http://espn.go.com/gen/news/2004/0204/1727165.html Of course, the NFL had a small part in cancelling an otherwise entertaining show. The NFL officially sucks. I guess the truth hurts. 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" 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, focused on the fictional Cougars' off-the-field issues, including sex, drugs and violence, as much as their quest for a championship.
i actually really liked the show. the drama was good... although... i have to say... they were a little non-committal about the plot. at the end of the season, everything is the same as the beginning of the season. after all the travails, leon is still the backup. DH avoids trouble as allways. Guard dog is back on the team. Big O is still playing like he was playing. I mean geez... kinda soap opera-ish. Now if either Leon is forced into retirement or DH is forced into suspension, now that would be more realistic.
i didn't watch the show, didn't care for it but the NFL had no right to step in and bully ESPN like they did. I can think of at least 100 television shows and movies that depict a certain profession in a not so flattering light. What gives the NFL the right to tell ESPN what they can air and cannot.
The NFL makes a lot of money for Disney though Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, and programs like SportsCenter and NFL Matchup or whatever that Suzy Kolber show is called. The NFL could have there product on Fox only, and that would be devestating to ESPN. THat os what gives the NFL the "right" to tell ESPN what to air. Having said that, I think it was a good show and somebody else should (but probably won't) pick it up, *cough*HBO*cough*.
Okay, I understand it was waaaaaay over-the-top sensationalism, but it was still entertaining dispite the fact that it was about 5% accurate. I don't think you have a gay WR, and a guy on drugs the same week. Of course they could still move it to another channel. I think ABC Family would be a good move. I loved this though (notice the botton of the screen):
It took me about 6 years to figure out, lol. It's actually very simple. I knew there was a Print Screen button, but I didn't know how to use it properly. Just press the Print Screen button (located about 2 inches to the right of F12 on a Windows keyboard. That saves it to the clipboard where you go into a visual file (either paint or Photoshop) and paste it. I resized it too.
Who cares? It was mildly entertaining. Like something to watch in the background if you're bored. The most redeeming factors to me were the reporter chick and that gay guy's girlfriend.
