Willard vs. Abrams: It’s on?
Willard checked in with TVNewser to offer a (tongue-in-cheek) challenge to the MSNBC host: “That dude’s just jealous he can’t get Joanna Krupa booked. Tell him I’ll respond to this Abrams dude when he’s got enough guts to man up to the bar with me. Anytime.”
Tongue in cheek or not, Willard has just guaranteed himself more appearances on Beat the Press. They will be scouring Happy Hour from stem to stern each and every night looking for him to do something bad/embarassing/silly/wrong which they can throw back at him. And why? Because they know now they can get to him. (see: O’Reilly, William)
On the other hand, is Abrams punching down by taking on anyone from FBN? And is Willard in fact punching up? Could this eventually give more PR to FBN than Abrams? The theory is punching down is bad and punching up is good.
PR doesn’t matter when most people can’t buy the channel without getting a dish installed.
Comment by Terance — December 28, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
Point.
Comment by Spud — December 28, 2007 @ 6:18 pm
Oh c’mon!! It comes with Time Warner Cable all day long. No charge!!
Comment by Jim — December 28, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
Time Warner Cable:
Good - I can watch FBN.
Bad - I can’t watch the NFL.
Comment by Cella — December 28, 2007 @ 6:25 pm
Is Willard the dick who couldnt pronounce PETA?
Comment by randy — December 28, 2007 @ 6:55 pm
Jim, the only place FBN is on basic cable is NY/TWC. So, anyone without a digital box would in fact have to rent one in order to get it along with paying more per month. Oh, and you need the “Choice Xtra” or better on Directv to get it.. which is like $5 more per month. So, feel free to correct yourself now.
Comment by Terance — December 28, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
I don’t think Cody cares what Abrams does. They were joking around about the PETA thing yesterday during Quick Shots.
If Abrams want to use more funny stuff from Cody then he’ll probably get it from tonight’s show. One segment he had on a Hello Kitty shirt, he was in pigtails, got his pants wet my Gomez and then later got flour poured on him lol.
Comment by Lurker — December 28, 2007 @ 7:17 pm
Good Grief! I’ll have to look at that.
Comment by Spud — December 28, 2007 @ 7:20 pm
It just makes Abrams look pathetic..which really says a lot..to get into a feud with the host of a light business entertainment show when your supposed to be a “serious” newsman…I mean really.
In the end it only benefits FBN because this tactic of MSNBC hosts attacking other Cable news Networks hasn’t helped them increase their ratings or take viewers away from the others.
Comment by mlong — December 28, 2007 @ 7:42 pm
Mlong did you get some of the “good stuff” this time?? Because when you said, “MSNBC hosts attacking other Cable news Networks hasn’t helped them increase their ratings.” You do realize that is a complete crock right? Remember when KO used to get 300K in P2? Now tell me the last time that happened. Alright, get in line behind Jim and apologize for lying. Oh and before ya get the wrong idea, I can’t stand KO, but I’ll defend anyone at anytime on a whim, eh.
Comment by Terance — December 28, 2007 @ 7:55 pm
Yes, Terance… but as Spud has pointed out, that was punching up. This is still Abrams punching down… and since (as you pointed out) FBN isn’t wide spread yet… it’s punching WAY down. KO attacking BOR was punching WAY up… so there’s a difference.
IMO, this will only help FBN gain more publicity. For those folks who didn’t know FBN was an option, this will continue to bring a spotlight towards it.
CELLA: You do know that you’ll be able to watch the game tomorrow? The NFL is allowing the game to be simulcast live on NBC and CBS (as well as on the NFL Network and local stations in NY/NE). Should be a heck of an event.
Comment by ImNotBlue — December 28, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
I have to say I like Happy Hour so I’m going with the ‘Dan is punching down’ theory. As lurker #7 said, it appears Cody doesn’t really care what Dan says about him because he sets himself up for a laugh throughout every show. The hosts who attack other networks and shows look desperate, as if they can’t increase ratings based on their own work. However, it does seem to pay off for some.
