Apparently NFL Games On Nickelodeon Will Be Exactly How You’d Expect NFL Games On Nickelodeon To Be
If you remember a few months ago, it was reported that select NFL Playoff games this year will be aired on the popular children’s network, Nickelodeon (shout out, Salute Your Shorts). Well, apparently we got more details on those games today.
End zones will be filled with superimposed slime during next month’s NFL Wild Card game telecast on Nickelodeon. Additionally, when a player mugs for the camera following a big play, cartoonish googly eyes — or some other Snapchat-type of filter — will be superimposed onto him during replays. Nickelodeon’s production, which was part of CBS Sports’ winning bid to carry the game, will have a distinctly Nickelodeon look-and-feel — one that the NFL hopes will have more young viewers sample the game scheduled for Jan. 10 at 4:30pm ET. “This is going to look different than a normal CBS broadcast, and I think the NFL understands that,” said CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus. “They really see the value. They are intent on reaching a younger audience. They think that’s where the fans of the future are. They think this is a really cool idea.”
via Sports Business Journal
Not to be the perpetual Internet cynic or anything, but this idea has all the feels of out-of-touch adults thinking they know what kids think are cool. Kids like Snapchat filters and googly eyes, right? Let’s add it to the broadcast! This feels like just putting lipstick — err, googly eyes — on a pig. At the end of the day, football is still football. Pretty sure adding some special effects aren’t going to change that. Those kids aren’t going to sit through a 40-second play clock without picking up their mom and dad’s tablet and watching Paw Patrol on YouTube.
Honestly, you see a lot of this right now during Christmas time. Especially with adults trying to buy gifts for children. I have three nieces. It’s not easy buying what I think they’ll like. Do kids still like Lincoln Logs? You have to basically make an assumption as to what’s popular right now and figure out how that translates into a gift. Are fidget spinners still popular? Look, I’m not knocking CBS here. In fact, I don’t envy their role here. It’s hella tough. I could be wrong. They could know exactly what will keep kids attention. I just wish them luck. God speed. And I also wish my favorite team isn’t the one playing in this game because sheesh. Here’s a preview of what it will look like.
Let’s break down who’s calling this game:
Noah Eagle – Ok, good start. Not only is he the son of famed CBS broadcaster Ian Eagle, but he also has a bird for a last name. Kids will like that.
Nate Burleson – Love Nate. As the only guy on the cast of Good Morning Football who has an appreciation for Bedazzled (shout out, Brendan Fraser), he holds a special spot in this blog’s heart. Plus, he’s awesome on CBS’s pregame show. And you know this dude is going to bring that cool factor to the Nick audience.
Gabrielle Nevaeh – I’ll be honest. I have no idea who Gabrielle is. She apparently works for Nickelodeon and will be providing analysis. I imagine she’ll be holding a mic and index cards, because it feels like every Nickelodeon gameshow host of all time is always holding a mic and index cards.
(I wish they could’ve gotten Melissa Joan Hart to be the color analyst just so we literally could’ve had Clarissa explain it all.)
Lex Lumpkin – Ok, this isn’t a real person. Can’t be. That has to be a made-up name, right? I know kids love alliteration, but Lex Lumpkin? Sounds like someone Stan Lee made up. What was Billy Booper taken? Apparently, Lex will be the sideline reporter, which I’m sure kids will love when Noah Eagle says, “Let’s send it down to Lex!”
Also, don’t bury the lede, CBS. Apparently, at halftime they will air a sneak peek of Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years, which debuts on Nick later in the year. That’s your selling point right there. Like many people today, kids will be tuning into this game solely for the halftime show. Not Beyonce. Not J-Lo. But Spongebob.
Also, the head of officiating for this game can’t be anyone other than Mo, right?
[divider][/divider]
BONUS: When this news first dropped a made a bunch of photoshopped images for a blog about ideas Nickelodeon could roll with for theri NFL coverage, but I just never got around to posting it. So I guess I’ll just drop them in this blog right here. Kinda funny/awkward how some of the ideas are kinda being implemented.
Nothing says fun children’s programming than Bill Belichick:
This was an idea on how coaches had to earn their coaches challenges. Mark Summers, u up?
This was just an idea for a TV show spinoff:
