Around the Horn (2002– ) User Reviews

a good show on espn not as good as PTI

[lilblig7 · 8/10 · 23 May 2005]

Around the Horn is a pretty good show on espn. It pits four newspaper writers to try to get as many points as they can by giving good comments about the subject. Bad comments mean they lose points. Good concept but I would rather watch four reporters stay for the whole show, but on this show they get voted off if they don't have enough points. This I don't like. I want to hear their opinions for the whole show. Other than that it's not that bad. The reporters all have their different views and express them different ways. Some are calm and collective and some are yellers and screamers. Another problem I have with this show is that they talk about the same things as Pardon the Interruption does. I would rather watch PTI so when I happen to flip over to Around the Horn I'm spoiled with the headlines.

So in conclusion it's a good show but PTI is still much better

It Could Be Much Better

[atlasmb · 6/10 · 15 August 2017]

It has been more than 8 years since a review of this show was posted. In that time, things have changed.

Tony Reali is still the host. Some of the old guard still peddle their viewpoints on plasmas 1-4. But my, how things have changed.

The original idea was to present a diversity of ideas, from various columnists and sportscasters around the country. Usually featured are writers from Boston, New York, Washington, Chicago, Miami, Denver, Los Angeles, or Phoenix. They usually cover the professional sports teams in their city. This geographical spread assures that the opinions of "homers" will be balanced by other opinions.

In recent years, the show has apparently sought more diversity among its panelists. That is to say they represent a wider representation of the cultural diversity of America, based upon race, gender, and sexual identity. This does not mean there is greater diversity of opinion. In fact, the opposite is true.

Not just on this show, but on virtually all shows, we now hear nearly uniform views about issues that are political (and more of them are). Sponsors fear backlash from special interest groups. The network fears the loss of sponsors. The newspapers and television shows that employ the panelists fear negative publicity. As a result, you may get differences of opinion about what is going to happen on the playing field, court, or ice, but when it comes to stories about player behavior, for example, the panelists only differ in the degree of their opinions, falling over each other to condemn what ESPN wants them to condemn. And they toe the "company line" in asserting that all athletes in the news should be regarded as role models (despite Charles Barkley's view).

The only other problem I have with the show is that the panelists, like many sports writers elsewhere, tend to advocate for behavior by athletes that makes their jobs easier. This means they like athletes (or coaches) who act erratically, who give fiery opinions, who give "color" to the game by wildly celebrating, by being combative. Personally, I would rather they advocate for good sportsmanship. This means good behavior, respect for your competitors, and a respect for rules of the game.

Despite what these talking heads tell us, the athletes are not always right in their battles with team owners. And the sports leagues are not always wrong when their opinions differ from athletes. And sports can be about more than athletes getting as much money as possible in the shortest possible time period.

I happen to like most of the panelists on this show. I just wish the debates were not so homogeneous.

Entertaining and informative

[williamsba1202 · 8/10 · 9 July 2009]

Around the Horn is hilarious. The host does a great job humiliating everyone with the "mute" and a point deduction. It's a comical but informative show. You don't get as much information as if you watched Sportscenter, but it still does a good job and makes me laugh.

I like it better than Pardon the Interruption because it doesn't sound nearly as scripted as PTI does. At least sometimes the "experts" agree on topics on Around the Horn. PTI is just 2 guys showing both sides of all the biggest stories.

Good show to tune in to and get the sports news and some laughs after a day of work.

Great, fast-paced and tremendously funny!

[SkateBro132 · 24 June 2005]

This show is probably the best sports show on television. When you get tired of the repetitive Linda Cohn or John Andersen commentary on SportsCenter, or you don't like all of the shouting involved with "Pardon the Interruption," you may want to give this show a shot.

Woody Paige is very funny and has some great banter with Jay Mariotti, Michael Smith, Tim Cowlishaw, and the like. The guys who return day after day are some of the best debaters on television and are very amusing. Even the ones, like Bob Ryan or J.A. Adande, who pop up every once in a while are amusing. The obscure ones like Adam Schefter or Mark Kiszla are not that entertaining, but thankfully, they rarely come up.

Max Keller was borderline annoying, but he is no longer on the show. Although I miss the "Disembodied Voice," the Tony Reali era is more entertaining than the previous one. All in all, this is a very entertaining show. It can hold my attention better than "PTI" because of the scoring, and it is less repetitive than the same old commentary on SportsCenter's top plays. This show is so fast-paced and interesting that, once you become a fan, you find it irresistibly funny and hard to turn away.

