TED Talk LMAOcontinuum16 wrote: ↑06 Mar 2025, 07:12the biggest issue I have with the (FOX NASCAR) booth is the fact that there is no rhythm ... everything is delivered with a sigh and a shrug
But more than anything the failures in FOX's NASCAR coverage is the technical aspects ... shots of random people in the grandstands
As far as to what makes a good commentator, besides obvious personal tastes I think that there needs to be clear enthusiasm first and foremost. The people commentating have to come across as actually enjoying what they are doing. I would rather have someone who tends to sometimes be overzealous than someone who sounds like they just found out their credit card got stolen. Buxton is certainly enthusiastic, sometimes too much so.
I also think a good commentator is someone who does not try to dance around touchy subjects too much
Personally I think the gold standard for F1 commentary is Jolyon Palmer; he has enough recent F1 experience to know many of the teams and drivers, what the cars are (kind of) like, and also speaks his mind. He is enthusiastic but not artificial. He is not constantly yelling like Buxton, Jacques, Crofty, or others do.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk lol.
@continuum16 dude, I really like your profile picture of botas and how the hell did I miss the 16 connection hahahah. That is awesome, biffle fans unite! I wasn't sure anyone would even make that connection on this board, I should have known better, race fans watch motorsports far and wide my friend.
I'm so freaking glad I joined this forum, because I've been screaming at my TV by myself for what seems like years. You nailed it about the rhythm. At the end of the Atlanta race I was standing up almost jumping up and down, and you listen to the broadcast booth, and they're like... talking about nothing... I was like "why the hell aren't they screaming right now??" They should all be hanging over the grandstand, the racing was insane, and they're just like *meh* ? just wow. Yea I think you have something about havawreck there. He's good, but just too serious. Heee needs a shot not those people in the grandstand.
F1 does those super cringy grandstand shots too. Usually of kids? I have nothing against kids, but they're like stalking people. And you get this super close-up of someone in the pits, hanging there for like 10 solid seconds. I don't understand it. Those camera guys must be so bored or something? Hey let's zoom in on someone's cheek! Look I get it, but they need someone in the control room with a cringe sensor. Am I out of line?
I'm not a big Palmer fan, but I 100% agree that when announcers knowledgeably speak their mind about a "controversial" subject, I really like that, it shows they're willing to put their honest opinion on the line. Did you notice that people make fun of Palmer when he does that? "Oh there goes Palmer again, speaking his mind, what a nut!" Why does TV have to be so dumbed down? Like the SKY feed. Those guys dance around _everything_ god forbid they say something of substance, don't want to piss off their followers! Pretty sure plenty of people that sky got rid of were that type. Just "too edgy" "too real" has to be a yes man and superficial to make it at sky.
So thanks for that, and I agree, IMHO a good commentator is knowledgable, speaks their mind. Is enthusiastic but not artificial.