Author: sammano

2025-26 NFL Preview & Prognostications 

Just when I was kinda sorta almost getting amped up for the return of football, news emerged of ESPN gobbling up the NFL Network & RedZone. I was upset last year when RedZone abandoned their “seven hours of commercial free football” tradition, although if I’m being honest the commercials were sprinkled in unobtrusively. However, ESPN (or, if we’re keeping it 100, Disney) tends to ruin perfectly great things with their meddling. I still haven’t forgiven them for canceling Mike & Mike in the Morning eight years ago. Disney…which is also now in bed with WWE…has become a greedy monster gobbling up everything in sight, and the fans pay the price. Anyway, I suppose further changes won’t occur until next season, so we’ll forge ahead as usual for now. As always, I’ll remind you that I really don’t know what the hell I’m talking about sometimes, so please…no wagering.

North

Detroit Lions (15-2) 11-6

Green Bay Packers (11-6) 10-7

Minnesota Vikings (14-3) 9-8

Chicago Bears (5-12) 8-9

I’m so tired of talking heads slobbering all over Bears’ QB Caleb Williams, using words like “generational”. No, he’s not. He’s just another guy. In three years, if I am wrong, I will admit my error and ask for mercy. At this point though, I don’t believe Williams will be much more successful than predecessors like Rex Grossman, Kyle Orton, or Jay Cutler. Chicago does have a new head coach though. Former Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is getting his crack at a top job, and if anyone can prove me wrong about Williams it’s probably him. I like Vikings’ QB JJ McCarthy, but he is essentially a rookie after missing all of last season with a knee injury. The Vikes added some pieces on defense & bolstered their offensive line. Having said that, we probably need to show a bit of grace while McCarthy becomes acclimated to the NFL. Despite the presence of elite receiver Justin Jefferson, a solid running back group, and one of the best tight ends in the league in TJ Hockenson, I foresee a significant dropoff from a year ago. The Packers are being overlooked a bit, which might work in their favor. Jordan Love enters his third year as the starting quarterback, but he’s going to need more consistency from a deep & talented group of receivers, and their Top 5 defense has to maintain that level of intensity. Detroit’s defense was ravaged by injuries last year, and former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has moved on to be the head coach of the NY Jets. How will their offense adjust after the departure of Ben Johnson?? That’ll be the key to the entire season. I expect a small regression, but it’ll be worth it if they have a deeper playoff run.

South 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) 9-8

Atlanta Falcons (8-9) 9-8

Carolina Panthers (5-12) 6-11

New Orleans Saints (5–12) 6-11

While I don’t believe Bucs’ QB Baker Mayfield is worthy of being discussed alongside the league’s elite signal callers, I do think he has earned a spot on the second tier. A season ago that translated into a division title & a first round postseason exit, which is probably their ceiling once again. All eyes will be on Michael Penix Jr., now entrenched as the Falcons’ quarterback. Of course they also retained Kirk Cousins, whose services weren’t sought by any other team given his robust salary. Tight end Kyle Pitts has got to live up to his potential, and Atlanta’s defense, which ranked in the bottom third of the NFL last season, must kick it up a notch. The Panthers & Saints are spinning their wheels. New Orleans hired Kellen Moore to be their head coach, which may pay dividends in the future, but right now they simply have too many holes on the roster. I have come to the conclusion that the Panthers are football’s version of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They hire the wrong people, make bad decisions, and can’t evaluate talent properly. Their biggest issue is likely ownership, which won’t change until it does.

East

Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) 12-5

Dallas Cowboys (7-10) 10-7

Washington Commanders (12-5) 10-7

New York Giants (3-14) 6-11

Winning back-to-back Super Bowls is rare, but has been done as recently as the year before last. The Eagles have appeared in three Super Bowls since 2017, winning two. There has been some turnover on defense, but getting younger might not be a bad thing. Key free agents departed on both sides of the ball, yet, as long as Jalen Hurts is under center, he has his full complement of receivers, and Saquon Barkley is toting the rock, I see no reason to doubt Philly just yet. Brian Schottenheimer is now the head coach in Dallas, a change I’ve been predicting for a couple of years. Expect the Cowboys to rebound from a disappointing season and challenge Philadelphia for the division crown…assuming sack monster Micah Parsons gets paid. The Commanders will be right there in the mix as well, although QB Jayden Daniels won’t be sneaking up on anyone anymore. Does that mean Washington won’t be successful?? No…but I believe they’ll take a step back for now, especially if issues with receiver Terry McLaurin aren’t resolved satisfactorily. I actually like some of the things the Giants have done, but until Jaxon Dart supplants Russell Wilson behind center and young studs on defense gain experience there won’t be any postseason games at MetLife Stadium. 

West

Los Angeles Rams (10-7) 10-7

Arizona Cardinals (8-9) 9-8

San Francisco 49ers (6-11) 9-8

Seattle Seahawks (10-7) 8-9

The Seahawks are almost unrecognizable. There’s a whole new offensive coaching staff, and Sam Darnold replaces Geno Smith at quarterback. Many will view that as an upgrade, but I’m not so sure. Receivers DK Metcalf & Tyler Lockett are gone, with former Ram Cooper Kupp stepping in as the new second receiver behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Seattle was a middle-of-the-pack defense last year, but with so many changes no one knows what to expect now. I don’t think the NIners will be as terrible as they were a year ago, but their defense was certainly impacted in free agency. Time will tell if draft picks pan out, and in the meantime alot is riding on the further development of QB Brock Purdy & the always unstable health of RB Christian McCaffrey. I don’t have much more faith in Cards’ QB Kyler Murray than I do Caleb Williams, but if receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. continues his ascent that’ll help. Arizona’s braintrust seemed to focus on a defensive rebuild this offseason, so we’ll see how that works out. I don’t think winning their second consecutive division title will be easy for the Rams, and I’m a little concerned about the health of QB Matthew Stafford, but the defense should be sneaky good enough to narrowly win the division.

Playoffs: Eagles, Rams, Lions, Bucs, Packers, Cowboys, Commanders

NFC Title: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys

North

Baltimore Ravens (12-5) 11-6

Cincinnati Bengals (9-8) 9-8

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) 9-8

Cleveland Browns (3-14) 5-12

My Steelers have been the talk of the offseason. Will they be terrible or will they be mediocre?? I believe that’s called damning with faint praise. Enigmatic Aaron Rodgers will be the quarterback, and he’ll be throwing mostly to DK Metcalf, who I see as an upgrade after George Pickens yapped his way out of town. He’s Jerry Jones’ problem now. Pass rusher TJ Watt got paid, and I have no doubt he’ll earn it. The running game looks different with rookie Kaleb Johnson & Jaylen Warren sharing duties after the departure of former first round bust Najee Harris. For the first time in several years I have good vibes about the offensive line & secondary. Everything seems to be held together by duct tape & prayer in Pittsburgh, which won’t get them to the Super Bowl but also hopefully means I won’t spend the next several months curled up in a dark room muttering to myself, as I assume Browns fans have been doing for decades. First of all, Cleveland’s quarterback room is unintentionally hilarious. Secondly, Myles Garrett is not the best defensive player in the NFL. Look on the bright side though…the Cavaliers are pretty good, and the Guardians ain’t half bad either. The division belongs to Baltimore, who’ve become the AFC’s Dallas Cowboys tribute band. No one doubts they’ll be successful in the regular season, but everyone assumes they’ll screw the pooch in the playoffs. Can the Bengals be a fly in the ointment?? Joe Burrow is a top notch quarterback. He has solid weapons, although if I were the GM I’d be looking for upgrades in the backfield & at tight end in the next draft. However, Cincy’s defense ranked in the bottom third of the league last season, and that was with pass rusher Trey Hendrickson in the lineup. If his holdout continues it’s a huge problem, and even if he plays there are other issues. 

