Fsc Needs Soccer Am!!!

[koppite4ever]

I am starting a campaign to have SOCCER AM aired in the US directly from the SKY SPORTS feed to Fox Soccer Channel.

Please add your comments if you agree.

Due to the early time zone in the UK, it probably will need to be tape delayed every Saturday morning.

In the UK, it airs LIVE 900am-1200pm which is 400am-700am (EST in the US). But I think a LIVE broadcast followed by an evening tape delay replay would work well.

Here is the main web page for the show:

http://www.skysports.com/socceram/0,21606,,00.html

Click on any of the features, as they are all top class. For those that have never seen it, this is an addictive national soccer breakfast TV show that sets trends in English football culture. Basically, whatever becomes a regular feature on SOCCER AM is mimicked across the nation. It is a kind of soccer version of Saturday Night Live.

The show features guests from the soccer and entertainment world mixed in with comedy skits, goal action, bloopers, games, contests, interviews, hot music, skill challenges between academy players, soccer fans, girls, previews of the weekend's games and so many funny bits that you simply lose track of time with laughter. It's the only way to start the day.

Watch some of these SOCCER AM clips and VOTE NOW!!

Geordies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuLK_vvcJsw&feature=related

Cockneys We Love It:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5BP4OMCkvE&feature=related

Tubes & Jack Black:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2wNXLEcH_k&feature=related

Tubes & The Rock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVUk43GVSpc&feature=related

Tubes Messes Up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JINVB4CHBg0&feature=related

Thierry Henry 3rd Eye:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yXLnDEsqWI&feature=related

Paul Ince 3rd Eye:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRJxSMTMdvc&feature=related

Stevie Gerrard 3rd Eye:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKsQyyPfVGo&NR=1

Classic Henry 3rd Eye:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzfLtnTewoU&feature=related

Harry Redknapp and reserve player:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MrWS0bZqsY&feature=related

Tim Lovejoy The Loser:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPL1eE3TcdE&feature=related

Soccerette Man United:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf4gv1ZSDdg&feature=related

Skill Skool Norwich City:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IN_s8kAIAE

Showboat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zutf6r80XV8&feature=related

Crossbar Challenge Chelsea FC:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTPCrnSSsbg&feature=related

Crossbar Challenge Best Hits:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbYIsRaZtmk&feature=related

2008 Dance Off between the crew:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUOnCVaxRs4

Lee Trundle Celebration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lm1D0ZMDU0&feature=related

Helen Chamberlain makes a mess of Stamford Bridge:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPT_6gwGqO4&feature=related

Road To Wembley best shot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLRzW6Er7jw

Big Stan joke:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjMVEFzgRTo&feature=related

Barry DVDs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HYOE1rSHFg&feature=related

Barry in studio:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXVDfCON8Bw

Wrestlers in launderette:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT4w-WjX7xg&feature=related

Wrestlers on show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok19fevYP8s&NR=1

[jammybastard]

I mentioned this here two years ago and I still believe
there's no way FSC would ever go for it.
They have a lot invested in their new morning block of shows around the EPL games and I'm sure they would argue
that US fans wouldn't get it.
Especially the fact that they cover so much of the smaller English leagues.

I watch Soccer AM every week and IMHO it's not as good this year as it has been in year's past. Just not as funny.

[Big Soccer Member]

Most of those clips are from years ago. Also bear in mind that these clips are a minute long in a three hour long show. The other 179 minutes are absolutely dire, probably the worst show on TV in the UK at the moment. Go on any UK message board and you will find many threads bashing it. It used to be brilliant though, but has experienced a Simpsons like fall from grace.

[koppite4ever]

It has suffered from the loss of Tim Lovejoy who was the host and producer of the original show for years. He now produces Channel Bee TV online. He took with him characters from the crew like Barry/Big Stan/Wrestler.

However, Helen Chamberlain is as charismatic as they come. I usually hate seeing women hosting male football shows/matches but Helen is brilliant. She can carry herself well on air, unlike all the American female hosts who just suck eggs. You know, folks like Heather Mitts, Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain who are just horrible.

The point about Soccer AM is that it is a Saturday breakfast show that would be a big hit here. While I prefer the original feed from SKY, I would love to see Tim and Helen back together with the crew doing a production from New York City.

Imagine the celebrities they could mess with about soccer. Snoop Doggy Dog and his views on Rafa Benitez's rotation policy, Al Pacino and his views on the MLS Playoffs, Donald Trump and his views on single entity business model of MLS, and on and on. It would be hilarious stuff and really promote the game here. There is so much material to make fun of in America and they would not be stuck on MLS, USL and college soccer but could continue to cover the worldwide game.

I can just see the Wrestlers having a go in Times Square and shouting "Easy Easy" and then "You Shat Up" to the NYPD. Yesssss.

[BocaFan]

Yeah, won't be a hit over here. Tough enough getting-up early enough to watch the matches due to the time-difference. Who's getting up at 4:00 EDT to watch SoccerAM? Absolutely nobody.

[RichardL]

I watch Soccer AM every week and IMHO it's not as good this year as it has been in year's past. Just not as funny.

That's a bit like saying the seven dwarves aren't as tall as you remember them.

I've only endured Soccer AM a few times, and always it was to football culture what pop idol is to the music scene.

[koppite4ever]

Yeah, won't be a hit over here. Tough enough getting-up early enough to watch the matches due to the time-difference. Who's getting up at 4:00 EDT to watch SoccerAM? Absolutely nobody.

