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Talk sports, pop culture and more with SI.com's Jimmy Traina.5/16/2006 03:14:00 PM Best Sports TV Shows
Welcome to the first installment of Jimmy's Blog (great name, right?). The goal here is to get Scorecard Daily users involved in discussions about the lighter side of sports. I'll check in periodically with lists, rants, thoughts on news items and more -- and I want you to participate. If you have topics you want to discuss, if there's something you want to see in the blog or on the Scorecard Daily page, just let me know.
First & 10 recently came out on DVD.Courtesy: Amazon.com
Let's get on to today's topic...
Most television series are wrapping up their seasons this week. The major networks also are announcing their 2006-07 schedules. All this TV news started to make me wonder about sports programs. It's rare that a scripted series about sports works. And even when it does work, like in the case of Sports Night, sometimes the ratings aren't there and the show gets the ax way too soon. NBC is taking a chance this fall on a show based on the movie (and book) Friday Night Lights, so we'll have to see how that goes.
Anyway, I've been thinking about sports-themed shows -- scripted and unscripted, fictional and nonfictional -- and have come up with my top five:
1. 1st & 10: HBO knows how to churn out quality programming. But it didn't start with The Sopranos or Curb Your Enthusiasm. It started with this funny series, which ran from 1984-1990, about the fictional California Bulls and starred O.J. Simpson (before he became synonymous with a Bronco chase and murder trial), Delta Burke (before she became synonymous with weight struggles) and later Shannon Tweed (before she became synonymous with late-night Cinemax flicks).
2. The Baseball Bunch: This classic, early '80s Saturday afternoon instructional show featured Hall of Famer Johnny Bench sharing tips with a bunch of kids, while a different major leaguer appeared each week to help Bench (this was the show's version of the TV staple, "special guest star"). It also featured Tommy Lasorda as "The Wizard." The then-Dodgers skipper appeared each week, dressed in costume, to spout words of wisdom about the game. Priceless.
3. This Week in Baseball: Before SportsCenter, the Internet and MLB games being on television almost every day of the week, this show was the way to get highlights of out-of-town players. And the program was narrated by the legendary Mel Allen. What more could you want?
4. Sports Night: Before Felicity Huffman was a Desperate Housewife and before Peter Krause was a funeral director, the duo starred in this dramedy about a SportsCenter-like show. The rest of the cast was outstanding as well, especially Robert Guillaume as the managing editor and executive producer of the fictional Sports Night show, and the writing and pace were top notch. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled after just two seasons. And I'm still bitter about it.
5. Real Sports: I only have one complaint about the Bryant Gumbel-hosted show: it should be on more than once a month. The team of reporters is impressive. The features and interviews always reveal something new, something interesting. And the topics are balanced -- they cover the serious side of sports and the light side of sports.
So that's my top five. What is yours?Comments:
Sports Night was an absolute classic! I was thrilled when I found the whole series on dvd and picked it up instantly. As you stated, the whole cast was terrific and even the minor characters got some love on the show. As is always the case, give the people a show that they love but critics can't stand, and the critics in everytime. I will always hold out hope that we might get a real series finale, however I know that will never come. Any way that someone could contact Sorkin and ask him what his ending would have been?I always liked "Coach" with Craig T. Nelson, Shelley Fabares and Jerry Van Dyke. It was loosely sports related, but mostly dealt with the regular sports-infatuated guy trying to keep his identity and maintain a romantic relationship at the same time -- in other words, what we all face.1st and Ten? I'm sorry, but that show would be remembered as dimly as "It's Your Move" if it weren't on HBO. Just because something's on cable doesn't mean it's good.
Sports seems hard for television to dramatize, probably because it's redundant. TV does serialized dramas with regular installments, which is what pro sports are on a regular basis. How will you top that? The answer, judging the track record of most sports-themed television dramas and comedies, is "You can't."My top 5 sports shows would be as follows:
1) Sports Night
2) White Shadow
3) This Week in Baseball
4) Inside the NFL
5) TNT's pre & post-game NBA shows
Sports Night was one of the best written and acted TV shows ever, not just sports shows. As Phil Hartman once said about NewsRadio, perhaps Sports Night was "too hip for the room".Not sure about my top five, but I'd say that ESPN's "Playmakers" would be at the top. That show was very underappreciated in my opinion. I wish they had renewed it for one more season.
Ken1) Arli$$ (HBO)
2) PTI (ESPN)
3) Sports Night
4) Coach (ABC)
5) Footballers Wives (BBC)nice additions of "baseball bunch" and TWIB. when i was growing up, TWIB was must-see TV. "the baseball bunch" once in a while pops up on espn classic. there's even stuff on that show an adult can get into.
