TV history was made yesterday

[Jul]

Kelly Tilghman of the Golf Channel made history yesterday when she became the first full-time female lead play-by-play golf commentator in TV history during Mercedes-Benz Championship in Hawaii. This in part due to a new 15 year deal to carry at least the first 2 rounds of every PGA tour event on The Golf Channel (Golf channel will broadcast all rounds of the first 3 PGA tour events including this one). NBC and CBS will carry the over the air broadcasts of the last 2 rounds of PGA tour events under the new deal. If you watched the first round coverage yesterday on TCG, what did you think of Kelly Tilghman’s performance as a play by play broadcaster and was it about time that for a woman to finally get this role?

 

[mjlarochelle]

So a female became a golf commentator. Big deal.

 

[easttxtv]

Also, it's the first time in MANY years that USA isn't the go-to cable channel for the Thursday-Friday rounds of a golf tournament anymore.

 

[Jul]

If you want to check Kelly out this week during the first PGA tour event of the season here are the golf channel air times for this event: Today: 6:00 PM - 10:30 PM ET
Saturday 1/6 6:00 PM - 10:30 PM ET
Sunday 1/7 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM ET

 

[wnmb]

Fred Flintstone! It would only be proper and courteous for you to rescind your remarks or apologize for your remarks about Kelly Tilghman. Her father and family happens to be my neighbors here in North Myrtle Beach and what you wrote, perhaps in jest, is quite offensive. Kelly has more talent than most people can dream of. Her dad is our former Mayor and the entire family is a class act. How about it Fred?

 

[Frasier]

Also, it's the first time in MANY years that USA isn't the go-to cable channel for the Thursday-Friday rounds of a golf tournament anymore.

And, just like the NFL Network starting to air NFL football games live, when it comes to the Golf Channel airing major PGA coverage... nobody really cares.

 

[fred flintstone]

I know nothing about Kelly Tilghamn and I never heard of her before I read this thread.
I don't watch the Golf Channel and I consider golf on television less interesting than waiting for water to boil.
However, I have seen how women in general are given preferential treatment in broadcasting...
- Through political correctness, affirmative action and the EEOC.
- And through using what were once called "wiles," all the ways women have of getting what they want from men.
I have worked with women who showed up when they felt like it, did what they felt like doing, avoided what they did not want to do, ran and complained to management when they did not get their way, lacked talent, ability and initiative and were nonetheless rewarded.
I have also worked with women who were talented, worked hard, did not play the game, did not flirt with or sleep with the boss and were penalized for it.
I have worked with program directors who brag about greasing the wheels for women (invariably young and attractive women) and ease out women who are not compliant or who begin to show their age.
So, if I am skeptical, I come by my skepticism honestly.
Some women have been willing to accept preferential treatment, and this is the result.

This business is full of "mean girls," cheerleaders and "I'm-a-blonde" types who offer nothing more than cosmetic appeal. They read off a TeleprompTer or repeat what is said in their ear piece. The work, the thinking, the preparation and the real abilities lies with under-paid, unappreciated "Ugly Bettys" and "nerds" who make the Barbies (and Kens) look good and sound coherent.

Meanwhile, I'm still trying to figure out how this qualifies as "TV history."

 

[truthandjustice]

I know nothing about Kelly Tilghamn and I never heard of her before I read this thread.
I don't watch the Golf Channel and I consider golf on television less interesting than waiting for water to boil.
However, I have seen how women in general are given preferential treatment in broadcasting...
- Through political correctness, affirmative action and the EEOC.
- And through using what were once called "wiles," all the ways women have of getting what they want from men.
I have worked with women who showed up when they felt like it, did what they felt like doing, avoided what they did not want to do, ran and complained to management when they did not get their way, lacked talent, ability and initiative and were nonetheless rewarded.
I have also worked with women who were talented, worked hard, did not play the game, did not flirt with or sleep with the boss and were penalized for it.
I have worked with program directors who brag about greasing the wheels for women (invariably young and attractive women) and ease out women who are not compliant or who begin to show their age.
So, if I am skeptical, I come by my skepticism honestly.
Some women have been willing to accept preferential treatment, and this is the result.

This business is full of "mean girls," cheerleaders and "I'm-a-blonde" types who offer nothing more than cosmetic appeal. They read off a TeleprompTer or repeat what is said in their ear piece. The work, the thinking, the preparation and the real abilities lies with under-paid, unappreciated "Ugly Bettys" and "nerds" who make the Barbies (and Kens) look good and sound coherent.

