Commentary on TNT and other WB brands

[Eyeballs Out]

Got to love Hannah Walker's enthusiasm as a roving reporter. I suppose in these media friendly days you can just jump on a team bus on live tv (apparently uninvited) without getting kicked off with a load of expletives.

 

[wirral]

Jose Been joining Carlton Kirby's club of being unable to do very simple arithmetic to work out who is the GC leader.

 

[the delgados]

"There ain't no party at this Giro like a Plappy party" -- TNT commentator who shall remain nameless.
You see, this is what happens when commentators try to adopt CK's style by spending hours at home watching videos and trying desperately to mimic my man's brilliant turns of phrase and poetic lilt.
It falls flat on its face. I mean, what the hell was that? There ain't no party like a Plappy party? Good lord, man.
This is a perfect example why artists are artists and the rest of us are mere mortals. Just admit your shortcomings and try not to pretend. You'll just end up embarrassing yourself.

 

[Rackham]

A few things I've noticed with Max recently. I now get Carlton Kirby by default. I believe it's some sort of 'pan European' English commentary option for continental Europe or something but yeah, no more Sean Kelly or Rob Hatch for me. I don't mind. He's amiable enough and easy to listen to. He also sure as hell beats the French commentary team with Steve Chainel constantly screaming.

Also, I seem to be getting commercial breaks for some reason. No idea why.

 

[wirral]

Who was the ex-pro at 4 Jours de Dunkerque (not-TNT) interviewing the winners in French and English? I have never seen him before. It sounded as though he had had some tangles with Magnus Backstedt [from what was not said]. He also annoying had a tendency to answer his own question and then seemingly demanded the rider to agree with him.

 

[HashRouge]

A few things I've noticed with Max recently. I now get Carlton Kirby by default. I believe it's some sort of 'pan European' English commentary option for continental Europe or something but yeah, no more Sean Kelly or Rob Hatch for me. I don't mind. He's amiable enough and easy to listen to. He also sure as hell beats the French commentary team with Steve Chainel constantly screaming.

Also, I seem to be getting commercial breaks for some reason. No idea why.

I've never got the Carlton hatred from some people. Sure, he occasionally misidentifies riders, but he's certainly not the only commentator who does that. But as you say, he's very amiable, he tends to have excellent "filler" for the stages where nothing much happens, and he clearly really loves the sport and the riders. He's particularly good in combination with Robbie McEwan, though sadly it doesn't look like we're going to get that this Giro as he doesn't seem to be doing the UK TNT commentary at all. I've been a die hard Kirby fan ever since the awful Itzulia crash last year - his absolute rage at the long lingering camera shots of injured riders was actually quite touching. I also loved his absolute delight at Ben Healy's stage win in this year's Itzulia. He clearly really cares about the sport that we all love.

 

[RedheadDane]

Okay, I know I'm late to the party, but I've been having some giggles over their reaction to Pedersen's "I'm still looking at your ugly face every morning" burn.

 

[awavey]

I've never got the Carlton hatred from some people. Sure, he occasionally misidentifies riders, but he's certainly not the only commentator who does that. But as you say, he's very amiable, he tends to have excellent "filler" for the stages where nothing much happens, and he clearly really loves the sport and the riders. He's particularly good in combination with Robbie McEwan, though sadly it doesn't look like we're going to get that this Giro as he doesn't seem to be doing the UK TNT commentary at all. I've been a die hard Kirby fan ever since the awful Itzulia crash last year - his absolute rage at the long lingering camera shots of injured riders was actually quite touching. I also loved his absolute delight at Ben Healy's stage win in this year's Itzulia. He clearly really cares about the sport that we all love.

For me I like Kirby more than dislike, I love the filler in the boring bits.

But there are times why he goes a bit hyper/manic and it feels like he's calling a completely different race to the one you're watching, and that's not the kind of thing I want from commentary, or the pun competitions with Robbie.

For sure TNT have put together an increasingly large roster of worse commentators, but that doesn't mean we should ignore Kirbys bad habits either

 

[perico]

I’m a creature of habit. If I’ve been listening to a certain commentator for many years, then I tend to overlook their issues, so I tend to enjoy Kirby more so than the other lead commentators or TNT.

At the same time, I still enjoy Liggett, so it may just be that after 40+ years of watching the sport, I enjoy the familiarity more than I do knowledgeable or mistake free commentary.

Edit: I must also say that over the years, I find that McEwan is by far the most enjoyable #2 commentator in the sport among English speakers.

 

[Izzyeviel]

I've never got the Carlton hatred from some people. Sure, he occasionally misidentifies riders, but he's certainly not the only commentator who does that. But as you say, he's very amiable, he tends to have excellent "filler" for the stages where nothing much happens, and he clearly really loves the sport and the riders. He's particularly good in combination with Robbie McEwan, though sadly it doesn't look like we're going to get that this Giro as he doesn't seem to be doing the UK TNT commentary at all. I've been a die hard Kirby fan ever since the awful Itzulia crash last year - his absolute rage at the long lingering camera shots of injured riders was actually quite touching. I also loved his absolute delight at Ben Healy's stage win in this year's Itzulia. He clearly really cares about the sport that we all love.

& people forget cycling commentry isn't only his thing. You'll find him commentating on football & sportscar racing - especially at Le Mans. He does a great job in my view.

 

[RedheadDane]

Béen - commenting Dunkerque - making a point out of mentioning that Lund hasn't opted for a TT helmet during the sprint stages. (Unlike Van Uden).
Well, maybe he should have.