Bad idea to revisit past with Patrick, Olbermann?

While Keith Olbermann, left, and Dan Patrick are great, their schtick on NBC this fall may be as worn out as Olbermann’s mustache in this 1990s photo.

NBC announced Monday that Dan Patrick will be teamed with Keith Olbermann during the network’s Sunday night football games this season.

The two, of course, were a seminal duo in the development of ESPN in the 1990s. They were among the first “SportsCenter” anchors to incorporate nicknames and pop culture references into their work and pretty much are responsible for creating the current generation of incessantly loud sports talking heads.

They were great in their day. I can’t tell you how many Sunday nights I spent up late during my grade school days to watch them deliver highlights on the 11 p.m. show.

But that was 1992-97. Now, more than a decade later, the act may be old. Their schtick was getting tired when Ray Romano did his “SportsCenter” spoof on “Saturday Night Live” in 1999 (the transcript is here; YouTube pulled the video). Sports news has evolved a lot since then, and we don’t need to revisit the past.

Both men are excellent at their jobs. Let’s hope they just bring something new to the table.

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This announcement was released Monday by NBC.

Dan Patrick has been named a co-host of NBC’s “Football Night in America” studio show, reuniting him with Keith Olbermann who together redefined sports highlights during their time together on ESPN’s SportsCenter from 1992-97. Patrick, who will handle highlight duties with Olbermann, joins host Bob Costas and co-hosts Cris Collinsworth and Olbermann, along with analysts Jerome Bettis and Tiki Barber and reporter Peter King. The announcement was made today by Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics.

“We are proud to reunite one of the greatest teams in the history of sports broadcasting,” Ebersol said. “Dan and Keith were more than successful together, they defined the way that sports highlights are now delivered. Their unique delivery has been sorely missed and now they’ll be able to take their act to a primetime network television audience each Sunday night in the fall.”

Olbermann said: “I’m delighted to be reunited with my tag team partner. I can’t stop Dan Patrick from working with me again, I can only hope to contain him.”

Olbermann and Patrick, while anchoring SportsCenter, became renowned for their inimitable style of coupling pop culture and sports - now a hallmark of the modern television sports reporter. While at ESPN, Olbermann and Patrick also wrote the critically acclaimed book “The Big Show” about their experiences working on SportsCenter. Costas wrote the foreword to the best-selling book.

“I think it’s a great idea because it reunites one of the great combinations ever in TV sports,” said Costas. “I’ve been in favor of the idea ever since NBC Sports reacquired the NFL but we haven’t been able to work it out until now.”

Patrick is currently a columnist at Sports Illustrated and contributes to SI.com. In October of 2007, Patrick began hosting a new version of The Dan Patrick Show, distributed nationally through The Content Factory and Premiere Radio Networks. The show airs from 9 a.m. to Noon ET and on XM-144 from 10 a.m. to Noon ET.

Patrick was an anchor on ESPN’s SportsCenter from 1989 to 2006. While at ESPN, he also reported from major events including the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals and Final Four. He hosted The Dan Patrick Show on ESPN Radio from 1999 to August of 2007 and wrote for ESPN The Magazine’s most popular page featuring interviews with athletes. In 2000, Patrick released a book entitled “Outtakes,” based on the magazine column. Prior to working with ESPN, Patrick was a sports anchor and reporter for CNN from 1983 to 1989.

In 1998, he received a Sports Emmy Award in the Studio Host category. In 2000, Patrick was named the National Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, making him just the second cable commentator to receive the honor. He received a CableACE Award in 1997 for his work on SportsCenter.

Patrick received a B.A. in broadcasting from the University of Dayton.

Nurture, don’t knock, nature

I am a garbage-picker, I am quite proud to say.

I recycle whatever I can each week, making sure all scrap paper at the office goes into the box and sorting through everything I get rid of at home. I have even started sorting my recyclable materials, which at times makes a mess of the back yard (thank you, honey, for bearing with me).