Btw, I have FBN thru Comcast’s digital extra channels.
Comment by Char — December 28, 2007 @ 8:27 pm
INB: Patriots 31, Giants 10.
Comment by Aaron — December 28, 2007 @ 8:52 pm
Spud: What may be relevant here is that Dan Abrams is something of a ladies man! And perhaps by mentioning model Joanna Krupa was Willard’ way of pulling Abrams’ chain!
Blue: I’m reading that the local stations in Boston and New York that signed exclusives for the Pats-Giants game are P.Oed with the NFL. Now those stations must share the NFL Network telecast with the CBS and NBC affiliates.
Comment by Ira — December 28, 2007 @ 8:56 pm
Aaron… you’re probably right. Damn you, Tom Brady.
Ira… I would certainly think those locals would be pissed. I know by me, the local station showing it would have been the UPN… a station that needs all the help it can get. Oh well, of the things that are my concern for this game… the local stations being mad, don’t even rate.
Comment by ImNotBlue — December 28, 2007 @ 9:54 pm
“Alright, get in line behind Jim and apologize for lying.”
No I stand behind my statement..MSNBC host’s attacking FOX has not helped them increase their ratings or taken viewers away from FOX..KO is still far behind O’Reilly,Tucker is on his way to unemployment and Abram is running on vapors.
Any increase by KO has more to do with him being puffed up by the Far-left groups like Daily Kos and Clinton’s Media Matters who get their people to tuned in not by the stalker like obsession KO has with O’Reilly.
Comment by mlong — December 28, 2007 @ 10:23 pm
It hasn’t taken viewers away from FNC but it’s definitely helped Olbermann, at least in the beginning. I’m not so sure it helps any more though because these things have a short life span of effectiveness and I think in Olbermann’s case the effectiveness has worn itself out long ago…
Comment by Spud — December 28, 2007 @ 10:38 pm
ImNotBlue,
Thanks! I got the good news. But thanks for mentioning it to me.
It should be murder - geeze.
Though the sports guys are saying that it will be interesting to see if the coaches use their star players or
try to keep them healthy for other games.
Comment by Cella — December 28, 2007 @ 11:30 pm
Very true… but it comes down to two elements for me:
If the Pats win, they’re undefeated… and that’s big bucks for everyone associated with the team.
If the Giants win, Coughlin keeps his job for another year.
Also, remember with the wide-spread coverage of this came… if they don’t play the starters, there’s only one sure loser… and that’s the NFL.
IMO, they’ll play the starters… and they’ll play to win.
Comment by ImNotBlue — December 28, 2007 @ 11:51 pm
Blue: If you mean channel 9 in New York, it is now a My Network TV affiliate.
Prediction: The Patriots will win tomorrow night but they will not have an undefeated season. They will lose to the Colts in the AFC Championship game.
Comment by Ira — December 29, 2007 @ 12:49 am
Oh, INB i know my predication will probably be right. It’s just at least I get to watch a good offense this weekend because my poor Bears have none.
Ira, the Colts won’t beat the Pats. But then again you never know. It was pure luck that the Colts beat the Pats last year in the AFC championship game. Reche Caldwell dropped two passes in which the Colts defense was so confused they left him wide open, literally, before the play and didn’t notice. But any way, even if the Giants play their starters they will still die. Don’t except Eli to play more than 3 - 5 offensive series.
Comment by Aaron — December 29, 2007 @ 2:34 am
Spud and why post about this Willard and Abrams “feud”. These are arguably the two biggest a-holes and losers on television. The kinda people that wouldn’t even show up to fight the nerd in high school.
Comment by Aaron — December 29, 2007 @ 2:36 am
Reverse the first two words of my last post.
Comment by Aaron — December 29, 2007 @ 2:37 am