Each week, I’ll be taking a look at the SEC Network’s programming and reviewing a show, or group of shows, giving my take on the network’s inaugural season. 

Paul Finebaum has been known throughout the South for a while now, with his radio show being the most popular SEC-based show around. What has made his show so popular are the characters that call in and rant about their team and how they are the best and every other team is the worst. More times than not, people claim that the media is biased against their team and how they love some other team. It all adds to the absurdity of the show, so it’s all well and good.

This year, with the launch of the SEC Network, his show is being televised as I’m sure most people are aware. However, the show does not translate very well to TV at all. It certainly is not watchable for 4 hours. If you put it up against the SVP & Rusillo show, which is also on TV from time to time, it doesn’t even begin to hold a candle. The latter pair have a rapport with each other that makes watching them behind the scenes more interesting, it gives us a window into how the show is run, and the partnership those two have. Contrasting that to the Finebaum show, Finebaum just sits in his chair with his signature smug look for 4 hours. His sidekick sits across the room, making any sort of dialogue between the two seem awkward and forced.

Granted, if I had to listen to the callers for 4 hours a day, it would certainly take a toll on me and I would probably end up puncturing my ear drums with an ice pick after a week. What is clear though, is that the callers are the stars of the show. Finebaum does not have what it takes to carry that program by himself. The callers do not enhance the show, they are the show. If not for the crazies who rant and rave, the show becomes exponentially less interesting, and Finebaum doesn’t seem to give enough captivating conversation to keep people tuned in.

Even worse, it seems as if new people are calling in to the show in an effort to get their 15 minutes of fame, often ranting until they get cut off with ridiculous takes that are undoubtedly attempts at some sort of comedy routine. I am reminded of the Jim Rome show with the laugh factor of some of these callers (not in a good way). The only difference is that Rome is much quicker to cut the chord and hang up on whoever is spouting nonsense on the other side of the phone.

I understand the likelihood of someone actually sitting down and watching the show in it’s entirety, assuming said person isn’t paid to, is very slim, but what I keep coming back to is that fact that the show is tough to watch even for one segment at a time. SEC fans are certainly passionate, but some of the folks who make it their goal to get on this show take things to a different level, and it would honestly be more entertaining if it was a parody of some fans, when in actuality, the people are real as are their opinions.

Obviously, this is year 1 for the network, and determining what programming will work is a tough task. I would be very surprised though if this show continues to air in its entirety once the season is over. You have to fills the hours somehow, but ESPN and the SEC should be able to fill a portion of his slot with something that can keep a captive audience for longer than the Finebaum show is able to do.