This is not really garbage-picking, but that’s among the terms I’ve been call ed by family members and others who don’t grasp what I’m doing, or who think it’s stupid (which is a mean term, by the way).

The time for that type of thinking has passed. Look at gas prices, check out the wacky weather of recent years, drive by the giant pile of trash on I-190 in Niagara Falls - we consume too much.

I have said for some time that the next car I want to get is a Prius, Camry hybrid or some other ultra-fuel-efficient vehicle. Aside from the savings on gas costs, it helps the environment - especially important since I now have children, and in a worst-case scenario the planet may be near ruins by the time they approach their golden years.

This morning on CNN, I heard a report that Toyota was considering adding solar panels to its Prius in order to further improve the efficiency (hybrids use electricity to help off-set the use of gas). The female talking head who was listening to the reporter speak got a disgusted look, like the cameraman had just cut one or something.

‘What?” the reporter said.

“Solar panels on my car?” replied the anchor in a tone that suggested someone had just showed her what was sucked out of a week’s worth of clients at a liposuction clinic. “I don’t think so … that would look gawdy.”

This is what might end up ruining us all - vanity … well, that and laziness. Get of your butt and walk to the store once in a while, and take the 10 seconds you’d need to put the plastic bottle in the blue bucket, and things might be a bit better.

As for vanity, would solar panels look better than a Schwinn? If we don’t develop alternative energy sources, that’s what we’re looking at. If we spend our time poo-pooing new concepts instead of embracing the intent behind them, things will never change.

And ask the ancient Romans how well an inability to adapt worked for them.

•••

This story on the new Prius is courtesy TG Daily.

Toyota is playing with the idea to equip upcoming Prius hybrids with solar panels to improve the energy efficiency of the car.

According to an article published by Nikkei.net, Toyota engineers have started working on ideas to integrate solar panels in its Prius vehicle. However, the solar panels are not planned to become an additional direct power source for the electric engine, but as a technology to provide energy for electric components such as the air conditioner.

Similar ideas have emerged in the past from other manufacturers. Porsche, for example focuses much of its (non-solar) hybrid technology to be released in 2009 in the Cayenne hybrid SUV and the Panamera hybrid sedan on powering electric components through regenerated energy and Fisker recently said that its 2010 Karma sedan would be offered with solar panels that could power components such as the air conditioner.

According to the Nikkei article, Toyota has not made a decision on the solar panels yet and there is no information hen solar panels could be offered and how much they will cost. However, the company confirmed that a plug-in version of the Prius is on track for a 2010 release.

Study: Older TV viewers less loyal to brands

This study was released this morning. It found that older buyers (those ages 40 and older) are less loyal to the brands they buy than their younger counterparts. I know in our house, we for the most part stick to the same handful brands whether due to price, quality or whatever. I guess since older folks have more money, they feel more adventurous with it.

This might make ad execs rethink who to target with their ads, since it’s usually the 18-to-49 segment that’s most coveted. But if those folks don’t switch and older people do, well, go get them.

•••

With 40 and 50-somethings at or near the peak of their earning potential and typically having several financial dependants ranging from small children to elderly parents, this prime Adult demographic is making the majority of the household spending decisions, according to TV Land’s “Generation BUY:  A Close Look at the Boomer Consumer” Study.  The findings from the study were expressed today during a press conference at the National Press Club by Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land, who was joined by Kim Alexis, host of TV Land’s original reality series “She’s Got The Look” and Beverly Johnson, a judge on the same series.  Not only are 40 and 50 year-olds spending more on themselves per month than Millennials and Gen Xers but more interestingly they are spending twice as much as their younger cohorts on others in their lives.  With so many people to shop for, Boomers are making several multi-generational purchase decisions at once and — contrary to common assumptions — they are far less brand loyal than Millennials and Gen Xers.

