With the Super Bowl hype in full hyper mode and the OSCARnominations announced this week, it brought back memories of coveringboth events in the 90's.

I was a television field producer, and while it must look like fun to cover events ike these, it's anything but and you actually don't get to see the event you're covering. Your too busy covering it. I know, that sounds like an Oxymoron.

Things start weeks and even months in advance. Getting credentials, arranging production facilities, parking spots for your satellite trucks, getting affiliate shots booked, blah blah blah.

Worst part about the Oscars, (I was involved in 3) is having to work in a tuxedo and the incredible crush of other media, numbering in the thousands. The Satellite Truck compound has at least 60 units alone. But working in a tux, sucks.

You arrive early, and stay late. The big moment is the huge crush of stars who arrive in the hour or so prior to the broadcast. Imagine the longest line you've ever been in, and everyone is either Tom Hanks or Harrison Ford. You get the picture. And what a picture it is.

Once the broadcast starts, you're so busy planning all the post-show reports you actually don't have time to watch the event itself.

As for the Super Bowl, for media it's a Super Zoo. The worst of all is media day. Everyone is either trying to ask "meaningful" questions which is an oxymoron because it's just a football game. How some media get credentialed is beyond me. Many are just there to ask stupid questions and attract attention to themselves. It's obvious the players would rather be anywhere else than at media day.

As for game day itself, work starts about 5am, 12 hours before the kick-off. Pre-game, multiple reports both live and taped for affiliates are just a few of the things you do. Over and over and over. Some reporters are prepared, others painfully aren't. Half your time is spent saving someone from self-destruction live on air.

You get a break during the game, which you watch from a satellite truck. Once the game ends, then comes the post-game reports. You have crews from all four time zones, then once you're done with domestic crews, you work with clients like FUJI Television of Japan. Things wrap up around 4am....about 24 hours after you started.

There's a perception crews have lots of times to party and see the sights. You're lucky to have time to eat. On-site food vendors gouge the heck out of you so you bring in your own. You're lucky, if you actually have time to eat.

Among the many reasons I so appreciate watching both events from home these days. But I wouldn't have traded the experiences for anything in the world either!