Station Break

Heard or seen something on the pop culture landscape that appalled/delighted/enlightened you? Of course you have. That's what Station Break with Paul Farhi is here for. Local stations, cable, radio shows, commercials, pop culture -- they're all fair game.

Farhi was online Tuesday, Aug. 22, at 1 p.m. ET.

Farhi is a reporter in the Post's Style section, writing about media and popular culture. He's been watching TV and listening to the radio since "The Monkees" were in first run and Adam West was a star. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Los Angeles, Farhi had brief stints in the movie business (as an usher at the Picwood Theater), and in the auto industry (rental-car lot guy) before devoting himself fulltime to word processing. His car has 15 radio pre-sets and his cable system has 75 channels. He vows to use all of them for good instead of evil.

A transcript follows.

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Paul Farhi: Greetings, all, and welcome back to "our thing" (as they say on "The Sopranos"). It hasn't exactly been a quiet week in Lake Wobegone. To bore you with the lowlights: I wrote a (rather negative) critique of Tony Kornheiser's debut on "Monday Night Football" in the Style section last Tuesday, and Tony took a couple of pokes back at me ("two-bit weasel slug," "putz," etc.). This being slow-news August, and sportswriters needing lives (I guess), the point/counter-point became newsworthy (or maybe just "blog-worthy," a much lower standard). Two points to get outta the way upfront: 1) No, I'm not mad at Tony or insulted; I think his comments were amusing, really; and 2) stop with the emails, Tony fans--I'm not "jealous" on his success (as if I had only played my cards right, I'd be sitting in the MNF booth right now. Not.) Anyway, it's been a fun ride; now I'd like to get off....Let's go to the phones...

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Alexandria, Va.: Hi Mr. Farhi --

I wanted to let you know that I am a huge Tony Kornheiser fan, and last week, as I watched his debut on MNF, I felt queazy for him -- wanting to go and give him a hug -- he wasn't the Tony we know and love -- he was very tepid and polite and respectful (not Kornheiser qualities) -- and you were right to point it out -- hopefully as the weeks progress the real Tony will come out of his shell.

Paul Farhi: Yes. Exactly what I tried to say last week.

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Waterford, N.Y.: Mr. Farhi, was it your intention to be harder on Tony Kornheiser because he's with The Washington Post to help the paper's credibility, or are you really a two-bit weasel slug crying for attention?

Paul Farhi: Well, here's the thing: Writing a review of a colleague was/is a no-win situation. If I went easy on Tony, people would say I was in the tank. If I went too hard, people would say I was trying to hard to seem "independent." So--and you may not believe this--I tried to play the honesty card and just call it as I saw it. Sue me.

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Arlington, Va.: Did Tony Kornhieser steal your lunch at work? What DID he do to you to make you want to rip him so badly?

Paul Farhi: Again, you may not believe this, but I LIKE Tony. I've seen him around the office for years, have talked with him from time to time, etc. And I think he's funny, a great talent, and an absolute franchise (to The Post and ESPN). He just didn't show his real stuff on MNF the other night.

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: What up, P-Far?

Stay the course. Write the truth. And be a bigger man than a certain thin-skinned colleague in the Sports section.

Keep up the great reporting.

Paul Farhi: I thought I told you not to post to these chats, mom. It's kind of embarrassing...

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Washington, D.C.: The Post restaurant critic waits a month before trying a new restaurant and then visits multiple times. Didn't Tony (and others) deserve similar "exhibition" time? Or is the world too impatient for that. I don't necessarily disagree with you but I think you need to revisit Tony after 3-4 weeks of regular season football.

Paul Farhi: No. Not at all. Yes, the tradition in restaurant reviewing is to give the place some time to work out its kinks. But the tradition in theater reviewing is to show up on opening night. So, too, in movies, TV, AND sportswriting. Did anyone wait to "review" Reggie Bush's first game? Did Tony ever hold back until, say, the Redskins had their act together before opining?

