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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2342544609319963433Sun, 25 May 2025 11:44:50 +0000Debra BrownCustomsEnglish Historical Fiction AuthorsFor the SkylarkThe Companion of Lady Holmeshireand Kingscastello di amorosacastlesAuthor Debra BrownI am Debra Brown, author of historical fiction novels, The Companion of Lady Holmeshire, a Jane Austen style romance published by World Castle Publications, and For the Skylark, a psychological drama with clean romance to be released whenever the winds are right. Welcome to my site!noreply@blogger.com (Debra Brown)Blogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2342544609319963433.post-416682556364891630Sat, 03 Jan 2015 08:34:00 +00002015-01-03T00:34:58.097-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Call for Submissions<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Algerian; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">English Historical Fiction Authors Announces the First annual M.M. Bennetts Award for Historical Fiction<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Entries are being accepted for works published in 2014<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The winner of the prize of $500 will be announced at <o:p></o:p></span></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the Historical Novel Society Conference in June, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For further details and to submit an application visit ; <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div> </div> 2015/01/call-forsubmissions-englishhistorical.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Debra Brown)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2342544609319963433.post-931354901379875291Tue, 28 Jan 2014 02:20:00 +00002014-01-27T18:20:18.218-08:00My Writing Process<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Today is "My Writing Process" blog tour day, when writers answer questions about their writing process. Last week, fellow author Felicia Rogers posted hers. You can read it <a href="; target="_blank">HERE</a> and learn about Felicia's books. She invited me, in turn, to post about my process. Thank you, Felicia!<br /> <br /> <b>My Writing Process</b><br /> <br /> Once I can tear myself away from the other things demanding my time, I sit with my laptop on a floral loveseat in my English writing room. It is a lovely space (or was till hubby and tax season got involved). I have a ceramic bust on a piece of furniture, a large portrait on the wall, prints of Blue Boy and Pinky hanging behind me, a Coat of Arms (sadly not my own) plaque, a frilly Victorian parasol, and a pirate flag and megaphone from our production of Pirates of Penzance--to name a few of the decor objects in the room. <br /> <br /> <b>What I am Working On</b><br /> <br /> After completing and launching <i>Companion</i>, <i>Skylark</i> was already down on virtual paper in part. I thought it would be done as quickly, but I started on a project that took on a life of its own--a busy one. That is <a href="; target="_blank">the English Historical Fiction Authors blog</a>. Though many other authors write most of the daily posts, I manage the blog, do some editing, and run some associated Facebook groups. <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="(2).jpg" /></a></div> One of the authors, Deborah Swift, suggested that we take select posts from the first year of the blog and make an anthology. That idea developed, and Volume One of <a href="; target="_blank"><i>Castles, Customs, and Kings: True Tales by English Historical Fiction Authors</i></a> has been published. The huge number of hours involved in that have been well worth it--the book has been well received, and we have begun work on a Volume II.<br /> <br /> Therefore, <i>For the Skylark</i> has taken me not one, not two, but three years to this date. And it is not done. <br /> <br /> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This might be me not writing.</td></tr> </tbody></table> Linda Collison recently tweeted that she wanted to hold a histfic writer's retreat in Hawaii--which heavenly state I love. I couldn't go. But Linda suggested we do a virtual retreat, and I was more than all for that. So we have put together a blog with plans for a retreat for the months of February and March (histfic authors are invited!). I'm going to, at last, finish <i>Skylark</i>! I already have the next book, a <i>Skylark</i> sequel, <i>The Duke of Mendenwood</i>, down in brief form. And two more books in that hoped-for series are bouncing around in my head, the fourth to be set in 19th-century Hawaii on a sugar plantation.<br /> <br /> <b>How My Work Differs From Others in the Genre</b><br /> <br /> <i>Companion</i> has been called a "fun read". <i>Skylark</i> has its fun sections but is more dramatic, and it has been called poetic in style. While my books are lightly romantic, the main plot of the story is the development of questions that need answers--like Jane Austen stories with suspense and a surprise ending.<br /> <br /> <b>Why I Write What I Do</b><br /> <br /> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>For the Skylark</i>'s Evangeline<br /> Or possibly Christine Robertson's<br /> Portret Orlovoi Davidovoi</td></tr> </tbody></table> <i>Companion</i> was written in part to rebel against the modern tell-all stories I always saw in the grocery store. I wanted to show that a story could be good and fun without being embarrassing to the reader. My books will never grace the grocery store. They also had to be English historical novels. That is what I love and must write.<br /> <br /> <b>How My Writing Process Works</b><br /> <br /> I once attended a book signing, and because I wanted to take notes on the author's speech, I bought a beautiful little journal with a metallic design on the cover. The author wrote her email address down in the journal for me, which pleased me to no end. After the notes and her email address, there were many blank pages remaining. I saved that lovely book for some time, wanting to use the later pages for something very special. <br /> <br /> The need made itself known.<br /> <br /> When I am planning out a story, I can think all day and get nowhere. But once I go to bed and try to sleep, the ideas begin to flow. I learned the hard way that wonderful ideas slept upon disappear into thin air or get whisked away and probably plagarized by shady dream characters. My pretty journal was put next to the bed and is now full of ideas for <i>The Companion of Lady Holmeshire</i>, some used and some not, and for <i>For the Skylark.</i> There are even notes for the distant future <i>The Household Rules of an English Gentleman. </i>When I'm famous, it will be an in-demand collector's item. Alternately, lol, it could be passed down in the family.<br /> <br /> I need to know where my story is going before I start on the manuscript. Once I have it in bits in the journal and taking form in my head, I begin to write the book, totalling only a few pages, in paragraphs--each of which is later developed into a chapter. So before I begin with any dialogue or descriptive phrases, the whole story is written, beginning, middle, and end, in brief. Once that is done, it feels pleasant to hit the keyboard and bring forth personality, drama, and humor with no worries about where the story is going. <br /> <br /> Until one of the characters defies me. Oh yes. It is usually the leading male who takes off in his own direction, though Skylark's Evangeline is pretty moody, and she can go off on a tangent, too. But we have a deal. They can do what they wish as long as the story ends the way it is meant to end. So far, so good.<br /> <br /> Thanks to Wikimedia Commons for images. <br /> <br /> Next week visit <a href="; target="_blank">Judith Arnopp</a> to learn of her writing process!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /></div> 2014/01/my-writing-process.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Debra Brown)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2342544609319963433.post-2204875842482621979Mon, 30 Sep 2013 06:56:00 +00002013-09-30T00:14:03.482-07:00My Pinterest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <span style="font-size: x-large;">You can now follow me on <a href=" /> <br /></div> 2013/09/my-pinterest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Debra Brown)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2342544609319963433.post-4491657551750610234Mon, 23 Sep 2013 07:00:00 +00002013-10-02T15:15:28.264-07:00and Kingscastello di amorosacastlesCustomsDebra BrownEnglish Historical Fiction AuthorsA Visit to Castello di Amorosa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Kings...<br /> Queens....<br /> Knights......<br /> Nobles..........<br /> Ladies in Waiting.......<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> For all you depressed, hopeless Anglophiles with castles on the brain who long to slide back in time into the realm of lords and ladies but who find yourselves approximately six thousand miles away, like me, from even the nearest European stronghold, I give you Castello di Amorosa.<br /> <br /> There, off of HWY CA-29 in the northern part of Napa Valley, California, 2 miles south of Calistoga and 5 1/2 miles north of St. Helena, sits a real 13th century castle, only nine years old. I've been there.<br /> <br /> I had to throw a bit of a snit to get there. It's true. Everyone else wanted to go elsewhere, basically nowhere, while we were in the Napa Valley. And there was a real castle sitting there for me to miss out on. I didn't say they had to go. I only said that I was going. I don't normally put my foot down, and nobody had planned on us splitting up for the day, so all-in-all, it was a shock. We all went.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> Castello di Amorosa is very young as far as castles go, but it is real in every other way. It was built using medieval techniques from European stone, including nearly one million antique bricks--handmade ones from torn-down Hapsburg palaces. The workers made all the lamps, decorative iron pieces, and iron gates by hand, working over an open forge. Every hinge and lock, every chain link, every nail was hand-crafted, as if made in medieval times. They hand-made all the leaded glass windows. They hand-carved most of the door and window surrounds, the well, and the stone crests depicting the family's coat of arms.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> <br /> What was meant to be a 5-6 year project expanded from the original 8,500 square feet to 121,000, and 107 rooms. There are more than 80 rooms underground. The square footage of just the underground rooms, built on four levels, is nearly 80,000, or about two acres. These rooms are barrel aging cellars and wine tasting rooms--which we enjoyed adequately.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> The castle is complete with stables, apartments for nobles, wine fermenting rooms, a church and chapel in regular use, secret passageways, and even a prison and torture chamber. The builder was bent on incorporating every element of a real medieval Tuscan castle. He attempted to depict how castles evolved over time by erecting doorways and niches which he then bricked up. He even built a partially destroyed tower.<br /> <br /> There are chickens and sheep which add to the realism.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> I sat on the Queen's chair at the long banquet table. I looked out through arrow slit windows--could have vanquished my better half as he wended his way up to my tower. I felt trapped behind hammered iron bars which covered the window in a locked hall. I stomped on hewn-stone floors which were held up by hewn-stone arches in underground rooms. Yes, I was in a real castle.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> Still, the stones were too clean. They lacked the centuries of dirt bits driven in by relentless winds and the moss that grows in the dirt. I thought of offering to scrub some grime into the bricks for a goodly fee. It would have been some long years of steady work. HIgh on a ladder. Um, no.<br /> <br /> And there was a parking lot with no king underneath.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> Yes, history was absent despite all the reality. No lord had ever defended this fortress. No lady had been courted within those walls. No harried servants had scurried across the courtyard before his ears were boxed. <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> But I had the pleasure of being there and seeing it all and letting my imagination run rampant. It was wonderful fun.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="(2).jpg" /></a></div> I take pleasure in announcing the immediate release of <i>Castles, Customs, and Kings: True Tales by English Historical Fiction Authors</i> on <a href="; target="_blank">Amazon Kindle US</a>, <a href="; target="_blank">Amazon Kindle UK</a>, and at a special price for the print copy (at this writing) on <a href="; target="_blank">Amazon US</a>, and <a href="; target="_blank">Amazon UK</a>. The book will soon be available at Barnes and Noble and other online stores.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> I am giving away a copy of My Book House Books, Vol. 12 to a winner within the United States. You have no idea what a sacrifice this is. I am buying this for YOU, and I don't even have one anymore. We left them behind when we moved cross-country--I was just 12. The Book House Books are what made me the Anglophile freak that I am. I read them all throughout my childhood. (I will have them again. The whole set.)<br /> <br /> This is a used copy with some shelf-wear and aging, but it is great reading from famous writers.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div> Please follow the links below to other magnificent castles and palaces. Enjoy!<br /> <br /> Update: The giveaway winner is Sophia Rose! <br /> <br /> <br /> <script src="; type="text/javascript"></script><br /> <br /> <br /></div> 2013/09/castles-blog-hop.