Around the Horn
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Around the Horn | |
|---|---|
 Around the Horn Logo |
|
| Genre | Sports talk and debate |
| Starring | Tony Reali
various sports writers, notably Woody Paige and Jay Mariotti |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 940 (as of March 30, 2007) |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Dan Farmer, Aaron Solomon, Bill Wolff |
| Executive producer(s) | James Cohen, Erik Rydholm, Mark Shapiro |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ESPN |
| Original run | November 4, 2002 – present |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | The Sports Reporters Pardon the Interruption |
| Links | |
| Official website | |
| IMDb profile | |
| TV.com summary | |
Around the Horn (sometimes abbreviated ATH) is a daily, half-hour sports talk program on ESPN filmed in Washington, D.C. It airs at 5:00 pm ET, in a sports talk hour with Pardon the Interruption, with the hour repeated at 6:00 p.m. ET on ESPNEWS. Around the Horn premiered on November 4, 2002, replacing the interview show Unscripted with Chris Connelly. Its official title is Around the Horn presented by Nissan. It is produced by ESPN Original Entertainment. The show celebrated its 900th episode on January 22, 2007.
Around the Horn follows a standard format. The host (originally Max Kellerman and now Tony Reali) moderates discussions of various sports topics among four different sports columnists and awards points for good arguments. In addition, he can mute columnists for 10 seconds, which also subtracts a point from their score. He can also subtract points for poor arguments, bad puns or references, or when contestants try to change the subject. At the end of the second and third rounds of discussion a columnist is eliminated, until only two are left for the final "Showdown" round. The winner of the showdown is given 15 to 30 uninterrupted seconds to comment on any topic they please in a segment called "Facetime" as well as be awarded a gold medal that appears in the top-left corner of the screen.
Contents |
[edit] The set
The Around the Horn set, in the same Atlantic Video complex as the set for Pardon The Interruption, features the host's desk with the point triggers and mute buttons, opposite of four screens of the panelists with their score under them and the mute sign above them. Behind the host's desk is a map of the contiguous United States of America with the mastheads of the newspapers affiliated with the show outlined in their region which include: the Los Angeles Times, The Denver Post, Chicago Sun Times, and The Dallas Morning News. The Boston Globe was once affiliated with the show, but when its affiliation was pulled, so was its masthead on the map. It was replaced with a simple "Boston". The Cold Pizza logo was also added near New York's place on the map when Woody Paige was based in New York. Though Paige has returned to Denver, the Cold Pizza logo remains a part of the map as of February 2007.
Meanwhile, each panelist is seated within the offices of their respective newspaper, with either a clear or opaque partition patterned with the newspaper's masthead logo in the background; an exception was Woody Paige sitting in a portion of the Cold Pizza set, which had a chalkboard with various messages (mainly humorous) written on it in the background, when he was in New York. Paige took the chalkboard with him when he returned to Denver in December 2006. Boston has also become an exception, as The Boston Globe is no longer associated with the show. Boston columnists are now seen with the Boston skyline behind them.
[edit] Rounds
The current Around The Horn format consists of the following:
- Introduction: The show sually opens with Reali saying "Welcome back to banter", "Welcome back to the show of competitive banter", or "Welcome back to the show that scores the argument." The panelists are introduced and given time for an opening statement. Most of the panelists use this time for jokes or criticism of the host or other panelists, which can lead to points or mutes. Occasionally (usually on Fridays), there are "themed" introductions, including karaoke, "big words", and movie lines. Reali often awards extra points for quotes from Goodfellas or Napoleon Dynamite, and often subtracts points when any panelist makes a joke about his Italian heritage or his close relationship with his mother, or when Mariotti brings up "Michael Jeffrey Jordan" or bashes Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman. (Tim Cowlishaw often makes gratuitous Goodfellas references in a blatant attempt to get extra points, but Reali rarely obliges him.)
- The First Word: Two current sports headlines are discussed.
- Buy or Sell: The columnists are asked to buy or sell (be for or against) three different concepts, also drawn from the relevant sports headlines.
- 1st Cut: The contestant with the lowest point total is eliminated. In the case of ties, the winner is determined by which contestant is wearing a tie to the show. If both or neither contestant is wearing a tie, Reali often breaks them by miscellaneous things, like whose hair is better combed. If the awarding of a point causes a tie for the two lowest panelists, Reali sometimes gives the same panelist a second point to break it.
- Out of Bounds: This round is dedicated to talking about one story which is indirectly sports-related. For example here would be talks about steroids, a Coach's comments or a discovery about a certain athlete. This is usually the most serious time of the show.
