beatles009

Sports Action Team (2006)

An improvised comedy show where laughs come from even the most unsuspecting athlete.

While the cast has a panache for improvisation it's really the "unsuspecting" athlete that makes the show unique and even more enjoyable to watch. The athletes are invited into the improvisational world and allowed to show off their acting chops at their best (ex. Tom Glavine forced to plug a funeral home in an interview to help the budget tightened Sports Action Team get more money) and sometimes at their worst (a giggling Ricky Manning Jr., helps lock Al and Steven in a bathroom). But good or bad, athletes are truly allowed to showcase their "chops" and play with these bumbling fools.

As a sports fan, I find it incredibly enjoyable to watch some of my heroes play along with these fledgling fools. The Sports Action Team breaks into Jerry Rice's house, they have a picnic with Jeff Garcia, they have Thanksgiving Dinner with Mike Ditka, they intern with Super Agent Leigh Steinberg, and they blog with Carson Palmer. That alone makes the show unique enough to have some laughs but where the athletes may falter (as they inevitably do because they are not actors), the improvisers pick up the slack.

The Sports Action Team is able to take their comedy to any sport (NFL, MLB, Sumo Wrestling, Roller Derby), and any location, and while seemingly they maintain their bumbling idiocy there remains those moments where you can still understand why they want to be sports reporters. In essence, they walk the thin line of "Larry David" frustration, while still allowing the audience to root for them to rise above their egos (Kevin), their alternative style (Katie), their sexual confusions (Al), their sad and over exaggerated past (Anthony), their naivety (Steven), and their ruthlessness (Nicole). Just as comedy shows in the past have succeeded solely on their ensemble, I truly believe that this one may have a shot to continue on as a result of the chemistry between the cast. As is the case with many comedy shows from our present and past, shows with a talented cast can maintain a steady audience base - even if it is on way too late at night.