So okay, first things first! YEAAHHHHHH! AMERICAN LEAGUE!!! HooYah!!!!

Anyway, after ranting for the last couple of days I have to admit that the broadcast by Fox last night was not as bad as I had feared. Still, what's with the stupid 'catcher cam'? You could barely figure out what was going on in some shots. It was as unnecessary as that overhead cam that NBC used for the short-lived XFL games.

Also, I don't know who the chick singer was who sang the National Athem, but wouldn't you try to put on an outfit that not only fit, but was half way attractive? I guess if you want that chubby, fourteen year old look, it worked. :-(
As for Amy Grant, I actually do like her, but think that she was the WRONG choice to sing GOD BLESS AMERICA. I'm not saying that everyone should sound like Kate Smith (whose version is THE best), but Grant does not have the chops to deliver the song properly. It may strike some folks as a silly song, but it certainly is not a romantic ballad and that's how Grant sang it.

I really was surprised that Fox didn't pack the front rows of the event with celebs, as NBC and CBS have done previously. Points for that anyway, and for only pushing one new show. Although ORANGE COUNTY looks like third-generation BEVERLY HILL 90210. Doesn't the WB have a hold on that market now?

Two final things having to do with promoting films during the broadcast.

Could Fox have chosen anyone less suited to push "America's pasttime" then the Scottish Sean Connery? I have a feeling that it sounded like a good idea before the film debutted to less then overwhelming boxoffice. I still want to see the movie and, of course, love Alan Moore's series, but the promo was just lame!

Finally, I find it interesting that the new trailers (at least the TV ones) for BAD BOY II really don't appear to show the movies as a light-hearted 'buddy' movie, but as an action film. Add to that the fact that the other movie being pushed is a big-budget remake of the TV show S.W.A.T. With the rapid cutting it was nearly impossible to tell which film was being promoted unless you were really paying attention. At least SEABISCUIT doesn't appear to have things blowing up, real good! :-)