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washingtonpost.com: Farhi: Kornheiser, Not Yet in Game Shape On 'MNF' , ( Post, Aug. 15 ) Kornheiser: Whaddya Mean, Don't Quit My Day Job? , ( Post, Aug. 16 )

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Silver Spring, Md.: Of course you saw Weingarten's essay today, but did you also see the e-mails he posted in the beginning of his chat today from sports fans who can't recognize satire? Very funny.

Paul Farhi: Incredibly and perhaps tragically after all these years, we continue to live in an irony-impaired society, divided between a small minority of "get its" and the vast mass of people who still can't afford to buy a clue.

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Re-Ramsey Revisited: So do you think the Cable TV news Chattering class have any idea how rediculous they look when at one moment they are talking about how wrong it was to jump to conclusions regarding the Ramsey family ten years ago, and now are in "Do you think this guy is guilty, lying, crazy, begging for attention etc"

Just once I want someone to say "What am I, Kreskin, how the hell should I know?"

Paul Farhi: What am I, Kres---...Actually, the JonBenet thing is just another in a series of embarrassments for the chattering cable TV classes. Remember all the speculation about who the D.C. sniper might be? How about Chandra Levy's killer? How about Natalie Holloway? How about [fill in blank of story in which speculation is allowed to pass as credible information].

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washingtonpost.com: Chatological Humor* , ( Post, Aug. 22 )

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Arlington, Va.: Hey Paul. Here's a radio question. So I have a little radio here at work and just tuned it to 100.3. It was "Rocket Man". The next song: "Runnin' Down a Dream" by Tom Petty. Has 100.3 had an identity crisis already?

Paul Farhi: I've been enjoying the bumpers that promote what they're playing as "the greatest rock music of all time," followed by...something by Styx.

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St. Mary's City, Md.: I know Kornheiser best from his Post columns, and to a lesser extent from PTI. But I don't see myself sitting through three hours of MNF just to catch some of his humor. Do you think he will adapt to the announcer role, instead of being a host?

I think that was a big reason why Dennis Miller bombed. An announcer is supposed to have some respect for what he is announcing, which went completely against Miller's nature as a satirist. Imagine "A Night at the Opera" if Groucho Marx interspersed his wisecracks with serious commentary on the singers' performances.

Paul Farhi: Well, here's why I liked Dennis Miller on "MNF:" because it's just a game, played for entertainment purposes, and Miller recognized that. There is no way any football game needs a third announcer. The play-by-play man and the "color" guy tell me just about everything I need to know (and a lot I could care less about). The third guy has to ADD something--commentary, humor, an argument, even bizarre statements (a la Miller)--or he (never she) should get the heck outta there. I tuned in to otherwise crummy games just to hear Miller. He stunk a lot of the time (especially when he tried to be a serious football guy), but he was at least INTERESTING during many games.

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Port Washington, N.Y.: On the subject of writers insulting one another, Weinigarten's piece seemed to take a veiled shot or two at you (one that said, "Because this is a dispassionate, professional review I am going to avoid ad hominem commentary on strictly personal matters, such as Tony's ostentatiously bald head, which resembles not a cue ball so much as an enormous, bulbous knuckle made of some sort of pink processed meat, like bologna or olive loaf.").

That seems to be a reference to your line about Tony needing a tan. Considering the relevation that Tony was treated for skin cancer this summer, do you regret making that remark?

Paul Farhi: Yes, I do regret that remark. I was not aware that Tony had had treatments. If I had been, I never would have said such a boneheaded thing...And Gene is a god. I will read and enjoy anything he does, including his grocery list.

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Dear Mr.Weasel Slug: Boy, was I disappointed to see that Mr.Tony could not take even mild criticisim such as you dispensed. Also, what's up with these guys who won't fly? Big,bad John Madden ("All-Madden Team", etc.) and now TK. Maybe they're in the wrong line of work.

Paul Farhi: Weird, ain't it? And, please, let's not point out how driving across country is a whole lot more dangerous than flying across it, okay?

