PLAYMAKERS OVER after one season.

attgig · 02-04-2004, 02:37 PM

Quote:

NFL reaction to series a factor in cancellation

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Darren Rovell
ESPN.com

"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.

stinkin nfl being all touchy about the show...

maybe i'll buy the season1 dvd and leave it unopened...perhaps a collectors item years later =P

ray · 02-04-2004, 02:46 PM

Good. Maybe ESPN will stick to broadcasting sporting events and sports news and stay away from these half-ass wannabe dramas and crapreality shows that are flooding America.

Also, they can finally tear down that stupid banner that hangs off Hotel Figueroa in LA. Maybe they'll replace it with a banner of some LA Clippers.

whitak24 · 02-04-2004, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ray
Good. Maybe ESPN will stick to broadcasting sporting events and sports news and stay away from these half-ass wannabe dramas and crapreality shows that are flooding America.

i never watched the show b/c i don't get ESPN, but from what i heard it was a) lame and b) pretty negative toward minorities. espn should stick to what they know best, which is wall-to-wall sports broadcast. just watch -- had this been successful, it would have just been the first step to destroying ESPN as we know it. think about the first real world. it was cool at the time, but once it took off, MTV decided to stop doing their core business and focus on crappy reality tv.

PrObLy · 02-04-2004, 04:14 PM

But..but..but.but..it starred Omar Gooding, everyone's child hood Wild And Crazy Kid's hero, as a drug addicted running back!!!!

bachviet · 02-04-2004, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by attgig

stinkin nfl being all touchy about the show...

maybe i'll buy the season1 dvd and leave it unopened...perhaps a collectors item years later =P

It complained about the show but it went all out with the SB ads and half time show this year.

~~Cantacuzene~~ · 02-04-2004, 05:46 PM

I was skeptical too, but I watched it and was hooked. The show was good.

Merlin · 02-04-2004, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cantacuzene
I was skeptical too, but I watched it and was hooked. The show was good.

I liked it too.

eSDee · 02-04-2004, 10:32 PM

I thought it was weak therefore it was weak

The commercials especially were bad.

zenbooty · 02-05-2004, 06:15 AM

It was a soap opera for guys. I'm glad its gone, because I turn on ESPN to watch sports. But the NFL needs to take itself just a little less seriously, I think.

gear02 · 02-05-2004, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by zenbooty
It was a soap opera for guys. I'm glad its gone, because I turn on ESPN to watch sports. But the NFL needs to take itself just a little less seriously, I think.

Merlin · 02-05-2004, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by attgig

stinkin nfl being all touchy about the show...

maybe i'll buy the season1 dvd and leave it unopened...perhaps a collectors item years later =P

Well then, pre-order it here...

Grubbie · 02-05-2004, 08:01 AM

I enjoyed the show. It was somethign good on to watch when nothing else was on. I think it might get picked up by another station. It makes sense why espn created they show. There is a market for shows like this, and soon espn will expand to espn3. Which will be shows and other stuff. Then it will expand more and more, and finally the sports guy will run espn6

DaFunkyUnit · 02-05-2004, 09:40 AM

espn, should be nothing but sports, not cheesy drama nor reality based shows. theres TONS of sports that they could be showing, but NOOoo, they have to show Scrabble tournaments or spelling bees.

(for example: soccer, badminton, martial arts, etc...)

Merlin · 02-05-2004, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DaFunkyUnit
...badminton...

attgig · 02-05-2004, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Merlin

Well then, pre-order it here...

and i'm an insider, so I'd get the discounted 35 bucks =)

ever see the fox commercial:
just because it's sports, doesn't mean that it's exciting. (showing old ladys playing croquet).

i think that's espn's mantra as well

Grubbie · 02-05-2004, 01:57 PM

You get a discount as an insider? I didn't know that, I need to call espn up and get my free subscription since I just changed my insider subscription to yearly instead of monthly. Hopefully I can get it out of them since I just renewed and wasn't a new member...

bachviet · 02-05-2004, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Merlin

Do not diss this sport if you haven't played or watched the games. Pro badminton games are very interesting and they go pretty fast. Pro players could smash those birdies at the speed exceeding 100 mph. Play it and see how hard it's to play.

zenbooty · 02-05-2004, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bachviet
Do not diss this sport if you haven't played or watched the games. Pro badminton games are very interesting and they go pretty fast. Pro players could smash those birdies at the speed exceeding 100 mph. Play it and see how hard it's to play.

