Two-and-a-half years ago, I asked the (admittedly) dumb question, "Could Frank Caliendo take John Madden's place?" At the time, my contention was that Caliendo's loopy Madden impression was no longer that far off reality, and that Madden had become such a caricature of himself that Frank could have stepped in and no one would have known the difference.If NBC Sports president Dick Ebersol had a sense of daring, he could have tried that experiment this Sunday night, as Madden is going to sit out NBC's broadcast of the Buccaneers-Seahawks game in Tampa. The week off was Ebersol's idea; last night's game was in San Diego, making a cross-country trek for Madden and his famous Cruiser (he doesn't fly) right before a week off, as NBC defers to the World Series.
The executive proposed the idea to Madden when the schedule came out, but Madden only said yes a couple of weeks ago. According to the network, this is the first time Madden's missed a regular-season broadcast since he began on CBS in 1980, a 476-game streak that even Brett Favre can't match.
Unfortunately, Ebersol has decided to have Cris Collinsworth take Madden's place alongside Al Michaels in the Sunday Night Football booth. Don't get me wrong; Collinsworth is a great analyst. I just would have rather heard Caliendo in that spot. I guess it's just as well; Calliendo's Madden impression has been slipping lately, anyway.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-13-2008 @ 7:52PM
Christopher said...
I think Madden really hates Calliendo's impression of him, so I don't think they would go that way ever.
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10-13-2008 @ 8:23PM
Jim said...
Two typos:
It's "Seahawks", not "Sehawks".
"The executive proposed the to Madden" - I guess you mean "The executive proposed the IDEA to Madden"
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10-13-2008 @ 9:01PM
Joel Keller said...
Thanks Jim. It's been fixed. Next time you see something like this, feel free to use the "Corrections" link at the top of the page.
10-13-2008 @ 8:44PM
Edward said...
finally, some respite from Madden...
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10-13-2008 @ 11:49PM
YouFaceTheTick said...
caliendo couldn't impersonate anyone...he's horrible.
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10-14-2008 @ 1:16AM
modenadude said...
Dammit! I hate Collinsworth! Frank should show up as a guest at some point in the third quarter at least, three hours of Frank faking Madden would get kind of tiring.
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10-14-2008 @ 8:36AM
Jimmy said...
Madden is very good at what he does. Caliendo isn't.
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10-14-2008 @ 12:36PM
GL said...
Caliendo is horrible.
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10-14-2008 @ 3:59PM
ladytex said...
I'm glad they didn't do it. Can't stand Caliendo, don't even see why he has a show.
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10-19-2008 @ 9:04PM
Jean Baron said...
I always thought Ebersol was a smart man, but Monday/Sunday Nite Football without John Madden is really a stupid idea!! I look forward to him calling the night game. Let's face it...John Madden IS Mr. Football. Without Madden, it's practically like No Football at all! I cringe at the idea of when he is no longer with us. My Dad and I used to discuss and watch football with Madden all the time. My Dad is gone now, but I thought that I'd have a few more years with JOHN MADDEN. Why is the NFL making everybody go overseas for a game in the first place? They did that a couple of years ago, for what? More money? It's too much to ask of the players and coaches. Don't you know the Europeans are true soccer fans anyway. Bring John Madden back where he belongs and while we're talking about it, we should have the Sunday night game on ESPN and John Madden & Michaels back on Monday nights. I really enjoyed them on Mondays. I like Collinsworth, but you cannot push a golden icon of football off his pedestal like that. Don't do it again. And if there are any Fans out there that like the show without him, then you don't know football as well as you think you do. Hey, John don't get too comfortable at home because we want you back, soon!!
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