"real sports" would top my list. and yes, it should be weekly.
as for "sports night," that show was completely lost on me. to me, it was not about sports but had sports as a backdrop. i don't even classify this as a sports show.
the only "sports" show more boring was "the white shadow." i hated that show as a kid and loathe it as an adult. aw, that show was/is a-w-f-u-l.
if you include sports night, you have to include "coach." that was more about sports than "sports night."
a former college buddy suggested "piper's pit" must be included in this list.1. The White Shadow
2. The White Shadow
3. The White Shadow
4. The White Shadow
5. The White Shadow1. Sports Night
2. Coach
3. Madd Sports
4. Footballers' Wives (UK)
5. Baseball BunchWhat about the White Shadow? I know it seems dated now, but it was pretty cool back in the day.I love This Week in Baseball. I've missed it since it went out of normal rotation. Always gave me a good feeling seeing it. I think they run it once in a while on Saturday's on FOX now, usually before their game.
Loved Sports Night. Never did get why they cancelled it.I cry myself to sleep at night ever since ESPN took away "NHL Tonight" with John Buccigross and Barry Melrose. Classic sports television.Real Sports
Playmakers
Sportsbeat (Howard Cosell's old Saturday afternoon magazine show)
Knight School
Coach -- I'm grasping at straws.How can you leave off Arliss. That has to be one of the greatest sports shows ever.I have to go with "Arliss". It was the funniest of all the comedies (with "Coach" a close second)Sports Night was one of the best written shows on at the time and the cast played off each other so well. Sure, sports was only a backdrop to the show, but if you look at the show's tagline it even says "It's about sports. The same way Charlie's Angels was about law enforcement". Still a fantastic show.Baseball Tonight before the Yankees-Red Sox and Barry Bonds dominated every show...and before the Bottom Line when you heard the Update Organ and was hoping that it was a highlight of your team's game.Sports Night was the greatest fictional sports show ever done. Yeah, sports was an aside, but it was just a great show. Having the DVDs is great, but there isn't a TV season that hasn't gone by since that I haven't wished for a triumphant return. Oh if wishing made it so.....Sports Night was a GREAT show. My wife and I loved it. I agree with most of your picks, but Bryant Gumbel couldn't be more boring if he tried. I miss the days when I would wake up on Saturday morning before we left for the little league park and watch "TWIB" and "The Baseball Bunch" back to back. Stop on the way to teh park and grab some Big League Chew and it couldn't get any better!!Playmakers was excellent. Too bad the NFL pressured ESPN into cancelling it.I'm so glad you had "1st and 10" as your number one pick. It too is mine and I was so excited when I found the complete first three season on DVD! Also, TWIB was a favorite of mine throughout my entire childhood. let me ask this: If they were to bring it back, who could fill Mel Allen's shoes (I know it's a trick question, as the answer is nobody, but for the sake of arguement)? Vin Scully? I'd love to see that.What about "The Odd Couple". Oscar Madison job as a sports writer brought him into contact with many sports stars of the day, and even Felix was a photographer at some sporting events.The Wide Wide World of Sports... just for watching the credits with "The agony of defeat" and the ski jumper crashing in flames was always a childhood favorite.I cannot believe that no one has mentioned the sports show of all sports shows, Wide World of Sports!
Unlike anyone under 40, I don't have to look up luge on Wikipedia every four years. We got to watch Jim McKay announce the action from Innsbruck!How can you all forget "MTV Sports" with the phenomenal hosting of the immortal Dan Cortez?White Shadow
Arliss
Coach
Battle of the Network Stars - Reality TV at its earliest
Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's IslandI'm a huge Odd Couple fan. Very underrated show. However, even though Howard Cosell, Billie Jean King, Deacon Jones and Bubba Smith made appearances, I'd have to say it wasn't a "sports" show. But I'd still label it a classic sitcom.Wow, I haven't seen anyone post about "Inside Stuff," the Ahmad Rashad hosted basketball featuring Saturday show aimed more towards the younger audience. As a pre-teen and teen when this show was on the air, it was pure classic, baby.
But c'mon, the best of all has to be PTI. Those guys banter as well as me and my twin. Priceless!1. Coach
2. This Week in Baseball
3. The Baseball Bunch
4. The White Shadow
5. 1st & 10
Honorable mention to Sports Night as well. I enjoyed that show too, but I grew up on the 5 listed above.
CSPTI is the best sport show on TV. But what about SPIKE TV's PROS VS JOES?? I get a great kick out of the retired Pros coming back and kicking some butt. Man I would love to be on that show. Come on Jimmy help me out!!!Sports Night is an absolute classic! Had heart and soul, was thrilling and emotive. I still can see Felicity Huffman doing her "victory dance"... it's a shame she couldn't perform it at te Oscars.One of the funniest Old Couple sports tie-ins was when Oscar set up his secretary (played by Penny Marshall) with a date with a "big famous football player" (play by Garo Yepremian). The only thing Garo's character could say in English was 'Kick!'1. Sportscenter, the early years with Chris Berman/Tom Mees; Dan Patrick/Keth Olbermann. Sports news heaven back then, especially when compared to the alternative of two frantic minutes of scores on the local news.