- 2nd Cut: The next contestant with the lowest point total is removed, leaving just two. (see 1st Cut for tiebreaking)
- Showdown: Mentioned above, the two remaining columnists take sides on any sports or cultural stories remaining. There are two or three questions, depending on the amount of time left (some shows only have two questions total when pressed for time), or (usually) whether a tie-breaker is necessary. The third topic is sometimes - though not always - a non-sports related issue, usually dealing in some way with pop culture. Usually, the western most panelist goes first for the first topic, with the other speaking for the second half. The panelists then alternate going first for the remaining topics. Each topic is timed, usually to 20, 25, or 30 seconds, but sometimes to 40 seconds if there is sufficient time. Reali usually gives a panelist one point per topic, although he occasionally gives more than one point or deducts points depending on the strength or weakness of the argument.
- Facetime: The winner of the showdown and therefore winner of that particular episode gets 15 to 30 seconds (depending on remaining time) to talk about anything he/she wishes to discuss. Most of the time these are sports related, but often their own personal life or an issue in pop culture is discussed. For example in a May 2006 episode Michael Smith made a tribute to his newborn baby girl.
- Goodbye: Reali says how long it will be until the next episode, for example, "We're on a 23-and-a-half hour break." On Fridays, off until Monday, it's, "We're on a 71-and-a-half-hour break." Reali sometimes tells viewers to figure out the break time themselves: "You do the math!"
- Paper Toss: Signature sign-off of the show, with Reali crumpling his notes and throwing them at the camera.
[edit] Previous format
Before the show was retooled in early 2003, the format was similar, wherein the first two rounds were pretty much the same but with different titles. There was a bigger difference after that. The show ran like so:
- The Opening Round: the two biggest headlines of the day.
- The Lightning Round: a quick-moving round with four topics where players had to make their points quickly or risk getting muted by Kellerman.
- The Bonus Round: one final topic, with the panelists trying to earn some last-second points, followed by a sports trivia question for each panelist, worth five points
- The Medal Round: the panelists earned facetime equal to their scores converted to seconds, in reverse order of their placing. The winner received a gold medal, second place received silver, third place got bronze, and the fourth place finisher was given a foil ball. More often than not, due to time restrictions, the panelists were given less time than they earned, or at least one panelist would not be given any time at all.
[edit] Points
The show is unique as it "scores the argument." The awarding of points is done at the discretion of the host. In the Kellerman era, the two final contestants generally had about 25 points. Before becoming host, Tony Reali as a guest host awarded a show record 51 points to Bill Plaschke. Reali is now much stingier in awarding points. The two finalists rarely have more than 30 points at the end of the show.
The rewarding - and deduction - of points has changed throughout the series. Originally, being muted cost a panelist five points. Later, while Kellerman was still hosting the show, the scoring was at its most strict: "good" answers were awarded two points, "great" answers were given three, and a mute subtracted three (originally five) points from a panelist's score. The host also gives multiple points for "inside information" that he deems correct. Around the time Reali took over the show, the host was allowed to give points at his own discretion (Reali may give a single point for a weak argument, or many points for a particularly strong case backed by statistical information), and the penalty for a mute was reduced to a single point (although this rule actually made its debut while Kellerman was hosting).
Reali also makes bets occasionally with the panelists on sporting events, with the panelist gaining or losing a large amount of points based on the outcome. Memorable examples:
- Jay Mariotti made a bold guarantee in 2005, stating he'd be docked 30 points if Tiger Woods wins a major golf tournament. After Woods won the Masters and Mariotti was proven incorrect, the next day he was so far behind that he failed to even reach positive figures before being eliminated. He finished that day with a record low throughout the show's history, -28 points.
- In June of 2006, Tim Cowlishaw guaranteed an Edmonton Oilers win in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, and lost 15 points for it. He also failed to make it past the first elimination.
- Throughout the August 3, 2006 episode, Woody Paige drank an entire five-gallon water-cooler bottle, barely finishing it as winner Kevin Blackistone's face time expired. Reali told Paige at the beginning of the show that if Paige were to finish the whole bottle in the show's 30 minutes, he would get 100 points at the start of the next show. The next day, Reali revealed that cameras were installed in Woody's studio, which showed him pouring water from the bottle into a cooler. Because of his cheating, Reali gave him a mute instead of the points.
- During the March 20, 2007, after an errant pick of George Washington would be in the final four, JA Adande was docked 33 points, one for every point that George Washington lost by in the first-round game. He attempted to redeem himself by saying he picked Georgetown, which is also located in Washington, D.C. and has a much more renowned basketball program. Reali didn't buy it, however. Adande actually got to +1 point near the end of "Buy Or Sell," but ended the round with -1 point. Had it not been for the 33-point deduction, he would have ended the round in first place.
Points are also taken away for self-promotion, such as bragging about a good column or a successful upset pick. On such occasions, Reali says, "Self-promotion is the mating call of the mute button!"
