Yeah, I know, it's winter, and we've got a major snowstorm in the East. It had just started snowing just as I was getting to work this morning. So why don't we take a look at a long forgotten summer show?
Our Place was a summer replacement series that ran on CBS in 1967, courtesy of Ed Sullivan's production company (son-in-law Robert Precht was the executive producer), and virtually all of the acts on the show had also appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, including Jack Burns & Avery Schreiber, who were all over the show, the Doodletown Pipers, and Rowlf, the Muppet piano player whose first claim to fame was when he appeared on The Jimmy Dean Show. To my knowledge, Rowlf never appeared on Sesame Street, and seemingly dropped out of sight until The Muppet Show.
Anyway, here's a sample episode from July 1967.
If Sullivan's thinking was to eventually spin Burns & Schreiber off into their own show, since they were the dominant act in this episode, it would've worked-----had the show aired at an earlier time and/or on a different night. Since, I think, Sullivan's own show was in repeats during the summer, he & the network felt Our Place would benefit from the lead-in. Didn't happen, and it didn't return.
No rating.
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Musical Interlude: Pleasant Valley Sunday (1967)
The Monkees peaked at #3 on the Hot 100 with Gerry Goffin & Carole King's "Pleasant Valley Sunday", released as a single prior to season 2 of The Monkees.
Take note of the following as you look at the video:
*--While Micky Dolenz is the lead singer, he didn't play drums on the track. A studio musician did.
*--While Davy Jones struggles with the bass, that's just for show. He actually sang backup and played the maracas.
*--Peter Tork actually did play keyboards on the track.
*--When MTV acquired The Monkees in February 1986, their first Sunday marathon used "Pleasant Valley Sunday" as the title, with excerpts played during each commercial bumper.
Take note of the following as you look at the video:
*--While Micky Dolenz is the lead singer, he didn't play drums on the track. A studio musician did.
*--While Davy Jones struggles with the bass, that's just for show. He actually sang backup and played the maracas.
*--Peter Tork actually did play keyboards on the track.
*--When MTV acquired The Monkees in February 1986, their first Sunday marathon used "Pleasant Valley Sunday" as the title, with excerpts played during each commercial bumper.
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
DC-TV Midseason report, part 4: Arrow (2017-18)
Sorry it's taken so long to finish this, but to tell you the truth, I needed some time to get my thoughts together on the biggest creative train wreck in DC's TV roster. That, of course, would be Arrow.
==============================
Subject: Arrow
Season: 6th.
When it airs: Thursdays, 9 pm (ET), returning January 18.
Original rating: None.
Where we are: When one of your show-runners and head writers is writing for DC's biggest rival while working on this show, problems are bound to turn up. Marc Guggenheim is writing for one of Marvel's biggest franchises, the X-Men, while being part of Arrow's (& Legends of Tomorrow's) creative staff. Is it any wonder this series has been in trouble the last few years?
The season long story arc this season involves a master computer hacker named Cayden James (Michael Emerson, ex-Person of Interest), who's about as menacing as stale bread, to tell you the truth. As was the case with Prometheus last season, the writers on this show don't really have James' complete agenda realized yet, as if gradually drawing things out keeps the viewers' interest after all this time. News flash! It doesn't.
Black Siren (Katie Cassidy) is not only James' chief enforcer, but now she gets to lead her own team, based on the mid-season finale. Just about everyone that Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) has run up against this season has aligned with James. Worse, Queen must also deal with an FBI agent obsessed with capturing his alter-ego, Green Arrow. Turning over the quiver and hood to John Diggle (David Ramsey) didn't help, as Diggle was having issues of his own. So is Dinah Drake, the current Black Canary, since the Vigilante in this universe is her ex-lover and partner. As of now, Team Arrow has been splintered into two groups. On one, you have Ollie, his wife, Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards), and Diggle. On the other side are Dinah, Curtis Holt (Echo Kellum), aka Mr. Terrific, and Rene Ramirez (Rick Gonzalez), this world's Wild Dog. Rene is in a pickle because the Feds blackmailed him to snitch on Ollie. Now, that suggests to me that FBI Agent Watson may be secretly in league with James as well, but they're not playing that card just yet. I wouldn't put it past Guggenheim and his staff of scribbling idiots. Anyway, both teams have the same goal, to take down James once and for all, but, of course, everyone will be on the same page by the end of the season.
