watch an entertainer, I'll go over to the boats in Biloxi. If I want to watch a race, I'll switch to a race on TV or go to one of my local tracks.

Keep the entertainers off the races (even Foxworthy, Ron White and Larry) and let the racing be the main focus of the program and NOT some foul-mouthed dolt.

thats why its a pre-race show, the ones who just want to watch racing can tune in to just the race..

[WestCoast]

I think that Chris Myers give out a "clue" at the Bristol race when he talked about Nascar going back to its roots and than saying that :

"This place sells out faster than a Larry the cable guy concert"

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

thats why its a pre-race show, the ones who just want to watch racing can tune in to just the race..

Very good point. I missed the statement about it being a pre-race show completely. I saw the intro and thought, "When the Hell is someone going to figure out the there is a defined line between show biz and racing?"

As it is, it's just another small baby step toward the complete "WWF-ing" of NA__AR.

Yep. ABC/ESPN/Disney gives me another reason to view the 14 and a half hours of pre-race tripe as expensive dead-air space.

Thanks for clarifying this for me.

[azrael492]

It's not that big of a deal. If it is like their football pregame, the comedian will be used for about 3-4 minutes to crack a few jokes about the event coming up. The brutal part is usually watching the commentators try and keep the comedy going.

[LSC9901]

Although we seem to be talking pre-race I'm still in hopes it never happens. I don't even care a lot for what is now classified as pre-race entertainment. I'd be far more entertained if they would just give me an hours worth of news as it pertains to the days event or even clarifying some rumors. I do consider the pre-race as part of my race watching entertainment but I too could live without Rutledge and any of the Blue Collar crew, even though I find their humor funny. I'm not sure why any race fan or particular driver fan would have a need to be injected with humor before, during or after a race ??

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Although we seem to be talking pre-race I'm still in hopes it never happens. I don't even care a lot for what is now classified as pre-race entertainment. I'd be far more entertained if they would just give me an hours worth of news as it pertains to the days event or even clarifying some rumors. I do consider the pre-race as part of my race watching entertainment but I too could live without Rutledge and any of the Blue Collar crew, even though I find their humor funny. I'm not sure why any race fan or particular driver fan would have a need to be injected with humor before, during or after a race ??

Laughter is clinically proven to reduce stress, Anxiety, Anger, and Depresion. Laughter reduces pain by releasing endorphins that are more potent than the morphine equivalent. Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter is equivalent to a small amount of exercise. Laughter massages all the organs of the body. You dont have to be a race fan or driver to see the benefits laughter has on the human mind and body..

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

Laughter is clinically proven to reduce stress, Anxiety, Anger, and Depresion. Laughter reduces pain by releasing endorphins that are more potent than the morphine equivalent. Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter is equivalent to a small amount of exercise. Laughter massages all the organs of the body. You dont have to be a race fan or driver to see the benefits laughter has on the human mind and body..

I won't argue one point of what you say. It's more a matter of what I want to see versus what I don't care about viewing at that particular time. I'd be more interested in an hours worth of news events of the past week, than listening to some comedian doing ha-ha's with DW.

We have one race per week with 45 plus teams. My guess is that in the course of any given week there is enough news out there to fill an hour of pre-race time. If I want to laugh for my own health I'll turn on comedy central or watch my son try and change his oil.

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I won't argue one point of what you say. It's more a matter of what I want to see versus what I don't care about viewing at that particular time. I'd be more interested in an hours worth of news events of the past week, than listening to some comedian doing ha-ha's with DW.

We have one race per week with 45 plus teams. My guess is that in the course of any given week there is enough news out there to fill an hour of pre-race time. If I want to laugh for my own health I'll turn on comedy central or watch my son try and change his oil.

Thats understandable, personally, I would like more post race coverage and interviews than pre race stuff..