I, Max Online

I, Max is absolute entertainment. Max Kellerman (formerly of Around the Horn on ESPN) is the host, and he truly believes he knows everything. Through half the show, he will argue with Michael Holley (may recognize him from Around the Horn as well.) on topics thrown out by "hairy judge" Bill Wolff (Also from Around the Horn - Disembodied Voice). They normally argue for 12 rounds and Wolff awards a point to who he believes is the winner of the argument. After the first four arguments, they will make a game out of the next three(Instant Replay, Lie Detector, I,Max Court etc.) In one segment, he will argue on a topic with a famous sports star or broadcaster, and then battle it out with e-mails from people making any sport statement. At the end, if Max wins, Wolff will read fan mail to Max "pomping his circumstance." If Max loses, Wolff will read hate mail on Max. It is good to see Max back on TV, as I was very upset with Around the Horn when he left. Kellerman, Holley, and Wolff have terrific chemistry together and basically mock each other in every way possible. They are like the new age three stooges as they all have something that distinguishes themselves to be mocked about. Max has a funny beard, Wolff is hairy, and Holley is a 30 somethin year old man with braces, dreads, and a nose ring. Plus the fact that Holley works in Boston and Max is an avid Yank fan makes the arguments even more fun.

10/10, one of the most entertaining shows.

I, MAX

"I, MAX" is a Fox Sports Net creation that stars Max Kellerman, Bill Wolff and Michael Holley. Three guys with sub-par careers in sports journalism who were assembled together for a show that has the three of them debating (more like making fun of each other) over the latest sports topics. Not a bad idea. Not an original one either. And normally, I would give a show like this a chance, but the commercials they ran promoting this show were absolutely pathetic. Here we are, being introduced to Max, the host,as someone whose "smart, funny and always opinionated. And then, when he has the chance to speak, the one moment where he can hook us, his new audience, he says this, "It's just my opinion, but I'm RIGHT!" and "I'm UP in the end!" Oh God. For days, I would ponder why this show wasn't canceled yet. Then those days turned into weeks. And now it's turning into months. And after watching this show day after day, week after week, I have to admit that its finally growing on me and now I think its one of the funniest programs to come out of Fox Sports Net. Yes, its true, I AM a fan and I admit it. Why? Several reasons....

1) CHEMISTRY - The chemistry between Max, Wolff and Holley is terrific. They are spontaneously funny. The quips they throw at one another during a debate are hysterical. And if you've seen the show from its early days, you could see how well these three continue to gel. It can only get better.

2) AUDIENCE FRIENDLY - The topics are nothing heavy. Just small talk that one person would have with another over lunch or over a smoke. Even a non-sports fan can pick up on the topics and get involved.

3) MAX IS THE BUTT OF ALL JOKES - Max Kellerman starts off each show with the idea that he's going to win every debate. Its that kind of pompous confidence that sets us up for his ultimate demise at the end of the show. And when he does lose, Wolff gets to read Max's "HATE-MAIL" (Negative email sent by the home viewers). Kellerman is the butt of all jokes and he takes it all in stride.

4) The "ME-V-R" - Max has the power to pause anyone mid-sentence by pressing his "ME-V-R." I wish I had that - there are some people who don't know when to shut the hell up.

5) THE YANKEES - Kellerman is a Yankee fan who loves to gloat about Yankee Dominance. Holley works in the Boston area. All the ingredients you need for a great rivalry.

There ya go, I just gave FIVE reasons why this show works. Now, I don't expect everyone to run to their TV sets and tune in, and those that do, I don't expect that everyone will like it. I actually know quite a few people who still roll their eyes when this show goes to air, BUT there will be those who will enjoy the humor that this show brings to the table on a daily basis. If you want to watch, tune in to "I, MAX" at 6pm and Late Night on Fox Sports Net.

© Rich M. (7/24/04)

This show beats out ATH and PTI by a lot.Unlike ATH this show doesn't have 5 people shouting in annoyance all at the same time,and isn't boring like PTI.I,Max a combination of debating and comedy,Max Kellerman takes on "Former Boston Globe Columnist" Micheal Holley with Bill Wolfe judging,with one point at stake,public humiliation.Michael and Max are great they take stabs at each other as well as Bill throughout the show,I,Max also offers a special guest(player,coach) to debate against in which he usually loses.Another great thing about this show that love mail,hate mail directed to Max,and viewer opinions are read to the content or discontent of all three,its a great show,catch it weekdays at 6 pm and latenight on FSN.