The show returns in a little more than 2 weeks. Here's a preview:
Yes, Oliver & Felicity got married during Crisis on Earth-X, which is just to screw with the internet fans who've hated the whole idea of "Ollicity" from day 1.
With the series now in its 6th season, the fear is that it may have already jumped the shark and is running on fumes, but the creative crew may be the only ones who don't see it that way. Greg Berlanti needs new writers, and with Andrew Kreigsberg, who helped develop the series, gone, maybe some fresh blood is on the way. Provided of course that the other shoe drops and they send Guggenheim off to a museum somewhere and leave him there.
Rating: C-.
==============================
Subject: Arrow
Season: 6th.
When it airs: Thursdays, 9 pm (ET), returning January 18.
Original rating: None.
Where we are: When one of your show-runners and head writers is writing for DC's biggest rival while working on this show, problems are bound to turn up. Marc Guggenheim is writing for one of Marvel's biggest franchises, the X-Men, while being part of Arrow's (& Legends of Tomorrow's) creative staff. Is it any wonder this series has been in trouble the last few years?
The season long story arc this season involves a master computer hacker named Cayden James (Michael Emerson, ex-Person of Interest), who's about as menacing as stale bread, to tell you the truth. As was the case with Prometheus last season, the writers on this show don't really have James' complete agenda realized yet, as if gradually drawing things out keeps the viewers' interest after all this time. News flash! It doesn't.
Black Siren (Katie Cassidy) is not only James' chief enforcer, but now she gets to lead her own team, based on the mid-season finale. Just about everyone that Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) has run up against this season has aligned with James. Worse, Queen must also deal with an FBI agent obsessed with capturing his alter-ego, Green Arrow. Turning over the quiver and hood to John Diggle (David Ramsey) didn't help, as Diggle was having issues of his own. So is Dinah Drake, the current Black Canary, since the Vigilante in this universe is her ex-lover and partner. As of now, Team Arrow has been splintered into two groups. On one, you have Ollie, his wife, Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards), and Diggle. On the other side are Dinah, Curtis Holt (Echo Kellum), aka Mr. Terrific, and Rene Ramirez (Rick Gonzalez), this world's Wild Dog. Rene is in a pickle because the Feds blackmailed him to snitch on Ollie. Now, that suggests to me that FBI Agent Watson may be secretly in league with James as well, but they're not playing that card just yet. I wouldn't put it past Guggenheim and his staff of scribbling idiots. Anyway, both teams have the same goal, to take down James once and for all, but, of course, everyone will be on the same page by the end of the season.
The show returns in a little more than 2 weeks. Here's a preview:
Yes, Oliver & Felicity got married during Crisis on Earth-X, which is just to screw with the internet fans who've hated the whole idea of "Ollicity" from day 1.
With the series now in its 6th season, the fear is that it may have already jumped the shark and is running on fumes, but the creative crew may be the only ones who don't see it that way. Greg Berlanti needs new writers, and with Andrew Kreigsberg, who helped develop the series, gone, maybe some fresh blood is on the way. Provided of course that the other shoe drops and they send Guggenheim off to a museum somewhere and leave him there.
Rating: C-.
Football this 'n' that
Teams from the SouthEastern Conference (SEC) played in all 5 New Year's Day bowl games. The league, it seems, was bent on re-establishing a monopoly on the national championship, and in the playoff games at the end of the night, they'd accomplished that goal.
Alabama, and future Hall of Fame coach Nick Saban, just won't go away. The Crimson Tide exacted revenge on Clemson in the Sugar Bowl, 24-6, but some of us, including ye scribe, just didn't feel like staying up past midnight (ET) for the game. On the other hand, the Rose Bowl provided more excitement, what with the first overtime game in the history of the event, as Georgia, the SEC champion, defeated Big 12 champ Oklahoma in double OT, 54-48.
The only other SEC team to win on Monday was South Carolina, returning to the scene of one of the most famous defensive plays in college history, and against the same opponent, to boot, defeated Michigan in the Outback Bowl, 26-19. Auburn, the biggest favorite among bettors as a 10 point favorite in the Peach Bowl, once again didn't find Atlanta's new Mercedes-Benz Stadium to their liking, as the Tigers fell to Central Florida, 34-27. In the Florida Citrus Bowl, Notre Dame needed some late magic of their own to down LSU, 21-17.