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Debra Brown)27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2342544609319963433.post-4485113736593174068Sat, 24 Aug 2013 00:15:00 +00002013-08-23T17:15:15.001-07:00Goodreads Giveaway of Castles, Customs, and Kings!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="; /></a></div>You can enter a Goodreads giveaway of Castles, Customs, and Kings: True Tales of English Historical Fiction Authors. It runs till September 23rd, the release date.<br /> <br /> The book is an anthology of blog posts from the first year of the English Historical Fiction Authors blog. Truth can indeed be stranger than fiction!<br /> <br /> This book keeps a person’s attention. Each “chapter” is a page or two long, so it is wonderful for reading in short sittings. It would be a great waiting room book, lobby or break-room book, or a book to be read on public transportation. These essays from different time periods would also help to interest high school students in history.<br /> <br />  Please visit the <a href="; target="_blank">Goodreads page</a> to enter. </div>2013/08/goodreads-giveaway-of-castles-customs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Debra Brown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2342544609319963433.post-1810293638237130975Wed, 19 Sep 2012 09:16:00 +00002013-07-18T12:38:09.975-07:00The Next Big Thing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="; width="400" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span class="licensetpl_attr" style="font-size: larger;">Great Chalfied Manor by Derek Harper</span></b><br /> <b style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span class="licensetpl_attr" style="font-size: larger;">Creative Commons</span></b></td></tr> </tbody></table>I've been tagged by acclaimed author <a href=" Bilyeau</a> (whose novel The Crown has been well-received in the historical fiction world) in a blog game called The Next Big Thing. The game involves answering questions about my work-in-progress or a piece that I would like to be come the next big thing! After the questions, I will tag five more authors.<br /> <b><br /> </b><br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b></b></div><b>Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing:<br /> <br /> 1.) What Is the title of your book?</b><br /> <br /> For the Skylark<br /> <br /> <b>2.) Where did the idea come from for the book?</b><br /> <br /> I was always so intrigued and in awe of Charles Dickens' character, Miss Havisham. I wanted to write a story about a reclusive woman like her. I had no idea what would happen in the story when I started, but within a page or so, her adult twins, Dante and Evangeline came into being. It turned out to be them I loved. They had been raised on an estate in isolation and have psychological consequences of that situation. The story took off.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="; width="400" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walter O Briggs House<br /> by  <a class="new" href="; style="background-image: none; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: start;" title="User:Andrew Jameson (page does not exist)">Andrew Jameson</a> Creative Commons</td></tr> </tbody></table><br /> <b>3.) What genre does your book fall under?</b><br /> <br /> Historical Suspense. It might end up in YA.<br /> <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="319" src="; /></a></div><b>4.) Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?</b><br /> <br /> Evangeline: I cannot find someone in the right age. Perhaps a younger Emily Blunte.<br /> <br /> Dante: Dan Stevens If he could look 21....<br /> <br /> Lady Charlotte: Rachel Weisz (yes, she is old enough at 40)<br /> <br /> Molly: Gemma Arterton in blonde hair<br /> <br /> Becker: Brendan Coyle (yeah!)<br /> <br /> Hampton the butler (antagonist): Hugh Bonneville<br /> <br /> <b>5.) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?</b><br /> <br /> Yikes! One sentence? Querying skills condensed even more?<br /> <br /> Twenty-one year old Evangeline goes from content and happy secluded with her dear twin-brother Dante on a strangely functioning estate since birth to distraught and panicky as life normalizes when the world encroaches upon the estate and threatens to pull them apart.<br /> <br /> For information on writing a "log-line", see <a href=" Lamb's Blog</a>. Kristen is the author of <i>We Are Not Alone- the Writer's Guide to Social Media</i>.<br /> <br /> <b>6.) Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?</b><br /> <br /> I do not plan to self publish the book. I may query agents or will go with a small publisher.<br /> <br /> <b>7.) How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? And read the intro.</b><br /> <br /> I have been working on it for fifteen months. This is the beginning of the prologue:<br /> <i><br /> "Rules of the House were reviewed on Sunday mornings. The sound of distant church bells meant meetings in a study under the stern watch of nobles in frames. Twenty-one year-old Evangeline and her brother Dante were always on time. Lady Charlotte read out a number, and one of the twins would recite the corresponding Rule."</i><br /> <b><br /> 8.) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?</b><br /> <br /> Great Expectations<br /> <br /> <b>9.) Who or what inspired you to write this book?</b><br /> <br /> Miss Havisham made me do it. :)<br /> <br /> <b>10.) What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?</b><br /> <br /> Evangeline goes from content and happy in her strange circumstances to distraught and panicky as they normalize. Dante, her beloved twin and only friend, wants to break the Rules, go through the gates and see outside the estate. He even falls in love. Evangeline feels she must keep him for herself. She withdraws even more, sitting for days with her mother in the tower. And then everything goes wrong.<br /> <br /> You can meet the twins <a href="p/for-skylark.html">HERE</a>.<br /> <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="; width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pitzhanger Manor Gates<br /> by P.G. Champion  Creative Commons</td></tr> </tbody></table><br /> Thanks to Nancy Bilyeau for sending you here! I will nominate five others. I do have to have their consent, so please return to see the rest of my list. Each of these will put up their posts as they can get to it.</div><br /> <a href=" William Wilkin</a><br /> <a href=". Bennetts</a><br /> <a href=" Byrd</a><br /> <a href=" Swift</a><br /> <a href=" Millard</a><br /> <br /> <br /> 2012/09/tagged-next-big-thing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Debra Brown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2342544609319963433.post-1851872339558878514Wed, 01 Aug 2012 02:34:00 +00002012-08-23T16:27:51.300-07:00Pretty Proposals of the Millenium<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="210" src="; /></a></div>I invite authors and readers to join me in sharing pretty marriage proposals from historical fiction novels published since January 1, 2000. Please put the proposal as a comment below. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="309" src="; /></a></div>Please name the title and author of the book. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="375" width="310" src="; /></a></div>I will start with the proposal of Mr. Gabriel Hughes to Miss Emma Carrington from The Companion of Lady Holmeshire, my debut novel.<BR><BR> <i> Gabe assisted Emma to rise, and they moved from their stiff dining chairs to a down-stuffed, white sofa. Gabriel stared off into space as he transferred himself, nearly speaking twice once they sat. Emma sorted her prepared expressions of regret, searching for one to mercifully stop him before words appeared that could not be unsaid. She raised a finger to signal her wish to talk just as he cleared his throat and spoke. “Miss Carrington, you have but recently met me, I am quite well aware.” Having at last raised the courage, he went on to make his case, grateful to have spoken in time to stop her preventing it. “I am horrified at myself for being forward in this matter,” he said, “but you see, I am more troubled that someone else may appear, someone who does not love you as well nor would treat you as well, before I feel it more appropriate to take the opportunity. Therefore, you see, I must declare my feelings today and hope you will understand my haste in the matter. I have seen for myself and have heard that you are an admirable woman. You are certainly beautiful in every way—in face and form and outstandingly in manner. In the few weeks I have known you, I can barely eat unless I am fortunate to be with you, or hardly sleep at night for visions of your smile. I am a barrister. Therefore I am well able to support you in comfort on my earnings alone. Besides, I have been left a truly charming country cottage and some considerable income to manage the house through the estate of Her Late Majesty the Queen Caroline of Brunswick. My foster parents, as well, have left me a pleasant home here in Town, which is where I dwell for much of the year. It is not so grand as this Belgrave mansion, but I can entertain comfortably in it; that is, when a hostess may be found.” He fumbled with his pocket watch, not wanting to forget any vital part of his preamble or fail to pour it out before she could decline. The remaining words, if said, might prove a great temptation to her. “As a barrister, my wife would attend the royal court; therefore, you would spend as much time as you wish with your friends during the Season. All other wishes of yours would be given the greatest consideration. I should dislike, very much, to ever decline your request. I wonder, then, dear Miss Carrington, if you would make me ever so happy and become my wife?” He put up a finger to stop her from replying and added, “I felt great urgency, indecorously, in making this request, but I shall give you as much time as you wish to reply. I shall assume that until you give a reply you are considering the matter. Please be assured of my lasting faithfulness and love, and do consider my words.” Emma could have been easily swayed, kind-hearted as she was and not wanting to hurt him. She had listened intently, watching his face and how it gradually raised as he gained confidence. His eyes had lifted from overseeing the wringing of his hands and had settled with a hopeful gaze into hers. He surveyed every motion of her face, the direction of any turn of the corners of her mouth and the leaning of her body to ascertain her thoughts. </i><BR><BR> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="298" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="315" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="372" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="278" src="; /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="322" src="; /></a></div>The proposal can succeed ... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="295" src="; /></a></div>Or fail.<BR><BR> Please leave only proposals appropriate for a general audience. You may include a link to the book.<BR><BR>Thank you for sharing it!<BR><BR><BR><BR><a href=" Companion of Lady Holmeshire</a>2012/07/pretty-proposals-of-millenium.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Debra Brown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2342544609319963433.post-112622115501376474Wed, 25 May 2011 05:25:00 +00002012-12-17T12:07:27.400-08:00Debra BrownFor the SkylarkThe Companion of Lady HolmeshireIndulging Your Inner Aristocrat~ British Period Novels<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Thank you so much for visiting my website! I am the author of an Amazon Bestselling early Victorian novel, a polite mystery/romance. <br /> <br /> <b>Leave Modern Cares Behind</b><br /> <br /> Do you want to settle down on the divan and drift back in time, a century and a half, to a very different world? To visit ancient stone castles, olde English villages and London mansions? To banquet and dance at the Midsummer Night's Dream Ball? <br /> <br /> <b>The Companion of Lady Holmeshire</b><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="; width="320" /></a></div> In this Jane Austen inspired novel set early in Queen Victoria's reign, a foundling infant, grown to become the lovely housemaid, Emma Carrington, has been chosen by the Countess of Holmeshire as her companion. Emma returns from London, where she had been receiving training in the arts of refinement, to the country castle home of the lady in Northumbria. Soon the lady’s son, the 7th Earl of Holmeshire, engaged by arrangement to Genevieve, an aristocratic London lady, returns from his travels to the Continent to find this former servant girl at tea. A day in the village below reveals some hint of danger to Emma; a man in tatters is following her, while unfamiliar gentlemen follow Genevieve. <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="; width="320" /></a></div> Polite romantic developments among the aristocrats and the servants amuse as they spend time in London for The Season. The Countess attempts to introduce this former servant girl into snobbish aristocratic society as her companion- to quite some reaction. The harsh realities of life are seen while visiting a poor area in Victorian London, contrasting with the aristocratic Midsummer Night's Dream Ball. Intriguing mystery has been woven through the book, and quite a surprise awaits at the end.<br /> <br /> Read part of this book and see the video trailer <a href="p/companion-of-lady-holmeshire.html">HERE</a>.<br /> <center> <i>And Now...</i></center> <br /> See what you can deduce before reading the last two chapters. Please leave your guesses on my <a href="p/readers-game.html">Reader's Game</a> page to win a valuable jewelry prize! And then read on for the great surprise ending, with a twist that none of my readers thus far had expected.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="; width="240" /></a></div> <br /> <b>For the Skylark~ To Be Published in 2013</b><br /> <br /> My second book, For the Skylark, is an early Victorian story about an unusual family. Why does Her Ladyship keep herself isolated in an octagonal attic-like room? What is in the locked chest that she sits and polishes? She does come to spend dinnertime with her grown twins, Dante and Evangeline, who adore and live for each other. The twins were kept isolated from the world, so they know no better than to live meticulously by the strict House Rules. Dante, however, begins to see that most of the world lives differently and wants to set foot out of the grand estate to experience it. Evangeline has been happy and content at home; can Dante not just leave things as they are? The book is full of intriguing mystery and polite romance. You can read a chapter