South 

Houston Texans (10-7) 9-8

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13) 8-9

Indianapolis Colts (8-9) 7-10

Tennessee Titans (3-14) 6-11

Which teams will improve and which teams will regress?? The Texans have a target on their back and tweaked their team just a bit. There are some new coaches on offense and a revamped offensive line. Quarterback CJ Stroud’s QBR dropped from 53.2 during his rookie season to 50.2 last year, while his passer rating dropped from 100.8 to 87. He has to be better. The Colts will choose between QBs Anthony Richardson & Daniel Jones, which is like having drunk munchies at 3am and your best options are the container of Chinese food that’s been in your fridge for a week or risking a DUI to grab some Taco Bell. Jonathan Taylor is only 26 years old & one of the best RBs in football when healthy, and I really like first round draft pick Tyler Warren, who has elite tight end potential. Indy ranked 29th in total defense a season ago, and I don’t know if they did enough to improve significantly. #1 overall pick Cam Ward has an opportunity to be a special QB for the Titans, but it’ll take a couple of years to build a competitive roster around him. The Jags brought in former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Liam Coen to be their new head coach and drafted unicorn Travis Hunter, who will allegedly play WR & CB. I like receiver Brian Thomas, and there are some dawgs on defense, but everything in Jacksonville is contingent upon QB Trevor Lawrence rebounding from an injury plagued season during which he only played in ten games. 

East

Buffalo Bills (13-4) 14-3

Miami Dolphins (8-9) 9-8

New England Patriots (4-13) 7-10

New York Jets (5-12) 7-10

There is no question that the Bills will win the division easily. Their focus is solely on solving recent playoff woes & playing in February. The Dolphins moved some chess pieces around, but I don’t believe their team is any better or worse than last season. QB Tua Tagovailoa only played in 11 games a year ago, and it seems like further concussion issues could seriously jeopardize his career. Patriots QB Drake Maye comes into his second season surrounded by a team that has undergone a significant transformation. Former linebacker & Titans head coach Mike Vrabel now runs the show for the franchise he won three Super Bowls with, and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels returns home after realizing he’s not really cut out to be a head coach. Things are looking up in New England, but let’s give them another year before raising expectations. The Jets are the Jets. I know there is some buzz around new quarterback Justin Fields, but I’ve never understood the hype. Former cornerback Aaron Glenn is the Jets’ fifth head coach in the past decade, and unfortunately I don’t think he’ll achieve much more than his last few predecessors.

West

Kansas City Chiefs (15-2) 12-5

Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) 10-7

Denver Broncos (10-7) 10-7

Las Vegas Raiders (4-13) 7-10

Have the Chiefs plateaued?? Can they make a fourth consecutive Super Bowl appearance?? I don’t believe it’ll be easy, but as long as Andy Reid is coaching and QB Patrick Mahomes remains healthy with no prominent erosion of his skills it’s too soon to dismiss KC. Having said that, I do think Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers will make things interesting. RB Najee Harris was a bust in Pittsburgh, and he’ll probably cede the starting gig to first rounder Omarion Hampton, but together they could be a formidable duo. A couple of receivers really need to step up for QB Justin Herbert, and the 11th ranked defense has to keep improving. A year ago I underestimated the skills of QB Bo Nix, but he showed alot of potential while leading the Broncos to the playoffs. Denver is probably looking at a very similar season in a really competitive division. I really like the Raiders trading for QB Geno Smith, who should be a significant upgrade over the potpourri of mediocrity that held the job the past couple of years. Super Bowl winning head coach Pete Carroll has also come out of retirement to lead the charge, which is oddly encouraging. With the addition of first round RB Ashton Jeanty & continued growth of tight end Brock Bowers there are signs of hope in Vegas, but their middle of the pack defense has to improve or they’ll continue to lose more games than they win.

Playoffs: Bills, Chiefs, Ravens, Texans, Chargers, Broncos, Bengals

AFC Title: Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens 

Philadelphia Eagles  24

Buffalo Bills    27

Top 5 Picks in the 2026 NFL Draft

1 Cleveland Browns

2 New York Giants

3 Carolina Panthers 

4 New Orleans Saints 

5 Tennessee Titans

2025 College Football Pre-Season Top 25

I’ve never done a ton of research or crunched a bunch of data for this poll. I am not a sports journalist and I’m not getting paid for my thoughts, but as a football fan it’s a fun little project. If my forecast is off base we get a good laugh, and when I am occasionally accurate with predictions I can bask in the illusion that I know what I’m talking about. Having said that, it has become increasingly difficult to know what to expect from teams unless you are one of those “experts” who has intimate knowledge of a wide array of players that you’ve kept track of since they were initially recruited out of high school. In the past one could look at information like the number of returning starters or the previous season’s stats of a team’s senior QB. Perhaps it wasn’t a top factor, but experience used to atleast be a fairly good indicator for success. Now?? Most teams see their roster almost completely overhauled every year. Dozens of players transfer out, dozens transfer in. College football is a free-for-all, and that’s before we even try to figure out which conferences still exist and what teams play where. You know what though?? Soon enough, on each Saturday during the fall, dozens of stadiums will be filled with thousands of people, while millions vegg out at home glued to their television enjoying the action. Despite the greed, chaos, and collapse of tradition that has engulfed collegiate athletics in the past decade, we still love it. We keep coming back. We’re a captive audience and the powers-that-be know it. Perhaps a good therapist could help, but in lieu of that we’ll just plow forward and enjoy our glorious football weekends. Perhaps not as much as we once did, but still enough to give a damn.

25 Arizona State

Last Season: 11-3

Key Games: 9/6 @ Mississippi St., 10/11 @ Utah, 11/1 @ Iowa St.

The Sun Devils won the Big 12 a season ago before narrowly losing to Texas in the CFP. Second team All Big 12 QB Sam Leavitt & conference Newcomer of the Year receiver Jordyn Tyson are back, along with a good offensive line and a solid core on defense. Star RB Cam Skattebo has moved on to the NFL, which means potential Top 10 draft pick Leavitt will have to kick it up a notch. Given the tough road schedule I believe it’ll be difficult to match last year’s success.

24 Auburn

Last Season: 5-7

Key Games: 9/20 @ Oklahoma, 9/27 @ Texas A&M, 11/29 vs. Alabama

The War Eagles have suffered thru four consecutive losing seasons and haven’t had double digit victories since 2017. Head coach Hugh Freeze is likely coaching for his job. New QB Jackson Arnold hopes to reenergize his career, which stalled at Oklahoma. I believe Auburn has a chance to score a couple of big upsets, which could get them to eight wins and a spot in the final poll.

23 Michigan

Last Season: 8-5

Key Games: 9/6 @ Oklahoma, 10/11 @ USC, 11/29 vs. Ohio St.

A season after winning the National Championship the Wolverines fell to seventh place in the Big Ten and lost to Alabama in a meaningless bowl game. It was head coach Sherrone Moore’s inaugural season, and to his credit he made some changes after a lackluster finish. New offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey has held the same position at places like Auburn, UCF, & North Carolina, and he’ll have five star recruit Bryce Underwood as his starting QB. I am more concerned with Michigan’s defense, which lost three key starters in the first couple rounds of the NFL Draft. Moore & defensive coordinator Wink Martindale (who has a Super Bowl ring from his time on the staff of the Baltimore Ravens more than a decade ago) have their work cut out for them competing in one of the two elite conferences. 

22 Boise State

Last Season: 12-2

Key Games: 10/4 @ Notre Dame

The Broncos ended last year being handled by Penn St. in the playoff, but back in September they upset Oregon and concluded the season as Mountain West champions. Can they blow thru the conference again?? Do they have a realistic opportunity to defeat Notre Dame in South Bend?? We’ll see.

21 Southern Methodist

Last Season: 11-3

Key Games: 9/6 vs. Baylor, 10/11 vs. Stanford, 11/1 vs. Miami

The Mustangs almost upset Clemson in the ACC title game, which was good enough for an at-large bid to the CFP. Of course Penn St. beat the snot out of them in the first round, causing many to question the validity of their berth. If they can pull off a couple of big upsets at home SMU could find themselves in that mix once again.

20 Kansas State

Last Season: 9-4

Key Games: 8/23 vs. Iowa St., 11/15 @ Oklahoma St., 11/22 @ Utah

The Wildcats stumbled down the stretch last season, losing 3 of their final 4 regular season games before rallying past Rutgers in a bowl game fourth quarter comeback. They must replace running back DJ Giddens, now plying his trade with the Indianapolis Colts, but QB Avery Johnson returns for his junior year. Johnson replaced Will Howard a year ago after he transferred to Ohio St. K-State has won atleast nine games three seasons in a row, but their middle-of-the-pack defense will need to improve significantly if they want to match that this year. We’ll know alot more about their team and the Big 12 in general after Iowa St. & K-State do battle in Ireland during the season’s inaugural weekend.