[edit] Hosts
- Max Kellerman (November 4, 2002- January 30, 2004)
- Tony Reali (February 2, 2004 - present)
[edit] Guest hosts
- Zachariah Selwyn (June 8-11, 2004)
- Duke Castiglione (July 3-5, 2006)
[edit] Panelists
[edit] Current panelists
- J.A. Adande, Los Angeles Times
- Jim Armstrong, The Denver Post
- Kevin Blackistone, former columnist for The Dallas Morning News, unaffiliated in Baltimore
- Tim Cowlishaw, The Dallas Morning News
- Jackie MacMullan, The Boston Globe
- Jay Mariotti, Chicago Sun-Times
- Woody Paige, The Denver Post
- Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times
- Bob Ryan, The Boston Globe
- Michael Smith, ESPN.com, former columnist for The Boston Globe
[edit] Former panelists
- Michael Holley, former columnist for The Boston Globe
- Charlie Pierce, The Boston Globe
- Tony Reali, ESPN
- Adam Schefter, The Denver Post
- Dan Shanoff, ESPN.com
- T.J. Simers, Los Angeles Times
[edit] Guest panelists
- Ron Borges, The Boston Globe
- Mark Cuban, Dallas Mavericks owner
- Josh Elliott, ESPN
- Richard Justice, Houston Chronicle
- Mark Kiszla, The Denver Post
- John Powers, The Boston Globe
- Gene Wojciechowski, ESPN.com
[edit] Running gags
- Main article: Running gags on Around the Horn
During the show's long run, it has developed certain comedic long-running gags, much like its sister show Pardon the Interruption, that longtime viewers will recognize and casual viewers may be unable to easily comprehend. Many of the gags revolve around the personalities of Reali and the frequent guests such as Paige, Mariotti, Plaschke, Adande, Cowlishaw, Smith, Armstrong, and Ryan, among others.
[edit] Miscellaneous
- As ESPN's schedule is made erratic to accommodate the irregular times of the various sports events that it covers, it is quite common for regular shows to be "bumped" by events. To let the audience know of these postponements, most ESPN talk show hosts end the program by telling the audience when their next show will air. Reali (as did Kellerman) idiosyncratically ends the show by saying how much time will elapse before the next show. The most common of these statements is "We're on a twenty-three and a half hour break," which signifies that the show will be back tomorrow at its usual time. On Friday, reflecting the weekend, the sign-off is, "We're on a seventy-one and a half hour break." But when the show is bumped, sometimes Reali will give the break length, and sometimes he'll say to the viewers, "You do the math!"
- During the Max Kellerman era and shortly thereafter, every segment would conclude with some way to end a sentence with "around", or a word that rhymes with it, so "disembodied voice" Bill Wolff could add "...the horn!" This idiosyncrasy remains on the show today in a slightly modified fashion, as Reali often attempts to end a segment with either "around" or a word that rhymes with it before yelling "Horn!" right before the cut to commercial.
- In the show's first couple of years, through Kellerman's tenure and early into Reali's, the "outtro" to the final commercial break nearly always featured a clip of an attractive female celebrity, either from a film, a red carpet walk, or a music video. Apparently, both Kellerman and Reali were huge fans of the video for Beyoncé's smash hit from 2003, Crazy in Love. During one year-long period extending into both of their tenures as host, a segment from the Crazy in Love video was always shown on Fridays, during an "outtro" to a commercial break about halfway through the episode. Kellerman would also usually say "Do that thing I like" right before the commercial break when this video showed. Jennifer Lopez's video for I'm Glad, featuring her homage to the film Flashdance, was also a regular outtro.
- On the December 8, 2006 episode, Tony Reali's points system in the showdown was based on a voiceover of Tony thoughtfully thinking of how he should give the points out, while he sat at the desk looking perplexed. His final instruction was to give Cowlishaw the win over Mariotti, because Jay wasn't wearing a tie. This coincided with Cowlishaw being given 40 seconds of "Face Time", the longest since the old format of the show.
- In rare cases, Reali has decided to give a contestant the "Showdown" win after only one topic. One example is when Bill Plaschke and Woody Paige were disscussing snowboarding in the Olympics. While Paige gave a fantastic argument, Plaschke did not answer the topic and changed the subject to Sasha Cohen and her silver medal. Reali felt that the difference in argument quality between Plaschke and Paige was so lopsided toward Paige that Reali punished Plaschke by giving Paige 5 points and the win while giving Plaschke -3 points and hitting his Mute button several times, despite the fact that there were two more topics left.
- Despite being the first panelist eliminated on the February 26th, 2007 edition, J.A. Adande was declared the show's winner that day. He was awarded the victory after Reali opened an envelope with his name on it, ala the Academy Awards, which had been awarded the night prior. During Adande's "Face Time", images of Mariotti and the two participants of the Showdown - Woody Paige and Kevin Blackistone - in shock, were shown in the corner of the screen. This also happened when Woody Paige was eliminated first. In the showdown round the finalists (J.A Adande and Micheal Smith) didn't adress the final topic properly. So when Paige's screen unfroze, he gave some inside info and Realli gave him 5 points, and face time.