Once great, now in dire straits

[Hancock_the_Superb · 10/10 · 12 August 2004]

When I started watching this show in the fall of 2003, like many people I originally watched it as a lead-in to "Pardon the Interruption". I was entranced by the hilarious cast of characters, including the smarmy-but-kinda cool Max, the exceptionally obnoxious Disembodied Voice (Bill Wolff), and, of course, the Immortal WOODY PAIGE! Until early February, everything was good as gold, and this show was challenging PTI for my favorite sports show, until Max left and Tony "Stat Boy" Reali came in as a seemingly temporary replacement (though six months later he's still around. . . THE HORN!). To be honest, I can stand Stat Boy, though he doesn't have Kellerman's sense of humor, and his sparring with Woody isn't anywhere near as entertaining as Kellerman's. But Max's leaving was merely an indicator of what was to come. When Max began his "I, Max" for FSN, Michael Holley and the Disembodied Voice eventually left. But Woody and Jay, the backbones of the show, remained. There was the Dream Team of Woody, Jay, Bill Plaschke, and Michael Holley, disrupted of course with the latter's leaving, but Bob Ryan/Michael Smith were good, and the Dallas guys were okay in small doses. Woody remains extremely entertaining, with his indescribably wacky sight gags (eating a raw steak onscreen? His talking toy parrot?) and dead-on humor, while Jay, though annoying, at least provides a good counterpoint to Woody (who didn't laugh when they showed up together at the Super Bowl, on what I believe was Max's last show?).

However, let me bring you up to speed on the current situation (as of 8/12/04): Now Woody and Mariotti are going to disappear for a month, covering the Olympics. Add to that the fact that Plaschke hasn't been seen in a few weeks now, and it's obvious that there's no earthly reason to watch this show for a good while. It's going to be a long month . ..

So I'll classify ATH into three eras: the Kellerman Era, the Post-Kellerman Stat Boy Era, and the Current Situation. And my ratings for this show go thusly: (on a scale of 1 to 10) 9.5/7.5/4

sports writers from around the country debate

[sjayne · 9/10 · 12 August 2006]

this show is very fun to watch. the humor that all of the sports writers bring is very funny, not to mention the good-humored rivalry. and you catch up on the latest sports news and hear the good, bad and ugly of every sports situation. you have the loud mouths, the smart asses and the "serious" sports junkie. so there is a personality available to every kind of fan.

most topics are so up-to-date that local sports pages haven't even been printed yet. sports fans of all ages can watch and enjoy this show without feeling overwhelmed by all of the sports jargon. not to mention they cover all sports (granted most of the time they talk about whatever sport is in season, but that is just a given). bottom line-nothing and no one is off limits for this show.

Scoring Opinions Scores

[BigVanDoucher · 10/10 · 22 June 2006]

Around the Horn gathers four sports columnists from around the country, all from differing backgrounds and beliefs, and has them pontificate on ten different topics current to the sports world.

What sets the show apart is that points are doled out based on who makes the better argument. It brings competition to the standard opinion debate talk show, and does it with a very humorous attitude and approach.

The interaction amongst the four sports reporters is what gives this show it's undeniable charm. The distinct beliefs held by the writers causes natural, emotional conflicts to erupt and when the competitive aspect is included, a truly unique viewing experience is created.

... Also, it has Woody Paige. Paige is the MAN.

Not To Be Taken Seriously

[ccthemovieman-1 · 3/10 · 27 February 2008]

This sports panel-talk show started to go down the tubes when host Max Kellerman left several years ago. His replacement, Tony Reali, is annoying, obnoxious, and irritating. (Other than that, he's all right!)

Everyone has panelists they either like or dislike. I like Kevin Blackistone and usually Tim Cowlishaw (both Texas guys, oddly) and Jackie MacMullen, from Boston. I used to like Michael Holley, but he left awhile ago after Kellerman left. The worst I've seen are Michael Smith and Bill Plaschke. The guys who are always there but are almost cartoon figures, not to be taken seriously, are Woody Paige and Jay Mariotti.

These last two, along with many of the others, have made so many stupid statements and totally wrong predictions the last two years that the show has lost all credibility.

Add to that a host who thinks he's God's gift to TV and Tony Soprano rolled-into- one, and you have a sports talk show that used to be a lot of fun but now is just a sad joke.