Competition badminton is actually very cool. I got to play it in gym class back in high school for a quarter. The net's set just about waist high, maybe a little higher, and you blast that thing back and forth.

DaFunkyUnit · 02-05-2004, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Merlin

at least I didnt say croquet, okay? (i made a rhyme!

)

Fox · 02-06-2004, 11:20 AM

The Show sucked. The running back who was a drug addict. The Tight end who was gay. The line backer with a heart of gold. The quarterback who was searching for love among legions of puntang. Gimme a break. You could stick 3 monkeys in room and they could poop out something better and less predictable. ESPN sucks at creating drama. Stick to live sports, thats drama enough.

Fox out

DaFunkyUnit · 02-06-2004, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DarkFury
I can't even believe you guys went "badminton"...

i'll take badminton over pro bowling any day.

attgig · 02-06-2004, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fox
The Tight end who was gay.

wide receiver....
wide receiver is gay. there was no TE

02-04-2004, 04:14 PM	#4
PrObLy Commander Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Orland Park Posts: 1,083	But..but..but.but..it starred Omar Gooding, everyone's child hood Wild And Crazy Kid's hero, as a drug addicted running back!!!! __________________ Facebook me if you so desire. Guns don't kill people. Chad Greenway kills people.

02-04-2004, 10:32 PM	#8
eSDee Old Skooler Numba 1 Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Diego Posts: 10,063	I thought it was weak therefore it was weak The commercials especially were bad. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 days ~ Willie Nelson 3 days I dread to see arrive 3 days I hate to be alive 3 days filled with tears and sorrow yesterday today and tomorrow

02-05-2004, 06:15 AM	#9
zenbooty Admiral Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Prime Material Plane Posts: 7,486	It was a soap opera for guys. I'm glad its gone, because I turn on ESPN to watch sports. But the NFL needs to take itself just a little less seriously, I think. __________________ Common sense is what tells you the Earth is flat.

02-05-2004, 09:40 AM	#13
DaFunkyUnit Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: the peanut gallery Posts: 3,909	espn, should be nothing but sports, not cheesy drama nor reality based shows. theres TONS of sports that they could be showing, but NOOoo, they have to show Scrabble tournaments or spelling bees. (for example: soccer, badminton, martial arts, etc...) __________________

02-06-2004, 11:20 AM	#20
Fox Ensign Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Plantation, FL Posts: 29	The Show sucked. The running back who was a drug addict. The Tight end who was gay. The line backer with a heart of gold. The quarterback who was searching for love among legions of puntang. Gimme a break. You could stick 3 monkeys in room and they could poop out something better and less predictable. ESPN sucks at creating drama. Stick to live sports, thats drama enough. Fox out __________________ For God and Country

02-04-2004, 02:46 PM	#2
ray captain awesome Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 7,054	Good. Maybe ESPN will stick to broadcasting sporting events and sports news and stay away from these half-ass wannabe dramas and crapreality shows that are flooding America. Also, they can finally tear down that stupid banner that hangs off Hotel Figueroa in LA. Maybe they'll replace it with a banner of some LA Clippers.

02-04-2004, 05:46 PM	#6
~~Cantacuzene~~ Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Posts: 8,700	I was skeptical too, but I watched it and was hooked. The show was good.

02-05-2004, 08:01 AM	#12
Grubbie Captain Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Redmond Posts: 1,596	I enjoyed the show. It was somethign good on to watch when nothing else was on. I think it might get picked up by another station. It makes sense why espn created they show. There is a market for shows like this, and soon espn will expand to espn3. Which will be shows and other stuff. Then it will expand more and more, and finally the sports guy will run espn6

02-05-2004, 01:57 PM	#16
Grubbie Captain Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Redmond Posts: 1,596	You get a discount as an insider? I didn't know that, I need to call espn up and get my free subscription since I just changed my insider subscription to yearly instead of monthly. Hopefully I can get it out of them since I just renewed and wasn't a new member...

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