Meanwhile, I'm still trying to figure out how this qualifies as "TV history."

Fred Flintstone. I do have to agree with what you wrote.

 

[argytunes]

To Fred Flintstone...and a few others who have the "men should only do this type of work" mindset... :

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could start evaluating people according to their talent...as opposed to their gender? :-[

Frankly...there are a quite a few women reporters, commentators, sports analysts, etc. who are superior to the "so-called male experts" who are essentially making HUGE BUCKS for doing a half-a**ed job!

Just in case you haven't heard...broadcast standards have changed in the 21st century! I'm really not a supporter of the EOE edict. Instead...Broadcast Professionals should be 'judged on their on-air talents' instead of whether they wear a pair of slacks and a loose fitting t-shirt better than their male counterparts do! :

argytunes.....who has had the pleasure of working with several very professional female broadcasters for more than 30 years!

 

[fred flintstone]

To Fred Flintstone...and a few others who have the "men should only do this type of work" mindset... :

That is not what I said. Your point is valid. You don't need to misrepresent my comments to make your point.
If you are are going to comment on what I said, please do me the courtesy of reading it and paraphrasing it accurately.

 

[radiofriend1]

I know nothing about Kelly Tilghamn and I never heard of her before I read this thread.
I don't watch the Golf Channel and I consider golf on television less interesting than waiting for water to boil.
However, I have seen how women in general are given preferential treatment in broadcasting...
- Through political correctness, affirmative action and the EEOC.
- And through using what were once called "wiles," all the ways women have of getting what they want from men.
I have worked with women who showed up when they felt like it, did what they felt like doing, avoided what they did not want to do, ran and complained to management when they did not get their way, lacked talent, ability and initiative and were nonetheless rewarded.
I have also worked with women who were talented, worked hard, did not play the game, did not flirt with or sleep with the boss and were penalized for it.
I have worked with program directors who brag about greasing the wheels for women (invariably young and attractive women) and ease out women who are not compliant or who begin to show their age.
So, if I am skeptical, I come by my skepticism honestly.
Some women have been willing to accept preferential treatment, and this is the result.

This business is full of "mean girls," cheerleaders and "I'm-a-blonde" types who offer nothing more than cosmetic appeal. They read off a TeleprompTer or repeat what is said in their ear piece. The work, the thinking, the preparation and the real abilities lies with under-paid, unappreciated "Ugly Bettys" and "nerds" who make the Barbies (and Kens) look good and sound coherent.

Meanwhile, I'm still trying to figure out how this qualifies as "TV history."

i agree w/U on how this is tv history.

that being said however----your cosmetic appeal comment isn't confined to women on tv. there are ken doll men all over the tube who get a leg up on their competitors cuz of their looks or age, etc. if u want to attack anybody for this, attack fox news channel. they have very specific qualifications for their female anchors re: looks, hair color, deepness of voice......becuz their audience leans heavily male and they know guys like babes with deep, resonant voices. they're all miked that way, the studio is lit to take advantage of it, etc.

but i do think the "chicks who didn't sleep w/the boss didn't get the gigs" comment may have been valid in 1985 but not in 2006 (anymore than males sleeping with a female boss). besides, all the references in your rant are past tense and that is somewhat telling

 

[Jul]

Meanwhile, I'm still trying to figure out how this qualifies as "TV history."

Because this is the first time a woman is the lead golf announcer on TV in the USA

 

[fred flintstone]

Meanwhile, I'm still trying to figure out how this qualifies as "TV history."

Because this is the first time a woman is the lead golf announcer on TV in the USA

Thanks for replying, Julius. I get that part.
This is The Golf Channel we are talking about. Comcast doesn't have it. DirecTV has it as a premium channel. Dish has it only in the their most expensive (America's 180) package. Fios has it in their premium sports package. Do you receive this channel? I don't. I can't imagine many people do. This seems like sort of an obscure event on an obscure channel.

 

[Jul]

Thanks for replying, Julius. I get that part.
This is The Golf Channel we are talking about. Comcast doesn't have it.

comcast has this channel in my lineup in NE/NW Philadelphia. I think they own this channel so chances are all comcast cable systems in the USA have this channel.

 

[radiofriend1]

Meanwhile, I'm still trying to figure out how this qualifies as "TV history."