TV Land’s “Generation BUY:  A Close Look at the Boomer Consumer” Study, fielded by OTX, includes input from almost 4,000 adults ages 18-65 nationwide.  Commissioned by TV Land, a division of Viacom Inc.’s MTV Networks, the study provides information on the purchase decisions and brand loyalty of Adults 40-59.  The study is part of TV Land’s commitment to better understand and superserve this dynamic adult audience. “She’s Got The Look” is part of TV Land’s strategy of delivering programming that reflects the life stage and attitude of the network’s target demographic.  This new original series has resonated with TV Land’s audience and concludes this Wednesday, July 9 at 10pm (ET/PT).

“While we have always known that it’s a mistake to underestimate the power of people in their 40s and 50s, ‘Generation BUY’ once again shows us that Boomers are a major source of consumerism in this country,” states Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land.  “Knowing that this generation has so many dependants, the means to buy the products that appeal to them and the willingness to try new brands is powerful information to share with our marketing and advertising partners.”

“This research once again dispels myths about 40 and 50-somethings,” states Laurel Wichert, vice president, Research, TV Land.  “The lack of brand loyalty coupled with their purchasing power makes the 40-59 audience an extremely desirable target that should not be overlooked.”

TV Land’s “Generation BUY” study found three traits that make up the 40-59 consumer: “Promiscuous Purchasers,” “Free Agent Shoppers” and “Savvy Switchers.”  More often than not the breadwinners in the household, Boomers make most or all of the family spending decisions.  With the large amount of purchase decisions they are making for others spanning multiple generations, they are “Promiscuous Purchasers.”  The “Generation BUY” study found that people 40-59 spend more than three times the amount of money per month on spouses ($514) than adults under 40 ($169).  Additionally, they spend nearly twice as much per month on kids ($295 vs. $15 and three times the amount per month on teen children ($494 vs. $136).  With so many purchase decisions to make for the household, these “Promiscuous Purchasers” are an important marketing sector even when they are not the prime target.

TV Land’s “Generation BUY” study also found that 40 and 50-somethings are more open to new brands and less brand loyal than people under 40 making 40-59s “Free Agent Shoppers.”  Twenty-six percent of Boomers said they are not at all brand loyal versus 21% of Gen X and Millennials.  In fact, Gen Y are the most likely to say that once they have made a commitment to a brand, they will stick with it, no matter what.  The willingness of 40 and 50 year-olds to buy new brands carries over across virtually every product category including electronics, personal care products, restaurants, automobiles and more.  And when compared to the Generation who came before them these “Free Agent Shoppers” have very different spending habits.  No longer will this age group buy the same products based on lifelong brand decisions and spend less as they age.  This demo is redefining brand loyalty and determining purchase decisions based on the effectiveness of products.    Today’s 40 and 50-somethings stick with a product for as long as it’s good and fulfills their complex needs.  They are not afraid to change for something they feel will improve their lives.

Baby Boomers consider themselves open-minded and evolving.  This is core to their identity and key to their purchasing behavior.  Another key finding of the study is that while Boomers are very open to new brands, they will not switch just because something is new.  Adults 40-59 are “Savvy Switchers.”  Ninety-one percent of people in their 40s and 50s want the brand to provide more value versus 83% of Gen X and Millennials.  Forty to 59s want substance over style and care about the promise of a brand over the image of a brand.  Boomers will consider new brands if that brand is a better alternative – the product or service must be more useful, functional and provide the most benefit/value.  Unlike Millennials and Gen Xers they are less likely to be influenced by the notion that the brand is more prestigious or the latest style; instead, their purchase decisions are based on reliability and quality.  The product/service needs to have the best features, not necessarily the most features.

Since Adults 40-59 tend to make purchasing decisions informed by what products and/or services will make life easier for them, it follows that the advertising that resonates with them is the kind that explains the products’ capabilities and describes why the product is superior.  Boomers are less interested in “teaser” ads that create a mood but do not offer much in terms of substance.  While this demo is more likely to enjoy ads with humor than their younger cohorts, ads with popular songs and celebrities are less appealing.

