Published October 4, 2010

You might have heard the New England Patriots play the Miami Dolphins in Monday Night Football. Commentator Jeremy Bernfeld laments that MNF is not really about F anymore:

Hank Williams Jr., Gloria Estefan, face off in Monday Night Football (AP)

As viewers, we’re “treated” to a full 90-minute pregame show and a game that’s supposed to last two-and-a-half hours, though it always seems to last longer. The broadcast itself is as bloated as the game time, with three men in the announcer’s booth and two sideline reporters.

According to its theme song, the game is a “Monday Night party.” Monday nights don’t bring to mind parties, at least not fun ones. As in, “come on over, me and my tax returns made nachos!”

I’m excited for the game, especially when the Pats play, but it can be hard to see the game through the forest of “extras” that I rarely want. Each February, we’re all treated to the spectacle that is the Super Bowl. I don’t need a mini-Super Bowl every Monday, just a plain old football game.

How are you taking in the game tonight?