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Washington, D.C.: Do you think part of the backlash on the Kornheiser thing has to do with him having received mostly positive reviews from other sources?

Paul Farhi: Yeah, he mostly ignored that, didn't he? I think it was two things: 1) it was his own paper coming down on him; and 2) the amazing notion (to him) that someone, somewhere wouldn't tell him how fabulous he is every single minute...Btw, he also went after Mike Golic of ESPN radio, who gave Tony a so-so review.

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Monday night football: Paul,

I don't mind the guys in the booth, but please get the females off of the sidelines with their inane chatter.

That's the most annoying part of MNF.

Paul Farhi: I love the notion of being able to interview players and coaches in real time, but sideline reporting almost never amounts to anything. The only memorable thing ever said on the sidelines during a game was when Suzy Kolber interviewed a drunk Joe Namath a few years back (find the audio file on the internet if you can--it's fabulous!)

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Payton Place: There's some local car dealership who advertises on WTOP with sappy piano music, overwritten copy and a whispering announcer, and the ads all appear that the selling of cars at this place is somehow some dramatic, life-changing event. The ad ends with the announcer saying something like, "And one more thing, we leave you with this ..." as if it's a lecture. Hey, sappy dealership: We don't need to be lectured or talked-down-to, and we don't need melodramatic radio ads to buy cars. Just tell us what you have, and how much they cost!

Paul Farhi: I absolutely cringe at those ads! They're for a high-end car dealer, and they all but drip with implied contempt for people who can't afford a $50,000 "motor car." So sincere. So snobby. So abominable.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Have you seen John Kelly's band yet?

Paul Farhi: No. But I have seen Desson Thomson's band, Cairo Fred. Twice. Joe Bob says check 'em out...

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Reston, Va.: I'm confused. Is channel 5's late news a 1-hour show followed by a half-hour show, or is it one long 90-minute broadcast? I can't figure out when to tune in to find the weather and sports.

Paul Farhi: Doesn't the weather lead the 11 p.m. segment? I guess they're trying to differentiate themselves from the other 11 p.m. newscasts. Or maybe weather really IS the thing that people want most from their local news.

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Greenbelt, Md.: Am I the only person who's already sick to death of "Triple-X" ESPN's Eastern Motors commercials? I swear if I hear once again hear that my job is my credit (credit), someone's gonna get hurt. The only good thing is I have to listen to ESPN Radio on XM after dark because the "Triple X" signals are so weak.

Paul Farhi: The Eastern Motors ads are kinda the opposite end of the spectrum from the European Motorcar ads, no?

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Perry Hall, Md.: When ESPN has the MNF doubleheader on Sept. 11th, who will call the other game?

Paul Farhi: Don't know. But I AM available...

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Alexandria, Va.: Mr. Farhi,

On a scale of 1-10, how worried are you about technological singularity?

Paul Farhi: I'll go with "1" because, with a little luck, I myself may soon become Bluetooth-enabled...

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Charlotte, N.C.: It's not the FEMALES on the sidelines that are a problem, it's ANYONE on the sidelines. Unless there has been an injury or a fan running across the field, there simply is no need for anyone to be reporting from there. Especially since for some reason they have to have the camera there also, which means we're missing things on the field.

Paul Farhi: Yes. No slight on women on the sidelines. They are every bit as useless as the men who are there. I'll give the sideline folk this: They occasionally tell you something newsworthy, particularly about injuries. But mostly they handle that obligatory coach-walking-off-the-field-at-halftime interview, in which the coach ALWAYS frowns and frets and says his team will have to "adjust" in the second half. Pointless.

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Arlington, Va.: Fine, get the women off the sidelines and put them in the booth. It's unbelievable that there can't be a female play-by-play announcer somewhere out there that's better than many of the men in the booth. I'm thinking mostly about baseball (with the "Let's throw it to Tina in the stands").