Folks, don't take anything seriously on this show. The winners, of course, are determined beforehand and it's really meant to be nothing much more than a half-hour comedy show.

As with almost all of the ESPN TV talk shows, the subject matter also is way out of balance. If ESPN covers the sport or it's politically-correct, the sport or league will get tons of coverage. If the network (including its owner ABC) doesn't cover something, like hockey, the NHL is will be totally ignored while the NBA will be discussed for 20 of the 30 minutes. It's pathetic.

Bring back Max and a new producer who will give all sports fair representation.

Cannot watch anymore

[dredmart · 1/10 · 28 October 2021]

I used to watch the show. But the content and guests went downhill. Not in to Reali, his reasons for giving points or picking the winner of the showdown don't align with what I see. Now I only see the end of each show - it is on the front of my recording of PTI which I love. Don't know how people can watch this.

The worst sports program in the history of television

[RNMorton · 1/10 · 12 September 2018]

I happened to subject myself to this once or twice dialing in early for PTI. It is just astounding that a major cable network, ESPN, chucks this garbage out daily in a fairly key spot (5 pm), as a lead in to one of the best sports commentary shows ever, Pardon The Interruption. PTI should sue for lack of support. For sports programming history buffs, Exhibit A for the absolute crap ESPN could throw at its hungry-for-anything sports fans prior to the spate of me-too sports networks. Right down to the obnoxious host throwing his balled notes at the camera (every episode). That's the only part of the show I actually see now but it fits. Only to be watched in hell.

Doesn't deserve the predicate "funny"

[patrickfilbeck · 1/10 · 15 December 2021]

I don't understand why this sports show is so popular. The set design is terrible, the moderator is unsympathetic, the interviews are often embarrassing and stupid. An unnecessary program that no one should need.

Liberal sports talk at its finest

[travisjg29 · 1/10 · 27 January 2021]

If you want to listen to more about politics than sports then turn into this garbage show. Fire reali

Entertaining, but proof that sportswriters know very little about sports

[superscal23 · 3 September 2004]

Around the Horn is an entertaining show for us sports buffs out there. It's interesting to hear the topics discussed and the opinions presented. If you can stand to sit through all the talk about the Lakers, the Yankees, and the Red Sox then they actually do talk about other teams around the country.

The problems that I have with this show are that nobody ever has to answer for their mistakes. They talk about 10-15 topics a day, and the panelists are usually incorrect about at least half of them, but they are never forced to respond to their mistakes. One of the panelists will get in somebody's face, tell them how dumb they are, and then once the game is actually played, that person is totally wrong. This is kind of a problem with ESPN as a whole. Hyping an event is more important than what actually happens. Anybody else ever noticed that ESPN's pre-game football show, NFL Countdown is 2 hours long, and the highlight show, NFL Primetime, is only an hour.

When ATH first started, they asked the panelists trivia questions from their area as part of the show. They didn't know the answer about 75% of the time, so they stopped doing it. These people come off as experts, but then we find out that they're simply journalism school graduates who got a job in the major market that paid them the highest salary. As examples, I cite the two most often seen panelists, Woody Paige and Jay Mariotti.

Woody Paige is just a flat out idiot. He has no business being on TV. I can only hope, and assume, that he is better writer because on TV he comes off a stupid, arrogant jerk and the shows are so much better without him. The point I'm trying to make is that he used to not know there was a world outside of Denver (he once suggested the Yankees should go after Jay Payton to play center field), but now he has moved to New York because its more prestigious and more lucrative.

Jay Mariotti is the resident Chicago panelist. I, being from Chicago, liked him initially because he seemed to be a very typical Chicago sports fan. I then find out he is from Pittsburgh, and just happens to live in Chicago because that's who pays him.

During the recent Olympics, Bill Plaschke was gone, and Mariotti and Paige were in Greece. The show was the best its ever been. JA Adande, Tim Cowlishaw, and Michael Smith are the three best and most knowledgeable panelists on the show, and they are rarely on because they don't make for particularly good TV by doing or saying something stupid.

If you're looking for entertainment, tune in when Mariotti and Paige are on.

If you're looking for insightful sports knowledge from smart people, steer clear of those two and wait for the three I mentioned earlier, along with Bob Ryan, and Jackie MacMullan.

New format su6ks

[hypnodoc2 · 1/10 · 8 November 2018]

A long time ATH viewer, I can't stand the new "enhanced" (?) format. Put focus back on content, not flash.

