04/16/24
August 19, 2003
ESPN is heavily promoting their original new series "Playmakers". It looks pretty interesting to me...better than Arli$$ anyway. Are you going to watch it?
1) What are your takes on ESPN's previous efforts at drama? "Season on the Brink" (mere minutes) was enough to scare me away from "Junction Boys". 2) Did I miss anything by missing "Junction Boys", and what are the chances that I'll miss anything by sitting this one out as well? FWIW, Entertainment Weekly gave it a B+. 3) Should be surprised that they're going down the same road visited by "First and Ten", "The Program", and "Any Given Sunday". In any case, I wish them luck.
posted by jackhererra at 09:46 AM on August 19, 2003
Unfortunately, it is on at the same time as the cheesy melodrama "The OC" and I've managed to get myself hooked on that. I'm already committed to too many series as is - Sex and the City, Sopranos (when it comes back), Dead Like Me. I need to get an actual Tivo or break up with some of these shows.
posted by jerseygirl at 10:24 AM on August 19, 2003
It might look interesting, but it's a slippery slope. Support this and next thing you know, ESPN is the MTV of sports--all shows, no sports. I just got Fox Sports World and I am riveted. Anyone care to explain rugby to me? I love that the rules are called "laws" instead of "rules"...
posted by Mookieproof at 11:49 AM on August 19, 2003
Gak - I don't get ESPN - up here we have TSN (part owned by ESPN - we have our own SportsCenter - except its spelt SportsCentre - vive le Quebec libre!) but all the past sports dramas have sucked. Sportsnight kicked ass but no one watched it. I think I'll stick to the actual sports broadcasts for my sports entertainment fix. My addictions are the exclusive property of the Simpsons, Daily Show and Hockey Night in Canada. And the occasional jonesing for Real TV.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:11 PM on August 19, 2003
Well it looks a lot like Dream Team, a soccer drama series set at a Premiership club in England. That's rubbish, but at least it isn't on one of the sports channels. Of course I won't be able to watch Playmakers, which may be for the best.
posted by squealy at 12:23 PM on August 19, 2003
"Better than Arli$$" is like "better than chlamydia." Not that hard to beat.
posted by Samsonov14 at 12:39 PM on August 19, 2003
Speaking of chlamydia... Did anyone see that god awful movie"54" ? 2 redeeming qualities.
- Ryan Phillipe complaining that it burns when he pees only to be told, "Congratulations, you've got the clap."Classy!
- A coked up Mike Myers begging Breckin(sp?) Meyer "Let me suck your cock." Sheer genius.
posted by lilnemo at 01:00 PM on August 19, 2003
A coked up Mike Myers begging Breckin(sp?) Meyer "Let me suck your cock." Sheer genius. Funny, I think that scene was based on an real-life encounter between a coked up Robin Williams and a young Stephen Dorff.
posted by Ufez Jones at 01:18 PM on August 19, 2003
3) Should be surprised that they're going down the same road visited by "First and Ten", "The Program", and "Any Given Sunday". In any case, I wish them luck. Not only those, but North Dallas Forty and probably a host of others. Is is really "original" entertainment when they cover the same old ground (at least according to the previews) that is no longer revelatory or shocking: football players use steroids, cheat on their wives, push their bodies to destruction... *snore*
posted by pitchblende at 02:11 PM on August 19, 2003
What's wrong with covering the same ground? Said the fan of Homicide, N.Y.P.D. Blue, The Wire, Law and Order ... Also, Stephen Dorff was born in 1973. How could he be involved in a legendary anecdote about Studio 54?
posted by rcade at 02:29 PM on August 19, 2003
Also, Stephen Dorff was born in 1973. How could he be involved in a legendary anecdote about Studio 54? Oh, I dunno. I was just jumping on the chance to crack a joke at the expense of a coked-up Robin Williams. It's just too easy.
