TBS has Royals fans cringing, clapping
The American League Wild Card Game was broadcast on TBS, the cable network that seems to show mostly “Big Bang Theory” reruns. What did you think of the coverage? Here’s what we noticed:
▪ ‘Breaking’ news: The pregame show got started with a several-minutes-long piece featuring actor Bryan Cranston. The premise: that Cranston was putting together a one-man stage play on the postseason. So we got a dramatic monologue of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and Cranston in a leotard, learning movement from a ballet master. Meanwhile, concessionaires hawked popcorn, soda and red hots in the theater aisles. Was it funny? Uh, no, but “Breaking Bad” fans probably tolerated it.
▪ Cue the DeLorean: We know, we know — 29 years, blah blah blah. But TBS seemed intent on rubbing it in. Back in 1985, gas was $1.20 a gallon! It was Ronald Reagan’s second term! CDs were new technology! But we did kind of like how the logo of “Back to the Future” — a big hit that summer of ’85 — got remade as “Back to the Postseason.”
▪ Ham and eggs, please: After the Royals’ Billy Butler was picked off between bases at the bottom of the first, this from TBS announcer Ron Darling: “You’re gonna have a hard time, Billy Butler, explaining that at the coffee shop tomorrow.” Please. Country Breakfast in a coffee shop?!
▪ He’ll be there for you: Wrapping up an interview with George Brett (who was watching the game alongside Mike Sweeney), sideline reporter Matt Winer got George to say he spends many afternoons watching … yep, TBS. The Royals great mentioned “Friends” and “Seinfeld.”
▪ Royals country: As the third inning got underway, TBS threw up a U.S. map color-coded by Facebook mentions. Coast to coast, the country was Royals blue on Facebook with just two exceptions: California, of course, and … Delaware. Thanks, Cousin Ed in Dover!
▪ Gone to the dogs: The TBS camera lingered for several seconds on a young woman holding a professional-looking sign featuring a pic of a pooch wearing the Royals crown and this message: “If We Win, He’s Buying Me a Puppy!” An arrow pointed to the guy next to her. Dude, adopt one instead. Around here, we love underdogs.
▪ A classic: Did you catch that shot of a 1985 souvenir extra edition of The Star? Front page headline: THIS ONE’S FOR YOU!
▪ Mr. Geography: Announcer Cal Ripken on A’s hot-batter Brandon Moss: KC “public enemy No. 1? He won’t be able to stay on the Missouri side of the Missouri now. He’ll have to stay on the Kansas side.”
This story was originally published September 30, 2014 at 10:21 PM with the headline "TBS has Royals fans cringing, clapping."