This Really Bothers Me About TV Billiards

NewStroke

NewStroke

Screamin Monkey
Silver Member
I realized this long ago but never said anything until now when I watched a match I had DVR'd.

I don't know where they find the spectators that sit in the crowd but why in the hell do they clap for every single shot no matter how simple? It makes it look like they pools a bunch of people off the street that will just ewwww and ahhhhh simply because a ball disappeared off the table.

To me this makes the game of pool look silly.
 
NewStroke said:
I realized this long ago but never said anything until now when I watched a match I had DVR'd.

I don't know where they find the spectators that sit in the crowd but why in the hell do they clap for every single shot no matter how simple? It makes it look like they pools a bunch of people off the street that will just ewwww and ahhhhh simply because a ball disappeared off the table.

To me this makes the game of pool look silly.
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Because they have a guy in headset telling the crowd to ohhh and ahhh and clap for every shot before the camera's roll. I have seen a few tapings where the guy was like a cross between a cheerleader and pissed off school teacher who would scold the crowd if they were not being excited enough.
 
JCIN said:
Because they have a guy in headset telling the crowd to ohhh and ahhh and clap for every shot before the camera's roll. I have seen a few tapings where the guy was like a cross between a cheerleader and pissed off school teacher who would scold the crowd if they were not being excited enough.
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I can totally picture that.
 
NewStroke said:
I realized this long ago but never said anything until now when I watched a match I had DVR'd.

I don't know where they find the spectators that sit in the crowd but why in the hell do they clap for every single shot no matter how simple? It makes it look like they pools a bunch of people off the street that will just ewwww and ahhhhh simply because a ball disappeared off the table.

To me this makes the game of pool look silly.
Click to expand...

It's because clapping is contagious.
 
JCIN said:
Because they have a guy in headset telling the crowd to ohhh and ahhh and clap for every shot before the camera's roll. I have seen a few tapings where the guy was like a cross between a cheerleader and pissed off school teacher who would scold the crowd if they were not being excited enough.
Click to expand...

But Ive never heard Steve (my assumption) tell the crowd to clap after each shot-He just tells them to show excitement and usually uses the example that they ought to cheer if there is a great safe!. Unfortunately the crowd usually cant tell the dfference between a great safe and a miss. At Mich city one year, four ladies behind me would tsk tsk and sigh on every safe like it was a miss.

Why they choose to clap after each shot is beyond me but i think It just starts with one idiot and the rest follow not wanting to seem uninformed. The best was when karen shot a deliberate foul but set up a one nine combo in error and the crowd cheered.

The WPBA has by far the least sophisticated crowd in pool. This is good in a way as the fans are coming from outside the pool community. At a baseball game, 90% of the crowd does NOT play baseball. AT a non WPBA event 90% of the crowd DOES plays pool. Unless this changes, pool crowds will always be limited. (alternate point)

.
 
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JCIN is correct. ESPN coaches the audience to show excitement throughout the televised matches.

It's television. They create their own reality!

I usually watch the matches with the volume turned off. Makes for a much more enjoyable viewing experience all around!

Steve
 
Newstroke,

Would you prefer they do the wave? As others pointed out, they're being signalled off camera to applause. At least we have people in the stands, and not laugh tracks.


NewStroke said:
I realized this long ago but never said anything until now when I watched a match I had DVR'd.

I don't know where they find the spectators that sit in the crowd but why in the hell do they clap for every single shot no matter how simple? It makes it look like they pools a bunch of people off the street that will just ewwww and ahhhhh simply because a ball disappeared off the table.

To me this makes the game of pool look silly.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a regular night of APA league pool, where teammates root for each other. :-)
 
ctyhntr said:
Newstroke,

Would you prefer they do the wave? As others pointed out, they're being signalled off camera to applause. At least we have people in the stands, and not laugh tracks.




Sounds like a regular night of APA league pool, where teammates root for each other. :-)
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LMAO, the wave would be awesome!!!
 
Nostroke said:
But Ive never heard Steve (my assumption) tell the crowd to clap after each shot-He just tells them to show excitement and usually uses the example that they ought to cheer if there is a great safe!. Unfortunately the crowd usually cant tell the dfference between a great safe and a miss. At Mich city one year, four ladies behind me would tsk tsk and sigh on every safe like it was a miss.

Why they choose to clap after each shot is beyond me but i think It just starts with one idiot and the rest follow not wanting to seem uninformed. The best was when karen shot a deliberate foul but set up a one nine combo in error and the crowd cheered.

The WPBA has by far the least sophisticated crowd in pool. This is good in a way as the fans are coming from outside the pool community. At a baseball game, 90% of the crowd does NOT play baseball. AT a non WPBA event 90% of the crowd DOES plays pool. Unless this changes, pool crowds will always be limited. (alternate point)

.
Click to expand...

I wasn't talking about WPBA events. The biggest cheerleader/excitement police I have seen were at some mens events.
 
I noticed for some of the players they wont clap at all and the rest the clap at everything, freakin retards!
 
Friends who have been to WPBA tournaments have told me that they were instructed to clap whenever the tv guys wanted them to, which was after each and every shot that wasn't a miss or a scratch.
 
Pushout said:
Friends who have been to WPBA tournaments have told me that they were instructed to clap whenever the tv guys wanted them to, which was after each and every shot that wasn't a miss or a scratch.
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Which is just.... WEAK!

I caught a women's match last week while I was on the tread mill. Straight in 6-ball, a foot from the pocket, and the crowd erupted like she'd jump spun kicked a combo. :rolleyes: It was WORSE than a laugh track, and VERY stilted and canned.

You want "better" image of pool, put and "educated audience" together, LET THEM APPLAUD for the shots that impressed them. The great safeties, break outs, kicks etc. Let them gasp at a near scratch or whistle over a monster break, and "ooooh" when someone gets a bad roll, and let the commentators EXPLAIN WHY!!!
 
Pushout said:
Friends who have been to WPBA tournaments have told me that they were instructed to clap whenever the tv guys wanted them to, which was after each and every shot that wasn't a miss or a scratch.
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I went to 90% of the WPBA events from 2001-2008 and many before that. I never heard that said or hinted at.
 
Nostroke said:
I went to 90% of the WPBA events from 2001-2008 and many before that. I never heard that said or hinted at.
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So the crowd did that on their own as if the player made a spectaculor shot. I think it is a insult to the women players. Clapping like that is as if you didn't expect them to be able to make that shot.
 
Many events it is at least "mentioned" that the players appreciate and get pumped up by an enthusiastic crowd so please don't be afraid to applaud.
 
JCIN said:
I wasn't talking about WPBA events. The biggest cheerleader/excitement police I have seen were at some mens events.
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ESPN's "Challenge of Champions" (usually at the Mohegan Sun) is a good example. Attended last year's event, and Justin is right on -- the excitement police were in full force!

-Sean
 
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