19 Florida 

Last Season: 8-5

Key Games: 9/13 @ LSU, 9/20 @ Miami, 10/11 @ Texas A&M

The Gators had a tough season last year, but finished riding a four game winning streak. Quarterback DJ Lagway was 6-1 as a starter a season ago, which is a valid reason to be optimistic. Head coach Billy Napier enters his 4th season in Gainesville with a .500 record, which isn’t good enough. This feels like a make or break year for him.

18 Nebraska

Last Season: 7-6

Key Games: 9/20 vs. Michigan, 11/1 vs. USC, 11/28 vs. Iowa

The Cornhuskers finished with a positive record last season only after winning the Pinstripe Bowl. I am old enough to remember when Nebraska was in the upper echelon of college football, but they haven’t been relevant for atleast a decade. Matt Rhule is another coach on the hot seat after going 12-13 in his first two seasons. He’s brought in former WVU coach Dana Holgersen to be the offensive coordinator, which might pay immediate dividends with QB Dylan Raiola behind center. New defensive coordinator John Butler was on the staff of the Buffalo Bills the last couple of years, and he’ll need to make sure that unit is atleast as good as they were last season…preferably better.

17 Oklahoma 

Last Season: 6-7 

Key Games: 9/20 vs. Auburn, 11/1 @ Tennessee, 11/15 @ Alabama

To the surprise of absolutely no one with a brain the Sooners struggled in their inaugural SEC campaign. A decade from now I believe there will be enough data to definitively conclude that leaving the Big 12 was a terrible mistake for Oklahoma & Texas…but clearly worse for Oklahoma. Head coach Brent Venables is 22-17 is his four years at the helm in Norman, so he’s yet another guy whose seat is probably getting rather warm. Last season he benched starting QB Jackson Arnold (who has since transferred to Auburn) in favor of true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr., who went 1-4 as the starter.  Now John Mateer, formerly of Washington St., has headed south alongside offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, so it’s literally a whole new ballgame at OU. Venables made his bones as a defensive coordinator at Clemson, so I think that side of the ball has to win some big games for Oklahoma to be successful.

16 South Carolina

Last Season: 9-4

Key Games: 9/20 @ Missouri, 10/11 @ LSU, 10/25 vs. Alabama, 11/29 vs. Clemson

Are my expectations way too high for the Gamecocks?? Probably. The schedule is brutal, and they lost five defensive starters in the NFL Draft. However, I really like QB LaNorris Sellers, who will be in the Heisman conversation before too long. Are a couple of stunning upsets on the horizon?? Don’t be shocked.

15 Southern Cal

Last Season: 7-6

Key Games: 10/11 vs. Michigan, 10/18 @ Notre Dame, 11/22 @ Oregon

Once upon a time USC being a Top Ten championship contender was an annual inevitability, but they’ve only achieved double digit victories thrice in the past decade. Their move to the Big Ten was another huge misstep in the absurdity that has damaged collegiate athletics, but there’s no use crying over spilt milk. Defense will need to dominate, which is asking alot from a unit that ranked near the bottom of the conference a year ago. Still, even one big upset and a slight improvement over last year’s win total could land the Trojans in the final poll.

14 Texas Tech

Last Season: 8-5

Key Games: 9/20 @ Utah, 10/18 @ Arizona St., 11/1 @ Kansas St.

The Red Raiders are, much of the time, the most overlooked football team in Texas, which is understandable. However, they have had sporadic success and produced a few notable NFL talents, like QB Patrick Mahomes. You may have heard of him. Anyway, I feel like the Big 12 is wide open, just waiting for a team to emerge and become the new standard bearer. Of course the issue is that there are probably a half dozen teams that seem poised to seize that opportunity, making for a very competitive situation. 

13 Missouri

Last Season: 10-3

Key Games: 10/5 @ Texas A&M, 10/26 @ Alabama, 11/16 @ South Carolina 

While the Tigers will have several new skill players on the roster they return a solid offensive line, which is arguably more important. One of their key additions from the portal is 2024 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year Josiah Trotter, formerly of the WVU Mountaineers. If the name sounds familiar it’s because he is the son of former Philadelphia Eagle Jeremiah Trotter and the brother of current Eagle Jeremiah Trotter Jr. It’s a huge loss for West Virginia because I believe Trotter will ball out and help Missouri’s defense rank near the top of the SEC. Missouri kind of snuck up on folks a season ago, but perhaps this year they won’t need to do that.

12 Miami (FL)

Last Season: 10-3

Key Games: 8/31 vs. Notre Dame, 9/20 vs. Florida, 11/1 @ SMU

The Hurricanes looked like a CFB contender for most of last season until losing 3 out of their last 4 (including the bowl game). They must replace their top four receivers from a year ago, and a new defensive coordinator will change things up a bit. Former starting QB Cam Ward was the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, but head coach Mario Cristobal pulled off the heist of the offseason by grabbing former Georgia QB Carson Beck from the portal. There is no question about talent in Coral Gables, it’s just a matter of developing chemistry amongst all the moving parts. 

11 Georgia

Last Season: 11-3

Key Games: 9/27 vs. Alabama, 11/1 vs. Florida, 11/15 vs. Texas

You may be surprised to see the Bulldogs this low after they’ve had four consecutive double digit win seasons and won two out of the last four national championships. I just have a vibe…a feeling that the SEC is as competitive as it’s ever been and it is inevitable that a great team will have a slightly down year or two. Thirteen Bulldogs were drafted into the NFL, and QB Carson Beck transferred to Miami (FL). New signal caller Gunner Stockton has seen plenty of game action in the past, but I can’t help but think Georgia faces an uphill climb to compete for another conference title.

10 Clemson

Last Season: 10-4

Key Games: 10/4 @ North Carolina, 10/18 vs. SMU, 11/29 @ South Carolina 

I am really looking forward to Clemson vs. UNC, which happens one day before my birthday in October. Dabo Swinney vs. Bill Belichick…a total contrast in styles in every conceivable way. Hopefully Dabo opens up a can of whoopass on Ol’ Sourpuss, who’ll need to be consoled by his adolescent concubine. Anyway, we’ve kind of overlooked the Tigers the last few years after they fell off a bit from six consecutive appearances in the four team CFP that resulted in two national championships. In 2024 they were back in the playoff, losing to Texas in Round 1 after winning the ACC title. I expect similar results this year.

9 Alabama

Last Season: 9-4

Key Games: 9/27 @ Georgia, 10/18 vs. Tennessee, 10/25 @ South Carolina, 11/8 vs. LSU

Head coach Kalen DeBoer didn’t do too bad in his first year at the helm in Tuscaloosa, but “not too bad” is a stinging rebuke in those parts. Replacing a legend like Nick Saban is a tall order, and it remains to be seen if DeBoer is the long term solution. More than two dozen players departed via the portal, while seven were drafted into the NFL. The schedule is tough, and I’ll be very surprised if the Tide rolls into the SEC title game. Still, it is oddly amusing that a Top Ten finish might be seen as a disappointment.

8 Iowa State

Last Season: 11-3

Key Games: 8/23 vs. Kansas St., 11/1 vs. Arizona St., 11/29 @ Oklahoma St.

At 6ft.1, 210lbs. Rocco Becht might not have a foolproof future as an NFL quarterback, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a hell of a college player. The Cyclones have to replace alot of talent along the offensive line and in the secondary, but I see no reason not to expect double digit victories and perhaps a Big 12 title. We’ll know more right out of the gate, as Iowa St. faces Kansas St. in the only noteworthy game during “Week Zero”.

7 Ohio State

Last Season: 14-2

Key Games: 8/30 vs. Texas, 11/1 vs. Penn St., 11/29 @ Michigan

We’ll know quickly whether or not the defending national champions are up to the task of preserving that title. The Buckeyes had 14 players selected in the NFL Draft, including four in the first round. They’ve had several talented wide receivers thru the years, and sophomore Jeremiah Smith might end up being one of the best. However, when I look at the schedule, the players they lost, and the strength of the Big Ten, I’m not sure Ohio St. can equal last season’s success. As a matter of fact, I am probably overrating them. 

