pettition to itv f1 to sack James Allen
Discussion
I have come to wonder if it would be such a good idea to get rid of him.
After all at least his commentary gives us something to get worked up about if we wake up and find ourselves sitting in front of a telly showing a GP. 10 minutes (often less) of listening to James Allen provides tremendous motivation to go and cut the grass (with a pair of scissors if the mower won't work) or polish the driveway - even when it's raining.
After all at least his commentary gives us something to get worked up about if we wake up and find ourselves sitting in front of a telly showing a GP. 10 minutes (often less) of listening to James Allen provides tremendous motivation to go and cut the grass (with a pair of scissors if the mower won't work) or polish the driveway - even when it's raining.
LongQ said:
I have come to wonder if it would be such a good idea to get rid of him.
After all at least his commentary gives us something to get worked up about if we wake up and find ourselves sitting in front of a telly showing a GP. 10 minutes (often less) of listening to James Allen provides tremendous motivation to go and cut the grass (with a pair of scissors if the mower won't work) or polish the driveway - even when it's raining.
After all at least his commentary gives us something to get worked up about if we wake up and find ourselves sitting in front of a telly showing a GP. 10 minutes (often less) of listening to James Allen provides tremendous motivation to go and cut the grass (with a pair of scissors if the mower won't work) or polish the driveway - even when it's raining.
You've got a point there.
When the race is boring (in other words, about 17 times a season), laughing or groaning at Allen's howlers does have entertainment value. Just the feeling of anticipation as one waits for the inevitable next bonehead remark is so much more suspenseful than the run-up to the green flag.
Then again, imagine if the commentator were trenchant, candid, witty and insightful. It must be possible for someone actually to add to the occasion, rather than doing what Allen does, which is to diminish it.
flemke said:
Then again, imagine if the commentator were trenchant, candid, witty and insightful. It must be possible for someone actually to add to the occasion, rather than doing what Allen does, which is to diminish it.
Yes, but then my grass would never be cut and the drive would be forever dull ...
And for how long can a commentator be witty and insightful about F1? Especially in coming years when all the technology is likely to reduced to common products. I mean A and B must be worried now that there is only one tyre supplier - that's half the specualtive chit-chat gone for start. Will we have to get to the point where they start to discuss compounds and pressures?
Engines will, apparently, be fixed and presumably will never fail. Soon gearboxes will follow, ECU's will common to all, aero development will be curtailed and all the driver's will be the product of some kindergarten to adulthood development program. In fact I shouldn't wonder if the bigger teams have already introduced specialist selective breeding programs and human 'BCUs' with reduced instruction sets slowly developed through karting experience. Just what does go on in McL's Technology Centre for instance?
So what have we got for 2007?
Will Kimi manage to break Ferraris? Will Williams have enough hardware failures to give A and B something to talk about? Will the 2006 Honda outperform the 2007 car? Will DC shave off his beard? Will JB shave off his beard? Will DC and JB shave off each other's beards during a Red Bull party?
But for me the 'big' question, if such a thing exists, will be: "Do I care any more?"
If I don't the James Allen question becomes utterly irrelevant.
flemke said:
LongQ said:
I have come to wonder if it would be such a good idea to get rid of him.
After all at least his commentary gives us something to get worked up about if we wake up and find ourselves sitting in front of a telly showing a GP. 10 minutes (often less) of listening to James Allen provides tremendous motivation to go and cut the grass (with a pair of scissors if the mower won't work) or polish the driveway - even when it's raining.
After all at least his commentary gives us something to get worked up about if we wake up and find ourselves sitting in front of a telly showing a GP. 10 minutes (often less) of listening to James Allen provides tremendous motivation to go and cut the grass (with a pair of scissors if the mower won't work) or polish the driveway - even when it's raining.
You've got a point there.
