MrRant 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2004 Playmakers" has been sacked. After months of speculation about its future, ESPN's originally scripted series about a fictional professional football team will not return, a company official said Wednesday. One of the main reasons for cutting the series after the first season was the reaction from the NFL brass. "Many considerations went into this decision, not the least of which was the reaction from a longtime and valued partner," said Mark Shapiro, ESPN's executive vice president of programming and production. "We are proud of the show on many levels -- it was a creative and critical success, and we are appreciative that viewers clearly embraced this new genre on our network." In its only season, "Playmakers" won critical praise and pulled in a significant audience -- an average of 1.6 million households for each of the show's 11 episodes. Although the finale drew approximately two million viewers, longtime NFL sponsor Gatorade announced before the show that it had decided to pull its advertising for that episode. "It was an ESPN decision and now we can all move on," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Wednesday. "We're looking forward to Sunday night's Pro Bowl and another great season with ESPN in 2004." ESPN broadcasts NFL games on Sunday night, and ABC -- which, like ESPN, is owned by the Walt Disney Co. -- televises "Monday Night Football." The rights deal for both broadcasts runs through the 2005 season. Earlier in the just-completed 2003 season, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue admitted to calling Disney CEO Michael Eisner to express his displeasure with what he thought were the show's "one-dimensional" plots. The adult drama, ESPN's first series, featured plots that touched on drug use, marital infidelity and homophobia. The show caught criticism from NFL players including Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp, who refused to do interviews with ESPN. Darren Rovell covers sports business for ESPN.com. http://espn.go.com/gen/news/2004/0204/1727165.html Can't say I'm disappointed. It was a horrible show. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted February 4, 2004 Good. Now maybe this will end ESPN's goals of branching out from sports for good. I was getting sick of the 50+ reruns of this every week when they could be playing more basketball, baseball and hockey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted February 4, 2004 ESPN once again breaks down to the words of the NFL. Have some fucking balls. Here's looking to the NBA drama.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2004 NO ONE CAN STAND UP TO THE NFL!!!!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted February 4, 2004 ESPN once again breaks down to the words of the NFL. Have some fucking balls. Here's looking to the NBA drama.. Yeah I'm sure that Playmakers is anywhere near as important to ESPN as the NFL. ESPN would be in serious trouble if the NFL suddenly decided it wanted to work with Fox Sports net. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Youth N Asia 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2004 Dion Sanders said the show was the most realistic locker room on tv or in movies...says that others won't say the same cause they're not retired like he is. I enjoyed the show...was way over the top...but well written Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest OctoberBlood Report post Posted February 5, 2004 It was poorly acted, and was indeed pretty horrible, but I enjoyed bits and parts of it simply because it was a sports show. I'll most likely get the DVD set, but I'll buy it used and cheap. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
starvenger 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 The show wasn't the greatest, but it was fun. I also think that while the NFL brass was against the show, players like Donovan McNabb were looking to get guest spots if there was a second season. Overall, I think that it's pretty obvious that some of the plots of the show - drug use, groupies, homophobia etc - hit a bit too close to home for the NFL to accept, and that's part of the reason that it got axed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ToddRoyal Report post Posted February 5, 2004 Good. The acting was bad, and the constant over-pimping of the show on REAL ESPN shows was awful. After this, and the failure that was "Beg, Borrow & Deal 2" hopefully ESPN will think twice about this expanding away from real sports. Now hopefully that stupid Sportscenter anchor show flops miserably and seals the deal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 Most of their EOE presentations are bad. Except Beg, Borrow and Deal. *liked Beg, Borrow and Deal* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
starvenger 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 Most of their EOE presentations are bad. Except Beg, Borrow and Deal. *liked Beg, Borrow and Deal* Moi aussi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mole 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 I watched the show at first, but I lost interest really quickly. It wouldn't surprise me if FX picked it up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JasonX 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 I watched the show at first, but I lost interest really quickly. It wouldn't surprise me if FX picked it up. I doubt that FX will pick it up. IIRC ESPN/Disney owns the rights to the show and that I would doubt that they would let someone else produce and air the show if only out of spite to keep the show from being a big hit for another network and giving them yet another black eye for not only being pussies but also for letting a potential hit show/critical darling leave them.... As it stands, we'll be lucky if they actually carry through with their plans for DVDs given that I know ESPN would rather bury the show forever than risk being told they couldn't suck the NFL's cock... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 Now hopefully that stupid Sportscenter anchor show flops miserably and seals the deal. Huh? Oh, yeah. Fuck ESPN... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