The common thread in all but the Sugar Bowl was that the SEC teams fell behind, then went ahead. In Georgia's case, it was virtually a track meet vs. Oklahoma, as defenses took the day off. Now, 2nd year coach Kirby (Get) Smart will face off with his former mentor, Saban, right back in Atlanta next Monday night for the all the marbles.
In watching the Rose Bowl, I couldn't help but notice that the game officials, from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), decided to let the players play, and called very few penalties. The game still slogged along because of all the scoring.
=====================================
Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians decided to retire Monday after a disappointing 2017 campaign. Something tells me that had he not made the decision, Arians probably would've been out the door anyway.
Yahoo! reports that Oakland hasn't extended a formal contract offer to former coach Jon Gruden to return, waiting until after he calls Saturday's NFL Wild Card game for ESPN. Gruden didn't work yesterday, contrary to what I'd assumed, but was only heard when they replayed Jadaveon Clowney's now famous hit on Michigan's Vincent Smith in the 2013 Outback Bowl. Smith's helmet landed about 10-15 yards behind him, the hit was so ferocious.
As for Gruden, his departure, if he leaves, spells the end of his "Gruden Grinder" segment on Monday Night Football. I speculated yesterday that Indianapolis might put some feelers out to former QB and current insurance agent/general nuisance to country music Peyton Manning to be their next coach, but if coaching's not in the telegenically challenged Manning, ESPN might be calling instead.......
Alabama, and future Hall of Fame coach Nick Saban, just won't go away. The Crimson Tide exacted revenge on Clemson in the Sugar Bowl, 24-6, but some of us, including ye scribe, just didn't feel like staying up past midnight (ET) for the game. On the other hand, the Rose Bowl provided more excitement, what with the first overtime game in the history of the event, as Georgia, the SEC champion, defeated Big 12 champ Oklahoma in double OT, 54-48.
The only other SEC team to win on Monday was South Carolina, returning to the scene of one of the most famous defensive plays in college history, and against the same opponent, to boot, defeated Michigan in the Outback Bowl, 26-19. Auburn, the biggest favorite among bettors as a 10 point favorite in the Peach Bowl, once again didn't find Atlanta's new Mercedes-Benz Stadium to their liking, as the Tigers fell to Central Florida, 34-27. In the Florida Citrus Bowl, Notre Dame needed some late magic of their own to down LSU, 21-17.
The common thread in all but the Sugar Bowl was that the SEC teams fell behind, then went ahead. In Georgia's case, it was virtually a track meet vs. Oklahoma, as defenses took the day off. Now, 2nd year coach Kirby (Get) Smart will face off with his former mentor, Saban, right back in Atlanta next Monday night for the all the marbles.
In watching the Rose Bowl, I couldn't help but notice that the game officials, from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), decided to let the players play, and called very few penalties. The game still slogged along because of all the scoring.
=====================================
Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians decided to retire Monday after a disappointing 2017 campaign. Something tells me that had he not made the decision, Arians probably would've been out the door anyway.
Yahoo! reports that Oakland hasn't extended a formal contract offer to former coach Jon Gruden to return, waiting until after he calls Saturday's NFL Wild Card game for ESPN. Gruden didn't work yesterday, contrary to what I'd assumed, but was only heard when they replayed Jadaveon Clowney's now famous hit on Michigan's Vincent Smith in the 2013 Outback Bowl. Smith's helmet landed about 10-15 yards behind him, the hit was so ferocious.
As for Gruden, his departure, if he leaves, spells the end of his "Gruden Grinder" segment on Monday Night Football. I speculated yesterday that Indianapolis might put some feelers out to former QB and current insurance agent/general nuisance to country music Peyton Manning to be their next coach, but if coaching's not in the telegenically challenged Manning, ESPN might be calling instead.......
Monday, January 1, 2018
Classic TV: The Jackie Gleason Show (1962-70)
After the end of The Honeymooners, the question was not if, but how Jackie Gleason could follow up what became a cult classic.
In 1961, Gleason tried a quiz show, You're In The Picture, a notorious bomb for which Gleason spent an entire half hour the following week apologizing for. A self-titled talk show lasted 2 months.
In September 1962, Gleason returned to the variety show format that had worked so well for him ever since he had been hired by DuMont in 1949 to take over Cavalcade of Stars. The Jackie Gleason Show, the third series to bear the name, and until 1966 sub-titled, The American Scene Magazine, became a Saturday night fixture for CBS.
