Ernie Johnson/Charles Barkley/Kenny Smith

[Warner2BruceTD]

Neck and neck with FOX NFL pregame for the biggest waste of airtme on tv, except I give the TNT crew a slight edge because it's only 3 guys stealing money.

First of all, I don't even understand what the hell Smith & Bakley are even talking about half the time. It's almost never about the game, or even basketball for that matter. Secondly, much like the FOX crew, they spend tons of time doing the ultra creepy "laughing at nothing" routine. WHAT THE FUCK IS SO FUNNY? These goofs laugh for no reason whatsoever. And it's very hardy laughter. Is Chris Rock doing standup in their ear pieces or something? Because I never hear anything worthy of laughs from their mouths.

In all the years these guys have been together, I don't think i've ever heard them do any sort of serious basketball analysis for any sustained amount of time. They never break down the game. They just goof around and laugh like giddy schoogirls at inside jokes.

And yes, i'm aware Chris Webber is part of this "team". I only know this because I see him smiling like a child molester on the left side of my screen. He never speaks, he just smiles like a creeper while he other three guys laugh in a maniacal manner. It's probably just as well, because Webber has a show on NBA TV with Gary Payton where its as if they are speaking a foreign language that white people cant understand. It's twice as brutal as the TNT show, as they cackle at each other and come off like two dudes who just burned a blunt at 3am.

So I have two questions for the VSN masses...do you watch these guys and enjoy them? And secondly, if you do, are you mentally retarded?

[sraczk2011]

So you'd say Barkley is... :turrible:?

[Kuzzy Powers]

Charles & Kenny are the NBA's version of the Jersey Shore. Ernie is just kinda stuck along for the ride.

[NAHSTE]

I don't know, I feel like they talk about the game a lot afterwards. I don't watch the pre-game show, but usually when I tune in for the late night run they are providing a fair amount of insight.

[Bear Pand]

I enjoy them.

I'm not a big fan of halftime/pregame/postgame shows in general because they usually just:
-show a bunch of highlights I've either seen already or don't care about
-make predictions that carry no weight and are often wrong
-waste time going over lame generic talking points

I can't remember the last time I've watched Fox/CBS/NBC or ESPN's NFL programming (outside of games) for these reasons.

TNT does all of these things too, but they are at least entertaining, they don't seem to take things as seriously and are a fun "sideshow" to go along with the games. They're a lot better than the people ESPN uses for the NBA.

[Juggernaut]

First of all, I don't even understand what the hell Smith & Bakley are even talking about half the time. It's almost never about the game, or even basketball for that matter. Secondly, much like the FOX crew, they spend tons of time doing the ultra creepy "laughing at nothing" routine. WHAT THE FUCK IS SO FUNNY? These goofs laugh for no reason whatsoever. And it's very hardy laughter. Is Chris Rock doing standup in their ear pieces or something? Because I never hear anything worthy of laughs from their mouths.

That was funnier than anything I've heard them say.

[Bear Pand]

TNT just cut to the set and only Charles and Ernie were there. Then you see Kenny Smith and Webber frantically running to their seats.

There's just something hilarious to me about how unprofessional and out of line they are. There doesn't seem to be any structure or rules and I prefer that to the rigid boring mess other shows are.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I think networks in general are afraid to give viewers a legitimate pre/post game show, because they underestimate the sophistication of the viewer. It's all about catering to the "masses", whoever the "masses" are. Thats backwards thinking, because the casual viewer is less apt to watch those shows anyway.

It seems like baseball & college sports do a much better job of pre/post than the NFL & NBA. The NFL & NBA shows are so bad that I cant even leave them on, a total turnoff.

[EmpireWF]

Regional pre/post shows are much better than the major networks.

Sometimes I catch Chuck giving good analysis. Don't check it out often enough though.

[ralaw]

For awhile people were saying they were the best pre/post game NBA show on TV, but considering the competition that's not really saying much. I'm like Killa Pand.....don't watch pre/post game shows, because for the most part it's just former athletes talking about how they did things.

However, in pre/post game shows' defense most viewers don't really want to see these athletes really breakdown the game the way most of them know how, because for most that would make for a boring discussion.

NBA TV is a joke. From the horrible host, cheesy outdated graphics, sounds, set design, etc I'm amazed that people actually pay for that channel.

[stevsta]

I enjoy Barkleys talk :dontknow:

[NAHSTE]

For awhile people were saying they were the best pre/post game NBA show on TV, but considering the competition that's not really saying much. I'm like Killa Pand.....don't watch pre/post game shows, because for the most part it's just former athletes talking about how they did things.

However, in pre/post game shows' defense most viewers don't really want to see these athletes really breakdown the game the way most of them know how, because for most that would make for a boring discussion.

NBA TV is a joke. From the horrible host, cheesy outdated graphics, sounds, set design, etc I'm amazed that people actually pay for that channel.

The only reason I do is because it comes in a package with MLB Network and NFL Network.

[Point Blank]

I enjoy them.

Chris Webber is useless on that show though.

[FedEx227]

I don't know, I feel like they talk about the game a lot afterwards. I don't watch the pre-game show, but usually when I tune in for the late night run they are providing a fair amount of insight.

Absolutely. The stuff before the first game and in between the first game is terrible but their stuff after the late game and late game halftime is top notch. Plus when they talk about actual social things in regards to the NBA, it's the most open group you're going to get. Their discussion on the Gilbert Arena's gun situation was really, really good.

[A Tasty Burgerr]

I really like their chemistry, I just find them more enjoyable than your run-of-the-mill post game show. Like KP said they're just extremely casual and don't just go over the games. I don't mind watching Charles Barkley tell Ernie he's going to beat his ass because Ernie is mocking him.