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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877Tue, 05 Mar 2024 13:02:11 +0000exciting thingsautofocusBudget (of sorts) raised. Now time to make our first feature film, or die trying. Probably die trying.noreply@blogger.com (and large)Blogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-5390314039623126824Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:24:00 +00002010-03-03T21:33:07.291+00:00Four stars<a href=" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 144px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444522007471314882" border="0" alt="" src="; /></a> I'm currently in Newcastle shooting a new film, flutter, with Joe Anderson (and a host of others including Laura Fraser and Billy Zane - get me) but on Sunday I have a day off and am travelling to Leeds to do a Q and A at a screening of 1234. Much as I'm enjoying the flutter shoot it'll be great to get back to 1234 business.<br /><br />After that it's back to work until the 9<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> march when I'm going to the London screening, then more work until the Oxford screening on the 22<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">nd</span>. Wish I could go to more but thankfully the cast are doing Q and A's at the others.<br /><br />But best news of all has been a <a href=" star review in Empire magazine</a> which was jolly nice of them and has put everyone in a good mood. So good in fact that I may dress like the director in the photo for the Q and A. Or I may pretend to be French, I haven't decided. Anything to deflect from the horror of having to stand on a stage talking.2010/03/four-stars.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-4655366921278252953Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:37:00 +00002010-02-24T09:49:01.949+00:00exciting thingsUK Release for 1234 announced!Drum roll please... 1234 will be in cinemas from tomorrow!<br /><br />Appropriately enough for a film about a band, 1234 is going to touring around the UK from Wednesday 24th February. It is part of new project New British Cinema Quarterly, which takes the most original and distinctive British films from the festival circuit and brings them to the UK's flagship independent cinemas.<br /><br />As a special bonus for audiences, each screening will be accompanied by a Q&A from either the cast or the filmmakers.<br /><br />Kicking off as part of Glasgow Film Festival tomorrow night, the tour is already booked into venues around the country. Here are the full dates:<br /><br /><a href="; mce_href=" Film Theatre</a><a href=";> </a>- Wednesday 24th February<br /><a href="; mce_href=" Filmhouse</a> - Thursday 25th February<br /><a href="; mce_href=" Hyde Park</a> - Sunday 7th March<br /><a href="; mce_href=" London</a> - Tuesday 9th March<br /><a href="; mce_href=" Broadway</a> - Wednesday 10th March<br /><a href="; mce_href=" QUAD</a> - Wednesday 10th March (yep, two in one night!)<br /><a href="; mce_href=" Showroom</a> - Thursday 11th March<br /><a href="; mce_href=" Watershed</a> - Sunday 14th March<br /><a href="; mce_href=" Cardiff</a> - Monday 15th March<br /><a href="; mce_href=" Cinema City</a> - Tuesday 16th March<br /><a href="; mce_href=" Phoenix</a> - Monday 22nd March<br /><a href="; mce_href=";>Cambridge Arts Picturehouse -</a> Tuesday 23rd March<br /><a href="; mce_href=" Tyneside</a> - Monday 29th March2010/02/uk-release-for-1234-announced.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-8396008274571936418Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:58:00 +00002010-01-25T00:03:43.888+00:00The clock is ticking<a href=" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 136px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430460238196536658" border="0" alt="" src="; /></a> Yes I know we keep saying this, but it really is true, we have excellent news to post up here, it's just we're waiting on a few dates so we can post it with the maximum impact, so apologies for it all taking so long but it really will be worth it.<br /><br />And with bands like the Vivian girls marking a comeback for that whole nineties indie sound the timing really couldn't be better unless someone like the Yummy Fur were to reform.<br /><br />Oh, hang on, <a href=" have</a>. You see, the timing really couldn't be any better.2010/01/clock-is-ticking.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-7769655999160676606Sun, 02 Aug 2009 15:58:00 +00002009-08-11T11:39:27.400+00:00It's been a while<a href=" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365396924915845330" border="0" alt="" src="; /></a><br /><div>... but these things happen. There's not been a huge amount to report because the world of film distribution is the slowest moving world I have ever come across.<br /><br />We have a few companies who have expressed an interest in releasing 1234. Some just want to do a theatrical, some just DVD and some want to do both. This is good, but it takes an age to get any answers out of them. I suppose they have to be careful as they can only afford to buy a few films a year so need to make sure they're happy with what they get, but it's still amazing that it can take weeks just to get the simplest of email replies. One foreign distributor, who actually requested a screener, still hadn't watched it six months later. I can't help feeling that the inevitable online releasing of films in the future will give distributors a much needed kick up the arse. If I can include money for promotion in my budget and then just release the film online I can get it out there right away. I've got a lot of respect for some distributors (and luckily that includes the ones interested in us), the ones who take real care with promotion and placement, but it does seem to be a business that's still operating as if it's 1960.<br /><br />Hopefully we'll have something to report soon, if only because it would help stem all the 'when's your film coming out then?' emails we get. The fact we get loads from people we don't know only underlines what we've always known, that there's an audience for this film. There's a lot of people out there who love the world of indie music and would be interested in seeing it on film. Obviously I hope they like the film, but at the very least they're interested in it, more so I think than any distributors we've spoken to realise. And, as a distributor, what better way to be proved wrong than to find your film more successful than you thought.<br /><br />In the meantime other things are being lined up. Carson Films ltd, the company Simon and I set up, are busy putting together our slate of projects. We've got 4 features and one documentary on our slate, the first of which, albion, all about a group of archaeologists running a summer camp to build an Iron Age roundhouse (hence the photo) is just being lined up to send in to the UKFC for development funding. I think it's going to be great (but then I would, wouldn't I), possibly the most dramatic thing we've ever done, but still funny and touching. I've been working on the story with Eithne Farry, who is the books ed at Marie Claire but is of course best known as the person who made all of Lyndsey's outfits in 1234. As soon as she's finished her new book she can start work on all Iron Age costumes that the archaeologists are going to wear.<br /><br />And at the exact opposite end of the spectrum, we just shot a video for the new Tender Trap single, which I'll try and put up here soon (if I can remember how you do that). They had no money so we shot the whole thing on a still camera running at 3 shots a second, then blended all the shots together. It looks very odd, but in a good way I think. Total budget? One lunch for editor.</div>2009/08/its-been-while.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-2264402822512553467Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:23:00 +00002009-04-16T10:33:40.088+00:00Yes, ANOTHER screening<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325233142269361778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a> We had the cast and crew screening on Tuesday which was great fun, though slightly odd as right after the film finished we had to run over the road and watch the Chelsea / Liverpool game, which was so painful I couldn't bring myself to watch much of. But that aside it was great to see everyone again. It seems really odd that it was exactly one year after we started, in one way it felt longer, but in another way it only seems like last month.<br /><br />And now we're getting ready for another screening. We're showing in Sheffield as part of the <a href=" festival</a> on Monday 27th at 6pm, after which, oh joy, Simon and I have to do a Q & A. Watching the film with an audience is a uniquely painful experience (it just becomes a list of little things I'd do differently) but that's nothing compared to the horror at having to stand on stage and talk about it. Last week there was an interview I did running on Shorts TV, and having seen that I now know what the Q & A will look like as well as sound like, and I don't like. But there's no getting out of it, so I may as well just get drunk and do it.<br /><br />Meanwhile everything has pretty much been signed for our middle east release, and we're still waiting on news for the UK. We'll get there in the end, but my god it takes a long time. I never really believed people when they said making the film was only half the job, but now I do. In the meantime Simon and I are both signing up for new projects, but I'm not going to mention those until the ink has dried on the contracts as otherwise it's bad ju-ju and it will all fall apart.<br /><br />So if you're near Sheffield a week on Monday, come on down to the screening, but probably best to leave before the Q & A starts, it'll just be two drunk men rambling on and no one wants to see that.2009/04/yes-another-screening.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-4125492022742857048Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:29:00 +00002009-03-18T15:35:04.715+00:00Finallyafter all this time, we have a CAST AND CREW screening. It's going to be on the 14th April at 6.15pm at the Soho hotel. It's taken for ever to arrange because quite simply we had no money left and screening rooms are expensive, but now it's finally going to happen. It'll be great to see everybody again, but the best thing about it happening on that date is that the 14th April is the day we started filming, so it will be exactly a year.<br /><br />Now if one of the distributors could just hurry up and buy the film that would make everything just dandy, but it seems getting a quick decision from a distributor in this economic climate is a near impossibility, so we'll have to just sit and wait. We've got quite good at that.2009/03/finally.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-2752716288881905099Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:59:00 +00002009-02-28T01:13:31.743+00:00Another screening<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307646848970191666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><br /><div>1234 screened this afternoon as part of the London popfest, and it was a slightly less painful experience than the LFF screening. It was less painful in that this wasn't the first time I'd had to watch it with an audience, but painful none the less as all I did was look at every shot and think why didn't I do this or that (apart from the balcony scene which I'm happy with). This doesn't mean I'm not happy with what's on screen, I still am, but there's this weird feeling that a film is never finished and what's on screen is just a work in progress, and that if you just gave me some more time and money there's a few tweaks I'd like to make. I know that's never going to happen, and in fact i hope it never does as it would drive me insane.</div><div><br><br></div><div>Meanwhile we've got another screening, and it's up north this time. We've been asked to screen at the Sensoria festival in Sheffield, which is a festival of music and film, 24th - 30th April, and we happily said yes, so book your tickets now. Or whenever they go on sale.</div><div><br><br></div><div>Then this evening we went to the Buffalo bar for more London Popfest, including the always lovely Betty and the werewolves (though I was late and missed almost their entire set), the fantastic Zipper (I think) from Spain (I think again), and finally an amazing set from Rob and Amelia's (pictured in earlier days) new version of Tender Trap, who were amazing in a Motown / Phil Spector / stand up drumming type way. I wasn't sure what they'd be like as it's many years since I've seen them, but it was without doubt one of the best gigs I've seen by them in any of their many guises. If only they'd done this a year ago we could have had them in 1234, and all the better it would have been for it.</div><div><br><br></div><div>I guess I'll have to add an indie club scene to my new script. God knows how, but I'm sure we can find a way.</div>2009/02/another-screening.