After 2 seasons in New York, Gleason decided to relocate the show to Miami, creating a bit of a problem for announcer Johnny Olsen, on loan from Goodson-Todman, for whom he was staff announcer for their NY-based game shows. Olsen began commuting between Miami & New York to accomodate Gleason. In 1966, the American Scene Magazine sub-title was retired, but the series lasted just 4 more years before falling victim to the first phase of CBS' "rural purge", along with The Red Skelton Show (Skelton moved to NBC) and Petticoat Junction (cancelled after 7 seasons). CBS was beginning to cut shows that skewed demographically toward older viewers, as advertisers prefer younger audiences.
All the familiar characters and skits were intact. All-new Honeymooners skits with Art Carney & Gleason now joined by Sue Ane Langdon (replaced by Sheila MacRae) and Jane Kean. Gleason as The Poor Soul, Reginald Van Gleason, & Joe the Bartender, among others. The latter skits also featured singer-comic Frank Fontaine as Crazy Guggenheim, a comic persona which was also the inspiration for the Looney Tunes character Pete Puma.
From the color era, Jackie welcomes another comedy icon. Rodney Dangerfield:
My earliest memories of the series are, of course, the tail end of the Miami era (1966-70). Time-Life video has acquired the rights to the series and are shilling via infomercial (check your cable listings).
Rating: A.
In 1961, Gleason tried a quiz show, You're In The Picture, a notorious bomb for which Gleason spent an entire half hour the following week apologizing for. A self-titled talk show lasted 2 months.
In September 1962, Gleason returned to the variety show format that had worked so well for him ever since he had been hired by DuMont in 1949 to take over Cavalcade of Stars. The Jackie Gleason Show, the third series to bear the name, and until 1966 sub-titled, The American Scene Magazine, became a Saturday night fixture for CBS.
After 2 seasons in New York, Gleason decided to relocate the show to Miami, creating a bit of a problem for announcer Johnny Olsen, on loan from Goodson-Todman, for whom he was staff announcer for their NY-based game shows. Olsen began commuting between Miami & New York to accomodate Gleason. In 1966, the American Scene Magazine sub-title was retired, but the series lasted just 4 more years before falling victim to the first phase of CBS' "rural purge", along with The Red Skelton Show (Skelton moved to NBC) and Petticoat Junction (cancelled after 7 seasons). CBS was beginning to cut shows that skewed demographically toward older viewers, as advertisers prefer younger audiences.
All the familiar characters and skits were intact. All-new Honeymooners skits with Art Carney & Gleason now joined by Sue Ane Langdon (replaced by Sheila MacRae) and Jane Kean. Gleason as The Poor Soul, Reginald Van Gleason, & Joe the Bartender, among others. The latter skits also featured singer-comic Frank Fontaine as Crazy Guggenheim, a comic persona which was also the inspiration for the Looney Tunes character Pete Puma.
From the color era, Jackie welcomes another comedy icon. Rodney Dangerfield:
My earliest memories of the series are, of course, the tail end of the Miami era (1966-70). Time-Life video has acquired the rights to the series and are shilling via infomercial (check your cable listings).
Rating: A.
Meanwhile, some people are updating resumes........
The end of the NFL's regular season also sees some more blood-letting, as in, coaches being dismissed, with only one vacancy reportedly about to be filled. It's just a question, the media says, of when, not if. We'll get to that shortly.
Indianapolis, finishing last in the AFC South after Jacksonville's worst-to-first finish, fired head coach Chuck Pagano after 6 seasons, despite the Colts winning their season finale over Houston. The Colts have fallen on hard times the last three seasons, so of course a change needed to be made. I shan't be surprised if overtures are made to former QB Peyton Manning, still a beloved fan favorite in Indianapolis despite his unceremonius exit a few years back, to give up his other gig as a Nationwide insurance pitchman and try to turn the team's fortunes around. At least, if this happens, we wouldn't have to suffer with another series of insanely stupid ads like we've seen this season, in which the ad agency went out of its way to embarrass country singer Brad Paisley.
In the NFC North, Chicago said good-bye to John Fox after 3 seasons and diminishing returns. Whatever magic Fox had at Carolina had all but completely dissipated by the time he left Denver. Detroit dismissed Jim Caldwell in a clear case of "what have you done for us lately?". The Lions lost out on both the division and the playoffs as they were steamrolled by the resurgent Minnesota Vikings.
