McEnroe

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This article is about McEnroe, the television show. For the show's host, see John McEnroe.

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McEnroe was a talk show on CNBC. Hosted by tennis legend John McEnroe, the show aired Monday through Thursday on the network. It debuted on July 7, 2004. Many top-notch celebrities like Will Ferrell (the show's first-ever guest), conservative pundit Ann Coulter, and actor Sean Astin were interviewed by McEnroe. McEnroe's sidekick was stand-up comedian and former America's Funniest Home Videos host John Fugelsang. The show was panned by critics right from its debut, and in August 2004, it was reported that the show had twice garnered a Nielsen rating of 0.0. On December 3, 2004, CNBC executives sent a memo to network employees saying the show was being cancelled just 4 days before its five-month anniversary. However, McEnroe was given the option of stopping production right then and there, or allowing the show to go two more weeks. McEnroe decided to let the show last two more weeks to give the behind-the-scenes workers more work before the show went off-air. The last episode aired on December 15, 2004. During the time after the report of the 0.0 rating came up, which was during the two-week break the show took for CNBC's coverage of the 2004 Summer Olympics, Woody Fraser was brought in to be the executive producer to try and save the show, using his powers to try things like making McEnroe dress more professionally by wearing suits and ties, and having Fugelsang less involved, but to no avail.

Perhaps the show's most awkward moment came in its third week. Upon being introduced for the July 26, 2004, episode, McEnroe rode onto the set on a bicycle, wearing a yellow jersey, which he wore for the entire show, in tribute to American cyclist Lance Armstrong, who a day earlier won his record-breaking sixth straight Tour de France. Fugelsang was nowhere to be seen, as he had been in Los Angeles for the weekend doing promotional work for the show. He was supposed to have returned for the July 27 show, but just as Fugelsang's flight was getting ready for takeoff, it was called back to its gate because of bad weather, and so Fugelsang missed the taping. Later that night, McEnroe went on CBS' Late Show with David Letterman, and complained about Fugelsang missing the show. Letterman told McEnroe that Fugelsang should've been fired, but McEnroe said he believed in second chances. The next night, July 28, Fugelsang returned, and mentioned McEnroe's comments to Letterman. Rather, and quite genuinely, concerned, Fugelsang asked if he was fired, to which McEnroe told him he wasn't. The clip from Letterman was then played, and after it finished, Fugelsang looked at McEnroe, and asked, "Do you hold onto anger?" McEnroe said nothing, and the show went into a commercial break, only to come back with the two shaking hands and smiling.