6 Tennessee 

Last Season: 10-3

Key Games: 9/13 vs. Georgia, 10/18 @ Alabama, 11/22 @ Florida

One of the most surprising events of the offseason was Vols’ starting QB Nico Iamaleava transferring to UCLA after a disagreement about NIL money. Unfortunately such things are part of our new reality. Anyway, the new QB is Joey Aguilar, who is 24 years old and threw for over 6700 yards & 56 touchdowns in two years at Appalachian St. Tennessee was second in total defense in the SEC a season ago, and if they can maintain that intensity I believe there are some conference powerhouses that feel beatable this year.

5 Penn State

Last Season: 13-3

Key Games: 9/27 vs. Oregon, 11/1 @ Ohio St.

Full disclosure…I do not perceive Drew Allar as a future top tier NFL quarterback. We can revisit that assessment in a few years. Meanwhile, I do believe Allar is a perfectly fine college QB with plenty of experience and two bitter memories to avenge. The Nittany Lions fell short in the Big Ten title game a season ago, then, after receiving an at large bid to the CFP, Allar threw an interception with 30 seconds left in the semifinal game that set up a field goal victory for Notre Dame. Players can either be destroyed by such calamities, or they can grow thru them. I’ll be stunned if Penn St. doesn’t win atleast ten games, with the biggest mountains to climb a revenge game against Oregon in the cozy confines of Happy Valley, and a daunting trip to The Horseshoe against the defending national champions. I don’t even think they need to win both of those games. Win just one and they’ll snag a playoff berth. Of course winning the conference title and receiving a first round bye in the CFP would be the most accommodating path.

4 LSU

Last Season: 9-4

Key Games: 8/30 @ Clemson, 10/11 vs. South Carolina, 11/8 @ Alabama

My nephew Noah has high hopes for the Bayou Bengals, and I trust his judgment. LSU suffered a brutal three game losing streak late last season that torpedoed all of their hopes. Of course starting out by losing the season opener to a Southern Cal team that’d end up being 7-6 didn’t bode well either. It’s a new day in Baton Rouge though. QB Garrett Nussmeier’s father Doug played the same position for the New Orleans Saints and now serves as their offensive coordinator. Coaches’ kids are just built different, so despite what the sports media will undoubtedly try to sell ad nauseum this autumn, Nussmeier may be the best quarterback in college football and the best pro prospect. LSU lost seven players in the NFL Draft, and their 11th ranked SEC defense needs to improve, but I’ve got a good vibe. The season opener at Clemson is huge, so don’t miss it.

3 Texas

Last Season: 13-3

Key Games: 8/30 @ Ohio St., 11/15 @ Georgia, 11/28 @ Texas A&M

Arch Manning. You’ve probably heard the quarterback’s name mentioned a few thousand times the last couple of years, despite the fact that he hasn’t actually accomplished much. Look, I get it. His grandfather is a quasi-legend. His two uncles are both Super Bowl winning Hall of Famers. The bloodline is epic. But now it’s time to put up or shut up for young Arch. Fortunately he is surrounded by elite talent, despite the Longhorns losing a dozen players in the NFL Draft (it should’ve been 13, but that’s another story). The schedule makers obviously have a sense of humor (or an agenda), because the same Ohio St. Buckeyes that defeated Texas in the CFP semifinals last season will host them in the opener. I do not believe a loss destroys either team, nor do I think a victory preemptively crowns them. However, we can’t deny that it’ll set a tone.

2 Oregon

Last Season: 13-1

Key Games: 9/27 @ Penn St.

It had to be a crushing blow for the Ducks. In their inaugural Big Ten season they are 13-0 and win the conference title…then get manhandled from the jump by an Ohio St. team they’d beaten a couple of months earlier. I’ll be surprised by anything less than ten wins, with everything riding on a late September visit to Happy Valley. QB Dante Moore leveled up by transferring from UCLA, and he’s just one of many new faces in Eugene. Ten former Ducks went in the NFL Draft, and their was a ton of portal activity, both incoming & outgoing. Like many other programs, it is probably unfair to judge Oregon based on last year because it’s almost a whole new team. That being said, I have faith in head coach Dan Lanning to assemble all the right puzzle pieces and guide them down the right path. 

1 Notre Dame 

Last Season: 14-2

Key Games: 8/31 @ Miami (FL), 9/13 @ Texas A&M, 10/18 vs. USC

It physically hurts me to do this. I’ve always had a vague disdain for Notre Dame for various reasons and almost always root against them. However, I cannot deny that, despite their stubborn refusal to join a conference that looks much more astute with each passing year and the tediously fawning sports media, the Fighting Irish remain legitimately relevant year after year. Last season they made it all the way to the CFP championship game before a terrible second quarter doomed them to defeat. Not only do I not believe they’ll suffer an inexcusable loss as they did during last year’s regular season (Northern Illinois?? REALLY??), but if Notre Dame gets out of the gate 2-0 then batten down the hatches. Replacing Riley Leonard at QB won’t be easy, but it’s not as if he was Montana or Theismann. RB Jeremiyah Love will be invited to the Heisman ceremony (before losing out to a quarterback). Only six Irish players were selected in the NFL Draft (none of them in the first round), so it feels like there is a real opportunity to be even better than last year. The only question is if they can get over the hump and take that final step to the first Notre Dame championship since 1988. Somehow, in the midst of conference realignment, NIL free agency, ESPN devouring the sports world like Godzilla, and vacuous talking heads fellatiating the SEC and the Big Ten, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have almost become venerable underdogs. How the hell did that happen?!?!??

The Last Gasp of Late Night Television 

There are differing schools of thought concerning the cancellation of The Late Show w/ Stephen Colbert. 

Some conspiracy theorists lay the blame at the feet of President Trump, because of course they do. They point out that CBS recently settled a lawsuit with Trump, and an undisclosed part of the deal may involve canning Colbert, who has always been a vocal critic of our President. I concede that it’s a theory that contains a strain of logic and is entertaining in the surreptitious sort of way that such stories tend to be. 

Another idea involves the television viewing habits of the audience, especially younger demographics, which are constantly evolving in the Digital Age. It paints late night television as archaic and predicts that the demise of the Late Show is a death knell for the entire concept. Will Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, or Jimmy Fallon be next on the chopping block?? 

The most prosaic rationale for the decision is financial, which is what CBS & Paramount stated. 

My vibe is that all of the above can be atleast partially true. I used to be a big fan of late night TV…Johnny Carson, David Letterman, Jay Leno, Tom Snyder, Craig Ferguson. However, it’s no secret that my viewing habits have changed in the past several years for multiple reasons. 

Have these shows become too political?? Absolutely. If you happen to agree with their…perspective…that’s fine, and you are probably entertained, but that freezes out the other half of the country who see things differently, which isn’t a wise business strategy. Do I really think Donald Trump got The Late Show cancelled?? No, but I believe that there is a certain level of TDS fatigue. People used to watch late night shows to escape the tedium of “real life”. Now?? These guys won’t let us escape. Love Trump?? Fine. Hate Trump?? Okay. Either way, can’t we talk about something else for an hour?? 

Is the end of late night television altogether on the horizon?? I’d hate to see that happen, but say that thru the prism of nostalgia. These legendary programs, and more importantly their hosts, have been a cornerstone of the entertainment landscape almost since television began. Carson was the undisputed King of Late Night, and I grew up watching Letterman. While those two stand head & shoulders above the rest, others have done the job well. I understand that many found Leno somewhat pedestrian, but his style made the Tonight Show transition smooth. Fallon was fantastic when he took over Late Night from Conan O’Brien, but he’s a sycophant who has followed his buddies Kimmel, Myers, & Colbert down the wrong path in recent years. I really enjoyed Snyder & Ferguson, who both marched to the beat of their own drum, with the audience reaping the benefits. 

Having said all of that, it is undeniable that, like so many others things in the world, entertainment evolves. When I was a kid we only had a smattering of television channels, whereas now there are hundreds. Johnny Carson ruled late night before The Internet existed. Celebrities making the rounds on late night TV to promote their latest movie/book/album/show seems rather quaint when there are myriad ways for them to achieve the same goal, most notably thru direct interaction with fans on social media. The perceived importance of late night television has been greatly diminished, while the influence & talent level of the people fronting those programs has declined precipitously.

I am at an age where I have had to say farewell to many things that we thought would always be around, but then again “nothing lasts forever”. It is one of those trite maxims that is nevertheless true. If you still enjoy what television networks offer after your local news each weeknight, that’s cool, but count yourselves amongst a dying breed. 

