I was really disappointed when it was announced last year that USA Network would no longer be the network for The U.S. Open. ESPN (actually, ESPN2, to be specific) has the rights to the U.S. Open and the other three Grand Slam tournaments. It scared me a little though. Would their coverage be as well done and entertaining as USA's?
It seems that the best segments on all of the NBC late night shows are the out of the studio, remote segments. Last night, Jimmy Fallon and his Late Night announcer Steve Higgins went to the U.S. Open to try out to be ball boys (sorry, ballpersons).
As I wrote last year, I'm really disappointed to see that USA Network won't be covering the US Open anymore (I guess tennis players are some of the characters that aren't welcome there).
Last year was their last year and ESPN takes over next Monday (they now have the rights to all four of the Grand Slam tournaments). While ESPN does a fine job with most of the sports they cover, the USA coverage was one of my favorite two weeks of the year, something I really looked forward to every August. I liked the announcers, I liked the direction and the production, and I liked their all-day and all-night schedule.
I have no reason to think that ESPN will ruin the Open, but there is one thing that worries me a little bit.
At 6:30, CBS has the Ravens/Steelers game, then a new episode of The Mentalist.
At 7, ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos, followed by new episodes of Extreme Makeover, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters.
NBC has a new, two-hour Dateline at 7.
There's a new Hole in the Wall on FOX at 7.
ESPN has The Australian Open at 7.
At 8, ABC Family has the movie Another Cinderella Story.
Food Network has a new Challenge at 8, then a new Ultimate Recipe Showdown.
At 9, PBS has a new Masterpiece Classic.
HBO has the season premiere of Big Love at 9, followed by the season premiere of Flight of the Conchords.
Showtime has the season premiere of The L Word at 9, then the series premiere of The United States of Tara. and the season premiere of Secret Diary of a Call Girl.
Nickelodeon has a new Nick News at 9.
At 11:30, Cartoon Network has a new Robot Chicken.
At 12:15am, Cartoon Network has a new Drinky Crow Show.
Are you like me and you really enjoy the two weeks of U.S. Open coverage that USA Network has every year at this time? Well, don't get too used to it, because after tonight's match (Roddick vs. Djokovic!), the USA Network will no longer carry the annual tournament.
This probably isn't a shock to regular tennis fans, but USA's contract for the U.S. Open is up this year, after 25 years of carrying the two week tournament. Of course, TV fans don't have to worry, because ESPN and The Tennis Channel that will start airing the tournament next summer. I just hope that most of the coverage is on ESPN and ESPN2 because, well, I don't have The Tennis Channel.
As longtime readers of TV Squad probably know, I'm a tennis fanatic. I hate summer with a passion, but I'm happy for the season during four weeks: the two weeks of Wimbledon (late June/early July) and the two weeks of the U.S. Open (late August/early September). If you need me those two weeks, I'll be in front of my TV and a fan, drinking cold liquids.
Of course, it's not all popcorn and roses. There's something that really irritates me about ESPN's coverage of Wimbledon that's going on right now, and I see it every single time I look at the screen (which I find you have to do if you want to watch the matches). It's that damn scoreboard at the top of the screen.
The lessons started in earnest. First was a philosophy that Robert follows in his own life, but that he felt worked perfectly for those seeking to be on reality TV:
Never Deny, Always Reply, Never Ask Why.
He repeated it several times. I won't do that here. Just, uh, read that sentence a few times and you'll get the point.
Essentially, the point of his philosophy was that you need to be open to all things -- you should never say "no" (never deny); you should reply to every request made to you, presumably in the affirmative (always reply), and you should never question the logic of what is being asked of you (never ask why).
If you really think about it, the U.S. Open tennis tournament is a weird television event. Everyone talks about the Super Bowl and it's massive coverage, but it's really amazing that a network actually gives up its entire schedule and devotes all day, every single day, for almost two weeks to a tennis tournament.
But that's what's happening starting today on USA at 11am. The network will have coverage all day until 5pm, then there's a break for dinner or to shower or to run errands or whatever. And then coverage starts up again at 7pm and runs til 11pm (or whenever matches are over). Nice! This continues for the next two weeks. CBS will have daytime coverage on the weekends, including the men's and women's finals.
If you need me for the next weeks, I'll be in front of my TV in my U.S. Open Underoos.
At 8, CBS has a preseason football game, the Chargers vs. the Rams.
ESPN has the Little League World Series at 8, while ESPN2 has the Western & Southern Financial tennis tournament (followed by a Rogers Cup semi-final).
TCM has It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World at 8.
High School Musical 2, which is apparently very popular, repeats on Disney at 8.
At 9, FOX has a new America's Most Wanted.
CNBC has a new Suze Orman Show at 9.
There's a new Feasting On Asphalt on Food Network at 9, then Top American Restaurants: Bon Appetit Picks The Best.
Also at 9: BBC America has a new Jekyll, followed by a new Graham Norton Show with guest Dustin Hoffman.
I was really disappointed when it was announced last year that USA Network would no longer be the network for The U.S. Open. ESPN (actually, ESPN2, to be specific) has the rights to the U.S. Open and the other three Grand Slam tournaments. It scared me a little though. Would their coverage be as well done and entertaining as USA's?
As I wrote last year, I'm really disappointed to see that USA Network won't be covering the US Open anymore (I guess tennis players are some of the characters that aren't welcome there). 
ESPN has the Sprint Cup: Sharpie 500 NASCAR race all night.
ESPN has Little League Baseball all night, while ESPN2 has Rogers Cup Tennis all night.
At 6:30, CBS has the Ravens/Steelers game, then a new episode of The Mentalist.
Are you like me and you really enjoy the two weeks of U.S. Open coverage that USA Network has every year at this time? Well, don't get too used to it, because after tonight's match (Roddick vs. Djokovic!), the USA Network will no longer carry the annual tournament.
NBC has The Olympics all night.
As longtime readers of TV Squad probably know, I'm a tennis fanatic. I hate summer with a passion, but I'm happy for the season during four weeks: the two weeks of Wimbledon (late June/early July) and the two weeks of the U.S. Open (late August/early September). If you need me those two weeks, I'll be in front of my TV and a fan, drinking cold liquids.
Part Three: Never Retreat! Never Surrender!
If you really think about it, the U.S. Open tennis tournament is a weird television event. Everyone talks about the Super Bowl and it's massive coverage, but it's really amazing that a network actually gives up its entire schedule and devotes all day, every single day, for almost two weeks to a tennis tournament.
At 7:30, ESPN has coverage of The Little League World Series. 
At 8, CBS has a preseason football game, the Chargers vs. the Rams. 
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