Grading CBS Super Bowl Coverage

Seeing as AA is probably hung over on Bourbon Street or something, I figured I would chime in with my thoughts of the job that CBS did for their Super Bowl coverage. It is an odd tradition of mine dating from way back when I was a kid to only watch the pre-game stuff of the network covering the Super Bowl game until they go off the air for a new reality TV show. Therefore, I can't tell you how good or bad ESPN or NFL Network were last night, but I will talk a lot about CBS.

Last night, they once again showed why they are the best network at handling big sports events. There were no fancy graphics, there were no unusual gimmicks outside of Phil Simms' "Phil-osophy" analysis at the beginning of the game, but that is their routine segment and they can earn a pass for it, and there was nothing over the top about it. The extra, higher quality cameras were not used for flash, but rather to aid and enhancing the broadcast, which they did, in providing us many high quality replays from several different angles. There was no Manning Cam or Brees Cam or any of that nonsense. It was how a Super Bowl should be broadcast. You can never go wrong with using "Run This Town" as a pre-game intro song. The only knock on them was there seemed to be an audio glitch on during the team introductions. Production Grade: A.

Pre-pre Game shows: Personally, I love The Road to The Super Bowl, but if they never do another "All Iron Team" or "Howie Long's Tough Guys", the football world will be better for it. It really adds nothing and this All-Iron Team found me falling asleep, changing the channel, and going out to grab some lunch. If they must have those kinds of shows, they need to make it a 30 minute show. Extending Road to The Super Bowl to make up for that lost 30 minutes would not be the worst idea in the world. Grade: C+

The Super Bowl Today: What a difference a year and a different network makes. NBC tried to get cute by having 2 main desks with a shitload of people at each one, most of whom had never been in that situation before, talking over each other and fighting for airpsace. CBS on the other hand stuck with their main 5 and only brought in extra players, contributors, and reporters when they needed them for a segment. Thus it should be no surprise that CBS blew last year's NBC pre-game show out of the water and then some. While it was a bit heavy on the New Orleans segments, they were not over the top nor did they necessarily try to equate a Super Bowl win with a city being back and houses being built through the raising of trophy. While personally I think it is a useless segment altogether, the Katie Couric interview with the president was concise and to the political point and did not have stupid questions about what President Obama's favorite Super Bowl snack is. They were a little promotion heavy, but what Super Bowl pre-game show isn't nowadays. Oh, and Larry Fitzgerald missing a perfect pass from Dan Marino because of great defense from Darrelle Revis was gold. Pure gold. Grade: B

Jim Nantz and Phil Simms: Jim and Phil did not have their best game ever, but they did not need to. They had solid support around them to help them when they did make mistakes, they were able to clarify and correct themselves virtually on the spot. They did not fluff their words with stories and storylines, which while may be boring to the non-football fan watching the Super Bowl at a regular party who wants to get into the stories, was perfect for real football fans. They described the action and Jim Nantz even showed emotion throughout the game, something that has been said a lot more frequently about him now that he has split up with his wife. Before I give these guys a grade though, I would like to say something. Guys, it's the Super Bowl. You are being seen by more people than you ever imagined in your life. Super Bowl Sunday is not the day to bring out your loudest suits, people!

The only real offender on the main pregame set was Shannon Sharpe who broke something that I still have not figured out what it was.

Jim Nantz decided to bring out the white shirt, which is fine until you add a bright orange tie to it.

Phil Simms who has a thing for loud wardrobes breaks out the pink shirt with the pink and blue striped tie. Well, at least it was a dull pink.

Solomon Wilcots....oy ve........a hot pink shirt with a hot pink tie that did not even match. Words can't describe that other than I think he went pimping after the game.

Steve Tasker, thank you for being normal.

Over all announcing grade: B. Had they collectively not don the loudest wardrobe in the history of Super Bowl coverage, it would have been a B+.