When David Letterman retired a decade ago I stated that I’d probably “begin my own transformation into a cantankerous old geezer and be in bed way before 11:30pm more & more often”, and I now laugh at the accuracy. MY GOD…the accuracy!! Just last week I was tired after a particularly arduous day and went to sleep at 9:30pm. I have embraced my hermit lifestyle and put a premium on peace, tranquility, and mirth. Late night television hasn’t provided those things for awhile now. So go ahead…cancel Kimmel. Finish Fallon. Mothball Meyers. They’ve not adequately filled the shoes they were hired to anyway.

100 Memorable TV Theme Songs – Part 4

I’m going to spare y’all a long preamble and only reiterate the fact that my earliest television memories begin in the 1970’s, my formative years were mostly in the 1980’s, and by the time the 1990’s rolled around I segued from college to the “real” world. Entertainment after the turn of the century has been a mostly prosaic blur, with my tastes firmly focused on particular areas that don’t include many prime time dramas or comedies, and no stupid “reality” shows. Take that information however you want, with the knowledge that it shapes this project significantly. If you haven’t already, please check out parts 1, 2, and 3.

70 Bewitched (Bewitched)

Chances are, if I’ve enjoyed a television show even a little bit and its theme song is a lively big band tune, I’m going to hold it in high regard. Bewitched ended its eight season run a few months before I was born, but it’s one of those older programs that was available in syndication well into the 1980’s, and with all the entertainment platforms at our disposal nowadays I’m sure it remains accessible to those who seek it out.

69 A Different World (A Different World)

Here’s our chance to make it

If we focus on our goal

You can dish it, we can take it 

Just remember that you’ve been told

It’s a different world than where you come from

Remember what I said about In Living Color?? Well, I didn’t feel the same about A Different World. Perhaps, because it not only was a traditional half hour sitcom, but also a spinoff of the beloved Cosby Show, I felt it was relatable. It also premiered when I was still in high school so I didn’t have the collegiate distractions yet. Sure, there was a distinct point of view and heavier subjects were addressed in that special way that  situation comedies have of weaving such topics into the narrative, but it was well written, funny, and offered great performances. Bill Cosby himself, as well as cast member Dawnn Lewis, contributed to the writing process of the theme song, which evolved thru the years from a bluesy tune to more hip-hop infused. The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin actually sang it for a few seasons.

68 Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood)

It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood

A beautiful day for a neighbor

Would you be mine? Could you be mine?

Won’t you be my neighbor?

Anyone who grew up in the 70’s, 80’s, or even the 90’s was blessed to have Fred Rogers imprint our childhood. It sure as hell was far superior to the twisted indoctrination children receive nowadays. At any rate, Mr. Rogers himself wrote & performed the theme, which still creates warm fuzzies all these years later. We’d all do well to emulate its message.

67 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Heroes in a half-shell 

Turtle Power!

I’m going to blame this one on my elder nephew, who was born in the early 1990’s, right around the time TMNT surged in popularity. I think I may have watched the first movie, but otherwise lost interest rather quickly. The TV show was cooler anyway. The idea of badass turtles trained in martial arts & named after Renaissance artists is undeniably quirky in the best possible way. They loved pizza too!! 

66 Star Trek: TOS / Star Trek: TNG

Space…the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Its mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Shoutout to an old friend who made me a Trekkie in college. Well, okay, I think I was more of a Trekker. Actually, my fandom is rather odd. TOS came & went before I was born, but I LOVE the six movies with the original crew that were produced from 1979-91. Alright alright…some of those films were way better than others, but that’s a debate for another day. Conversely, I adore TNG, but the four big screen offerings we got between 1994 & 2002 just don’t frost my cupcake. Contrary to what some may assume, the shows had two distinct themes. TOS’ opening was composed by Alexander Courage (what a fantastic name), while TNG’s theme was composed by Jerry Goldsmith, who had done the music for several Trek films.

65 Scooby-Doo Where Are You? (Scooby-Doo)

Scooby Dooby Doo, where are you?

We got some work to do now

Scooby Dooby Doo, where are you?

We need some help from you now

Scooby-Do was always one of my favorite cartoons. I laugh now, looking at it thru the prism of adulthood and wondering what exactly Shaggy & Scooby were doing in their spare time. 

64 As Long As We Got Each Other (Growing Pains)

As long as we got each other

We got the world spinnin’ right in our hands

Baby, you and me, we gotta be

The luckiest dreamers who never quit dreamin’

Family sitcoms were much more strait-laced and far less sardonic four decades ago. Dr. Jason Seaver is a laid back Long Island psychiatrist, while his wife Maggie is a news reporter. Their three children are boilerplate sitcom kids: uptight & scholarly Carol, wiseass Mike, and slacker Ben. A fourth child was added at some point, and in the final season the Seavers took in a homeless teen portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio. You may have heard of him. At any rate, the show’s theme was a duet featuring BJ Thomas, known for hit songs Hooked on a Feeling, Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song, and Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head, and Jennifer Warnes, probably best remembered for two fantastic film duets…Up Where We Belong with Joe Cocker (for the 1983 movie An Officer & A Gentleman) and I’ve Had The Time of My Life with Bill Medley (for the 1987 classic Dirty Dancing).

63 The Jetsons (The Jetsons)

Meet George Jetson
His boy, Elroy
Daughter Judy
Jane, his wife

In retrospect it’s kind of cool how The Jetsons, in the 1960s, portrayed the future 2062, which is now less than four decades away. While we haven’t yet achieved George’s work week of two hours two days per week, video calls, flat-screen TVs, smartwatches, and robot assistants are a few things that have moved from science fiction to reality. The theme song is a peppy, upbeat “spacey”, big band/lounge number that introduces each character by name, and it became a Top Ten hit in 1986 when new episodes of the show were produced.

62 The Pink Panther (The Pink Panther)

If you’re a Boomer then you probably remember the 1960’s Pink Panther film series featuring bumbling French detective Inspector Clousseau. If you’re a Gen-Xer you might remember the Pink Panther starring in commercials for fiberglass insulation. The character has also been in over 100 theatrical shorts and multiple cartoon shows. No matter where you know it from, we’re all familiar with the jazzy theme composed by the legendary Henry Mancini.

61 Bandstand Boogie (American Bandstand)

We’re goin’ hoppin’ 

We’re goin’ hoppin’ today

Where things are poppin’ 

The Philadelphia way

We’re gonna drop in 

On all the music they play

On the Bandstand (Bandstand)

Dick Clark was an American treasure. From hosting the $10k Pyramid game show to co-hosting TV’s Bloopers & Practical Jokes with Ed McMahon to creating so many holiday memories with New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, Clark was a radio & television icon. He might be most remembered for hosting the coolest of all song & dance programs for the vast majority of its 37 year run. Bandstand Boogie had been recorded by various artists, but the version we all know & love was performed by Barry Manilow starting in 1977.

Part 5 will be heading your way soon!!

Points of Ponderation…Episode 3.25

A semi-regular attempt to address some of life’s minutiae that might otherwise be overlooked…..

Anyone who knows me understands that I’m a Batman guy. I’ve had no interest in seeing the vast majority of Marvel movies released in the past twenty years, and have not bothered with the last few incarnations of Superman. However, with DC Comics aiming to create their own “cinematic universe” (which will obviously include new adventures of the Caped Crusader), and based on a trailer that looked interesting, I had preliminary plans of checking out the newest Superman flick that hit theaters this week…until director James Gunn opened his yapper, and now I’m out. Apparently the latest version of the Man of Steel is a thinly veiled treatise on immigration, and Gunn is oddly proud of that, which is the problem with so many Hollywood types these days. They don’t simply view themselves as artists creating pleasant entertainment to distract the masses from the harsh realities of daily life. Instead, they see their vocation as a platform to pontificate on sociopolitical issues and sway public opinion. They are crusaders, hellbent on imposing their worldview on an unsuspecting audience just trying to relax & have fun. I understand that folks have the freedom to choose whether or not to buy a ticket, but let’s be honest…most people don’t do research before going to see a movie. Superman kind of sells himself, right?? Which makes it all the more loathsome to soil such an icon with “perspective” that many moviegoers might not support.

I don’t have it in me to go into a long tirade about the Jeffrey Epstein situation. However, it’s frustrating to see people that we were excited about not long ago, people we trusted…Kash Patel, Pam Bondi, Dan Bongino…clearly lying & trying to gaslight us. That’s what the previous administration did, and it’s a huge reason they were voted out of office. If there’s anything we’ve learned in the past year, it is just how deep government corruption goes. They are all…on both sides of the aisle…dirtier than we ever could have imagined.