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-69909690652035335Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:08:00 +00002009-02-12T11:18:43.021+00:00Yes I know it's been agesBut that's because there hasn't been a lot to report. Our sales agent explained that a film either sells right away (a rarity) or it takes ages, and guess which basket we're in. There are a number of companies interested in UK distribution for 1234, but we're just going to have to sit by while their cogs slowly turn and a deal is signed.<br /><br />In the meantime, though, we're again applying to festivals, and even better, have an upcoming screening of 1234. We're showing at part of the excellent London Popfest. Here's their press release:<br /><br /><em>As part of our four day London Popfest (Thursday 26th February to Sunday 1st March) we have an afternoon of indiepop related film programming lined up at The Roxy Bar & Screen in Borough. The screening is free and open to all, not just to London Popfest season ticket holders. We're very excited to have only the second ever showing of "Slamptumentary", a documentary on the Newcastle-based DIY and Riot Grrrl label Slampt, and, as our main feature, the hotly-tipped British indie feature film "1234" fresh from its success at last year's London Film Festival and featuring, in Comet Gain and Betty & The Werewolves, two of the bands playing the popfest.</em><br /><em></em><br />It's the afternoon of Friday 27th of feb. The Roxy is just down the road from London bridge tube station so if you're about, come on down. With any luck we'll get a few more things like this sorted out for screenings round the UK (not too many or no one will buy the film, but just enough to show their is an audience for this kind of indie malarky). More info from <a href="; . We're very pleased to be showing as popfest is exactly the kind of thing we made 1234 for.<br /><br />Finally have to have a quick mention for Shrag, who I've been to see twice now, and who are absolutely fantastic. I went to see the always excellent Betty and the Werewolves and Shrag were on the same bill and I loved them, so if they're playing near you go and see them.2009/02/yes-i-know-its-been-ages.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-3601132174283082583Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:53:00 +00002008-12-18T01:14:20.525+00:00Indie ROCK<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280927238294060994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 222px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 208px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a> Tonight I went to a fortuna pop night at the Lexington near Kings cross. I've never been there before, but I'll certainly go again. What an excellent gig venue it is, good sound, good views, great bands. If I'd found it before I'd have certainly used it in the film. And it's rather timely to be thinking about venues, as I got a text from Ben the location manager today to tell me that Manbucca, where we shot the majority of the gig scenes in the film, burnt down last night. Thankfully everyone got out in time, and it's a real shame to see it happen but I can't pretend I'm all that surprised. The electrics in there were shot, lights used to flick on and off, and the gaffer, the wonderful Mr Paul Murphy, insisted we get a generator in for the shoot. I'm sure they'll rebuild it and it'll be excellent again, just with better wiring this time.<br /><br />Anyway, I went to the Fortuna Pop night to finally see My Sad Captains, the band whose song Great Expectations finishes the film. It's the first time I've ever seen them live and they were great, and when they played Great Expectations it was one of those weird moments when all I could imagine was the final shot of the film. I can't believe I've not managed to see them before, but am very glad I have now, and I'll certainly try and see them again, they're great. It was a proper indie night, as not only were they there, Sean (el presidente from Fortuna Pop) was there along with John Jervis from the marvellous Where it's at is where you are label (who asked me to DJ at one of his sunday afternoon sessions)along with Rob and Amy from Heavenly and Eithne and Mike from the film.<br /><br />And just when I thought the night couldn't get any better the headline band, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, came on and were just brilliant. They're from New York and were fantastic. they sound a bit shoe gazey on their myspace page, but were a bit rockier live, and I loved them. Absolutely have to get them on the soundtrack for the next film.<br /><br />Which may well be called Tender Buttons and be about working in a restaurant. I'm ten pages away from finishing the first draft and it looks about the right size to do for a next film. A Girl and a Gun would be lovely to do, but I still worry it's a bit large, and maybe it would be a good thing to do third. But we'll see, right now I'm broke and will quite happily direct porn if it means I can pay the rent.<br /><br />Meanwhile, saw Damon Wise from Empire (along with Jeremy Drysdale and Nev Pierce from Total Film) for beer yesterday, and Damon said he'd put 1234 down in his Guardian guide list of top films to see in 2009, which was very nice of him. Can't wait for a UK theatrical release, it'll be like the pain of the LFF screening only times a million. Brilliant. Belgium here I come.2008/12/indie-rock.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-4324009006563916539Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:11:00 +00002008-12-10T12:22:31.701+00:00I could have had a baby in that timeThe other day my old company found themselves in a bit of a fix, two shoots that needed to be done, only one spare P/D and no budget, so being Christmas I decided to help them out and do one of the jobs for them for old times sake. This meant going back to my old office.<br /><br />I only had to pop in, the shoot was only going to take two hours, but it was a very odd experience. I'd forgotten how quiet the office was, quite a few people I knew had left and the seating plan had radically changed. A lot of people came up and asked after the film and it was lovely to see them all again after all these years. Except that I suddenly realised I only left at the end of February, a mere nine months ago. In that time we did pre-production, a four week shoot, a two month edit and a film festival, and as a result it feels as if I left my old job about two years ago. With it's incredible ability to slow down time it would seem filmmaking could be the nearest we can get to eternal life, apart from the fact the stress will probably kill you by the time you're sixty (although that's 110 in normal years).<br /><br />But aside from wittering on about rubbish, we still have the question of the extra shot in the film. The shot itself works, everyone likes it, but it gives us two extra problems. Firstly we have to scan the new shot off the negative and onto High Def, cut it in and then colour grade it (one company) then we have to re-do the audio edit as the film now runs longer (another company). The good news is that it appears that both companies can find some space for us to do this before Christmas, now all that needs to be done is negotiate cost. With any luck they'll do it as an equity investment, if not it may be time to start selling off any christmas presents.<br /><br />And then the film will be finished. I think I've said that before. OK, finished apart from going in and doing a 5.1 stereo sound mix that we'll need for the north American and European markets. And the DVD extras. And some other stuff I've forgotten. I think making a film must be like having children, they just never, ever stop taking money off you.2008/12/i-could-have-had-baby-in-that-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-5539572824297664489Thu, 27 Nov 2008 18:50:00 +00002008-11-27T19:08:44.092+00:00The beginning of the end of the end<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273415917411064962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 254px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a> Or something. A few people didn't understand the end of the film. It seemed horribly obvious to me, but the fact a handful didn't get it made us think about making the end a little more obvious.<br /><div></div><br /><div>**SPOILER**</div><div>It's a tricky thing to get right, underlining what's happening without hammering it home. So the other day we tried taking out a couple of shots so it's more obvious Stevie leaves the band. We still thought we could add an extra shot, maybe Stevie knocking at the door or something. We looked at how we could do this cheaply, but whatever it was we'd still have to find some money form somewhere. Then Simon had a good idea (at last) and looked in the rushes, and sure enough we shot a close up of Stevie's hand knocking on the door from the scene when he asks Emily out. I have no recollection of shooting this shot, but will obviously take full credit for my amazing foresight. The shot fits in fine, the ending still does what it did before but now it's a little more explicit. I watched it a good few times now, and canvassed opinion, and no one seems to think it's too much, so it looks like we'll go with that.</div>**END OF SPOILER**<br /><div></div><br /><div>In the meantime no news on a UK sale, though a number of companies are interested and the Sales Agent thinks we should get one wrapped up in the new year. They've also managed to sell to another territory, with another two close to closing, so at some point in 2009 the film will appear somewhere in the world.</div><br /><div></div><div>I've also decided that after all these years of self sufficiency it's time to get an agent so I've signed with the lovely Yasmin at AP Watt. The fact that I know she sometimes reads this blog will in no way colour the nice things I have to say about AP Watt, oh no. Not at all. Ok, maybe a bit.</div><br /><div></div><div>Plus we have three more scripts we're working on, A Girl and a Gun (road movie in the south of France), Tender buttons (it's all set in a restaurant) and Albion (about people making an iron age roundhouse). None of these would seem to be an obvious candidate for a huge science fiction spectacular with loads of CGI and a spaceship manned entirely by bears, but I'm working on. I'll get those bears in one of the scripts if it's the last thing I do. Which it probably will be.</div>2008/11/beginning-of-end-of-end.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-4232904221747344152Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:45:00 +00002008-10-31T12:57:09.547+00:00No more festival<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263298467132097074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 239px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a> Well that's it, the LFF is finally over, and my liver is rather glad about that. Last night was the party for Slumdog Millionaire, and also the final night party all rolled into one. It was held in some very posh bar in St James St and was absolutely rammed. In what has become my signature move I drank far too much and then embarrassingly introduced myself to somebody I really admire, this time Stephen Frears. I'd be very surprised if they ever let me into another party again.<br /><br />Worst thing about the LFF ending is the fact that if I want to see a film now I'll have to pay. No more just turning up and waving a pass, no more press screenings, no more anything. Roll on the next festival.<br /><br />Something is obviously in the air (or water) as in the last two days we've had a flurry of emails from agents and production companies who want to see the film. I've no idea how this happens as I'd imagine most people keep their cards fairly close to their chest, but it's been most odd, but really, really nice. Fingers crossed the next month will see some good news about getting the next film off the ground.<br /><br />Meanwhile we sit back and wait for people to come in for distribution for 1234. By all accounts it's a long old process, especially in the current climate, but the sales agent are off to the American Film Market (AFM) next week, which is the biggest market in the US, so with any luck there will be some interest stateside, provided they haven't all got completely caught up in their elections.<br /><br />Actually the next thing I really need to do is get some work in. These last two weeks I've pretty much lived off canapes, free beer and the chocolate bar they put in every goodie bag, but that's all over now and I'm hungry. One little plate of thai chicken and some tuna carpaccio would go down a treat right now.2008/10/no-more-festival.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-1472682331366116363Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:09:00 +00002008-10-28T22:12:46.931+00:00Brave new worldWell, it had to happen one day, but finally, after years of flatly refusing, I've set up a Myspace page for the film <a href="; . I know, I know, I'm so last year, it's all about twatter or twitter or somesuch but I don't care. I've made a myspace page and I think it looks lovely, so pop by and say hello, or whatever the term is.<br /><br />Meanwhile we're busy having meetings with all and sundry, talking about next films with companies, and all the time waiting to find out what happens with distribution. By all accounts it's a slow moving process, but even more so as the worlds economy collapses. Still, one day we'll get there, one day...2008/10/brave-new-world.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-6234365663458451011Sun, 26 Oct 2008 18:03:00 +00002008-10-26T18:14:17.058+00:00London calling<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261525113882852674" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 280px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 278px" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a> More parties and more screenings. Had our second screening at the Roxy in Brixton. I didn't go but was there at the end and there seemed to be positive mumblings as far as I could hear. Somewhere in the audience was a journalist from Screen International, so here's hoping general audience laughter will have had a positive effect on him. After that it was dinner with the family then off to a party for British directors, where I chatted to Nick Abrahams and Sallie Aprahamian which, as Mark Williams used to say, was nice.