18 NBAer's commit insurance fraud

[quockquock · 2/10 · 11 October 2021]

Not one word about 18 former NBA players committing insurance fraud, but an NFL football coach is caught on film, dirty dancing and we get an entire segment on how he should be fired, suspended, fined etc... Just another example of ESPN's "woke" agenda, only in reverse. I watched it today and Justin Tinsley just had to comment on Dusty Baker being black and winning the World Series. He couldn't just comment on the team the series, the final game? He just had to brink up the "black" thing. Then in the next segment the Colts hire a white coach in the NFL and Tinsley once again brings up race. Just unwatchable.

Complete garbage

[connmoore · 15 January 2004]

A pathetic attempt to be "in your face" and repeat the success of the far superior Pardon the Interruption, also on ESPN. Max Kellerman, quite possibly the single most annoying host of any show this side of Ryan Seacrest, does his level best to show that the special education programs in this country have him as a success model.

The basic premise of the show, is to have Kellerman score the comments of various newspaper writers from around the country. The more outrageous and annoying, the higher Max scores them. One thing you will learn from watching this show is the reason none of these guys went into television. Some of the ugliest, most poorly spoken humans to ever live on the planet are presented here. It is amazing how these college educated, men (mostly) can be completely devoid of any speaking skills.

It was being on shows like this, that pretty much cost the once great Boston Globe reporter, Bob Ryan any credibility. He got so used to trying to be as obnoxious and stupid as possible, that he made degrading and idiotic comments about a basketball players wife. Mr. Ryan forgot to restart his brain after working on this show.

Around the Horn got some of the worst reviews ever when it first premiered, all of them deserved. ESPN ignored the pleas to remove this abomination, apparently because the ratings were pretty good. What I figure is the show is on late enough in the afternoon that the mouth breathing troglodytes with Neilson boxes are too drunk to bother changing the channel.

Avoid this crap. Dont reward the dumbing down of America by watching this show.

I'm watching this less and less.

[QuackQuack · 1/10 · 25 March 2021]

I used to watch this daily. Now I'm down to about once a week. It's just getting boring. Too many new "sports" people on the show. When they pretty much start talking about anything other than sports, i.e. Social issues... CLICK! And when I "click" it's taking longer and longer to come back to it. Maybe weeks at a time. Also that Clinton Yates guy is the worst ever. If he's on, my TV is off. Yates adds nothing to the show.

The Best 30 Minute Show on Television

[teenwolf97 · 28 November 2003]

I just saw where ESPN's other "entertainment show" had several people commenting on it and I didn't want this one to feel slighted in the least. When ESPN announced they were debuting some new shows in 2002, I like many hard-core ESPN and sports fanatics, were skeptical to say the least. My skepticism turned to apathy when I heard Max Kellerman would be the host. From what I knew of Max, he would turn up every time a major bout took place in the world of boxing (and he is a regular on Friday Night Fights on ESPN), and I found him extremely annoying. Some may still after viewing the show, but I have done a 180 turn on Max. He is wonderful in his position as the host as he keeps it moving and manages to be funny and fresh as well. What really makes the show, however, is the panelists, who are journalist for major newspapers around the country. It is enlightening to get views on sports from different coasts and time zones from the men who cover it daily. After experimenting with several different panelists, they seem to have found 4 regulars and they are Woody Paige(Denver Post), Jay Mariotti(Chicago Sun-Times),Bill Plascke(Los Angeles Times),and Bob Ryan(Boston Globe). Michael Holley(Boston Globe),Kevin Blackistone(Dallas Morning News),J.A. Adande(Los Angeles Times),and Michael Smith(Boston Globe) also appear at times. Each one has their own characteristics and traits that make them unique. Woody's humor and mispronouncing of words make me smile after a long day, and Jay Mariotti is almost always right on the money in my opinion. These guys argue or debate topics in the sports and entertainment worlds and garner points for good answers,and are muted for bad ones. Guys are elimintated until a one-on-one showdown determines a winner, who in turn gets 15 seconds of face time to say whatever he likes. But after watching one time, you'll see the points system isn't important. Well, I've said enough I guess but I really wonder why ESPN didn't think of this show sooner. I know for a fact it is a hit among college males and people of the 18-49 demographic. Several people I talk to are regular viewers and can't miss a day. The only thing that sucks is that ESPN continues to air these golf tournaments that 90% of the people could care less about and that causes this show to be preempted at times. All in all folks if you are a fan of sports or missed the previous days stories regarding not only sports,but music,tv,and movies as well,then this is the show for you. And remember, "it's out of bounds where it's all in-bounds".