TV Land’s “Generation BUY” study was done in two phases.  First, qualitative research focus groups were conducted to identify key insights and hypotheses. Second, between January 4th and 12th, 2008, 2,900 Adults 18-65 took an online survey about brand loyalty and decision making.  From February 22nd to 24th, 1,000 Adults 18-65 took an online survey about brands and purchasing habits.

Grilled fish recipes

As promised in the Sunday Lifestyle section, here are some grilled fish recipes from Gannett News Service.

GRILLED SNAPPER WITH CUCUMBER SAUCE
For fish and marinade
4 small whole snappers, cleaned and trimmed of fins
2 bunches fresh chives or 1 bunch scallions, both white and green parts, trimmed and finely chopped
1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 bay leaves
1 Scotch bonnet or other hot chili, seeded and cut in half
two-thirds cup fresh lime juice
one-fourth cup dark rum
3 tablespoons salt
For cucumber sauce
1 cucumber, peeled and seeded
1 green tomato, cored and peeled, or 4 tomatillos, husked, cored and peeled
one-fourth cup diced onion
3 scallions, both white and green parts, trimmed and finely chopped
one-fourth cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
3 tablespoons white-wine vinegar or distilled white vinegar, or more to taste
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus additional oil for brushing
Salt and pepper to taste
Prepare the fish and marinade: Rinse the fish, inside and out, under cold running water, then drain and blot dry with paper towels. Make 3 or 4 diagonal slashes, to the bone, on each side of each fish. Place the fish in a non-reactive baking dish or roasting pan large enough to hold them in a single layer. Scatter the chives, garlic, onion slices, bay leaves and chili over the fish.
Combine the lime juice, rum, salt and 4 cups of water in a medium-size non-reactive bowl, stirring until the salt dissolves. Pour the marinade over the fish and let marinate in the refrigerator, covered, for 1 to 2 hours.
Make the cucumber sauce: Combine the cucumber, green tomato, onion, scallions, parsley, vinegar and olive oil in a food processor or blender and process to a smooth puree. Taste for seasoning, adding salt and pepper to taste and more vinegar as necessary. The sauce should be highly seasoned. Set up grill for direct grilling and heat to medium-high.
Grill the fish: When ready to cook, remove the fish from the marinade and discard the marinade. Blot the fish dry with paper towels and brush lightly on both sides with olive oil. Oil the grill grate and place the fish directly on it. Grill the fish on one side, basting once or twice with olive oil, until the skin is dark and crisp and the flesh is cooked through to the bone, 6 to 10 minutes. Turn each fish carefully with a long spatula and cook on the second side until the flesh breaks into firm flakes when pressed with a finger, 6 to 10 minutes longer.
Using a spatula, carefully transfer the fish to a serving platter. Fillet or serve whole. Serve with cucumber sauce. Makes 4 servings.
Source: “The Barbecue! Bible 10th Anniversary Edition” by Steven Raichlen (2008, Workman, $22.95).
Grilled Mediterranean Red Snapper
4 whole Gulf snappers, about 1 pound each
Herbes de Provence, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
Olive oil for drizzling
2 lemons, cut in half
Heat grill to medium-high. Use sharp scissors to cut off gills. Rinse fish inside and out with cold water; pat dry. Make 4 diagonal slices in each side of each fish. Sprinkle herbes de Provence, salt and pepper on both sides of each fish. Lightly drizzle olive oil on both sides of each fish. When grill is hot, place fish on grill. Grill 4 to 5 minutes, or until skin is slightly charred and releases from the grill. Use a spatula to turn each fish, then grill another 4 to 5 minutes. To test for doneness, run a knife alongside the backbone. If there’s no resistance, the fish is ready.
Drizzle with more olive oil and sprinkle with lemon juice. Serve immediately.
Makes 4 servings.

‘Secret Life’ should have stayed hidden

My wife and I decided to give ABC Family’s “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” a try Tuesday night.

Not a wise option.