What the hell is up with Elon Musk?? I understand that he’s a genius. It makes sense that his entrepreneurial spirit and “Get it done” attitude probably aren’t compatible with the frustrating labyrinth of the federal government, where accomplishing much of anything is an uphill climb. However, whatever the root of his beef with President Trump may be, throwing a childish tantrum is a bad look that reflects poorly on Musk and further impedes Trump’s agenda, as if he needs anymore roadblocks. I don’t know if the “third party” Musk is trying to get off the ground will have any legs, but if it does things won’t end well for the American people. At the end of the day a third party will not succeed, and can only serve to hamstring the movement Musk not only endorsed but fully participated in. The potential outcome might be putting the kind of Marxists we just got rid of in charge again, which would be disastrous. Trump & Musk either need to hug it out & get back on the same page, or Musk has to step off, stay out of politics altogether, and settle back into running his successful businesses while Trump continues to cook in The White House.

I honestly didn’t have New York City electing a Muslim Socialist Mayor just two short decades after 9/11 on my 2025 Bingo Card. I guess free stuff means more to voters in The Big Apple than respecting the memories of 3000 friends & neighbors who were brutally murdered on one of our nation’s darkest days. 

My father always taught me that there are three sides to every story…one side, the other side, and somewhere in the middle is the truth. Obviously not all immigrants are violent thugs, but isn’t it a worthy goal to rid ourselves of the ones who are?? And doesn’t the fact that people sneak into America illegally instead of going thru the proper channels atleast paint them in a bad light, no matter what their intentions might ultimately be?? On the flip side, do leftists consider the fact that many immigrants come here legally, build a life, get an education, and contribute more to society than unskilled labor?? Some even become business owners. Intimating that immigrants aren’t capable of doing anything beyond the low paying jobs others don’t want is vaguely racist, which is odd when coupled with the same folks patronizingly promoting racism as being a psyop that poor white people are too stupid to escape. Honestly, the arrogance, moral superiority, and absolute tackiness of leftists has become exhausting. Thankfully the masses seem to be more aware of that fact with each passing day.

100 Memorable TV Theme Songs – Part III

While catchy theme songs haven’t disappeared completely, they are less common than they once were. TV theme songs began to decline in popularity during the mid-1990s for various reasons. Networks became concerned about viewers changing channels during opening credits, so they decided to jump into the show’s content faster to retain the audience. Removing theme songs obviously creates more time for commercials. And these days, with streaming, the “skip intro” feature caters to a population with less patience & shorter attention spans. I won’t dive down the rabbit hole of modern culture vs. “the good ol’ days”, but if you’re of a certain age like me you probably have some opinions. At any rate, please take a moment to peruse Part 1 & Part 2 if you haven’t already done so.

80 Mission: Impossible (Mission: Impossible)

I’ve never watched a single episode of the 1960’s television show nor any of the dozens of Tom Cruise films, but come on…everyone has heard that theme song.

79 CHiPs (CHiPs)

I vaguely recall being a fan of CHiPs in the early 80’s. Cop shows aren’t usually my thing, but maybe Grade School Me had a motorcycle fetish. Since the program premiered in 1977 its theme obviously had a cool disco vibe. I’m sure it was in the rotation at every dance club back then.

78 Miami Vice (Miami Vice)

I am sensing a trend. Two actually. Not only is it another instrumental theme, but also from a show I never watched. As mentioned, cop shows just don’t frost my cupcake. That being said, the cool people were all watching Miami Vice in the 1980’s, and even those of us who weren’t viewers got caught up in the fashion trends it inspired. Composer Jan Hammer won two Grammys for his synthesizer heavy theme song.

77 Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?)

Well she sneaks around the world from Kiev to Carolina

She’s a sticky-fingered filcher from Berlin down to Belize

She’ll take you for a ride on a slow boat to China

Tell me where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?

I don’t know where Carmen Sandiego is or was back in the day. Heck, I never even watched the PBS show because its purpose was to teach geography to kids, and by then I was a college student. However, that song is straight fire and introduced the world to the vocal group Rockapella. It is my understanding that they are still around & performing.

76 What’s Happening!! (What’s Happening!!)

It’s impossible to be in a bad mood when you hear the bouncy instrumental theme for What’s Happening!!. You might be surprised to know that it was written by Oscar, Grammy, & Golden Globe winning composer Henry Mancini. You’ve heard his other work if you’ve watched Peter Gunn, The Pink Panther, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, or Charlie’s Angels. 

75 Hawaii Five-O (Hawaii Five-O)

I have a vague recollection of watching the original Hawaii Five-O when I was a kid, and I tried (unsuccessfully) to get into the reboot that aired about a decade ago. While the show itself was popular, this might be the prime example of a theme song’s legacy eclipsing the source material.

74 The Monkees (The Monkees)

Hey, hey, we’re the Monkees and people say we monkey around

But we’re too busy singing to put anybody down

Well okay, Hawaii 5-O…hold our beer. Were The Monkees a fictional band?? Or were they a real band that starred in a television show?? The answer is both. They were created for the TV show, but did produce albums and go out on tour. The show only lasted two seasons in the late 1960’s (before I was a gleam in my father’s eye), but lots of us rediscovered it when MTV aired reruns in the mid-80’s. The band’s music…Daydream Believer, Last Train to Clarksville, I’m a Believer…is a far greater legacy than the television program. I had an opportunity to see Mickey Dolenz in concert about seven years ago, which was fun.

73 Closer to Free (Party of Five)

Everybody wants to live how they wanna live

Everybody wants to love how they wanna love

Everybody wants to be closer to free

When Party of Five aired in the mid-90’s I had graduated from college and certainly grown beyond teen drama. However, there was much more to the show than that, and let’s be honest…Jennifer Love Hewitt was easy on the eyes. Closer to Free became a Top 20 hit for The BoDeans.

72 Saved by the Bell (Saved by the Bell)

When I wake up in the morning
And the alarm gives out a warning
And I don’t think I’ll ever make it on time
By the time I grab my books
And I give myself a look
I’m at the corner just in time to see the bus fly by

It’s alright ’cause I’m saved by the bell

Yes it was corny. Sure, I was in college and not really the target demographic. However, Saved by the Bell fit into a unique niche. It was lighthearted, easily digestible entertainment for people who had outgrown cartoons but enjoyed a harmless distraction on a lazy Saturday morning.

71 Without Us (Family Ties)

What would we do, baby without us?

There ain’t no nothing we can’t love each other through

What would we do, baby without us?

Shalalala

Everyone knows & loves Michael J. Fox, especially if you’re a fan of Back to the Future, Teen Wolf, or any of his lesser known movies. However, let’s not forget that 80’s sitcom Family Ties was not only his big break, but a damn fine television program. The laid back, soulful theme song is a duet by the legendary Johnny Mathis & 80’s icon Deniece Williams.

Stay tuned for Part 4!!

100 Memorable TV Theme Songs – Part Deux

Please take some time to check out Part 1, otherwise you’ll be totally confused. 

I ran across a video on a Generation X page I follow on social media that was taking a trip down Memory Lane involving television “outros”, which is the closing segment, often featuring end credits, that appears at the conclusion of an episode. While not as important as theme songs, the outros featured in the video made me feel nostalgic and reinforced the key role music plays in our entertainment.

90 Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street? (Sesame Street)

Sunny day

Sweepin’ the clouds away

On my way to where the air is sweet

Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street

The Muppet Show  (The Muppet Show)

It’s time to play the music

It’s time to light the lights

It’s time to meet the Muppets

On The Muppet Show tonight

Both shows were an integral part of so many childhoods. The Muppets have been a pervasive presence on the entertainment landscape since the 1960’s, including multiple incarnations of a television variety show. Sesame Street has aired on PBS since 1970. 

89 Benson (Benson)

The show was a spinoff of critically acclaimed Soap, although I remember it much more fondly than its parent program, which went away when I was nine years old (but did gift us the legendary Billy Crystal). The spinoff lasted well into the 1980’s. Its theme is an upbeat, jazzy instrumental.