Paul Farhi: Totally true. Sports announcing is a last visible vestige of sexism. Very few female play-by-play announcers, on men's sports (I notice that ESPN will plug in a woman for women's sports, like the WNBA or softball). But at best, women can only rise to being sideline ornaments on big games...

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San Diego, Calif.: Your mother calls you P-Far?

Paul Farhi: Yes. She is very, very hip, for a 76-year-old. I refer to her as "Ghost Face Killa." It's our little term of endearment.

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Wall Street, New York: Katie Couric has been doing the jovial, hey how are you, nice to see you when you wake up thing for a long time....but soon it will be time for her to put on her hard hat and get to work on the serious news for CBS. How do you think she will do? Also, I heard recently that an up and coming junior producer just took a 9 month leave from the evening news team....will this affect her debut?

Paul Farhi: Katie's gonna do fine. She can read a teleprompter. She's attractive. She can do interviews. She can report. She's "credible" (whatever that's supposed to mean). Don't know what else anyone wants in that job (other than a man).

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Severna Park, Md.: Wilbon! Wiiiiiilllll-bon!

Paul Farhi: Y'know, I'd love to see Wilbon with Tony on MNF. Who exactly likes Theismann, anyway?

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Washington, D.C.: What do you think will happen with the Bryant Gumbel/NFL drama?

Paul Farhi: Fascinating. This blew up yesterday--Gumbel, on his HBO show, criticized Gene Upshaw, head of the NFL Players Union, for being a tool of the NFL. The NFL, specifically outgoing commish Paul Tagliabue, took offense and said Gumbel might be out as an announcer when the NFL starts broadcasting its own games this season on its NFL Network. Goes to show you what chains sports owners can and will yank (Dan Snyder, the Nationals, etc.) when they own the channels that broadcast the team's games. Total Orwellian control of the sports media.

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Richmond, Va.: So, are you checking any dark alleys you pass for Kornheiser, lying in wait? Seriously, have you spoken to him since the review?

Paul Farhi: I haven't talked to him in weeks, maybe months. I called him for an interview for a story I wrote the day of his MNF debut but still haven't gotten a call back. I guess I shouldn't be holding my breath now.

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Enough about sports: Have you noticed what a mess the Today show is without Katie? Only bright spot has been our old friend Willard. Although come to think of it, maybe Willard adds to the chaos? Some of the current crew clearly don't know how to handle him. It's a hoot!

Paul Farhi: They need a shaking out period, just as Tony does. I suspect they'll get better, just as Tony will...

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Green Bay, Wisc.: Say this for ESPN -- they've used a woman play by play announcer on college football (there isn't any women's college football, is there?) and have used women (notably golfer Judy Rankin) as analysts on men's events with success. I still think more women would get the shot if execs weren't old-boy network types. The viewers can handle it.

Paul Farhi: No, the viewers CAN'T handle it. That's the key to all this. Hard-core sports fans, a really reactionary bunch, would scream about having a woman in the booth, as a play-by-play announcer for sure. This is what has stopped every network from giving women a bigger role in announcing...

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Silver Spring, Md.: What do you think about Fox showing the D..C news in Baltimore? I do not think the two markets are merging at all with respect to what people find newsworthy -- OK, maybe in Columbia, but people in Timonium do not care squat about Fairfax County, and vice versa.

Paul Farhi: Agreed. It's just a cheap way for a station (WUTB in Balmore) to get a newscast. This is an all-in-the-family deal, because both stations (WUTB and WTTG in Washington) are owned by Fox/News Corp./Rupert Murdoch.

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Red Sox Nation: You are so right about the irony impairment of most people. But it's not a problem with me, I'm a Red Sox fan, so I know irony, pathos, and pure pain.

By the way, I love Mr. Tony and disagreed with your review, but I disagree with many reviewers over particular reviews without turning it into an ad hominem attack. I think you are right to be amused by his reaction, but I am horrified by the ability of the "blogosphere" to ratchet anything up into World War III. I guess it is the end of nuance as we know it.

Paul Farhi: Yeah, it's not like there's a war on or anything (What? There is? Several?...) Okay, never mind...