Reportedly, both the Lions & Colts are looking at talking to Patriots assistants Matt Patricia, an RPI graduate, and Josh McDaniels, who flamed out the last time he left New England.
The biggest story, however, is in Oakland, where the Davis family is thinking of reuniting with current ESPN analyst/beer salesman Jon Gruden. Gruden's last coaching job was in Tampa Bay in 2008. Since then, he's reinvented himself as a broadcaster, and has dodged rumors of returning to coaching in recent times. The Monday Night Football gig, of course, led to his endorsement deal with Corona beer. I believe Gruden is working one of today's bowl games. so the issue will be addressed, if that's the case. To make room, Jack Del Rio was sacked, despite leading the Raiders to the playoffs after the 2016 season. Gruden's brother, Jay, currently is the head man with the Washington Trumpets.
There may be more before we get to the Super Bowl. One coach who isn't going anywhere---yet---is Jests coach Todd "Salad" Bowles, who instead was given a 2 year extension, and, we think, a supply of baby powder & shampoo, by owner Woody Johnson. Of course, a case of Tylenol was probably part of the deal, too (Johnson & Johnson took over Tylenol and its related brands a while back). Seems to me that Johnson was afraid Bowles would wind up with a division (Miami) or conference (Oakland, if they don't bring back Jon Gruden) rival. At this time next year, watch, the extension will be as worthless as a counterfeit penny.
Indianapolis, finishing last in the AFC South after Jacksonville's worst-to-first finish, fired head coach Chuck Pagano after 6 seasons, despite the Colts winning their season finale over Houston. The Colts have fallen on hard times the last three seasons, so of course a change needed to be made. I shan't be surprised if overtures are made to former QB Peyton Manning, still a beloved fan favorite in Indianapolis despite his unceremonius exit a few years back, to give up his other gig as a Nationwide insurance pitchman and try to turn the team's fortunes around. At least, if this happens, we wouldn't have to suffer with another series of insanely stupid ads like we've seen this season, in which the ad agency went out of its way to embarrass country singer Brad Paisley.
In the NFC North, Chicago said good-bye to John Fox after 3 seasons and diminishing returns. Whatever magic Fox had at Carolina had all but completely dissipated by the time he left Denver. Detroit dismissed Jim Caldwell in a clear case of "what have you done for us lately?". The Lions lost out on both the division and the playoffs as they were steamrolled by the resurgent Minnesota Vikings.
Reportedly, both the Lions & Colts are looking at talking to Patriots assistants Matt Patricia, an RPI graduate, and Josh McDaniels, who flamed out the last time he left New England.
The biggest story, however, is in Oakland, where the Davis family is thinking of reuniting with current ESPN analyst/beer salesman Jon Gruden. Gruden's last coaching job was in Tampa Bay in 2008. Since then, he's reinvented himself as a broadcaster, and has dodged rumors of returning to coaching in recent times. The Monday Night Football gig, of course, led to his endorsement deal with Corona beer. I believe Gruden is working one of today's bowl games. so the issue will be addressed, if that's the case. To make room, Jack Del Rio was sacked, despite leading the Raiders to the playoffs after the 2016 season. Gruden's brother, Jay, currently is the head man with the Washington Trumpets.
There may be more before we get to the Super Bowl. One coach who isn't going anywhere---yet---is Jests coach Todd "Salad" Bowles, who instead was given a 2 year extension, and, we think, a supply of baby powder & shampoo, by owner Woody Johnson. Of course, a case of Tylenol was probably part of the deal, too (Johnson & Johnson took over Tylenol and its related brands a while back). Seems to me that Johnson was afraid Bowles would wind up with a division (Miami) or conference (Oakland, if they don't bring back Jon Gruden) rival. At this time next year, watch, the extension will be as worthless as a counterfeit penny.
Now, the NFL's silly season begins
The regular season is over. The playoffs start on Saturday with the Wild Card round. The defending Super Bowl champions, the Evil Empire of the NFL, the New England Patriots, have the biggest targets on their collective backs, along with the biggest prima donna in the game today, 40 year old QB Tom Brady. The team's detractors will tell you that owner Bob Kraft and the league's media partners will conspire to fix it so that the Patriots can win again. This is the real reason why ratings are down, not all the political hubbub over player protests, which started in 2016 over racial & social injustices, but became a political hot potato this season thanks to the 70 year old man-child in the White House throwing regular Twitter tantrums.