88 There’s No Place Like Home (227)

With your family around you you’re never alone

When you know that your loved

You don’t need to roam

Cause there’s no place like home

227 was adapted from Two Twenty Seven, a stage play about the lives of women in a predominantly black apartment building. Marla Gibbs had found fame as smartass housekeeper Florence on The Jeffersons and was chosen as the lead. However,  co-star Jackee Harry became the breakout star and was eventually given an eponymous spinoff (which only aired the pilot episode). Gibbs sang 227’s theme song.

87 Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now (Perfect Strangers)

Standing tall on the wings of my dream

Rise and fall on the wings of my dream

Nothing’s going to stop me now

ABC kept moving the show around to different nights thru much of its eight seasons, and it was never a big hit, but there is an audience of people who are happy the wacky adventures of tightly wound Chicago photographer Larry and his cousin Balki, a well-meaning immigrant sheepherder from a small Mediterranean island, were available for our entertainment in the late 80s/early 90s. The theme song is the kind of upbeat, quasi-inspiring pop tune that seemed to be a thing for TV shows of the era.

86 In Living Color (In Living Color)

How would you feel knowin’ prejudice was obsolete

And all mankind danced to the exact beat

And at night it was safe to walk down the street

In Living Color

In Living Color is a show that I was aware existed, but can’t say I ever watched with any regularity. I was in college at the time and probably watched television less than at any other time in my life. Perhaps, due to my limited worldview at the time, I didn’t think the show was for me, if you know what I mean. Or maybe, like so many others, I was destined to look at it in retrospect and recognize its considerable contribution to pop culture while fans that did watch can assert a level of superiority for appreciating what others didn’t. At any rate, while In Living Color can lay claim to launching the careers of Jim Carrey, J-Lo, Jamie Foxx, and the Wayans Brothers while also giving us gems like Fire Marshal Bill, Homey D. Clown, and Men on Football, the theme was a hip-hop song with a message, and it’s still a fun lil earworm.

85 Here I Come to Save the Day (Mighty Mouse)

Here I come to save the day!

That means that Mighty Mouse is on the way!

Comedian Andy Kaufman famously utilized the theme song as part of his act. As a matter of fact, more people may be familiar with the character & the tune thru the association with Kaufman than by actually watching the various television shows & theatrical shorts produced since 1942.

84 Green Acres (Green Acres)

Green Acres is the place to be

Farm livin’ is the life for me

Land spreadin’ out so far and wide

Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside

Having its original CBS run from 1965-71 means I wasn’t born yet when Green Acres was a Top 10 show. However, growing up in the 1980s means reruns of such programs were ubiquitous. I can’t say it really frosted my cupcake like other old shows I enjoyed such as The Brady Bunch, Gilligan’s Island, or Sanford & Son, but the theme song, performed by series stars Eddie Albert & Eva Gabor, is quite memorable.

83 Fame (Fame)

Fame!

I’m gonna live forever

I’m gonna learn how to fly high

Fame!

I’m gonna live forever

Baby, remember my name

Irene Cara’s life was far too brief, but she did leave a legacy that includes two absolute bangers. She wrote & performed the theme song for the 1983 film Flashdance (winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song in the process), and also starred in & performed the theme song for the 1980 film Fame, which was adapted into a television show that aired for six seasons.

82 Moonlighting (Moonlighting) 

Some walk by night

Some fly by day

Some think it’s sweeter

When you meet along the way

Moonlighting was one of those shows that I was aware of but not that interested in. I may have watched a few episodes when I was really bored, but otherwise it really didn’t register on my radar. Having said that, the Grammy nominated title tune written & performed by R&B legend Al Jarreau once topped the Adult Contemporary charts and was a sophisticated departure from typical TV themes of the era.

81 I Don’t Want to Wait (Dawson’s Creek)

I don’t want to wait for our lives to be over

I want to know right now what will it be

I don’t want to wait for our lives to be over

Will it be yes or will it be sorry?

I am comfortable enough with my smoldering machismo to admit that I went thru a Dawson’s Creek phase around the turn of the century. I don’t remember how it started, but I believe I began watching sometime during the 2nd or 3rd season. Perhaps it was earlier. I was in my late 20’s at the time, which was certainly outside the target demographic. Anyway, I make no apologies for my affection toward Lil Joey Potter, Pacey, and the rest of the gang from Capeside (which was actually set in Massachusetts despite clearly being filmed in North Carolina). The song is synonymous with the show, which I suppose is the point. Singer Paula Cole never became as big of a star as contemporaries Alanis Morrissette & Jewel, but Dawson’s Creek cemented her musical legacy.

Stay tuned for Part 3!!

Winning & Musing…Volume 3.25

And now we enter dark days. Hot. Sunny. Yet a barren wasteland of sports. Basketball is over. Baseball isn’t interesting yet. Football is several weeks away. Thankfully I have a renewed albeit tepid regard for NASCAR, will watch an occasional open wheel auto race, and find golf sporadically entertaining. Of course, I suppose the whole point of summertime is to go outdoors and DO things rather than sit inside to watch things. If only I was that exciting 🤔.

Let’s be honest…the Oklahoma City Thunder were clearly the better team from the beginning. They were the best team in the NBA all season, while no one expected much in the playoffs from the Indiana Pacers. The Cavs, Celtics, and Knicks were all thought to pose more of a threat to the Thunder. Nevertheless, Indiana took the NBA Finals to a decisive seventh game and must be given kudos. What might’ve happened if Pacers’ star Tyrese Haliburton didn’t get injured early in Game 7?? Who knows?? But the instant he went down the battle was over. Congrats to OKC. If you predicted now that these two teams would have an opportunity to run it back next year, I’d be just fine with that, although Haliburton might not be available until 2026-27.

Since we last met in this space enigmatic quarterback Aaron Rodgers signed a one year contract with my Pittsburgh Steelers, and I am okay with that. I couldn’t possibly care less about any off-the-field perceptions of Rodgers, as long as he shows up, plays hard, and executes the offense to the best of his ability. All indications seem to point to that happening, although obviously we haven’t even made it to training camp yet. Rodgers is 41 years old and clearly past his prime, but he’s still probably better than any other option the Steelers have had at their disposal the past few seasons. I know Jets fans are excited about Justin Fields, and many Steelers fans weren’t happy the team made no effort to retain him, but I remain dismissive of Fields’ potential as an NFL QB. The Steelers also brought back Mason Rudolph, who can be a decent backup. One of three things will happen: a) Rodgers will be a total bust & Pittsburgh will draft a highly rated QB next spring, b) Rodgers will shock the world and lead Pittsburgh deep into the playoffs, or c) the Steelers will be 9-8 again and need to do some wheelin’ & dealin’ to get their quarterback in the draft. I don’t know which scenario is more likely, but I am at peace with whatever happens. 

Things that don’t interest me at all:

  • The WNBA
  • The College World Series
  • Spring football leagues of any kind
  • Soccer (obviously)
  • UFC

I suppose congratulations are also in order for the Florida Panthers, winners of back-to-back Stanley Cups. Do you realize that, in the past three decades, The Cup has resided in hot spots like Tampa, Vegas, Anaheim, Carolina, and Dallas, while a team from Canada hasn’t won the championship since 1993?? 

A month ago ESPN ended Around the Horn after more than two decades, but I have yet to run across a satisfactory reason for its cancellation. Full disclosure: I stepped back from watching any of the ESPN debate shows on a regular basis a few years ago. The Worldwide Leader’s penchant for allowing (perhaps even encouraging) their on-air talent to go on sanctimonious sociopolitical tirades became tedious, and the entire premise of ATH was gathering “journalists” from across the country to opine on various topics. I was taught a long time ago that typical sportswriters tend to have the same worldview as most other “journalists”, but we usually don’t notice as long as they remain focused on sports. Having said that, at its best, when the panelists stayed in their lane, Around the Horn seemed to exemplify the entire reason (outside of actual games) that outlets like ESPN even exist. Therefore, I don’t really understand its demise. From what I’ve been able to gather production costs were inexpensive and ratings were solid. Was ATH too low key & prosaic for the powers-that-be in Bristol?? Are they under the mistaken impression that the audience desires more…high-spirited…voices be added to a roster that already includes Stephen A. Smith & Pat McAfee?? Eight years ago ESPN cancelled its most erudite program The Sports Reporters, which I’ve always assumed was an indication of the low opinion the network has of its viewers’ intelligence, attention span, and critical thinking skills. Cancelling Around the Horn seems to reinforce that belief.