starvenger 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 In case anyone was wondering, the DVD ships 4-20 (heh)... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Youth N Asia 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 I might pick it up...provided there's enough good bonus material Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Tino Standard 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 I don't like the precedent this sets. NFL doesn't like one of ESPN's shows, so they make ESPN cancel it? That's bullshit. What's next? The NFL takes a liking to a younger, more edgy SportsCenter anchor and tells ESPN that if that if they don't fire Chris Berman and that the young guy isn't the new host of NFL PrimeTime, then they're taking their business elsewhere? Where do you draw the line? The tail is wagging the dog here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 The NFL takes a liking to a younger, more edgy SportsCenter anchor and tells ESPN that if that if they don't fire Chris Berman and that the young guy isn't the new host of NFL PrimeTime, then they're taking their business elsewhere? One can only wish. And take Linda Cohn with you!... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JumpinJackFlash Report post Posted February 5, 2004 "D.H., the piss man's here!" "I'm placing you on injured reserve." "But I'm not injured!" And the gay guy who looked like Steven Richards..... I'm going to miss this show. Hopefully, HBO will pick it up, or they relase this on DVD. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MikeSC Report post Posted February 5, 2004 I don't like the precedent this sets. NFL doesn't like one of ESPN's shows, so they make ESPN cancel it? That's bullshit. What's next? The NFL takes a liking to a younger, more edgy SportsCenter anchor and tells ESPN that if that if they don't fire Chris Berman and that the young guy isn't the new host of NFL PrimeTime, then they're taking their business elsewhere? Where do you draw the line? The tail is wagging the dog here. Tom Jackson: And some kid asked me, "Is it OK for black kids to be mediocre hosts with a schtick they've run into the ground over the past, oh, 20 years?". Steve Young: I've never viewed Berman as a competent or entertaining host. Ever. Ever. -=Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Youth N Asia 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 I thought "the piss man" sounded a little junior high. This was one of the few gay storylines I liked in tv, I thought they handled it very well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skywarp! 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 "I'm going to miss this show. Hopefully, HBO will pick it up I'm sure the NFL would pull the same crap with "Inside the NFL," but I'm not sure if HBO would budge. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 Tom Jackson: And some kid asked me, "Is it OK for black kids to be mediocre hosts with a schtick they've run into the ground over the past, oh, 20 years?". *The next day* UNCLE TOM JACKSON: Yes, little Jimmy, I just found out that you CAN run your own schtick into the ground for the next, oh, 20 years. LITTLE JIMMY: I can? Well, DY-NO-MITE!... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JasonX 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 I don't like the precedent this sets. NFL doesn't like one of ESPN's shows, so they make ESPN cancel it? That's bullshit. What's next? The NFL takes a liking to a younger, more edgy SportsCenter anchor and tells ESPN that if that if they don't fire Chris Berman and that the young guy isn't the new host of NFL PrimeTime, then they're taking their business elsewhere? Where do you draw the line? The tail is wagging the dog here. Actually, if the Playmakers debacle is any indication, it would be the "edgy" anchors that they would try and get fired and make the network have only the most plain and vanilla anchors report on the NFL. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlwaysPissedOff 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 Meh, I liked the show, but they pretty much used up all the major storylines in this season alone, so really, there wasn't much left to do. As for the NFL, whatta bunch of hypocrites, especially some of the players I saw dissing the show on ESPN yesterday like Ray Lewis and his "My kids watch ESPN! I don't want them seeing this and thinking that blah, blah, blah..." ramblings. Yeah, you play a violent sport where eleven guys are trying to kill eleven more guys and you're worried about a FICTIONAL SHOW? This same type of head-in-thy-ass behavior spawned groups like the PTC. Hey Ray... maybe if, you know, PAID ATTENTION TO WHAT YOUR KIDS WATCH, you wouldn't have to worry about a goddamn drama show on ESPN. Clueless putz. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2004 As for the NFL, whatta bunch of hypocrites, especially some of the players I saw dissing the show on ESPN yesterday like Ray Lewis and his "My kids watch ESPN! I don't want them seeing this and thinking that blah, blah, blah..." Now that is funny. I guess Ray Ray doesn't let his kids watch his pre-game promos and in-game activity... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JumpinJackFlash Report post Posted February 6, 2004 QUOTE As for the NFL, whatta bunch of hypocrites, especially some of the players I saw dissing the show on ESPN yesterday like Ray Lewis and his "My kids watch ESPN! I don't want them seeing this and thinking that blah, blah, blah..." Now that is funny. I guess Ray Ray doesn't let his kids watch his pre-game promos and in-game activity... And when he kills his girlfriend. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gWIL 0 Report post Posted February 6, 2004 Simple solution, spin off based on players in the Arena League they could even have three characters return the older running back, the gay dude and the heavy one that needed to lose weight. Say they got sick of the Big League's bullshit it writes itself. And I doubt the Arena league would even care. No such thing as bad publicity. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MillenniumMan831 0 Report post Posted February 6, 2004 Simple solution, spin off based on players in the Arena League they could even have three characters return the older running back, the gay dude and the heavy one that needed to lose weight. Say they got sick of the Big League's bullshit it writes itself. And I doubt the Arena league would even care. No such thing as bad publicity. Well, the Arena League now has a minor affiliation with the NFL so that may not be the way to go. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Youth N Asia 0 Report post Posted February 6, 2004 Plus you couldn't play off the linebacker siging a $12 million deal with arena league. It wouldn't work on such a small scale. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