posted by Ufez Jones at 02:35 PM on August 19, 2003
Ufex, you think with all the hype Williams has naturally that he needs coke on top of it? OMG. Not that I think this Playmakers will be worth watching but I don't get the point several of you've made that because it's about a football team it has to be boring rehash. There are only seven basic stories but hundreds of TV shows, movies, and novels per year, after all. As rcade said too!
posted by billsaysthis at 04:03 PM on August 19, 2003
Robin Williams is well known to have partook in many mountains of yeah-yo.
posted by garfield at 04:08 PM on August 19, 2003
Sadly enough, it was only back when he had the rep for doing mounds of the white goddess he was funny. Maybe it's just because I was young back then, I dunno. Now he's just really fucking annoying. I've never seen a bigger spotlight stealer on late-night talk shows.
posted by Ufez Jones at 04:15 PM on August 19, 2003
I never saw 54 but the whole damn thing is based on real-life events, including that specific scene (IIRC). The ads for this show put me off. It's where they exclusively show black athletes as the voice-over says something about sports requiring you to stop thinking and act on your instincts. Didn't we get over that crap when Doug Williams won the Super Bowl?
posted by yerfatma at 04:34 PM on August 19, 2003
I can't imagine it could be any worse than "The Program."
posted by usfbull at 05:39 PM on August 19, 2003
What's wrong with covering the same ground? Said the fan of Homicide, N.Y.P.D. Blue, The Wire, Law and Order ... Good point, rcade. At the same time, I'd say that all four of those titles -- particularly Homicide and The Wire, which are created by the same guy -- tell those stories in totally different ways. Even from the trailers for "The Playmakers", you get the sense it's the same ol.
posted by jackhererra at 07:05 PM on August 19, 2003
It might look interesting, but it's a slippery slope. Support this and next thing you know, ESPN is the MTV of sports--all shows, no sports. Amen!
posted by dusted at 07:38 PM on August 19, 2003
looks good to me, but I'm also hooked on OC, cept tonight's, which I missed because I've already found a poker game with the coworkers (day 2 of the job). Guess that supercedes anything. When OC ends that is 24's time slot so maybe they will do some TV time shuffling, but it is not looking good for playmakers unless there are weekend re-airings. This work crap really cuts into my TV viewing. I'm gonna need a TiVo too. Do Tivos work with illegal satellite cards?
posted by Bernreuther at 11:46 PM on August 19, 2003
Tivos do not directly interact with the set top box in any way that the card would come into play. Although the DirecTivo model (if you get DirecTV satellite, that is) might add enough value to get a legal setup. You should get one either way, it is the most awesome piece of home entertainment equipment since, well I guess one needs a TV to make the Tivo player useful, so since the TV!
posted by billsaysthis at 02:16 PM on August 20, 2003
Welcome to the OC, BITCH! This is how it's done in Orange County!!
posted by swank6 at 03:45 AM on August 21, 2003
I hear a tagline:
Welcome to the SpoFi, BITCH! This is how it's done on SportsFilter!
posted by lilnemo at 11:42 AM on August 21, 2003
Welcome to the OC, BITCH! This is how it's done in Orange County!! That was single handedly the best tv show line all summer.
posted by jerseygirl at 01:16 PM on August 21, 2003
jerseygirl, I'm guessing you have not been watching The Wire because it has a zillion lines better than that and more honest as well.
posted by billsaysthis at 04:10 PM on August 21, 2003
I'm sure the game sequences won't be the focal point but I just have this feeling the on-field scenes won't look believable. It's so difficult to replicate NFL caliber action - I'm afraid they'll end up resorting to goofy edits and camera tricks, which will just ruin the whole thing no matter how good the storyline is.
posted by kloeprich at 05:31 PM on August 21, 2003
if they're smart, there won't be a single 'in-game' shot. practice is fine, but don't try and fool me into believing there is actual competition occurring right before my pixel-glazed eyes.
posted by garfield at 05:41 PM on August 21, 2003
better than Arli$$ Whoa, whoa, get back in off that limb.