100 Memorable TV Theme Songs – Part 1

It is rare that I peek into the ol’ vault and decide to delete something. I stand behind the things I’ve written, good or bad, even when my thoughts on the subject may have matured or evolved. Having said that, when one has been offering up little pieces of their own soul, no matter how trivial it may be, I suppose it is inevitable that the universe shifts in unexpected ways and the prism used to view topics a decade ago sheds new light. Such is the case today. Ten years ago I ranked my 25 Favorite TV Theme Songs, and while revisiting that whole thing I decided that I could do better and dive deeper. So the old entry is gone, to be replaced by this expanded series. Enjoy.

100 Dear John (Dear John)

Dear John

By the time you read these lines, I’ll be gone

Life goes on, right or wrong

Now it’s all been said and done, dear John

I love Judd Hirsch. Taxi. NUMB3RS. Independence Day. Guest starring on The Big Bang Theory. The man is an under appreciated treasure. In the late 80’s/early 90’s he starred in a quiet little sitcom about a middle-aged man & the support group for divorcees that he attends in Queens, NY. The theme song is a vaguely melancholy tune that explains the premise of the show. 

99 Bad Boys (Cops)

Bad boys, bad boys

Whatcha gonna do?

Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?

Be honest…more than once, in the past three decades, you have quoted the song when you see a police car or hear stories about a crime being committed. I don’t think I’ve ever watched a full episode of the show, but its theme is seared into my brain.

98 Dragnet (Dragnet)

Dum…de DUM DUM…..

The story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

It’s a show that came & went long before I was even born, but the terse, instrumental theme music with accompanying narration became ubiquitous. There is a 1987 big screen comedic adaptation starring Dan Aykroyd & Tom Hanks that is such a bad movie it is weirdly entertaining. 

97 Stand (Get A Life)

Stand in the place where you live

Now face north

Think about direction, wonder why you haven’t before

Now stand in the place where you work

Now face west, think about the place where you live

Very few people likely remember the unremarkable Fox sitcom starring Chris Elliott as a clueless paperboy still living with his parents in his 30s. It only lasted two seasons in the early 90’s. However, the theme song had been a Top 10 hit for alt rockers REM.

96 Superhero (Entourage)

My mind had been enabled

In a memory you overflowed

Want to be your superhero

Even if I tumble fall

I’m ok

You have that effect on me

But I need you desperately

I loved Entourage. It is undoubtedly one of HBO’s coolest original programs. Jane’s Addiction, best known for their Grammy nominated hit Been Caught Stealing, offered an edgy, rock theme song that fit the tone of the show nicely.

95 I Don’t Want to Be (One Tree Hill)

I don’t wanna be anything other

Than what I’ve been tryna be lately

All I have to do is think of me

I was not the target demographic for One Tree Hill. In the longstanding tradition of teen dramas like Beverly Hills 90210 and Dawson’s Creek, it explored the friendships, romances, family drama, and rivalries amongst a group of high school kids. Conversely, I was in my 30’s at the time. That being said, the show held my interest for perhaps the first 2 or 3 of its nine seasons, and the theme song by Gavin DeGraw was a banger that became a Top 10 hit.

94 Life Goes On (Empty Nest)

Rain or shine, I’ll be the one

To share it all as life goes on

We share it all, as life goes on

You might remember Billy Vera for his mid-80’s ballad At This Moment, which went to #1 on the charts. However, Vera also dabbled in acting and wrote a couple of television theme songs. Empty Nest was a Golden Girls spinoff about a widowed Miami doctor whose adult daughters move back in with him, and the song alludes to the importance of having people with whom to share life’s ups & downs.

93 Gimme A Break (Gimme a Break!)

Gimme a break

I sure deserve it

It’s time I made it to the top

Joey Lawrence achieved teen heartthrob success on 90’s sitcom Blossom, but he started several years earlier as a precocious child, the son of a widowed cop whose wife’s best friend moves in to care for the family. Series star Nell Carter, a Tony Award winning Broadway singer, belted out the upbeat theme song.

92 Princes of the Universe (Highlander)

Here we are, born to be kings

We’re the princes of the universe

Here we belong, fighting to survive

In a world with the darkest powers

Did you know that rock n’ roll royalty…British icons Queen…contributed to a television show?? Full disclosure…I never watched a single episode of Highlander, although I do have a vague recollection of seeing the movie on which it is based. It’s just not my cup o’ tea. However, who doesn’t love Queen?? I am surprised the song wasn’t a bigger hit, although I suspect that has something to do with the film & television show appealing to an eclectic yet narrow audience.

91 According to Our New Arrival (Mr. Belvedere)

All hands look out below

There’s a change in the status quo

Gonna need all the help that we can get

According to our new arrival

Life is more than mere survival

We just might live the good life yet

The show itself has a surprising pedigree. It is based on a 1947 novel, which was adapted into an Oscar nominated film starring Maureen O’Hara. It is likely that most people remember the television show because it co-starred baseball legend & beer pitchman Bob Uecker. The theme song was performed by Leon Redbone, who, in addition to having one of the coolest names in music, also had an unmistakable voice that was ubiquitous in the 80’s & 90’s.

Stay tuned for Part 2!!

Winning & Musing…Volume 2.25

Spring has sprung…sort of. We’re still dealing with some intermittently chilly weather here in Appalachia, but that just makes me appreciate the occasional sunshine even more. We’ve got a little bit of everything today, so let’s roll.

Congratulations to the Florida Gators, who emerged from March Madness as your 2024-25 national champions. For probably the first time in my life I didn’t watch a single second of the title game because I totally forgot it was even on. I was pissed off out of the gate on Selection Sunday when my WV Mountaineers were inexplicably left out of the tournament, and just never got that mojo back. There was alot of chalk and very little drama throughout the tournament, with all the #1 seeds making it to the Final Four, only the second time that has occurred (the first being in 2008). Apparently the championship contest was quite exciting, so I guess I missed out. Ah well…c’est la vie.

Staying with basketball, I suppose it is time to pay attention to the NBA now that the playoffs have begun. I have a vague recollection of watching almost every second of postseason action back in 2006 when I was convalescing at a “skilled” nursing facility. That was WAY before streaming, and the cable options weren’t that extensive either. However, I have always been thankful to be a sports fan because sometimes a game of any sort is a nice distraction from the darkness of real life. As far as this particular tournament goes, I have a soft spot for the Boston Celtics because their head coach, Joe Mazzulla, is a former Mountaineer, but it’s all good as long as the L.A. Lakers or Golden St. Warriors don’t get their hands on another trophy.

Kudos to Rory McIlroy for winning his first Green Jacket at The Masters. I didn’t watch as much of the tournament this year as I usually do because I simply had other things going on.

The NFL Draft is coming up, and Steeler Nation has our eyes on what the Black & Gold will do. Lord knows the powers-that-be have their work cut out for them after completely screwing up the quarterback situation. They decided to put all their chips in the middle of the table for enigmatic Aaron Rodgers, who may or may not join the team…eventually. IF Rodgers does come to Pittsburgh there are legit questions about what he has left in the proverbial tank, and whether or not he’s worth the hassle. I do NOT believe that there is any QB in this draft worthy of a first round pick, and absolutely do NOT want the Shedeur Sanders Circus coming to town. The kid is all hype, with an overinflated ego that exceeds his skill level by a country mile. I would much rather the Steelers upgrade the trenches on both sides of the ball and kick the can down the road on a quarterback until next year’s draft. Let the returning Mason Rudolph be the starter in 2025, even if it leads to a horrible season. They don’t consult me on these decisions though, so we’ll see.

Circling back to basketball, I’d be remiss not to mention West Virginia’s coaching situation. Head coach Darian DeVries bolted after one season for allegedly greener pastures with the Indiana Hoosiers. I have alot of questions about how things went down and who knew what & when did they know it, but what’s done is done. WVU has hired Ross Hodge, who compiled a 46-24 record in two seasons with the North Texas Mean Green. Mountaineer fans have had a rough time wrapping their heads around the new norms of collegiate athletics and do not want to believe that their beloved Old Gold & Blue has become a stepping stone program, but that is the reality. The ultimate goal of any good college basketball coach is to be hired by a blue blood school, or atleast a Big Ten/SEC team. That is where the money and the glory is to be found. If Hodge has some success he’ll also be gone in a year or two or three. With NIL & transfer portal insanity rosters are being rebuilt every year. It isn’t ideal, but that’s the way things are right now.