<br /><br />Next day I got to see Vicky Christina Barcelona, which I was really unsure about seeing but loved, and then it was off to introduce our final screening at the NFT studio. It was a great place to have our final screening as almost a year ago (I'll have to go and check the diary, if I can be arsed) we screened Home in the NFT studio at a Shooting People evening, and now here we were showing the feature. Later we went to see Telstar (Mathew Baynton's in it) and while we were queueing up to go in a couple came over and told us how much they'd enjoyed the film. It's little things like this that make the whole festival exposure really worthwhile.<br /><br />And finally, just when it appeared things couldn't get any better, we went to the Che party at Aisa di Cuba. Everyone there was trying to chat to Benicio del Toro, but I didn't care about meeting him because I got to shake hands with Paul Simonon of the Clash, who was also there. Meeting him may well have been the highlight so far. How can you not be impressed at meeting someone who smashed his bass on stage in such a brilliant way?2008/10/london-calling.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-4333478328354652401Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:28:00 +00002008-10-22T11:34:27.204+00:00More festivalnessThe weekend was quiet after the premiere, just what I needed. Monday, however, and it all started again. Had to go to the Hospital (swanky club not A&E) with Simon to do a panel discussion for aspiring film makers. It was quite odd, but fun, the questions all seemed good, it just seemed a little weird to be being held up as an example of how to do something. To celebrate afterwards we all went to a drinks reception, which then moved on to the buyers and sellers party at soho house. Not sure how I got home.<br /><br />The next day and I'm determined to do tihngs a little quieter. I meet up with scriptwriter jeremy drysdale for a quick pint, then head over to the NFT to apologize to Nick Abrahams for missing the screening of his film. Have drinks with him, meet up with some other people and somehow find myself dragged off to the party for Vicky Christina Barcelona, the new woody allen film. At aprty I drink more but manage to meet Shane Meadows and Atom Egoyan, which is excellent. Drink even more and once again end up unsure of how I got home.<br /><br />I'm staying in tonight.2008/10/more-festivalness.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-589555651182968064Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:13:00 +00002008-10-18T15:28:25.580+00:00The premiere<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258512581039528242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a> Finally. I spent most of the day wandering round in a slightly terrified daze, trying to use up time. The festival sent a car to pick me up, which was very nice but meant I was there a good few hours before, so I wandered round the southbank trying to find anything to take my mind off the evening.<br /><br />I don't know what I thought was going to go wrong, but I certain ly had the feeling that something could go wrong. Mass walk-outs, booing, who knows, this was going to be the first time a paying audience would see it and I had no idea how they would respond.<br /><br />Thankfully they seemed to like it. People laughed, in the right places too, and then they clapped at the end. The Q and A session at the end wasn't as painful as I feared, though I did manage to get the wrong end of the stick on one question, but all the questions were good and thoughtful, even the ones we could only give short answers to, and nobody asked 'why'?<br /><br />After that the festival put on a drinks reception for us and guests in the bar, which was excellent, and for the first time that day (or even week) I found I could properly relax. And beer is good. We just got another really nice review from <a href="; so fingers crossed that with some nice words and a good screening we might now get some distribution. Plus the Film Council people were there and enjoyed it, so with any luck that might make getting the next one off the ground a bit easier.<br /><br />Eventually the bar shut but a hardcore fifteen or so of us (including all of Betty and the werewolves) then headed off to the Pit bar underneath the Old Vic. I eventually got home sometime after 2am, though I'm not exactly sure when. I had a bottle of champagne in the fridge and nearly opened that, but I'm very glad I didn't, so did the next best thing and sat down to drunkenly watch another episode of the Box of Delights on DVD.<br /><br />It was great to see so many of the cast and crew at the screening, fingers crossed we can get a screening sorted quickly for the rest of them. Must have been an interesting watch for Mathew Baynton (Neil), as that was the first time he'd seen any cut of the film. He's a brave man going to his own premiere like that, but I'm glad to say he seemed happy enough at the end.<br /><br />So the next hurdle is the industry screening on Monday morning when all the distributors sit down to watch it. I think I'll avoid that one, I don't think my heart could take it.2008/10/premiere.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-4200085712547570324Thu, 16 Oct 2008 01:08:00 +00002008-10-16T01:19:32.063+00:00The partyI've been to many parties. I've been to super posh ones, though always as someone elses plus one, and I've been to smaller ones in my own right and had a blast (yes Uppsala, Leuven and Brest, I'm looking at you) but this was the first big party I'd ever been to when i didn't have to lie to get in, and it was great.<br /><br />I spent half the night spotting famous people, and the other half trying to remember their names. The great and the good of British film were there, as well, thankfully, as a lot of people we knew. Highlights included one very drunk distributor mouthing off about bad How To Lose Friends was just as Toby Young squeezed past, and, best of all a woman from another distribution company who asked to be introduced because she loved the film. It was an absolute joy to be able to talk to someone you'd never met about the film and have them bring scenes and situations up rather than you having to tell them about the film. She works for a label we all very much admire, and so it was doubley nice to hear she'd enjoyed the film.<br /><br />The bar ran out of drink just after all the tubes stopped running, but the event made up for the fact by giving away excellent goodie bags, including a bag stuffed full of Armani bits and bobs. I can safely predict that the delegates centre tomorrow will smell of the Armani code, so I shall wear my Tom Ford aftershave instead as a way of marking my territory from everyone else. It's a great improvement on my other plan for marking my territory out in the delegates centre, something I think I shall save for week 2.2008/10/party.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-2428236327467888654Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:40:00 +00002008-10-15T16:54:10.979+00:00It's finally hereToday marks the opening day of the 42nd London film festival and things are starting to get a bit mental. We've had lots of little mentions in things, and a lot of them say there's quite a buzz about 1234, all very nice, but I do hope it doesn't get too out of hand and lead people to think the film is something it's not. It's a nice, little film, and in someways I think it's better knowing very little and being surprised than by being told too much and not having your expectations fulfilled. In fact, that's always right, not just in some ways.<br /><br />First up today was the Guardian Podcast alongside Lyndsey Marshal. This was done by Xan Brooks and Jason Solomons from the Observer / Guardian. It was very relaxed and quite good fun, though as usual I rambled on too much. Jason hadn't seen the film yet, but Xan had (he interviewed me about the LFF a couple of days before) and said he liked it. All in all, quite easy.<br /><br />Then it was off to radio five live to be interviewed on the Simon Mayo show. Thankfully Michael Hayden from the LFF was there as well, which took some of the preassure off, but it's still really nerve-wracking thinking that something like half a million people are listening. Try as you might to forget it you're always aware of that fact and it makes everything very tricky. Simon Mayo was very nice, Michael was as complimentary as ever about the film, and then the man from the Film Council came on and said nice things about it as well. Overall, not nearly as easy as the podcast but OK.<br /><br />Was dreading the next one, a live interview with SKY TV. Radio seems much less harrowing to do than TV full stop, but a live piece filled me with a degree of terror. And then, once again, Madonna gave the world of cinema a proverbial kicking by announcing her divorve thereby moving the LFF off the top spot and bouncing my proposed interview right off the schedule. Was hugely relieved.<br /><br />Now just have to have a shower and change into my smart suit and it's off to the Hilton for the opening night party. No idea what it's going to be like, but I bet Madonna doesn't turn up.2008/10/its-finally-here.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-6208955791496527391Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:15:00 +00002008-10-09T20:41:56.834+00:00Press day<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255256064128654658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><br />We got our first review today, and a lovely one it was too (<a href=" a link</a>). Reading the review it struck me that it's funny because you spend all this time making a film, and then when it's finished you kind of give it away and it belongs to anyone who sees it. It's something I guess we have to get used to (though if everyone hates it I'm taking it back). I never in a million years thought we'd get Four Weddings mentioned in review of 1234 - though with a quick bit of mental arithmatic I reckon that if we got 0.01% of their worldwide gross we'd go into profit - but it crops up in this one. I was dreading reading the first review, and so it's nice to have got that out the way with such a positive one.<br /><br />Meanwhile, at the Southbank it was our press screening, and thankfully we needn't have worried about attendance as it was packed. I have this information second hand as I couldn't face turning up to see for myself. Apparently there was laughter, hopefully in the right places, and fingers crossed it went down well. I guess we'll find out soon enough.<br /><br />The next level of dread is going to be the premiere in 8 days time, which will not only be hell having to watch the film with a full audience for the first time but will also then feature the Q&A session after. Roll on Saturday morning and we can all start relaxing, unless of course I end up saying something really out of order by accident and have to then go into hiding in Belgium.<br /><br />Meanwhile, best film seen so far (though they've all been good) is documentary Beautiful Losers on the outsider art movement. It's excellent.2008/10/press-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-6183856229785099114Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:08:00 +00002008-10-03T11:16:26.302+00:00One film, handed overSo that's that (for now). Film, with a full grade and stereo sound mix handed over to the people at the London film festival. Obviously that's not all the work done, we still need to get a 5.1 stereo mix down for release, and then there's the small matter of trying to get someone to buy the film for distribution, but for now, that's it.<br /><br />Next up is our press screening on the 9th, so it's time to email every journalist we can think of and try to get them down to see it. There's supposed to be somehting about the film in the Times tomorrow, and the Observer requested a copy, so fingers crossed we could get a mention there as well. The odd thing is that this part is so important but is completely out of our hands. A couple of good reviews will make selling the film so much easier, but we've made the film, now there's nothing we can do but hope people like it.<br /><br />All screenings are now sold out, and I'm somewhat dreading the premiere. Kearney and I have to do a Q and A session afterwards. I wasn't keen, but Michael Hayden (head programmer at the LFF) really wants to do one, and he's been so supportive of the film we really couldn't say no. I have visions of him asking the audience if anyone has any questions, only to be met with stoney silence before one person puts their hand up and just asks 'why?'.<br /><br />So as a way of not thinking about things I'm going to lots of press screenings. this week so far I've seen Il Divo, which caused such a storm at Cannes and is excellent (modern Italian political history told in the style of Goodfellas) and Dean Spanley, which our friend Alan Harris produced, and which is wonderful. Peter O'Toole is amazing in it, and with the right marketing I think it could be a huge hit.2008/10/one-film-handed-over.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-9161049766546570140Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:43:00 +00002008-09-27T21:51:35.252+00:00Le grade, c'est finisMais oui. At last, the grade is done, and it looks wonderful. Scenes that never quite looked right, such as the dressing room scene, now look amazing, and scenes that always looked quite nice, such as the balcony, are now just stunning.