This is not the 1st time that "Howie Sucks" surfaced at a Monday Night Football game. This version was actually a copycat version of an earlier MNF game. It all started when a creative sign preparer created the Sign: "Howie Shot JR!" As the camera zoomed in on the sign ... the portion that read "Shot JR" dropped revealing "Howie Sucks." Dandy Don Meredith went nuts with laughter and a new tradition was born at the expense of Howard Cosell. If you'll remember, in 1980, the entire country was in the middle of a cliffhanger marketing frenzy searching for the person who shot JR Ewing. On the March 21, 1980 season finale episode of the popular TV show 'Dallas,' (episode titled "A House Divided"), JR Ewing was shot and the question "Who Shot JR?" spread like wildfire. So on a Monday Night Football game (prior to the one shown here which aired on 9/11/1980), it was posited that, perhaps it was our beloved Howard Cosell who pulled the trigger. We had to wait a little over two months later until November 21, 1980 when, on the Dallas episode entitled "Who Done It," it was revealed that it was Kristin Shepard (played by Mary Crosby) and not Howie, who actually shot JR Ewing. So yes, this clip is that of a copycat. I personally saw the MNF game referenced above that accused Howard Cosell of shooting the perennial bad guy ... JR Ewing. The sign holder must have had a portable TV alerting him to the fact that the cameras were on him, at which time the "Shot JR" portion of the sign dropped revealing "Howie Sucks!" Even though it was close to 40 years ago, I remember that I laughed so hard and long that my ribs didn't recover for a full week. Thanks for the memories!
"The sign holder must have had a portable TV alerting him to the fact that the cameras were on him, at which time the 'Shot JR' portion of the sign dropped revealing Howie Sucks!" So it was scripted
I saw this live as a kid. Priceless.
This is not the 1st time that "Howie Sucks" surfaced at a Monday Night Football game. This version was actually a copycat version of an earlier MNF game. It all started when a creative sign preparer created the Sign: "Howie Shot JR!" As the camera zoomed in on the sign ... the portion that read "Shot JR" dropped revealing "Howie Sucks." Dandy Don Meredith went nuts with laughter and a new tradition was born at the expense of Howard Cosell.
If you'll remember, in 1980, the entire country was in the middle of a cliffhanger marketing frenzy searching for the person who shot JR Ewing. On the March 21, 1980 season finale episode of the popular TV show 'Dallas,' (episode titled "A House Divided"), JR Ewing was shot and the question "Who Shot JR?" spread like wildfire. So on a Monday Night Football game (prior to the one shown here which aired on 9/11/1980), it was posited that, perhaps it was our beloved Howard Cosell who pulled the trigger. We had to wait a little over two months later until November 21, 1980 when, on the Dallas episode entitled "Who Done It," it was revealed that it was Kristin Shepard (played by Mary Crosby) and not Howie, who actually shot JR Ewing.
So yes, this clip is that of a copycat. I personally saw the MNF game referenced above that accused Howard Cosell of shooting the perennial bad guy ... JR Ewing. The sign holder must have had a portable TV alerting him to the fact that the cameras were on him, at which time the "Shot JR" portion of the sign dropped revealing "Howie Sucks!" Even though it was close to 40 years ago, I remember that I laughed so hard and long that my ribs didn't recover for a full week.
Thanks for the memories!
"The sign holder must have had a portable TV alerting him to the fact that the cameras were on him, at which time the 'Shot JR' portion of the sign dropped revealing Howie Sucks!"
So it was scripted
I remember watching that game! Nobody believed me.I'm glad you posted it cause now I have proof!!
I remember this, too! What year/game was it, though...