I agree with King on this one, Arakawa's performance was great, but it didn't strike me as remarkable or memorable. It was certainly good though, and I'm happy that Japan has a hero to welcome home.

Say King, can you give us an update in a few weeks about some of the skaters NBC featured? I'd be interested to hear some post-olympic dish about them, and you're the only sports news I read.

I think the key to Miller's press is indeed whether or not he tried. He would have been vilified either way, but had he given it his best effort, at least the criticism would have been somewhat polite.

Because he didn't seem to give a rat's ass it's open season.

I agree that a spoiler alert is needed. I don't care that much, but I'm still behind on the TiVoing for this show. Right on the front page it says CTU is hit by a nerve gas attack on "24"!.

Tonight is indeed the penultimate episode. The final installment is on Wednesday, and will likely be about 115 minutes too long.

That said, GO KATHERINE!

I agree 100% about the coverage. Say what you want about John Madden, but I could listen to the guy all day. Yes, he occasionally stumbles over himself or points out the world's most obvious football fact, but I appreciate his knowledge of the game. Al Michaels is also great as always.

The one person I didn't care for was the sideline reporter Andrea Kremer, but that's nothing new. I haven't liked an MNF on-the-field person since Melissa Stark left a few years ago. I found her... not grating exactly, but not quite soothing either. Hard to explain I guess. And while Andrea isn't great, at least she's not Tony Siragusa.

And the main aspect of the broadcast I liked was the presentation in general. No fancy nausea-cams, replays when we need it, good explanations of what's going on, etc. It was an excellent show over all.

I was a little sad to lose Monday Night Football (it's dead to me now - I can't watch the beating that is the ESPN announcing team), but Sunday Night on NBC looks to be even better than it used to be. Plus I get to see all these commercials for NBC shows between possessions. I had about forgotten they were on the air (I really can't think of the last NBC show I've watched).

Give me the b-team any day. They're still not on par with Joe/Troy or Al/John in my little opinion, but they're miles above Turico, Theismann, and Cornholio.

Of course, I guess we should thank our lucky stars that the ESPN Sunday Night Football team from last year didn't return. If there is more of a beating than Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, and Paul Maguire, I don't ever want to hear it.

BTW King, did you enjoy the "Rock Star" of the week, or whatever the hell that was on Sunday night? Just when you thought we were rid of the horse trailer. ;)

And BTW2, how'd the coin flippin' boy of yours do this week?

I've been a vocal opponent of ESPN's announcing people for as long as I can remember, but I have to admit that they did a pretty decent job last night.

One moment in particular stood out to me, and that was when the Saints blocked that punt early in the first quarter and jumped on it for a touchdown. The announcers made the call and did something unusual: they shut up! They were silent while we all took in the meaning of the moment. Call this whole "Saints back at home" thing superficial when compared to the stuggles the city is still facing, but that was an amazing moment.

Of course, then they got back to their old tricks. Do we have an official MNF drinking game yet? If so, make sure there's an entry for taking a slug every time Theismann says "(Player) is the only (position) in the NFL that could pull that play off!" Yes, we know Joe.

But overall, I was pleasantly surprised. Maybe I won't have to watch MNF with the sound off this season after all.