Woody Paige: Why do always have to be the one to straighten you guys out?

Often hard to stomach

[baseballfanjm · 3/10 · 2 December 2006]

Around the Horn is pretty much proof the sportswriters have no business passing themselves off as experts. Usually, this show's panelists are unbearable to watch. Most of the time they know almost nothing about the subject they're taking a stand on and come off as arrogant fools. The general sense of arrogance is the biggest turnoff. These guys love to hear themselves talk, and they don't care about giving any actual insights to the topics they talk about. The exceptions, as someone mentioned, are JA Adande, Michael Smith, and Tim Cowlishaw. The show is interesting to watch when they're on.

If you want an entertaining sports talk show, wait the half hour until this is over and watch PTI. Wilbon and Kornheiser are smart, funny, and never try to pass themselves off as geniuses. Don't bother with this crap.

3/10, because the show is occasionally good when the aforementioned writers are on.

Perfect Game

[itsmeuc-25880 · 3/10 · 29 June 2023]

THis show is entertaining but stupid ! You guys are basically out of touch with reality. Completely ! He pitched a perfect game !!!! Thats it. Has nothing to do with his character, his past indiscretions, or his personality, or anything else you can think of, aside from the stars and universe lining up and him being in the zone in terms of pitching. Yesterday doesnt matter and neither does tomorrow. Only that moment. Do you guys actually cover sports for a living ??? And as far as pitching against the worst team in baseball - so what !!! How many other perfect games have there been against this worst team in baseball ???

Its the freakin major leagues and he pitched a perfect game. Theres no stupidity you can articulate to diminish this accomplishment. Shame on you for saying anything negative about it. Youre probably not very good at your jobs anyway cause why else would you want to be on this silly show humiliating yourself and your profession to make a buck.

what i wait for every day

[coltsj88 · 14 January 2004]

I come home every day, grab some Cheese Nips and a Coke, and sit down and watch Around the Horn. It is extremely humorous, yet it still gets to the point like no other sports show except Pardon the Interruption. I truly believe that ESPN has struck gold with Max Kellerman and company, because this show is simply magnificent as far as 30-minute television goes.

Annoying Git!

[jwayne-83163 · 2/10 · 7 September 2023]

You have some great sports writers on the show, but Reali?, or whatever his name is, is an annoying idiot.

Find a Disney kids show for him to host, the show is a joke with this clown as the host.

I watch only PTI because those guys aren't afraid to laying it out there. They call a spade a spade, and I believe that is what real sports fans want!

I have no idea how that idiot rates or awards points to the panelists, he is a complete failure unless I'm missing why he's on that show?

I only get the last few minutes of "Around the Horn", as I get ready to watch a real sports talk show PTI.

I know I'm not the only person in my sports circle that feels this way, "can the clown" it could be a great training ground for PTI replacements.

Trash

[J0ESUFF · 4/10 · 18 February 2024]

If you're obsessed with Tony Reali for some reason then maybe you have a reason to like this show but besides that I don't understand the appeal. Tony Reali listens to mediocre analysts debate over several subjects while giving them scores based on what he thinks their argument merits, so he in complete control of the show and steers the debates. It feels like too much power for someone who is closer to Hembo than an actual host, he's not personable; funny or provides any insight on any subject. If you don't love one of the analyst debating I don't even understand why you would watch this show; it's the Tony Reali show which is embarrassing enough, just end it.

Should be called "The Woody Paige Show"

[metalface101 · 28 February 2006]

This could be considered a conspiracy theory, but ever since Woody Paige left the Denver Post for New York and became a regular on Cold Pizza he wins almost ALL the time, and when he doesn't win he's usually in the showdown. I like Woody Paige, but his is not the only opinion around and Tony Reali doesn't understand that. The other panelist's have compelling arguments too, and I enjoy then all. Tim Cowlishaw, Michael Smith, Kevin Blackistone, A.J. Adande are all good too....did I mention Jay Mariotti? The show gets on my nerves anymore with Woody getting special treatment (by that I mean bonus points to keep him in the game). It's almost enough to keep me from watching. Anyone that watches this show keep this in mind and see if I'm wrong.