Murray’s Antics Spoil Golf Telecast
Last year Bill Murray clowned so much during the Pebble Beach PGA event he was publicly rebuked by Tom Watson, who said the comedian had “crossed the line.” But last weekend, CBS showed the slapstick Murray swinging at the ball more than any of the professionals.
Murray’s funny (ha, ha) hat gave away his effort to command attention. But CBS producer Frank Chirkinian is to blame for inflicting him on the television audience. Every time the camera loitered on Murray before and after his amateurish swing, it was ignoring top golfers.
Ken Venturi strained to dilute the damage by praising Murray’s scoring, given the fact he was working so hard at being funny. And Robin Brendle of CBS noted Monday that Murray and partner Scott Simpson were in the pro-am race. That was true on Saturday, yet after the duo fell out of contention Sunday, Murray remained on camera as much as Jack Nicklaus, who was surging toward the leader board.
“Pebble Beach is like no other tournament. People tune in who ordinarily don’t because of all the celebrities,” said Brendle. Overnight ratings were big, as in the past at Pebble Beach. But it isn’t due to celebrities as much as the fact it is played in winter when more people are indoors, especially golfers who comprise the year-round, hard-core television audience.
Occasional quick shots at Pebble Beach of celebrities playing it straight was fine. Former President George Bush was shown continuing in his lifelong struggle to master the golf swing. And there were glimpses of film star star Don Johnson, an 8 handicap with a polished swing. (It also resulted in a live interview of Johnson’s wife, Melanie Griffith, who seemed as silly in real life as in the movies.) And Jack Lemmon, partner of winner Peter Jacobsen, was a worthy competitor, not a showoff.
Strangest thing about CBS’ focus on the stars is that Chirkinian is a purist on TV golf. His philosophy is to show as many swings as possible, with quick cutaways that can be irritating, but which he justifies on the premise the audience wants to watch action.
Partly because of showbiz stuff, CBS did not focus enough on Jacobsen, who had won just one tournament in 11 years and lost his card three years ago, but at age 41 played the final 36 holes at Pebble Beach without a single bogey. It was a story the golf audience, comprised of so many frustrated dreamers, would have thrived on.
NBA’s showtime
The NBA’s all-star entertainment program Saturday night (4-7:30 p.m. PST) featuring a rookie game plus 3-point and slam-dunk competition, will contain a topper. Mike Hoban, 16, will try to hit a 3-pointer for $1 million. All or nothing. Hoban, who plays high school ball in Strongsville, Ohio, was selected at random by Foot Locker, which is putting up the money.
Through mid-season, NBA coverage on TNT is fractionally behind last season. NBC was down 19 percent prior to last weekend.
NBC anticipates an 11 rating for the All-Star Game Sunday night, not bad at one level, but at another meaning only one of every nine homes in America will tune in to the league’s showcase event. NBC will come on air at 3 PST, but the game won’t tapoff until about 30 minutes later.
Out takes
Paul McGuire, Marv Albert’s splendid Sunday sidekick on NBC, is one of those football people who doesn’t suffer, and is it any wonder? His drummer doesn’t exactly play a lot of the popular marches.
“I’m playing golf now,” McGuire said. “I was just down in Charleston, S.C., playing, and I bought a condo. I don’t even think about football. I don’t have withdrawal. Hell, you know how many games we did? Honest to God, I don’t even think about football.
“I played football for 11 years, I’ve been around for 30 years. And you know what? Marv still hasn’t bought.”
Broadcast pioneer Howard Cosell has been chosen recipient of the third Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. Longtime friend Bill Cosby will accept it for him Monday night at the ESPY Awards, televised live from Radio City Music Hall in New York by ESPN.
The previous two Ashe Awards went to Jim Valvano and Steve Palermo.