The Press Box

Latest Episodes:

NFL Wild-Card Weekend Fun, How the Networks Botched Iowa, and ESPN’s Year From Hell Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

Bryan and David kick off the show by discussing how 2024 can rival 2017 as ESPN's year from hell. From fake names, to Stephen A. Smith’s spat with Jason Whitlock, to Pat McAfee … and we're only days into January (00:30). Then they get into NFL wild-card weekend, from streaming on Peacock to the Cowboys' and Eagles' meltdowns (18:10). Later, they discuss the Iowa caucus and some interesting sound from Donald Trump (46:44). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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Bill Belichick’s Awkward Goodbye, Business Insider, the Iowa Caucuses, and Campaign War Stories With the Atlantic’s Mark Leibovich Jan 11, 2024

Show notes

For the ‘Press Box’: Final Edition, Bryan starts off with his thoughts on Stephen A. Smith’s takedown of Jason Whitlock and what it says about ESPN’s management style (07:37). Then, Mark Leibovich of The Atlantic joins the show to discuss Bill Belichick’s farewell press conference with the Patriots, his relationship with the media, and whether he could find himself working in television (07:37). Then, they talk about the lead-up to the Iowa Caucuses, Nikki Haley, how a horse race–less field impacts reporters, and more (19:23).

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guest: Mark Leibovich

Producer: Eduardo Ocampo

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Pat McAfee Vs. Norby Williamson, the NFL Playoffs on Peacock, the Messenger in Peril, and the Debut of Press Botch Jan 08, 2024

Show notes

Bryan and David kick off the show with a discussion about McAfee calling out ESPN executive Norby Williamson. (00:40) Then they get into what is going on with the Messenger (25:15). Later in weekend audio, they discuss Shannon Sharpe reacting to the criticism he faced after his interview with Katt Williams (33:40), the AFC wild-card game being available on only Peacock (42:00), and more. In our brand new segment, Press Botch, they revisit the Embroidery of Brian Williams (47:12). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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The Rodgers-McAfee Debacle, How Debates Became Politics’ In-Season Tournament, and the Barry Sanders Doc With Slate’s Joel Anderson Jan 04, 2024

Show notes

For the ‘Press Box’: Final Edition, Bryan is joined by Joel Anderson of Slate. They discuss Aaron Rodgers’s comments about Jimmy Kimmel and Pat McAfee’s response (1:44). Then, Joel shares a story of being called into the office for a tweet he liked during his time at ESPN (25:51). They discuss many memes in college football and how the national championship game may be the all-time nobody-believed-in-us game (30:04). Later, they talk about how debates have become politics’ in-season tournament (40:51). Lastly, they close with Bryan’s new rules for sports documentaries after watching the new Barry Sanders documentary (43:43).

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guest: Joel Anderson

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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Report from the Sugar Bowl Press Box, Rece Davis, the Campaign Is Here, and a New Segment Coming to the Show! Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

Happy New Year! Bryan and David start the show by recapping Bryan’s experience in the press box at the Sugar Bowl to see his beloved Texas Longhorns. (00:47) Then in weekend audio, they discuss Rece Davis and Pat McAfee creating the funniest TV moment (23:41). Later, they discuss Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen’s New Year’s Eve drinkathon (39:50). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week, David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline, and the introduction of a new segment comes to ‘Press Box!’

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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The Year in Media: From Elon Musk to ESPN and Taylor Swift to Michael Lewis Dec 21, 2023

Show notes

For the ‘Press Box’: Final Edition, Bryan and David hand out some year-end awards! They cover many categories, including the Media Company Makeover of the Year (4:20), the Erratic Executive of the Year(15:01), and the Newsroom Intruder of the Year (40:23). Then, they close the show with one final strained pun of 2023 (1:03:09).

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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How to Win a Campaign News Cycle, Criticizing The New York Times, and RIP to HBO’s ‘Real Sports’ Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

Bryan and David kick off the show with a media memorial service for HBO’s ‘Real Sports,’ which will air its final episode after 29 seasons (0:33); then they get into how to win a campaign news cycle (4:17) and James Bennet’s piece criticizing The New York Times (16:49). Later, in the Notebook Dump, they discuss Al Michaels, who's sitting out the playoffs, and who NBC will have in his place (27:30). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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The One-Month-Till-Iowa Campaign Check-In, Draymond’s Swing, Belichick’s Silence, and the Campaign Reporter’s Reading List Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

For the 'Press Box: Final Edition,' Bryan is joined by Washington Bureau Chief at Semafor, Benjy Sarlin. One month out from the Iowa Caucuses, they discuss Nikki Haley pulling in front of Ron DeSantis in the polls (2:21), and the low ratings for the campaign debates (19:49). Later, they react to Draymond Green’s latest flagrant foul that got him suspended indefinitely, and his apology to Jusuf Nurkić (31:34). Next, they react to Bill Belichick’s response to a reporter asking him about his future in New England (38:25). They close the show with Bryan asking Benjy who does he read and watch that makes him feel smarter during a campaign (43:10).

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guest: Benjy Sarlin

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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Screwing Up the Ohtani Story, the WaPo Walkout, and Mahomes’s Meltdown Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

Bryan and David start the show discussing Shohei Ohtani’s blockbuster deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers and how it was the first spoiler-free signing since Adrian Wojnarowski joined X. (00:30) Then they discuss the Washington Post union staff’s walkout (9:16). Later in weekend audio, they react to Patrick Mahomes's meltdown after an offensive offsides takes the game-winning play off the board—and the media reaction to that (25:50). Bryan shares a Time magazine person-of-the-year update and discusses the amount of presales the magazine has garnered (33:30). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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The Spoiler-Free Shohei Sweepstakes, Person(s) of the Year, and an Oscar Contender That’s Really a Journalism Movie Dec 09, 2023

Show notes

For the Press Box: Final Edition, Bryan is joined by Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Gay. They discuss the Person of the Year awards from both Time magazine and Sports Illustrated, with Time selecting Taylor Swift and SI selecting Deion Sanders (2:21). Then they dive into the coverage of the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes and how this is projected to be the biggest free-agent signing in MLB history (39:15). Last, they close the show with a spoiler-free conversation about the Netflix movie 'May December' and how this could be the next movie being shown in journalism classes (47:22).

Hosts: Bryan Curtis

Guest: Jason Gay

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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