- http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/ESPNsAroundTheHorn/. Woody Paige, Tony Reali, Bob Ryan, Tim Cowlishaw, and J.A. Adande, amongst others, read and reply daily to fan emails and questions. Also full in depth recaps of every show, posted nightly after the show airs.
[edit] Around the Horn unofficial statistics
Among regulars or near-regulars, J.A. Adande has the best winning percentage, while Jay Mariotti is "bringing up the rear."
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All-Time Wins |
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| Rank | Panelist | Amount |
| 1 | Woody Paige | 181 |
| 2 | Jay Mariotti | 178 |
| 3 | Tim Cowlishaw | 103 |
| 4 | Bill Plaschke | 100 |
| 5 | J.A. Adande | 94 |
| 6 | Michael Smith | 75 |
| 7 | Bob Ryan | 63 |
| 8 | Kevin Blackistone | 42 |
| 9 | Michael Holley | 34 |
| 10 | Jackie MacMullan | 20 |
| 11 | Jim Armstrong | 15 |
| 12 | T.J. Simers | 10 |
| 13 | Charlie Pierce | 5 |
| 14 | Josh Elliott | 5 |
| 15 | Gene Wojciechowski | 4 |
| 16 | Adam Schefter | 2 |
| 17 | Tony Reali | 2 (pre-hosting) |
| 18 | Richard Justice | 1 |
| 19 | Mark Cuban | 1 |
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Wins By City |
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| Rank | City | Amount | Panelists |
| 1 | Los Angeles | 204 | Plaschke, Adande, Simers |
| 2 | Denver | 197 | 15 by Armstrong, 2 by Schefter, rest by Paige |
| 3 | Boston | 197 | Smith, Ryan, Holley, MacMullan, Pierce |
| 4 | Chicago | 182 | 4 by Wojciechowski, rest by Mariotti |
| 5 | Dallas | 146 | Cowlishaw, Blackistone, Cuban |
| 6 | New York | 7 | Elliott, Reali |
| 7 | Houston | 1 | Justice |
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All-Time Appearances |
||
| Rank | Panelist | Appearances |
| 1 | Jay Mariotti | 876 |
| 2 | Woody Paige | 791 |
| 3 | Bill Plaschke | 379 |
| 4 | Tim Cowlishaw | 364 |
| 5 | J.A. Adande | 323 |
| 6 | Michael Smith | 268 |
| 7 | Kevin Blackistone | 167 |
| 8 | Bob Ryan | 165 |
| 9 | Michael Holley | 120 |
| 10 | Jackie MacMullan | 68 |
| 11 | T.J. Simers | 65 |
| 12 | Jim Armstrong | 63 |
| 13 | Josh Elliott | 23 |
| 14 | Gene Wojciechowski | 14 |
| 15 | Charlie Pierce | 13 |
| 16 | Tony Reali | 6 (pre-hosting) |
| 17 | Dan Shanoff | 5 |
| 18 | Adam Schefter | 5 |
| 19 | Richard Justice | 5 |
| 20 | Ron Borges | 4 |
| 21 | Mark Kiszla | 2 |
| 22 | Mark Cuban | 1 |
| 23 | John Powers | 1 |
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All-Time Win Percentage |
||
| Rank | Panelist | Percentage |
| 1 | Bob Ryan | 38.2% (63/165) |
| 2 | Jackie MacMullan | 29.4% (20/68) |
| 3 | J.A. Adande | 28.9% (93/322) |
| 4 | Tim Cowlishaw | 28.4% (103/363) |
| 5 | Michael Holley | 28.3% (34/120) |
| 6 | Michael Smith | 28.0% (75/268) |
| 7 | Bill Plaschke | 26.4% (100/379) |
| 8 | Kevin Blackistone | 25.1% (42/167) |
| 9 | Jim Armstrong | 23.8% (15/63) |
| 10 | Woody Paige | 22.8% (180/790) |
| 11 | Jay Mariotti | 20.3% (178/875) |
| 12 | T.J. Simers | 15.4% (10/65) |
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Win Percentage by City |
||
| Rank | City | Percentage |
| 1 | Boston | 30.8% (197/639) |
| 2 | Dallas | 27.3% (145/531) |
| 3 | Los Angeles | 26.4% (202/766) |
| 4 | New York | 24.1% (7/29) |
| 5 | Denver | 22.7% (196/865) |
| 6 | Chicago | 20.4% (182/894) |
| 7 | Houston | 20.0% (1/5) |
[edit] External links
- "The Largest Around the Horn Group on the web with daily recaps"
- ESPN: Around the Horn
- Around the Horn Episode Guide at TV.com
- The Around the Horn fan club