First, it would fill dead air time on FSC when broadcast LIVE. There are many soccer folks who get in from a night out at 4am Saturdays (or 1am PST) and don't mind watching the TV before getting their heads down.

Second, kids get up early on Saturdays and so some of Soccer AM could be an option for them. Many youth matches start at 8am or 9am (EST) Saturdays and coaches and families often get up by 6am to get ready for the game, so this would be a great show to watch before heading out.

Third, many people have DVRs and thus do not need to watch it LIVE but can come back & watch it in their spare time.

Finally, re-airing the show tape delay will allow other folks to watch it later in the evening from 5 or 6pm (EST) if they don't use a DVR. Heck, you can show it Sundays too. FSC has so much dead air time slots and replay slots, it would easily fit their schedule.

The key point is we need to continue to promote all the good about the game as we can and as much as we can. Too often it is not the rules of the game or the dimensions of the pitch and goals that need changing but the attitude of the coaches and players who just play not to lose (like Benitez and Mourinho) instead of play to win with style, speed and flair (like Wenger, Ferguson and Rijkaard) in every match. The game is entertainment first but too many lose sight of that.

Soccer AM brings out the entertainment value of the sport in a fun and fresh way. It may not be the show of old but for first time viewers it will still be fresh enough for them to get hooked. Showboat, Skill Skool, Goal Action, Great Saves, Crossbar Challenge, etc, are all well made clips with trendy hip hop music that function well with the action and relate to a young audience, instead of the current FSC use of "porn b-movie music" or ugly sounding electric guitars. The difference in production and presentation between SKY and FSC is light years and yet both are owned by Rupert Murdoch. I suspect he is not aware of FSC's amateur productions here.

[jammybastard]

I've only endured Soccer AM a few times, and always it was to football culture what pop idol is to the music scene.


Well...it is supposed to be that way but I don't think that's a bad thing. It's a nice contrast to Match of the Day/Football Focus and the other old boys club footy shows.

I'm actually glad Lovejoy is gone. He was clearly miserable for all the world to see during his last season.
I do know that two of the key producers, the guys who did "Boston Goals" all the mock "Northern" programs, etc...left with Lovejoy and nobody has stepped in to the breach.
Rocket and Tubes can't carry a 3 hr. show.

Here's one of my favorite segments...
"Manchester News" coincidentally on the day Noel Gallagher was a guest on the show...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJYpMPtPr0E&feature=related

[kevin james]

[QUOTE=koppite4ever;16029138]. You know, folks like Heather Mitts, Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain who are just horrible.


There is nothing horrible about Heather Mitts. ; )

[yikchi]

There is nothing horrible about Heather Mitts when she's not talking. ; )

FYP.

[Kryptonite]

First, it would fill dead air time on FSC when broadcast LIVE. There are many soccer folks who get in from a night out at 4am Saturdays (or 1am PST) and don't mind watching the TV before getting their heads down.

1 AM PST, I could see. 4 AM ET, give me a break. Then again, with a DVR, time really becomes a moot point.

Second, kids get up early on Saturdays and so some of Soccer AM could be an option for them. Many youth matches start at 8am or 9am (EST) Saturdays and coaches and families often get up by 6am to get ready for the game, so this would be a great show to watch before heading out.

They may have a few minutes while they're eating, but wouldn't kids be gathering their stuff, running around the house, trying to get ready? This example wouldn't work in a lot of cases.

Third, many people have DVRs and thus do not need to watch it LIVE but can come back & watch it in their spare time.

True.

Finally, re-airing the show tape delay will allow other folks to watch it later in the evening from 5 or 6pm (EST) if they don't use a DVR. Heck, you can show it Sundays too. FSC has so much dead air time slots and replay slots, it would easily fit their schedule.

Sunday nights perhaps. Maybe in the winter it could move to Saturday nights, with a repeat on Sunday nights. In the summer, perhaps time could be found on Saturday mornings with a repeat on Sunday nights. (MLS takes 3 hours on Saturday nights, plus Sky Sports News and Fox Soccer Report makes those times unavailable. No Euro club action in the summer might make Saturday morning free.)



The difference in production and presentation between SKY and FSC is light years and yet both are owned by Rupert Murdoch. I suspect he is not aware of FSC's amateur productions here.

How many people watch FSC? How many people are aware it exists? DirecTV and many cable providers have it on a sports tier. Add a cable box (which not everyone has), then probably a subscription to digital cable, then you can think about a sports pack.

[themaestro]

I think I actually prefer Goldstein to Max so that is saying something about Max lol, but maybe he will get better. He doesn't have the charisma or personality...obviously Helen didn't get on with Goldstein and they sent him packing. Maybe not as good as it once was, but still I try to torrent it or D/L it every time. Usually worth a few laughs and they usually have some good segments.

About FSC, I always wondered about them getting it. I would watch it even on a couple of day delay. FSC shows are completely shit, as are their pre/post match shows--pretty much anything they produce themselves is amateurish.

Although I would watch Heather Mitts anytime---(Perhaps she could do a Football Fitness show with her running, jumping, stretching, etc. ).
:D

[7spencer7]

90% of the guests on the show (and the things they talk about with them which rarely have anything to do with soccer) are complete unknowns outside the Uk. I could see a condensed version with all the interviews cut out maybe getting a few viewers but overall I can't see it being succesful in it's full 3 hour state.

Also the show is not aired during the summer so if it was aired in the summer over here it would all be reruns.

[JG]

obviously Helen didn't get on with Goldstein and they sent him packing.

IIRC they're in fact very close friends.

A 30 or 60-minute condensed version of the show wouldn't be terrible, but the full version is unwatchable.