When the race is boring (in other words, about 17 times a season), laughing or groaning at Allen's howlers does have entertainment value. Just the feeling of anticipation as one waits for the inevitable next bonehead remark is so much more suspenseful than the run-up to the green flag.
Then again, imagine if the commentator were trenchant, candid, witty and insightful. It must be possible for someone actually to add to the occasion, rather than doing what Allen does, which is to diminish it.
No no no! Because Murray used to make even the dullest race sound interesting and surely he can't be the only person in the world to do this? After all Charlie Cox was a good replacement for Touring Cars.
Is Charlie cox the excitable one? He's great, the best type of commentary.
Along with the shouty, gruff, and agai nvery excitable one who does/did the Superbikes.
The best commentary imo is not someone who can read out accurate facts ( everything you need flashes up on screen anyway ) but someone who is a fan, and likes to go a bit mental when theres something interesting going on.
Along with the shouty, gruff, and agai nvery excitable one who does/did the Superbikes.
The best commentary imo is not someone who can read out accurate facts ( everything you need flashes up on screen anyway ) but someone who is a fan, and likes to go a bit mental when theres something interesting going on.
BadgerBenji said:
Just one thing about this bothering me, if ITV were to sack him, what would they write, Dear Mr Allen, we have received a large petition asking for your removal by the general public, bye bye have a nice life.
Is this a fair method for dismissal?
Is this a fair method for dismissal?
Surely, surely, by now Allen has heard from many quarters that his work is deeply unpopular.
If ITV in their unwisdom choose to retain him, that's their problem. If he were sacked, however, the man could hardly complain that he had no idea that there was a problem.
steviebee said:
...problem is, we're all coming at this from a fan/enthusiast's perspective. F1 on ITV is about mass audiences. I'm sure that if you ask most of those that watch it what they think of JA, you'll probably find that they couldn't really give a monkeys.
absolutely, i know a lot of people who are interested in F1 and no other form of motorsport, they think James Allen is great. sure they have little history of the sport etc but i think a lot of enthusiasts have now left F1 to actually go to races on a sunday afternoon orswitched over to two wheels instead....Ben Edwards was the obvious replacement for Murray - but he wasn't part of the ITV team at the time so they overlooked him.
TV audiences for F1 are droppping alarmingly in the UK (and most European countries - see Nigel Roebuck's article in the current Autosport) so ITV are rather concerned at the moment. With Michael Grade taking over at the helm of ITV it will be interesting to see if there will be any changes to their current F1 coverage.
TV audiences for F1 are droppping alarmingly in the UK (and most European countries - see Nigel Roebuck's article in the current Autosport) so ITV are rather concerned at the moment. With Michael Grade taking over at the helm of ITV it will be interesting to see if there will be any changes to their current F1 coverage.
flemke said:
LongQ said:
I have come to wonder if it would be such a good idea to get rid of him.
After all at least his commentary gives us something to get worked up about if we wake up and find ourselves sitting in front of a telly showing a GP. 10 minutes (often less) of listening to James Allen provides tremendous motivation to go and cut the grass (with a pair of scissors if the mower won't work) or polish the driveway - even when it's raining.
After all at least his commentary gives us something to get worked up about if we wake up and find ourselves sitting in front of a telly showing a GP. 10 minutes (often less) of listening to James Allen provides tremendous motivation to go and cut the grass (with a pair of scissors if the mower won't work) or polish the driveway - even when it's raining.
You've got a point there.
When the race is boring (in other words, about 17 times a season), laughing or groaning at Allen's howlers does have entertainment value. Just the feeling of anticipation as one waits for the inevitable next bonehead remark is so much more suspenseful than the run-up to the green flag.
Then again, imagine if the commentator were trenchant, candid, witty and insightful. It must be possible for someone actually to add to the occasion, rather than doing what Allen does, which is to diminish it.
Agreed. As much as I hate watching/listening to his 'Ken Livingston on speed' tones he does make compelling viewing for his next faux pas.
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