2. NFL Primetime - still the best way to get all the hightlights on NFL Sundays.
3. Wide World of Sports, whenever the Harlem Globetrotters were featured. When I was a kid, THAT was "must-see TV".
4. The Big Break, especially versions III and V. Women, golf, catfights. Good mix.
5. Bay City Blues - one of the few ratings failures from the Stephen Bochco stable; an obscure show from the 80s. It was the "Hill Street Blues" of minor league baseball. I think it lasted two episodes before getting canned, but I thought it showed promise.1. Sports Night -- An absolute must own DVD set and the only show I made a point of watching every week when it aired on ABC.
2. Playmakers -- Exciting drama-filled show that made for great watch every week, and maybe, portrayed a little bit of reality. Too bad Tags had to step in and throw his weight around.
3. PTI -- Kornheiser and Wilbon are perfect jawing back and forth at each other while giving their insights on relevant sporting events. And can there be a better job in sports than getting to tell them they were wrong? (Stat Boy)
4. Arliss -- The world of the agent is fascinating and this show put it on the map. Every scrawny middle infielder who can't hit a curve, or sits as the 13th man on the jv team wanted to be Arliss.
5. TNT Game Night -- Charles Barkley is without question the most intertaining analyst in all of sports. Giiiiiiiiiiiiiinooooooobili...'nuff said.I have to agree with those that loved This Week in Baseball. Mel Allen is a national treasure, and trying to bring it back would diminish "his" show. Also need to give some love to Wide World of Sports. From luge to lumberjacking, "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" was a must-see in our home.How 'bout the "George Michael's Sports Machine" (some Chicago sports dude, not the British bathroom-spackler)- it was on in the late 80's at 11:30 on Sunday nights, and this guy stood in front of this 1960's era IBM mainframe - looking thing and showed clips - pretty entertaining.Sports Night was a great show, written by the same guy who wrote the first 4 seasons of The West Wing, and the movie A Few Good Men. His projects are always smart, and his trademark quick dialog is what made Sports Night so much fun to watch. I wonder if the show was a little ahead of its time and might fare better now.
Other than that, Coach was a pretty good show, and who can forget The White Shadow? It wouldn't have occurred to me to include TWIB, but that's a must on anyone's list. As for Real Sports with Bryant Gumble, I'd watch it regularly except for one thing--Bryant Gumble. Enough said.I cannot believe any one would list "Playmakers" on their list of all-time sports themed TV shows!! That was the biggest waste of video tape in the history of television!!
Wasn't the nerdy guy from West Wing in Sports Night?
More people would have appreciated Arli$$ (spell it right people) if it had not been on HBO--an expensive premium channel.I believe Patrick said it best. I got a tear in my eye when he reminisced about TWIB and Baseball Bunch back to back on Saturday morning. Then getting some BigLeague Chew on the way to a little league game. That was extra special for me because my Dad was my coach just like I am for my son today. There is nothing on TV that can ever replace or duplicate those memories.Surpirsed to not find 'Coach' on your list. Loved this show!Don't forget Sports Challenge. A trivia show hosted by Dick Enberg in the late sixties/early seventies. Sports stars of the time answered sports trivia questions. If you get a chance to catch it on Classics or something, it is a must view.
It wouldn't be unusual to see people like Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron on this show. You can also play along by trying to see how many of the answers are now wrong or outdated because people have since passed the record holders of that time.Don't forget Sports Challenge. A trivia show hosted by Dick Enberg in the late sixties/early seventies. Sports stars of the time answered sports trivia questions. If you get a chance to catch it on Classics or something, it is a must view.
It wouldn't be unusual to see people like Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron on this show. You can also play along by trying to see how many of the answers are now wrong or outdated because people have since passed the record holders of that time.NFL Total Access is the best sports show to ever hit television. What other (single) sport and tv channel combination provides 24/7 service 365 days a year? The quality of content and hosting is exceptional. It's a great place to learn the game and players while staying current with events and rumors. This is the only sports TV show that fullfills my hunger for America's #1 sport!What about "Home Run Derby" ? I realize it was in the 50s & early 60s but it was a CLASSIC !!I have to agree about Sports Night, thank God with West Wing gone Sorkin is still on tv with the new Sunset 60 or whatever the new Matthew Perry/Bradley Whitford dramedy is called. And I liked 1st and Ten, it was really funny. I agree with several other posts that Footballers Wives is great, althought the first season was better than the second.1) Sports Night - no one else close!