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Bethesda, Md.: The suits at the Sci-Fi Channel are today's pop culture villians: They've announced that, for some mystical, unexplainable, ridiculous reason (forget the "lower ratings" b.s. -- that's not entirely true or accurate, for the record), they've stupidly decided to cancel what is literally one of the best shows on television: "Stargate SG-1." And that's not a sci-fi nerd thing to say. It really is an excellent show, and if you watch, say, a couple of dozen episodes to start, you'll see for yourself. That's why it's been on the air for 10 years--one of the longest-running, if not THE longest-running, science fiction shows in television history. And many fans feel the show is just as good as it's ever been. There's no real reason to cancel it. MGM said it still supports the show, and it will shop around for another outlet. Meanwhile, if you haven't seen "Stargate SG-1," give it a shot. It's a lot of fun.

Paul Farhi: Have never seen the show. But I will say this: Whenever any network cancels a sci-fi show, the fan base goes nuts. If I were running a network, I would never mess with the nerd crowd.

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Baltimore, Md.: Re Dennis Miller on MNF: I agree that when he tried to be serious about football, it didn't work. But it was really his style of humor that was out of place for the audience. When he said, re notoriously emotional coach Dick Vermeil that, "This guy cries more than Sylvia Plath," I found it uproarious. But I don't think too many pro football fans are up on their mid-20th Century suicidal female American poets.

Paul Farhi: Yes, that's funny, and yes, that's totally out of touch with the mainstream that is watching Monday Night Football. I never really understood why Miller thought he had to go all Ph.D with his cracks on MNF. He had to know they'd sail over his audience's heads, and besides, it was totally out of character for Miller, who really isn't some obtuse egghead comedian. That was weird--but, heck, it was really interesting, too.

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Leesburg, Va.: I LOVE Theisman!

Paul Farhi: Thank you, Mrs. Theismann.

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Silver Spring, Md.: It was ever thus with female sports reporters on TV. Remember the Mary Tyler Moore exhibit where the female sports reporter talks about women's diving and Lou Grant gets all upset?

That was 1974 and nothing has changed. Except that he wouldn't call it "girls' diving" these days. Maybe.

Paul Farhi: Don't recall that. But, yeah, it's the 21st century. Women can do all kinds of things. Just not talk about sports on TV (or radio), I guess...

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Atlanta, Ga.: TV execs would never admit this, but people watch games for the game and not for the announcers. We may complain about bad announcers, but they won't keep us away from a game we want to see. Conversely a great announcing team won't get us to watch a crappy game.

Paul Farhi: True, but announcers enhance a game, good or bad. When you see a game in person, you sorta miss that human element. It's kinda like deejays on the radio--you could listent to music without an announcer, but the human voice adds a certain intangible something, I think.

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Arlington, Va.: If the New York Yankees can have a female announcer (radio), any city can have one.

Paul Farhi: Really? That's amazing. Good for her and the Yankees. Is she any good?

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Silver Spring, Md.: Did you happen to catch the beginning of the Don and Mike show yesterday when they really went at each other? Even though they were seriously arguing it was pretty funny. There are days when they make me laugh out loud and days when I turn to WTOP.

Paul Farhi: Didn't hear it, but D&M have that chemistry that makes an argument "work." Kornheiser and Wilbon have it, too. Kornheiser and Theismann do not.

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I've been enjoying the bumpers that promote what they're playing as "the greatest rock music of all time," followed by...something by Styx.: At least they don't play Barry Manilow!

Paul Farhi: No, but they play Elton John, Billy Joel and a lot of stuff that you'd never call rock. Pop is more like it.

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Paul Farhi: Folks, thanks for the onslaught of questions, Tony-related and otherwise. I've got to get back to important business now (i.e., have lunch). But let's do it again in two weeks, same time and channel. By then, I will have returned to my normal one-bit weasel status, and we can get back to regular programming. Catch you then. In the meantime, regards to all....Paul.

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