Because this is the first time a woman is the lead golf announcer on TV in the USA

so what? if she's good who cares? answer: people who have problems with women doing sports broadcasting

it's 2006. get over it

 

[justthenumbers]

Thanks for replying, Julius. I get that part.
This is The Golf Channel we are talking about. Comcast doesn't have it.

comcast has this channel in my lineup in NE/NW Philadelphia. I think they own this channel so chances are all comcast cable systems in the USA have this channel.

Yes, Comcast does indeed own the Golf Channel -- along with networks like E! and Versus. As a result, not only does Comcast carry these networks, but I would imagine that they all have a home on the Expanded Basic tiers (i.e. non-digital) on Comcast's cable systems.

 

[fred flintstone]

so what? if she's good who cares? answer: people who have problems with women doing sports broadcasting

it's 2006. get over it

Political correctness rears it's head.

Re-read my post. In the real world, it doesn't matter if she's good.
What matters is meeting a quota.
What matters is a lot of PDs think with ----- well, ya' know.

And what really matters, is all the women I've met in this business who cared about their craft, who loved the work, who worked hard and went the extra mile for the job, women I personally respected as talents, as colleagues and co-workers, who got passed over because they didn't play the game, didn't flirt, didn't play the sex card or the EEOC/victim card. Women who just wanted to do their job as well as they could, and maybe get some appreciate for their efforts.
Here again, the politically correct crowd seems only to care about the Barbies and Bimbos with a history of getting things handed to them - for political reasons or personal reasons. And not the women (or men) who just want to make it the old fashioned way. But often you don't hear about them. They don't usually don't make "TV history." If they do make it to large markets, networks or cable channels, they are producers and writers and you never see them or hear about them.

Tell me who was the first female network sports producer?
Don't know that one, do you? I didn't think so.

Do I have a problem with women doing sports broadcasting? Sure, if it's someone like Phyllis George, the first woman to do NFL TV coverage. She got the job by being Miss America, which is a great qualification for covering football on TV.

By the way, it's 2007.


PS: You are correct: I re-checked. The Golf Channel is on the back side of the Comcast channel card with the basic tier analog channels. It is not listed among the top cable networks, however.

 

[justthenumbers]

PS: You are correct: I re-checked. The Golf Channel is on the back side of the Comcast channel card with the basic tier analog channels. It is not listed among the top cable networks, however.

Golf Channel will probably never be a top cable network. But at least their attempts to increase viewership (by obtaining the rights to more PGA tour events & tournaments) are a perfect fit for the network. On the other hand, look at CMT - they are trying to increase viewership by airing beauty pageants, movies, and reality shows that are supposedly "country-themed" or a good fit for the "country lifestyle"...

 

[fred flintstone]

Golf Channel will probably never be a top cable network. But at least their attempts to increase viewership (by obtaining the rights to more PGA tour events & tournaments) are a perfect fit for the network. On the other hand, look at CMT - they are trying to increase viewership by airing beauty pageants, movies, and reality shows that are supposedly "country-themed" or a good fit for the "country lifestyle"...

The biggest sell out is AMC.
They run semi-recent movies, not classics any more.
The movies are cut.
The movies are interrupted for commercials.
The movies are pan-and-scan (mostly - maybe an original format version late at night).
They show colorized films (again, sometimes the original B&W version later at night).
They don't have Bob Dorian or anyone at all like him.
They show TV series.

OK, they let TCM get away with all the good movies. TCM didn't have all the major packages. AMC still has rights to some classic movie packages, but they seldom show them and they could have been competitive with TCM.

 

[justthenumbers]

OK, they let TCM get away with all the good movies. TCM didn't have all the major packages. AMC still has rights to some classic movie packages, but they seldom show them and they could have been competitive with TCM.

Well, TCM doesn't air commercials. It's kind of like a premium channel that's available on the Expanded Basic tier (or at least on my cable system.) My guess is that Turner Networks makes enough money from its commercial properties, they can "afford" to have some non-commercial "classics" channels (Boomerang is another.)

If TCM did air commercials, I wouldn't expect them to air so many classics.

For whatever reason, Boomerang seems to be adding more and more replays of Cartoon Network originals, in place of some true classics (for example, what happened to the Tex Avery show they aired on Sunday nights?) If they were to air commercials (all they have right now is Cartoon Network promos, it seems), I wouldn't surprised to see all of the true classics go away, in favor of an endless diet of Dexter's Laboratory, Powerpuff Girls, etc.