<br /><br />Now we're doing the sound mix. Great things have been done, dialogue cleaned up, spot effects added, all the little things that you only notice when they're absent. The odd thing was that I'd spent the last eight days looking at the picture getting better and better but with a ropey temporary soundtrack, and now I'm looking at a poor copy of the original offline but with an amazing soundtrack. Next week, when we marry the two together, should be something special, as well as providing a number of new headaches along the way (why is this bit at 24fps and this bit at 25fps? How did that happen?)<br /><br />And even more exciting is the fact that the premiere in NFT1 is almost sold out with only six tickets left. I'm jaw droppingly amazed. The studio screening is sold out, but it only has about 40 seats, NFT1 has 450. I had visions of having to introduce the premiere to my mother and about a dozen people dotted around the cinema, but now it looks as if I will be introducing the film to my mother and a cinema packed full of people who didn't manage to get tickets to Quantum of Solace.2008/09/le-grade-cest-finis.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-6418495197068207156Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:57:00 +00002008-09-22T18:06:24.429+00:00Threat of light at end of tunnelAbout halfway through the grade now. Just done the balcony scene and it looks amazing. It always looked good, but because it was shot at dusk and made up of a number of takes, the light levels always jumped about a bit, but now they all look the same and it looks wonderful. Likewise the gallery scene, which was always a little muddy, is now gleaming white, just like a gallery should be in fact.<br /><br />Meanwhile, in a studio across town the sound is being finished off, and hopefully later in the week we can have a listen. What this means is that by the beginning of next week we should be in a position to marry the two and have a finished film (well, kind of).<br /><br />Also have a new poster design, which is excellent, but don't tell Minter or he'll only get all big headed about it. Hopefully we'll be able to put up a version here one day, though I have no idea when that day might be.<br /><br />And finally a big thanks to the Film PR who sent us an enormous email full of tips for promoting the film. It was excellent and very much appreciated. Time to start emailing journalists, I think.2008/09/threat-of-light-at-end-of-tunnel.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (and large)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11137877.post-6492680354192249783Sun, 14 Sep 2008 23:32:00 +00002008-09-14T23:49:31.838+00:00This week<a href=" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246024063324927074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="; border="0" /></a><br /><div>is hopefully the week everything pretty much comes together. The extra audio effects are being recorded while the sound mixer goes through the dialogue one last time to make sure we know all the bits that need re-recording. Once we've got that list we start doing the ADR, hopefully towards the end of the week.<br><br></div><div></div><div>We also need to finalise the end roller. We have to go through this time after time because we really, really don't want to miss anyone's name off. It's surprising how easy it is to do. I went through it on Friday, then again on Saturday and already noticed one missing name. We should also get something close to the finished opening credits, the rough ones look great and I can't wait to see the finished version. After that we need to think about some kind of opening company logo. When we've finally decided on what on earth that is going to be we can s

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Awful Announcing All things sports media Thu, 24 Sep 2026 15:10:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2024/06/cropped-AA_Logo_L-32x32.jpg Awful Announcing 32 32 NFL Week 2 ratings roundup: NBC, CBS, ESPN hit multiyear highs, Fox’s Cowboys-Commanders wins week nfl/week-2-ratings-nbc-cbs-multiyear-highs-fox-wins-week.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 16:30:15 +0000 ?p=936195 Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn ImagesOverall, networks fared slightly better in Week 2 of the NFL season than in Week 1, based on historical viewership comparisons. Fox Sports earned the most-watched game of the young NFL season with its late-afternoon tilt between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders. The telecast, which went to 80 percent of markets across the country (with Dolphins-49ers and Seahawks-Cardinals accounting for the other 20 percent), averaged 27.2 million viewers. The window was down 20 percent from last year’s Week 2 national window game, a Super Bowl rematch between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs on Fox, which averaged 33.8 million viewers. However, it was up eight percent over Fox’s 2025 season-long average in the late-afternoon window. CBS had perhaps the week’s most impressive superlative to tout. The network’s singleheader window, which primarily featured the New England Patriots’ rout of the Pittsburgh Steelers, averaged 19.3 million viewers, marking the most-watched singleheader window on CBS since 1989. Viewership was up 29 percent versus last year’s Week 2 singleheader. On Sunday night, a thrilling overtime finish between the Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts averaged 24.3 million viewers across NBC and Peacock, marking the most-watched Week 2 Sunday Night Football game since 2015. NBC’s streaming viewership is now measured through Nielsen rather than Adobe Analytics, making the network’s data fully comparable with its competitors’. The audience for the game peaked at 27.4 million viewers in the 9:15 p.m. ET quarter-hour. Wrapping up the week, ESPN averaged 19.4 million viewers for Monday Night Football between the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams, despite Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart going down with an injury in the first quarter. Even though the game got out of hand late, it was ESPN’s most-watched Week 2 game since it began airing the Monday package in 2006. Of course, many of those years do not include an ABC simulcast, which boosts viewership significantly. The ManningCast on ESPN2 continues its downward trend. Viewership for the altcast fell to just 661,000 viewers in Week 2, down about six percent versus its Week 1 audience. Of course, this is only the second year Nielsen has measured viewership with its Big Data + Panel methodology, which has tended to lift audience figures for live sports. It’s also the first year Nielsen has implemented its new co-viewing measurement system, which lifted sports viewership even further during a pilot program earlier this year but has produced mixed results so far after its official rollout. Regardless, these figures tend to paint a stronger picture than the NFL’s Week 1 slate, which saw some year-over-year declines. It’s too early in the season to make any true assessment on the state NFL viewership, other than it remains the strongest programming on television by a mile and shows no signs of slowing down. The post NFL Week 2 ratings roundup: NBC, CBS, ESPN hit multiyear highs, Fox’s Cowboys-Commanders wins week appeared first on Awful Announcing. ]]> Dan Orlovsky baffled by New York Giants communications breakdown on Jaxson Dart nfl/dan-orlovsky-new-york-giants-jaxson-dart.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 16:00:16 +0000 ?p=936207 Credit: NFL LiveAside from Jaxson Dart being out for the season, Dan Orlovsky’s biggest concern for the New York Giants is how they handled information about their starting quarterback’s injury. We now know Dart will miss the rest of the 2026 NFL season to undergo knee surgery after taking a hit to his leg during the first quarter of the Giants’ Monday Night Football loss to the Los Angeles Rams. And while the hit looked bad enough to make everyone think the worst about Dart’s future Monday night, the Giants quickly tempered those concerns. So agree with @danorlovsky7 that bad communication on @giants – everybody read the guys lips that went up to the head coach and said 4 to 6 weeks and then everybody was saying he’s gonna be good and no ACL. And then today the bombshell hit.On Jaxson Dart! If the Jets had done… pic.twitter.com/n4hV9p8l3Y — Connie Carberg (@ConnieScouts) September 22, 2026 “My biggest concern is the communication that happened from the Giants, candidly,” Orlovsky said on NFL Live this week. “I have no idea how you make this mistake. I don’t understand how you can kind of calm some of the fears that a lot of people’s eyes saw, and then everyone would start to feel like, ‘Okay, maybe it’s not that bad.’ And then obviously today it’s a completely different story.” Before the Giants could get an MRI on Dart’s knee, general manager Joe Schoen told ESPN their quarterback was “going to be okay.” Dart then reemerged on the Giants sideline with reports that he even attempted to get back into the game. After the game, the Giants continued to downplay Dart’s injury, with head coach John Harbaugh saying there’s “no question” there is a sense of relief that their quarterback avoided any “devastating outcome” from the injury. Less than 48 hours later, the Giants announced Dart did indeed suffer a devastating outcome. And while Schoen and Harbaugh were comfortable talking about Dart’s injury Monday night, the Giants didn’t make their starting quarterback available to the media, even though he was sitting in front of his locker as reporters spoke to other players. It was an all-time communications failure by the Giants. The kind of communication failure that would have people calling it an incompetent circus under some of the more recent regimes in New York. Harbaugh was brought in as the “adult in the room” after a string of bad head-coaching hires. And in his first big test, the Harbaugh-led Giants did an awful job of handling the news around Dart’s injury. The post Dan Orlovsky baffled by New York Giants communications breakdown on Jaxson Dart appeared first on Awful Announcing. ]]> Andrew Marchand believes ESPN will wait until after Super Bowl to decide Troy Aikman’s future espn/andrew-marchand-troy-aikman-contract-super-bowl.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 15:30:49 +0000 ?p=936187 Credit: Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY SportsESPN may be in no hurry to lock up the other half of its Monday Night Football booth. Mere days after Joe Buck inked a six-year extension worth more than $100 million to remain ESPN’s lead NFL voice through the network’s second Super Bowl in 2031, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand believes Troy Aikman’s fate won’t be settled until after ESPN broadcasts its first Super Bowl in February. While Buck’s deal came together quickly, Aikman is playing out the final year of his contract, and he’s made it clear he expected more urgency. Speaking with Richard Deitsch last week, Aikman revealed he had expected a new agreement to be finalized before the season began, emphasizing that he hadn’t entered the last year of a contract since signing with the Dallas Cowboys. He acknowledged Buck’s extension was “no question” a factor in his deliberations and insisted he’d “100%” like to continue working alongside his longtime partner, while conceding that the decision may not rest entirely in his hands. The duo has shared a booth for nearly a quarter-century, predominantly at Fox, before ESPN orchestrated their 2022 arrival to rescue a Monday Night Football booth that had languished for years. Aikman was the first to defect that year, departing Fox of his own volition while Buck still had a year remaining on his contract. Now, Marchand has shed further light on ESPN’s strategy. On his Marchand Sports Media podcast with co-host Jon Meterparel, he indicated the network intends to postpone negotiations until its Super Bowl obligations are complete. “I do believe that the plan as of now from ESPN is to wait until after the Super Bowl and then discuss a new deal or move on from Aikman,” Marchand said. ESPN lured Aikman from Fox with a salary comparable to what CBS had paid Tony Romo, a contract Marchand said had been a sore spot at Fox given Aikman’s far superior résumé as a three-time Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer. Aikman currently earns about $18.5 million per year. Buck, on the other hand, wasn’t a difficult sign for ESPN executives Jimmy Pitaro and Burke Magnus, and Marchand doesn’t believe he received much of a raise, joking that the semi-retired broadcaster is “already making a trillion dollars.” The bigger question is whether Aikman wants to be paid like Tom Brady, whose Fox deal averages $37.5 million a year. Marchand said he’s been told Aikman isn’t seeking that figure. “That’s more than twice as what he’s currently making,” Marchand said. “That’s where you get into the issues of, well, maybe you move on, and Greg Olsen or somebody becomes the heir apparent.” Olsen has long been regarded as one of the industry’s premier analysts, earning widespread acclaim during his tenure in Fox’s lead booth before Brady’s arrival relegated him to the No. 2 crew alongside Joe Davis, where he remains this season. Marchand characterized him as “a big possibility for sure” should ESPN and Aikman part ways, though he stressed that the likeliest outcome may still be Buck and Aikman simply running it back for another six years. Marchand also floated a more unconventional option, one he admitted was “a little gimmicky.” It comes on the heels of a sluggish start for the ManningCast, which attracted a mere 705,000 viewers on ESPN2 in Week 1, even as the primary Chiefs-Broncos telecast drew a robust 23.2 million, the most-watched Week 1 game of ESPN’s Monday Night Football era. Now in its sixth season, the altcast failed to eclipse 1 million viewers at any point last year, a precipitous decline from the more than 1.1 million it averaged in its second season, and