This is nothing but a cheap ripoff of Max's first show, Around the Horn. The only improvement is the fact that Woody Paige is not on I,Max. Thank god.

Getting rid of Max Kellerman was the best decision ESPN ever made. Hosts are supposed to be there to moderate the action and keep it under control. All Max cared about was getting his voice heard and putting his opinion out there like it was better than the guys that are paid to cover these sports. Despite the fact that he knows next to nothing about every sport except boxing, he barely let the contests get two words out before he muted them and spouted off his opinion like it was fact and everybody else was wrong. Toni Reali and even Zach Selwyn did better jobs than Max.

This show is better suited for him. Bill Wolffe, known as the disembodied voice on Around The Horn, is more of the host and moderator and Max is there to give his opinions. The problem is, he still knows very little about anything except boxing.

Unless you're in love with Max Kellerman, stick with Around The Horn.

I, Max improves on what Around the Horn Started. It features Max and Michael Holly debating a series of topics that are chosen by Bill Wolfe who most of you will remember as the Disembodied voice from ATH. Kellerman has some of the same tools at his services but instead of a mute, he is able to pause the person he is debating in mid argument.

What I like better about this show is that its a little more controlled than Around The Horn, you dont have the constant screaming of 4 people back and forth fighting for airtime. The only thing I do hate is that as of right now there isnt any woody paige, but I do believe eventually, like Michael Holly he will work his way onto the show.

Time will tell but I think this show is much better than Around The Horn.

If anyone had FoxSports on today at 6 PM, you were privileged enough to see the debut episode of the new Kellerman show "I, Max." Man, it's good to hear that guy again and good to hear someone actually take definitive sides on all sports issues (outside of golf, which he still admits he knows nothing about), instead of Reali, who lets people ramble on for forty seconds without muting them with significant refutations to their positions. I don't consider "Oh, Jay Mariotti, I'm not following you there..." a real argument, Stat Boy. Instead, Max took on Michael Holley for the majority of the show, Kellerman representing his own strong, sometimes polarizing opinions and Holley representing what the rest of the sports world thinks. Kellerman was able to pause Holley at any time (and did, quite frequently) to interject his own opinions, something reminiscent of the quick-mute style that ATH had before the Reali Era. Bill Wolff, Disembodied Voice of ATH, takes a face-time role in "I, Max," and apparently also does the scoring, which is the weakest aspect of the show. After each thirty second back-and-forth between Kellerman and Holley, Wolff would give each up to ten points based on who he agreed with and who he thought outargued the other, but the scoring isn't as dynamic as on ATH...it just pops up following the argument without any plus-or-minus or reasons for the scoring from Wolff. Also, Kellerman takes on an actual athlete, not just a reporter, for about five minutes of the show...today, it was Strahan, and much of the Coughlin/Manning/minicamp situation in New York was discussed between the two. Finally, the crowning trait of "I, Max" has to be the carryovers from ATH. Aside from Wolff and many of the reporters from the show coming over to "I, Max" (Holley and, I've heard, Paige will be on the way), Wolff has maintained the cut-to-commercial dialogue that made him so memorable on ESPN. One example: "Coming up: Max takes on a professional athlete on some of the most pressing issues in sports--we'll see if Michael Strahan can give it a try...MAX!!" Also, Kellerman has returned to what he originated (and should have copyrighted to keep out of Stat Boy's hands): the "These four things I KNOW are true!", as well as pointing and "Next topic!"ing. Outstanding. Ah, welcome back, Wolff and Kellerman. If I can find some time at 6 PM every weekday, I shall be basking in your reinstated warm glow.

I don't think I'll ever know why Max Kellerman ever left the now-badly-foundering "Around the Horn", but "I, Max" is fantastic. Other than it doesn't have the great Woody Paige/Jay Mariotti rivalry, I absolutely prefer this show's format. Max is the host, talking with fellow ATH refugee Michael Holley, a guest star (usually a sports player or coach), and then answering viewer e-mail. Bill Wolff, aka the Disembodied Voice, is the judge who scores the points made.

Max and Wolff are really able to open up on each since there's no other guys (besides Holley, of course) to bug them. If Woody Paige does eventually join this show, as I've heard on the grapevine, I'll have no reason at all to watch "Around the Horn" any more. Even without Paige, "I, Max", with the possible exception of PTI, is The Best Damn Sports Show Period. (sorry for possible copyright infringement)

Ten enthusiastic stars.