The Kansas City Chiefs offense was mightily impressive during the first half of the AFC Championship Game, scoring three touchdowns as the Chiefs took a 21-10 lead over the Cincinnati Bengals into the half. However, they didn’t make the m0st noise at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.
CBS audiences were treated to the usual sight of the halftime crew, anchored by James Brown. However, just as Brown started talking about the first half, the stadium introduced halftime performer Walker Hayes (a.k.a. The Applebee’s song guy) and the musical performance completely overwhelmed the audio of the TV hosts.
Someone at CBS forgot to check halftime show speaker levels… pic.twitter.com/aZ4b7eOAsZ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 30, 2022
It’s unclear if the problem was stage placement, speaker placement, bad timing, or a combination of all three. Those big speakers directly behind the hosts probably don’t bode well. Whatever the issue, it was clearly impossible to fix as Bill Cowher, Boomer Esiason, Nate Burleson, and Phil Simms loud-talked their way through the telecast to no avail.
LOUD NOISES!!! pic.twitter.com/X1kk4ziKcm
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 30, 2022
The crew may have ended up cutting their halftime discussion short due to the overwhelming noise issue, but at least everyone tried their best to have fun with the absurdity of the moment.
"It's a party here in KC, baby!" pic.twitter.com/FgRNKKl80Z
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 30, 2022
As you might imagine, the nightmare scenario for the CBS production truck was a bonanza for NFL Twitter, who had a field day with the debacle.
https://twitter.com/timthetatman/status/1487900606358564864
We’re getting a halftime show and a halftime show at the same time
— Stephen A. Smith Burner’s Burner Parody (@TheSASBBurner) January 30, 2022
Not sure I've ever heard a halftime of such a huge broadcast with this kind of issue of getting totally drown out by the musical act. Oof.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 30, 2022
enjoying the CBS halftime show pic.twitter.com/FU3iTM6ebt
— Ryan Perry (@rynprry) January 30, 2022
We provided the entertainment and sound placement for the AFC Championship halftime show. You’re welcome. https://t.co/kRWeynGbgZ
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) January 30, 2022
CBS better hope Hayes isn’t considering doing an encore after the game during their post-game show. Given how much we all had to hear that song during college football season, let’s all pray for that as well.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.