critics have increasingly faulted its dependence on celebrity guests. “What about the idea of you have Joe Buck with both Mannings for the biggest games? And then for the other games, you have Eli for some and Peyton for others,” Marchand said. “Now, a little gimmicky. But you finally get Peyton in the booth.” It is unclear whether either Manning would entertain such an arrangement. Peyton, of course, has previously rebuffed booth overtures, and Marchand acknowledged he relishes working from home, where he can attend his children’s football games. Eli, on the other hand, has displayed enough acumen on the ManningCast that Marchand believes he’d be every bit as effective as his brother, if not superior. Their current deal with ESPN doesn’t require either one to travel, and Marchand ultimately conceded that Olsen would stand a better chance of landing the role. Regardless, ESPN’s decision to wait comes as several top analyst jobs could open up this offseason. Kirk Herbstreit‘s contract with Prime Video expires after this season, and the streamer could very well move on from both him and the 81-year-old Al Michaels. CBS’ lead booth is also in question, with Tony Romo’s return looking unlikely and J.J. Watt still trying to establish himself alongside Jim Nantz. And then there’s Greg Olsen, who is also playing out the final season of his Fox contract, and whose deal reportedly includes a clause allowing him to leave for a top job if one opens up, something he’s made no secret of wanting. That gives ESPN more alternatives than it normally would if talks with Aikman stall, and it gives Aikman more leverage if he’s looking elsewhere. Perhaps ESPN and Aikman work out a deal after the Super Bowl, as Marchand expects. Perhaps the price gets too high, and ESPN turns to Olsen or the Mannings. But either way, Buck and Aikman could call ESPN’s first Super Bowl without knowing whether they’ll be back together the following season. The post Andrew Marchand believes ESPN will wait until after Super Bowl to decide Troy Aikman’s future appeared first on Awful Announcing. ]]> Your 2026 Week 4 college football announcing schedule college-football/2026-week-4-announcing-schedule.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 15:00:38 +0000 ?p=935820 Credit: ABC/ESPNArch Manning and No. 1 Texas travel to Knoxville to take on No. 14 Tennessee as part of a strong slate of Week 4 college football games. Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will provide the Texas-Tennessee commentary for ABC at noon ET on Saturday (and it’s another Texas game for ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe). There are five additional ranked matchups on Saturday. No. 4 Ole Miss and No. 21 Florida will battle at “the Swamp,” and Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy will have the call for ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET. That same time slot will feature No. 17 Iowa vs. No. 18 Michigan at “the Big House,” with Brad Nessler and Charles Davis in the booth for CBS. In primetime, No. 23 Texas A&M and No. 10 LSU will meet in Baton Rouge, with Joe Tessitore and Jesse Palmer calling the action for ABC at 7:30 p.m. ET. Additionally, Noah Eagle and Todd Blackledge will have the NBC broadcasting duties when No. 20 Oregon takes on No. 12 USC in Los Angeles at 7:30 p.m. ET. And No. 19 Missouri and No. 24 Mississippi State will face off at 7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network, with Matt Schumacker and Aaron Murray on the call. Here’s a look at the television networks and announcers for the Week 4 FBS college football games (all times are Eastern). (You can pass along further details on omissions or corrections to mclapp@awfulannouncing.com) Thursday, September 24 Liberty at Coastal Carolina (7:30 p.m., ESPN): Matt Barrie (play-by-play), Chase Daniel (analyst), Paul Carcaterra (reporter) Friday, September 25 Army at Temple (4 p.m., ESPN): Clay Matvick (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst) Navy at UAB (7 p.m., ESPN): Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst), Morgan Uber (reporter) Howard at Rutgers (7 p.m., Big Ten Network): Chris Vosters (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst) Northwestern at No. 5 Indiana (8 p.m., Fox): Connor Onion (play-by-play), Robert Griffin III (analyst), Alexa Landestoy (reporter) Clemson at California (10:30 p.m., ESPN): Mike Monaco (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Dana Boyle (reporter) Saturday, September 26 No. 1 Texas at No. 14 Tennessee (12 p.m., ABC): Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe (reporter) Illinois at No. 7 Ohio State (12 p.m., Fox): Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst), Jenny Taft (reporter) Wake Forest at No. 16 Louisville (12 p.m., ESPN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst), Quint Kessenich (reporter) Colorado at Baylor (12 p.m., ESPN2): Lowell Galindo (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), Dawn Davenport (reporter) Virginia Tech at Boston College (12 p.m., ACC Network): Wes Durham (play-by-play), Max Browne (analyst), Madison Fitzpatrick (reporter) Sam Houston at No. 11 Texas Tech (12 p.m., TNT): J.B. Long (play-by-play), Mike Golic Jr. (analyst), Allie LaForce (reporter) Colorado State at UTSA (12 p.m., ESPNU): Mike Corey (play-by-play), Craig Haubert (analyst) San Diego State at Toledo (12 p.m., CBS Sports Network): Jack Gordon (play-by-play), Taylor McHargue (analyst) Bucknell at Pittsburgh (12 p.m., ACC Network Extra): Peter Sousa (play-by-play), Leger Douzable (analyst) UNLV at Akron (12 p.m., ESPN+): Anthony Lima (play-by-play), Patrick Murray (analyst) Ball State at Kent State (12 p.m., ESPN+): Michael Reghi (play-by-play), Je’rod Cherry (analyst) South Alabama at Kentucky (12:45 p.m., SEC Network): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Cole Cubelic (analyst), Tori Petry (reporter) Lindenwood at Eastern Michigan (1 p.m., ESPN+): Evan Stockton (play-by-play), Randy Buffington (analyst) UCLA at Maryland (1:30 p.m., Big Ten Network): Mark Followill (play-by-play), Rhett Lewis (analyst) No. 3 Notre Dame at Purdue (2 p.m., Peacock): Paul Burmeister (play-by-play), Yogi Roth (analyst), Caroline Pineda (reporter) Northern Illinois at Georgia State (2 p.m., ESPN+): TBD Hawai’i at Wyoming (3 p.m., The CW): Chris Fisher (play-by-play), Cody Kessler (analyst), Marshall Newhouse (reporter) Central Arkansas at Florida State (3 p.m., ACC Network): Doug Sherman (play-by-play), Forrest Conoly (analyst), Ashley Stroehlein (reporter) No. 4 Ole Miss at No. 21 Florida (3:30 p.m., ABC): Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), Katie George (reporter) No. 17 Iowa at No. 18 Michigan (3:30 p.m., CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Charles Davis (analyst), Jenny Dell (reporter) Oklahoma at No. 2 Georgia (3:30 p.m., ESPN/Disney+): Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Louis Riddick, Stormy Buonantony No. 15 Utah at Iowa State (3:30 p.m., Fox): Tim Brando (play-by-play), Devin Gardner (analyst), Josh Sims (reporter) TCU at UCF (3:30 p.m., FS1): Dan Hellie (play-by-play), Robert Smith (analyst) Boise State at Western Michigan (3:30 p.m., ESPN2): Jay Alter (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst), Lauren Sisler (reporter) New Mexico at New Mexico State (3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network): Alex Del Barrio (play-by-play), Randy Cross (analyst) UConn at Miami Ohio (3:30 p.m., ESPN+): Shawn Kenney (play-by-play), Marcus Ray (analyst) William & Mary at Duke (3:30 p.m., ACC Network Extra): Kevin Fitzgerald (play-by-play), Jeff Woody (analyst) Robert Morris at Buffalo (3:30 p.m., ESPN+): Joey Lindstrom (play-by-play), Tre Watson (analyst) Gardner-Webb at Marshall (3:30 p.m., ESPN+): TBD Stonehill at Ohio (3:30 p.m., ESPN+): Bill Spaulding (play-by-play), Doc Holiday (analyst) No. 25 Houston at Georgia Southern (4 p.m., ESPNU): Courtney Lyle (play-by-play), Rene Ingoglia (analyst) North Carolina Central at East Carolina (4 p.m., ESPN+): TBD Vanderbilt at Auburn (4:15 p.m., SEC Network): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play, Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), Michella Chester (reporter) Wisconsin at No. 13 Penn State (5 p.m., Peacock): Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Matt Cassel (analyst), Ashley ShahAhmadi (reporter) Nebraska at Michigan State (5 p.m., Big Ten Network): Jeff Levering (play-by-play), Jake Butt (analyst), Brooke Fletcher (reporter) South Florida at Bowling Green (5 p.m., ESPN+): Kelsie Kasper (play-by-play), Ryan Cavanaugh (analyst) Delaware at Virginia (6 p.m., ACC Network): Jorge Sedano (play-by-play), Rodney McLeod (analyst), Kendra Douglas (reporter) Incarnate Word at Texas State (6 p.m., USA): Nate Gatter (play-by-play), Ryan Leaf (analyst), Lauren Green (reporter) Long Island University at Florida International (6 p.m., ESPN+): TBD James Madison at Old Dominion (6 p.m., ESPN+): TBD Central Michigan at No. 6 Miami (6:30 p.m., The CW): Thom Brennaman (play-by-play, Jason Cabinda (analyst), Wes Bryant (reporter) Louisiana at Charlotte (6:30 p.m., ESPN+): Tom Werme (play-by-play), Reginald Walker Jr. (analyst) South Carolina at No. 8 Alabama (7 p.m., ESPN): Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), Taylor McGregor (reporter) Kansas State at Cincinnati (7 p.m., ESPN2): Chuckie Kempf (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst) Oklahoma State at West Virginia (7 p.m., FS1): Eric Collins (play-by-play), Spencer Tillman (analyst) Southern Miss at Tulane (7 p.m., ESPN+): TBD Middle Tennessee at Jacksonville State (7 p.m., ESPN+): TBD Kennesaw State at Arkansas State (7 p.m., ESPN+): TBD Mercyhurst at Western Kentucky (7 p.m., ESPN+): Tyler Eaton (play-by-play), Terry Obee (analyst) No. 23 Texas A&M at No. 10 LSU (7:30 p.m., ABC): Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst), Kris Budden (reporter) No. 20 Oregon at No. 12 USC (7:30 p.m., NBC): Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), Kathryn Tappen (reporter) Arizona at Washington State (7:30 p.m., CBS): Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Adam Breneman (analyst), Brian Kelly (analyst), Jordan Giorgio (reporter) Troy at Utah State (7:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network): Jordan Kent (play-by-play), Doug Pederson (analyst), Brandon Baylor (reporter) App State at NC State (7:30 p.m., ESPNU): Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play), Tyoka Jackson (analyst) Houston Christian at North Texas (7:30 p.m., ESPN+): TBD No. 19 Missouri at No. 24 Mississippi State (7:45 p.m., SEC Network): Matt Schumacker (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (analyst), Taylor Davis (reporter) Tulsa at Arkansas (8 p.m., SEC Network+): Richard Cross (play-by-play), Charlie Strong (analyst) Florida Atlantic at UL Monroe (8 p.m., ESPN+): TBD Missouri State at No. 22 SMU (9 p.m., ACC Network): Roxy Bernstein, Dave Clawson, Madison Hock Oregon State at UTEP (9 p.m., MW+): Andy Morgan (play-by-play), Cole Freytag (analyst) Massachusetts at Sacramento State (9 p.m., ESPN+): Will Iger (play-by-play), Mo Hasan (analyst) Rice at Fresno State (10 p.m., The CW): Rick Allen (play-by-play), Will Blackmon (analyst) Georgia Tech at Stanford (10:30 p.m., ESPN): Roy Philpott (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (analyst), Sherree Burruss (reporter) Air Force at Nevada (10:30 p.m., FS1): Noah Reed (play-by-play), Petros Papadakis (analyst) Minnesota at Washington (11 p.m., Fox): Jack Kizer (play-by-play), Mark Helfrich (analyst) The post Your 2026 Week 4 college football announcing schedule appeared first on Awful Announcing. ]]> Rivals is now charging high school athletes $499 for ‘evaluation’ and ‘ranking consideration’ high-school/rivals-charging-high-school-athletes-evaluation-ranking-consideration.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:30:25 +0000 ?p=936093 Rivals SportsFor decades, college football recruiting networks have made a business out of selling their expert evaluations and inside information on high school recruits to the most rabid of college football fans. Now, it seems one of those networks is flipping that model a bit and targeting the high school athletes themselves. Throughout the history of recruiting networks like Rivals, 247Sports, ESPN, and On3, it’s been common for each site to evaluate and rank the top recruits in the country. Historically, these athletes have been discovered and evaluated naturally, with the sites’ reporters and scouts talking to coaches, attending high school games, watching tape, and attending recruiting camps. One of those sites, however, has made a radical change. Rivals, which On3 acquired last year, has rolled out a new program that lets high school athletes pay hundreds of dollars to be “evaluated” for “ranking consideration.” The site now offers athletes a chance to “get evaluated by a Rivals Scout” for $499 (though there’s currently a 20% off promotion that makes the price just $399). The site promises a scouting report, an evaluation grade, and ranking consideration. “The goal is simple: evaluate more athletes, discover more talent, and create more opportunities. And do it with the integrity of Rivals at the center and the reach to ensure athletes who earn recognition receive the exposure they have earned,” Rivals writes of its new program. The site says that this new program will allow more athletes to be evaluated by Rivals scouts, not just the top players. “There is far more talent worth evaluating than the traditional recruiting ecosystem has historically been able to cover. In football alone, more than 1 million boys participate in high school football, while Rivals has typically carried approximately 6,600 star-rated prospects across the senior, junior, and sophomore classes at any one time. Rivals Recruits allows us to evaluate deeper into the talent pool and help identify athletes who may ultimately compete at the FBS, FCS, Division II, NAIA, Division III, and other levels,” Rivals states. “Traditionally, national recruiting services have concentrated their resources primarily on prospects projected to play at the highest levels of college football. That represents only a small fraction of the total high school athlete population.” While Rivals does state that the evaluation allows for “ranking consideration,” the site insists that payment does not guarantee a certain rating or star designation. “No. Ratings, rankings and stars are earned, never bought. An athlete can purchase access to the Rivals Recruits evaluation process, but payment does not guarantee a rating, ranking, star designation or any specific evaluation outcome,” Rivals writes. This change comes just a few months after 247Sports began prioritizing its own player ratings rather than the 247Sports Composite player ratings that blend the ratings from all the various recruiting networks. 