While it’s nice seeing Molly Ringwald bringing in a paycheck again (she plays the mother), this show is about as far away from being representative of a teen’s life as could be. The show centered around a high school girl who got pregnant at band camp, another guy at her school who joins band to sleep with her (he wants a more popular girl but he “has to start somewhere”), a Christian girl who takes a chastity pledge (and her boyfriend who is less bound by such morals), the loose girl who wants to be with him and the new guidance counselor who’s taken aback by so many kids asking him for “protection.”

Granted, I haven’t been a teen in 10 years, but while that’s a highly hormonal time life back then wasn’t nearly as dominated by sex as this show makes it seem. If you were to take “Secret Life” as gospel, then today’s teens don’t play sports, aren’t concerned about their grades, have no interest in college, don’t write for the school newspaper, don’t combat peer pressure to use alcohol or drugs, don’t watch movies or television, don’t read and have absolutely nothing on their minds - or coming out of their mouth - but intercourse.

Given the risque material and hyped-up marketing campaign, Tuesday’s debut did well in the ratings. With 2.1 million households (2.8 million viewers) watching, “Secret Life” was ABC Family’s highest-rated series debut ever and won its time slot amongst all cable stations, according to an ABC release.

Whether that holds up remains to be seen. As an adult, I have no interest in watching a bunch of kids (all extremely attractive, by the way) try to get in each other’s pants. And if I were a kid again, I’d be insulted that the show objectified and simplified what it thinks my life is like to such an extent.

BPO at Artpark code

Night & Day readers, here is the Life in the Slow Lane code for the BPO tickets: “Sousa”

Be sure to check out the Certain Songs blog to obtain the other code.

New visitors, please bookmark this all-things-are-fair-game blog and check it out in the future.

Not sure what I’m talking about with the codes? Sorry, details are available only in the July 3 edition of Night & Day, available with your Tonawanda News, Niagara Gazette or Lockport Union-Sun & Journal.

‘Hell’s Kitchen’ finale extends to second week

It became apparent about halfway through Tuesday’s episode of “Hell’s Kitchen” that the finale would extend to two weeks - not that that’s a bad thing.

The show started with a mind-numbing 15-minute recap of every week of this past season, and the next couple segments saw finalists Petrozza and Christina do litle more than start to prepare their menus and decors for their final showdown.

The challenge - for which everyone was flown to Gordon Ramsay’s New York City restaurant - saw Petrozza finally edge out Christina, as each made their signature dishes with Ramsay’s executive chefs from his other restaurants serving as judges.

With the win, Petrozza got first pick among the six eliminated contestants to serve on his team for the final cook-off. He chose Niagara Falls Bobby Anderson with the first pick and also chose Ben, with Christina taking Corey and Louross. The episode ended with a “cliffhanger” of Petrozza choosing to cut off his left hand by taking Matt or chopping his right hand by picking Jen; part two will air at 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 8. The action picked up in the show’s second half, and it looks from the preview clips like next week’s REAL finale should entertain.

It seems Christina is overconfident all of a sudden, a trait accentuated after Ramsay told her she set the record for challenges won on “Hell’s Kitchen” with nine. She’s definitely matured as the season’s progressed, but her onset of cockiness may end up costing her the crown; she’s already clashed with set designers who didn’t redecorate her half of the restaurant exactly to her liking and seems to have become a bit of a control freak (which Ramsay may admire, in hindsight).

Thoughts?
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I see a lot of new readers are coming in today. Welcome, and please consider bookmarking this blog, as it contains daily updates from the entertainment world and plenty of news on hits such as “Hell’s Kitchen.”
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For anyone who didn’t catch my preview “Hell’s Kitchen” story, it’s available at http://www.niagara-gazette.com/archivesearch/local_story_086155201.html

Casino hosts holiday poker tourneys

This from Seneca Poker Rooms, which announced that the Seneca’s Allegany property will host a couple poker tournaments for those who have nothing else to do on the Fourth of July.

•••

This Fourth of July, Salamanca is having special Independence Day Tournaments at 11am and 4pm! So before you go watching the fireworks, stop by the Poker Room at the Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel.

