I started to enumerate my lurve for PTI to Jebus in the comments thread for the previous post but decided it was worth its own.
I lurve PTI long time, its is simple, straight forward, and bullet proof (guest hosts excepted.) Take two guy who are engaging on their own, add in a 25 year friendship based on arguing about everything and stick it in front of a camera. Brilliant!
There are few gimmicks to the show, and they’re only gimmicks because of the rampant copy catting. And they don’t work on other shows because they lack the personalities of PTI, you need the rhythm, the pattern of two people who know what the other one is going to do at the same time they do.
Also it helps that the show isn’t filmed in New York, they aren’t afraid to have Richard Justice on to talk baseball, instead of using whatever talking head ESPN has in town that week. The ability to bring in guests from other networks and regions of the country,means that often we get people close to the situation; being interviewed by acutal journalist.
But the most important thing PTI has going for it is that its one of the few shows on TV that doesn’t assume the viewer is mentally challenged cocker spaniel. Kornheiser and Wilbon are allowed to carry on a discussion like two normal, if well versed, adults. It doesn’t stop itself to explain what a 3 point stance is, or who a obscure 60s folk singer Tony just referenced is, it makes no apologies for what it is.