247Sports announced back in March that, starting with the 2027 recruiting class, it would no longer use its composite player ratings to calculate its official team recruiting rankings. Instead, 247Sports will use only its own internal player rankings from its national scouting staff and analysts. The post Rivals is now charging high school athletes $499 for ‘evaluation’ and ‘ranking consideration’ appeared first on Awful Announcing. ]]> Tim Brando to fill in for Adam Amin alongside Drew Brees on Fox’s Jets-Bears broadcast fox/tim-brando-drew-brees-jets-bears-adam-amin.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:00:56 +0000 ?p=936178 Credit: NFL on FoxBaseball’s October calendar will cost Drew Brees his play-by-play partner for at least one Sunday. With Adam Amin headed to Fox’s MLB postseason coverage, Tim Brando will step in alongside Brees and sideline reporter Kristina Pink to call the Jets and Bears in Week 4, according to Chicago Sun-Times writer Jeff Agrest. TIM BRANDO will join Drew Brees and Kristina Pink to call Jets-#DaBears in Week 4. Brando will fill in for Adam Amin, who’ll be calling the MLB playoffs. — Jeff Agrest # (@JeffAgrest) September 23, 2026 Amin and Brees have been paired for every one of their Fox broadcasts this season, opening with Bears-Panthers in Week 1 before calling Eagles-Titans in Week 2, where Brees took issue with Jalen Hurts’ running style and urged the quarterback to lower his shoulder and fight for the first down rather than slide, since the ball gets spotted where the slide begins. They’ll call Jets-Lions this Sunday, which means Brees and Pink will be seeing both the Jets and Bears for the second time this season once Brando slides into the booth. The partnership dates back to last season, when Fox brought Brees in midseason to replace Mark Sanchez and placed him on its No. 3 crew with Amin. Brees had not called an NFL game since his lone season at NBC ended in 2021, but his return drew far better reviews, with Amin telling the Awful Announcing Podcast in December that Brees wanted to be “one of the best, if not the best” at the job. Fox kept the duo intact for 2026, Brees’ first full season in its booth, and the newly enshrined Hall of Famer has since added a co-hosting role on SiriusXM’s Let’s Go! Amin’s absence is a familiar byproduct of his dual role at Fox. Since arriving from ESPN in 2020, he has become a mainstay of the network’s MLB rotation and a fixture of its October coverage, anchoring Division Series broadcasts alongside A.J. Pierzynski and Adam Wainwright nearly every postseason. That trio called Astros-White Sox in 2021, Astros-Twins in 2023, and Phillies-Mets in 2024 before delivering last year’s instant classic, a 15-inning Game 5 between the Mariners and Tigers, which Amin turned into a star-making performance with a string of electric calls. Because Fox’s October slate runs through the NLDS this year, Amin’s baseball duties should pull him away from the NFL for just one Sunday. With Joe Davis and John Smoltz locked into Fox’s NLCS and World Series coverage, Amin is all but certain to take Davis’ seat alongside Greg Olsen on the network’s No. 2 crew, leaving Brees without his regular partner for the better part of October and positioning Brando to remain at his side for the foreseeable future. Brando, meanwhile, will be making his second NFL appearance of the season after working Panthers-Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Week 2 alongside Matt Millen and Sarah Kustok. Pro football is hardly uncharted territory for the 70-year-old, who spent six seasons calling NFL games for CBS from 1998 to 2003, part of a sprawling run at the network that also included college basketball play-by-play and hosting duties on College Football Today. He eventually landed at Fox in 2014 after lengthy stints at both ESPN and CBS, and he marked his 40th year on national television in 2025. College football remains his primary beat. In April, Brando signed a multiyear extension that will carry him to 15 years with Fox, per Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy, and he has spent this fall leading one of the network’s college football crews alongside Devin Gardner and Josh Sims. Nearly a decade ago, when Fox asked Brando where he saw himself, he pitched the network on making him its Verne Lundquist, the veteran voice at the center of its college football coverage. Thirteen seasons in, that’s more or less what he’s become. The post Tim Brando to fill in for Adam Amin alongside Drew Brees on Fox’s Jets-Bears broadcast appeared first on Awful Announcing. ]]> What are the odds Donald Trump appears on ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’? espn/donald-trump-college-gameday-texas-tennessee-big-noon-kickoff.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:30:08 +0000 ?p=936091 Credit: Kirby Lee/Imagn ImagesThis originally appeared in Thursday morning’s edition of The A Block, Awful Announcing’s daily newsletter with the latest sports media news, commentary, and analysis. Sign up here and be the first to know everything going on in the sports media world. Depending on how you feel about it, the stars have aligned, or it’s the sum of all fears. Clay Travis reported Wednesday that President Donald Trump will be attending Saturday’s SEC showdown between Texas and Tennessee in Knoxville. The Athletic later confirmed the news. ESPN’s College GameDay crew is also going to be in Knoxville, broadcasting before and after the game between the No. 1 and No. 14 teams in the nation. In recent weeks, GameDay has given significant airtime to the Protect College Sports Act, a bill making its way through the Senate intended to remake the status quo around college athletics regarding player autonomy and other issues. They even brought on Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to make the case for its passage, without giving similar airtime to an opposing voice. It’s worth noting that Trump vociferously supports the bill, and Disney, ESPN’s parent company, has lobbied on its behalf. Cruz has also said for weeks that if the bill passes both the House and Senate, Trump will sign it into law on GameDay, something ESPN hasn’t publicly committed to yet. As it stands, the PCSA is heading toward a final Senate floor vote following procedural cloture votes. While the House won’t have a chance to vote on it until November, pushback against the bill has been gaining steam, so its proponents still have to make their case. Clearly, ESPN and GameDay are open to letting their platform be a political pulpit. And the bill’s most powerful ally will be in town. It stands to reason there’s a chance he shows up on set (ESPN had no comment on Wednesday). So what are the odds that we see Donald Trump sitting next to Nick Saban and Pat McAfee on Saturday? And if not, what are the odds we’ll see some other presidential appearance on the Saturday pregame shows? Here’s my humble guess… Odds Trump Appears In-Person on College GameDay: 13:1 While some might look at this as a foregone conclusion, I actually think the chances he shows up during GameDay are incredibly slim. For one, the security needs involved with having the sitting POTUS show up on a live TV program situated in a sea of screaming college students out in the open like that seem incredibly intense. I’ve been behind the scenes at GameDay before. It’s fairly secure for the likes of Kirk Herbstreit and Rece Davis, but not so much for the president. They’re certainly not gonna let him take part in Pat McAfee’s kicking contest, and I just can’t imagine they’d entrust him to play nice during the picks segment. Not to mention that Trump’s arrival times at sporting events are notoriously unpredictable and last-minute. McAfee and Saban even discussed the possibility that his tardiness could push back the start of the national championship last season. Plan for Trump to show up on time at your own risk. Odds Trump Appears Via Live Video on College GameDay: 7:1 If he appears live, this is almost certainly how. Whether he Zooms in from Air Force One or does a live hit from his luxury box, this is the most logical conclusion for how it could work. Also, let’s be honest, this gives ESPN a better chance to back away if Trump goes on a random rant about immigration or his ballroom during a highlight package. Odds Trump Appears Via Recorded Video on College GameDay: 1.5:1 This will always be the most likely scenario for both sides. For ESPN, it gives them peace of mind about what Trump has to say without dealing with the drama that comes with a live appearance. For Trump, it lets him tailor his message to the PCSA and whatever other tangents he wants to go on, without dealing with the rigmarole of getting to the set. There’s also precedent for a prerecorded Trump message appearing on ESPN during a college football game. Odds Trump Appears In Broadcast Booth During Game: 5:1 Texas-Tennessee will be broadcast on ABC with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit on the call. There will almost certainly be a massive audience watching at home. And an election is fast approaching. What an ideal opportunity for someone like Trump, who has some thoughts he’d love to share with America about the PCSA and whatever else is on his noggin at that particular moment. Herbstreit, desperate to appear nonpartisan and hyperfocused on football, would probably be a good guide for Trump, keeping him (mostly) focused on the sport. Plus, Trump has appeared in a football booth during a game before, so it’s a known quantity. Odds Trump Appears on Big Noon Kickoff Instead: 5:1 Here’s an interesting wrinkle. It’s not lost on us that Clay Travis was the one who broke the story about Trump, and it’s not the first time he’s been quick on a Trump-related bit of news. Clearly there’s some kind of relationship behind the scenes. And did we mention that Travis does live video spots during FS1’s Big Noon Kickoff? And did we also mention Travis will be in Knoxville even though BNK is in Columbus this weekend? BNK doesn’t have the juice that GameDay has, but you have to wonder if Clay has the inside track to an interview. You also can’t discount Trump’s desire to speak to a Fox-related audience or Fox Sports’s desire to land “the sports president.” Odds Trump Doesn’t Appear On TV Programming In Any Form: 30:1 It’s entirely possible that Trump doesn’t get to the game until just before kickoff, heads to his luxury booth where he hobnobs with bigwigs and remains there before heading out at some point in the second half. But for some reason, it just doesn’t feel likely. Not in this moment. While Trump has attended a lot of sporting events during his second term, this one feels at least partially in service of the PCSA, the upcoming election, or both. His waving from his box just doesn’t seem like enough to justify his presence. The only questions are how much he’s willing to do, and how much ESPN (or Fox) is willing to allow. The post What are the odds Donald Trump appears on ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’? appeared first on Awful Announcing. ]]> Linda Cohn takes podcast to Bleav months after ESPN retirement podcasts/linda-cohn-podcast-deal-bleav.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:45:50 +0000 ?p=936018 Credit: 'The Linda Cohn Show'Linda Cohn hosted over 5,500 SportsCenter episodes, an all-time record, over her legendary 34-year ESPN career. Cohn retired from ESPN and SportsCenter in June, making her final appearance on June 26. Come July 20, Cohn premiered her eponymous, independent podcast on YouTube. While The Linda Cohn Show has a long way to go before sniffing 5,500 episodes, the episodes released so far have resonated with her audience. And now, Cohn is taking the show and its 36,400 subscribers to the Bleav podcast network. Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports exclusively broke the news Wednesday night. Two months in and skyrocketing! Check out The Linda Cohn Show and Subscribe on YouTube! Live Every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday 11p ET/8p PT! #TotalFreedom — Linda Cohn (@lindacohn) September 23, 2026 Could not be more EXCITED! — Linda Cohn (@lindacohn) September 23, 2026 “When I decided to start this show, I wanted a platform where I could be me,” Cohn told Front Office Sports. “And that’s why my hashtag was total freedom. That’s something I did not have at ESPN. Nobody has that when you work for a big company like that. It doesn’t matter what you do for a living.” Later, Cohn spoke to her new Bleav partnership specifically. “With a network like that, I’m able to grow with leaps and bounds, and I plan to because I am all in on this because I’m just so excited about it,” Cohn said. “If I wasn’t getting the feedback that I have been from the people that have subscribed to my channel and from people on social media, [who are commenting], ‘This is great what you’re saying…,’ then I would have thought twice about it. “But everyones saying, ‘Keep doing this. Have no fear. Don’t worry about the haters. Keep speaking from your heart. Go with your gut.’ My favorite is, ‘You are saying what we are thinking.’ I can’t tell you

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