11:00 AM — Terminator Tournament

$80+$10 Buy-In = $1,500 in tournament chips
$10 Dealer Bonus Buy = $500 in tournament chips (Add-On at start)

4:00 PM — Omaha Hi-Lo Tournament

$75+$15 Buy-In = $2,500 in tournament chips
$10 Dealer Bonus Buy = $500 in tournament chips
A player earns terminator chip(s) by knocking other players out of the tournament. The player with the most terminator chips will be awarded 7 per cent of the prize pool.
4 p.m.

Mature modeling show gets second look

This from TV Land, which announced that the modeling show “She’s Got the Look” has been renewed for a second season.

The show, aimed at models older than 35, is hosted by Lockport native Kim Alexis and features as one of its judges Buffalo native Beverly Johnson. THe first season’s pilot episode was reviewed earlier this year in this blog (http://pauljlane.wordpress.com/2008/05/30/shes-got-the-look-has-familiar-appearance).

•••

Following impressive ratings gains and steady growth in popularity, TV Land has announced today that it has renewed its original reality series “She’s Got The Look” for a second season. Emmy Award-Winner Allison Grodner (“Big Brother,” “Blowout”) will return as executive producer. Premiering in 2009, the second season of “She’s Got The Look” will expand from six episodes to eight and will again set out to discover a sophisticated, beautiful and confident woman 35 or older destined for supermodel stardom.

“We’re so excited that ‘She’s Got The Look’ resonates with our viewers,” states Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land. “The show’s message of reinvention and the pursuit of life-long dreams is something identifiable to our audience of 40 and 50 year olds. We can’t wait to introduce our viewers to another group of ageless beauties.”

“I’m thrilled that TV Land viewers can’t get enough of “She’s Got The Look,” states Allison Grodner, the show’s Executive Producer. “I love the show and can’t wait to see what the next season has in store. I’m really looking forward to working with my friends at TV Land again.”

Season one of “She’s Got The Look” has been averaging 633,000 total viewers, an increase of +17% versus channel total day average with a median age of 46. Among Adults 25-54, it has been posting a 0.4/409,000, up +63% in both rating and delivery over channel total day average. Among Adults 40-54 it is posting a 0.5/262,000, up +33% in rating and +34% in delivery. In addition, “She’s Got The Look” and related content gave TVLand.com its best month ever for traffic, up 11% from the previous record holder (March 200 and up 223% from year ago numbers.

“She’s Got The Look” followed a nationwide search, including months of online submissions, auditions and regional competitions around the country, which resulted in flying 20 contenders to New York City. These semi-finalists were put to the test of expressing themselves and their fashion know-how. Ten finalists were then selected to live in a New York City loft and compete in challenges such as photo shoots, runway competitions and tests on their fashion sense. At the conclusion of the competition, one woman will win a lucrative modeling contract.

Applications for “She’s Got The Look 2″ can be found on TVLand.com starting July 2.

New ‘The Dark Knight’ Batman trailer!

At the link below is the latest trailer for ‘”The Dark Knight,” the latest Batman movie slated for release July 18.

Has there been a more-anticipated comic book movie than this one? Everything about it looks fantastic, from the performances of Christian Bale and Heath Ledger to the storyline involving The Joker and Harvey Dent/Two-Face and the costumes, setting … just, wow.

The “X-Men” series did well, as did “Spider-Man” and the first few entries in the “Batman” series (perhaps because many of the characters in these films were conflicted heroes, people with whom the general public could relate). But this one may take the cake. I wouldn’t be surprised to see “The Dark Knight” become a top-five all-time grosser at the box office.

And while it’s way too early to say, Ledger’s looking like he may get a posthumous Academy Award nomination based on his work in the trailers (and, if this is possible, put Jack Nicholson’s excellent performance of The Joker in the original “Batman” to shame). His look is frightening, his demeanor is truly psychopathic and that doesn’t even sound like he exists anywhere underneath that frazzled, demonic voice he created for the character.

Thoughts?

Dark Knight trailer