Playmakers

A true surprise from ESPN. Playmakers may not have portrayed the image ESPN's partner the National Football League (NFL) wants to market but, for the first time since North Dallas Forty, we have a glimpse of players life from something other than the carefully crafted image the League markets. The players, we as fans religiously follow, are more than just Gladiators, they are people. They are people who have real lives off the field and real issues to deal with. They aren't just lures to get us to watch commercials, they are human beings. Just like the rest of us, some are better than others. This show was and is definitely worth watching. That wasn't why it was cancelled. It was cancelled because the NFL found the series to be more realistic than it cares to admit. In an age of trash and copy cat redundancies, Playmakers offered it's viewers an original, smartly written, quality drama based on the trials and tribulations of an imaginary football team. In only eleven episodes before being cancelled the show won an award for the American Film Institute Top 10 TV Programs of the Year. In an age where the critics and the populous rarely agree on what is good TV. Here we had a show that had good ratings and was critically acclaimed yet, it was cancelled. Was this a case of art imitating life too closely for the comfort of the NFL big wigs? If not, you explain why this show is no longer on the air. Here's a theory, the NFL needs to stop practicing censorship and concentrate on producing a quality product where the term, 'Any given Sunday' continues to apply. And allow its broadcast partners to be broadcasters and create quality programming.

The short-lived (but critically-acclaimed) TV show "Playmakers" was a well-acted series, with a lot of unknown and relatively-known actors in lead roles (which I always enjoy seeing). The show's subject was the lives of professional football players from a variety of perspectives: the headline issues, the playing fields/locker rooms, and their private lives. Gritty sports drama (with good humor mixed in throughout); had a slick soap opera feel to it.....sort of like an NFL Network/Lifetime Movie Network collaboration. :o)

If you ever wanted to take a look behind some of those NFL stories that get covered on SportsCenter, "Playmakers" is an enjoyable way to do it (now on DVD). Remember, though--it's *fiction*, not a documentary. It's supposed to sensationalize the pro football scene by adding more drama to each situation than might actually be present in real life. That having been said, the stories are *straight* from the sports headlines.....

And needless to say, if you love NFL football (like I do), it's worth checking out. The show does stand on it's own as a drama, however, and it's a good enough show that you don't have to be a hardened fan of the League to get into it.

The only caution from me would concern the implied violence, sex, drug use, etc. This show's not for the kids, the delicate, or the easily offended. I wonder which category the NFL corporate leadership falls into? It's not surprising, though, that they squeezed ESPN into dropping the show.

I can't believe this show was canceled. I watched it faithfully every Sunday and was waiting for it to restart. It's too bad that another network could not have picked this up, it would have been huge! Great story lines, amazing plots, and even better characters! ESPN and the NFL need to get a grip...just a little too close to home eh boys? Sad...It was a really great show! And to think, why even attempt to make a show about pro football if you weren't prepared to deal with some questions about the reality of the show and how much it had to do with actual pro ball. People aren't that stupid...ESPN and the NFL should know, that a good percentage of athletes have matters such as the ones discussed in the shows, and we tune into their stupid networks just to hear the scores! It would have been nice for people to see what's possible in the life of an athlete...not just a fantasy life on the field only...

Playmakers I thought was a good show, but I can't be believed why they cancelled this show when I heard that it had some good ratings. But I guess the NFL (National Football League) decided to cancel this show. This show was about a bunch of football players on a football team who have some of these players that get into trouble or dealing with other serious issues in this dramatic series that came on ESPN! I think this show deserved more than one season and eleven episodes. Put the only thing I can't believe is that why did they cancel this show when it won an award for the American Film Institute Top 10 TV Programs of the Year. Why did they do it? I don't know! One thing about this show is that some of the episodes keeping changing the story of the episode every minute.

User Rating: 6/10

BOTTOM LINE: I THINK THIS SHOW SHOULD OF LASTED MORE THAN ONE SEASON!

Best show ever to be cancelled

Arguably the best show to ever be cancelled. Can understand why ESPEN pulled the plug on the show as it was highlighting the negative side of American football which the NFL would rather keep out of the public eye and i believe the NFL put major pressure on ESPEN to pull the show. Cant believe another station hasn't picked the show up.

Have never seen Omar Gooding in anything prior or since playmakers but like his brother Cuba Gooding Jr he is an incredibly underrated actor who deserves much more acknowledgment than hes getting.

Bring it Back!!!!