2) College Football's Game Day bunch
3) PTI
4) Playmakers
5) Coach or Arli$$, you pickHome Run Derby Reruns on ESPN used to be "must see tv"... i used to love the announcer ... "way back - way back - gone over daleftfield (all one word!) wall"
dont forget another great one "cheap seats" on espn classic... when they show the old roller derby and wrestling shows , the comments are classic.how can you leave out "The Superstars" every weekend pro athletes competed in different sports against each other. I think it ran in the late 70's to the late 90's ....I remember Herschel Walker and Willie Gault winning, as well as O.J. Simpson. and If my memory is correct didn't Jason Sehorn compete on this show even though he was injured the previous season with the Giants-- he missed the season and still was able to compete on the show...that's great TV...Home Run Derby was a great show. This is what real fans enjoyed back in the 50's and 60's, real time with real players, not the pill popping home run hitters of today. Let Bonds break the record...it really won't be broken as he would never have hit that many had it not been for the pills and creams. Let's quit paying all the players so much now and that way we could have the "Home Run Derby" show once again as players would want to earn extra bucks, but as it is now all there is, is GREED.WOW - you picked the Baseball Bunch! I loved that show when I was a kid. Growing up in Dayton, OH and being a big Reds fan, Johnny Bench was da man! It was way cool to watch a local hero with his own TV show every week!1. Sports Machine
2. Coach
3. Playmakers
4. PTI
5. Beyond the Glory series1)The White Shadow, Before it got too cheezy C'mon Cooledge and carver high.
2)Arlis, Kinda funny usally just watched it to see what pro's cameo'ed
3)Sports Night, Doomed from the get go because it was actually worth watching.
4)Coach, I just couldn't think of a forth.
5)Real Sports, Great show despite Bryant "I am holier than God" Gumbel.1. Sports Night (and yes, Josh Molina (a.k.a. the nerdy guy now on West Wing) was on this show)
2. Coach
3. NFL Primetime
4. old Sportscenter (back before they started sounding so "street" that I couldn't understand what they were saying)
5. Playmakers (apparently, the truth hurts)
Honorable mention: Baseball Bunch - I'd completely forgotten about watching this show every Saturday growing up.
Some of the worst sports themed shows, in my opinion, are/were Arli$$ (I can't even stand a 30 second commercial), PTI (guys who love the sound of their own voices), and anything involving the NBA1. The Sport Reporters with Dick Schaap
2. Hockey Night in Canada
3. Arli$$
4. PTI
5. That cartoon with Bo Jackson, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky and others...I think the theme went "Jordan slams in yo face"
6. NFL PrimetimeThe first thing I thought of when i saw the title was 'Coach'. The next show that came to mind was 'Arli$$', a much better HBO sports related show then the one he mentioned, which by the way can still be seen on ESPN Classics late at night. I don't know how those 2 shows were not on his list they were both great shows.Happy Felton Knohole Gang show at Ebbetts Field before every home game in the 50's. A Dodger player would throw some balls to three Little League age kids, pick the best one, who could get to meet the Dodger of his choice the next game and ask him some questions or get tips.I gotta say that Cheap Seats is one of the absolute funniest shows on TV. It is in my top five for sure.1. SportsNight - definte classic
2. American Gladiators - I miss being up late and watching this!!
3. TWIB
4. First and 10
5. baseball All-star games of the 70's, 80's, and early 90's. Fred Lynn's grand slam, Bo Jackson's home run, back when stars thought IT WAS AN HONOR to be voted in/asked to go...Sports Night was terrible.
What was not terrible was the old American Wrestling Association here in the Heartland of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Great Lakes/Upper Midwest area, circa 1983. The league featured a very young Hulk Hogan, "Da Crusher", the seeminly ageless Vern Gagne, his skinny son Greg Gagne (who managed to be the heavyweight champ at about 175 lbs, the Claw Baron Von Rashke, Rock and Roll Buck Zumhoff, and of course, the original home of the greatest interviewer in all sports television (no, not Jim Gray), MEAN GENE OKERLUND. This was wrestling before it was called "entertainment".1 Hockey Night In Canada...complete coverge without whistles & bells
2 Wide World Of Sports...enough said
3 NFL Primetime...complete coverage with whistles & bells
4 Home Run Derby...just to see the old sluggers
5 Superstars...athletes from different sports competing against each otherI gave up television (except sports itself) when Sports Night was cancelled for years....I only picked it up recently when Felicity returned to television as a Desperate Housewife. The DVD is great, but I spend so much time during the DVD asking my husband, "WHY DID THEY CANCEL THIS SHOW???????" that I'm a bit distracted.Got something to say?
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