Anyway, let's look at the Wild Card round.....
AFC:
Tennessee @ Kansas City: The Chiefs opted to rest QB Alex Smith on Sunday, and it nearly backfired on them, as Denver rallied to tie the game, but KC prevailed, 27-24. The Titans defeated AFC South champ Jacksonville, the #3 seed, but I don't see an upset here. The only team that would benefit would be--who else?--New England, which has the Chiefs returning to Foxborough during the 2018 season, instead of going on the road. Kansas City beat New England on opening night in September, and while the Pats thirst for revenge, everyone would see something shady going on if Tennessee wins here. They won't.
Pick-Kansas City.
Buffalo @ Jacksonville: The two biggest surprises of the season meet in the first round. The Jaguars have former coach Tom Coughlin back in the fold, working out of the front office, and all he had to do was show the current team his 2 rings to provide motivation. If Buffalo wins, they get a rematch with New England, which would send the Chiefs to Pittsburgh. The Bills would be motivated after getting screwed in Foxborough 8 days ago. Then again, I think the Jags may be the only team in the AFC field the Patriots haven't faced this season. As for the Bills' owners, the Pegulas, at least the first step has been taken.
Pick-Jacksonville.
NFC:
Atlanta @ Los Angeles: The balance of power has shifted in the NFC West, with the Rams ending years of futility in their 2nd season back in LA. The Falcons are the defending NFC champions, hoping to atone for their own brain farts in the Super Bowl that cost them the championship. If the Rams win, they would play North champ Minnesota. If Atlanta wins, they would get East champ Philadelphia. The last two NFC champs have come from the South (Atlanta, Carolina), but that streak will end here. We need fresh blood come February.
Pick: Los Angeles.
Carolina @ New Orleans: The two NFC South rivals will meet for a 3rd time this season. Carolina wants to get back to the big game, hoping to make up for their own shortcomings vs. Denver 2 years ago. I don't see it happening this time. Saints QB Drew Brees is the oldest QB on the NFC side. It's crazy, but the prospect of matching Brees vs. fellow graybeard Brady isn't as far fetched as one might think, although I don't think that'll happen either.
Pick: New Orleans.
Of course, I could be wrong.
Anyway, let's look at the Wild Card round.....
AFC:
Tennessee @ Kansas City: The Chiefs opted to rest QB Alex Smith on Sunday, and it nearly backfired on them, as Denver rallied to tie the game, but KC prevailed, 27-24. The Titans defeated AFC South champ Jacksonville, the #3 seed, but I don't see an upset here. The only team that would benefit would be--who else?--New England, which has the Chiefs returning to Foxborough during the 2018 season, instead of going on the road. Kansas City beat New England on opening night in September, and while the Pats thirst for revenge, everyone would see something shady going on if Tennessee wins here. They won't.
Pick-Kansas City.
Buffalo @ Jacksonville: The two biggest surprises of the season meet in the first round. The Jaguars have former coach Tom Coughlin back in the fold, working out of the front office, and all he had to do was show the current team his 2 rings to provide motivation. If Buffalo wins, they get a rematch with New England, which would send the Chiefs to Pittsburgh. The Bills would be motivated after getting screwed in Foxborough 8 days ago. Then again, I think the Jags may be the only team in the AFC field the Patriots haven't faced this season. As for the Bills' owners, the Pegulas, at least the first step has been taken.
Pick-Jacksonville.
NFC:
Atlanta @ Los Angeles: The balance of power has shifted in the NFC West, with the Rams ending years of futility in their 2nd season back in LA. The Falcons are the defending NFC champions, hoping to atone for their own brain farts in the Super Bowl that cost them the championship. If the Rams win, they would play North champ Minnesota. If Atlanta wins, they would get East champ Philadelphia. The last two NFC champs have come from the South (Atlanta, Carolina), but that streak will end here. We need fresh blood come February.
Pick: Los Angeles.
Carolina @ New Orleans: The two NFC South rivals will meet for a 3rd time this season. Carolina wants to get back to the big game, hoping to make up for their own shortcomings vs. Denver 2 years ago. I don't see it happening this time. Saints QB Drew Brees is the oldest QB on the NFC side. It's crazy, but the prospect of matching Brees vs. fellow graybeard Brady isn't as far fetched as one might think, although I don't think that'll happen either.
Pick: New Orleans.
Of course, I could be wrong.
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