Le Tour: time for NBC to move on from the Phil & Paul show?
Rudi Riet
http://www.bicycling.com/racing/2016-tour-de-france/phil-and-paul-must-go-one-tour-super-fans-take
Frankly, I agree with this completely. The following bit I recently posted to Facebook:
After experiencing some of the other excellent bike racing commentators - Carlton Kirby, Magnus Backstedt, Ned Boulting, David Millar, Dan Lloyd, Matt Stephens, Todd Gogulski, Matthew Keenan, Robbie McEwan - who call the Tour for European networks or work other bike races for U.S. networks - I agree with Joe Lindsey: it is time to pull the plug on "the Phil and Paul show" for coverage of races here in the States.
Yes, there is inherent nostalgia for Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen. They've worked together for over 30 years, and they have a deep rucksack full of trademark witticisms. But their patter is tired and often inaccurate with regard to race action and tactics. Their malapropisms of nomenclature are increasingly frequent (e.g. "Richie Froome" or confusing Nairo Quintana with the late Marco Pantani), and they seem more content to prattle on about castles and local agriculture than the race at hand.
If you can, compare the coverage on EuroSport or ITV to that of NBC Sports - the contrast is marked, to the detriment of NBC. The European networks put more time and effort into their calling of the races, their background pieces, and even the pre-race and post-race interview shows.
Some examples:
Jens Voigt, who works for NBC Sports as a "Johnny on the spot" commentator during the Tour de France, does his better commentary for ITV on their expansive, exhaustively detailed post-race show. He was in the peloton only a few years ago and still mixes it up with most of the current racers - he knows his stuff, but NBC stifles him, whereas ITV lets him loose.
Juan Antonio Flecha's recent peloton experience, as well as his multilingual abilities, make the EuroSport post-race show a tour-de-force of excellent analysis and interviews. Working in tandem with the sartorially creative Ashley House, they produce a concise, informative show that explains things well for folks who aren't as familiar with cycling, yet still sates the appetite for those of us who know which Yates brother is which.
Even Greg LeMond (remember him, the first (and officially only) American to win Le Tour?) has taken his talents to EuroSport for their entertaining and informative "LeMond on Tour" wrap-up show. He feels more at home on a European network that treats his knowledge with respect and lets him be him, rather than have him as part of a "gosh and gollies, these viewers know nothing so we should talk down to them" multi-ring circus that NBC offers U.S. viewers.
NBC doesn't lack great talent to take over their play-by-play. They've been grooming Christian Vande Velde for a few years now, and he is far more self assured in his commentary - if only the network would let him truly shine. Todd Gogulski gets the lion's share of commentary time for all races that aren't Le Tour, is well spoken and instills excitement for the sport. Bob Roll's comedic timing is excellent and underutilized by the network. Steve Porino - whose main sporting background is alpine ski racing - now knows a ton about pro cycling, yet is primarily "our man in the peloton" for all-too-infrequent reports.
C'mon, NBC: let's move on, like ITV did this year. Viewers deserve the best coverage and commentary.
Skip White
Hmm. My immediate reaction was that I like Paul and Phil. But you make a convincing argument.
I have not seen the European coverage so I don't have a basis of comparison. But I would love the coverage to be more compelling.
Skip
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Shaun Solhjou
Jeff Money
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Karen
I agree that both Phil and Paul’s commentary can get tiresome, but they don’t annoy me. I think a huge part of the issue is the way NBCSP markets pro cycling to its American audience: an audience that largely doesn’t get pro cycling. Every sport is marketed the same with personal histories, challenges, guts and glory themes on the top athletes.
Bob Roll seemed to get more airtime before NBCSP took over. Jens Voight is great, but his voice annoys me.
NBCSP probably can’t wait for the TdF to go, so it can get back to NASCAR…not that anything is wrong with thatJ.
Just my two cents worth.
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Joel Staubs
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Jonathan Krall
commentary better on Eurosport (I used to download stages and watch one
day behind everyone else).
The Europeans do a better job of sharing the peloton gossip and are more
likely to know (and care) which cyclist has been ordered on a suicide
mission to bridge over to the break because his director sportif is mad
at him.
Jonathan
Mike McCarley
Agree with Lindsey. Phil’s commentary is so error-prone as to be a distraction. The way he mangles names, confuses events and situations, mischaraterizes what can be clearly seen on the video, and pronouncements of what definitely will happen next…and of course doesn’t, seems to have gotten worse over the years and is truly irritating. I like Christian and Bob. Christian has become more confident and his delivery has improved, although his enunciation could use a little work. Paul might be ok with the right team…it takes at least 2 to keep the commentary going. Other commentators do a much better job of describing the action, providing analysis and background, and especially offering side-bars and diversions about riders and races that add interest. BeIN Sports coverage of the Giro has been a level above the P&P show. Carlton Kirby excelled last year, and I enjoyed Dan Lloyd’s insights this year. Schlanger & Gogulski were a good team (although Schlanger can come across a little pompous at times). It’s time to say good night, Phil.
As Rudi would say, just my 2 cents.
From: peda...@googlegroups.com [mailto:peda...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Joel Staubs Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2016 9:31 PM
To: Unofficial PPTC Members List <peda...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [pedalers] Le Tour: time for NBC to move on from the Phil & Paul show?
Been a bit tired of Phil for a while. Drop him, keep Paul.
On Thu, Jul 21, 2016, 6:50 PM Rudi Riet <rdr...@gmail.com> wrote:
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