Playmakers

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 remember when Playmakers aired; for me, it was must see programming. Every episode was riveting; I found myself wanting each episode to continue. The stories were so believable-in fact, I'm sure some were based on actual events. I was mad when the series was abruptly cancelled.

Rumor has it the NFL put pressure on ESPN to drop the show because it put a bad light on the league. As ESPN wanted to broadcast NFL games, it seems they may have caved to said pressure. Yet, I submit that since so many of the stories actually closely resembled known events in the NFL, ESPN did nothing more that put a mirror up to the league. I've always thought it was a weak move by the league, & it robbed us of great entertainment..

Playmakers is about the lives of a few of the higher profiled players on an NFL team. Very little of what happens on the field is shown, as it highlights the ups and downs of what happens before and after the game as well as through the rest of the week. Each episode might contain about one key play and how it plays off to each of the leading characters all week. To be honest, it did take me about 3 episodes before I was able to fully appreciate the series, but I never thought of it as boring or uninteresting. It is a good way to spend about 45 minutes (on DVD).

Eric Olczyk (Jason Matthew Smith) seems to be the man this series put in the brightest spotlight, at least at first. Eric is a veteran of the team who, from the pilot on, deals with the fact that he delivered a pretty hard hit to a quarterback on another team which left him paralyzed. He feels incredibly guilty and is seeing a psychiatrist as well as visits the man regularly, despite the guy and his family being pretty upset with him, to say the least.

Demetrius Harris (Omar Gooding) is the young hot shot running back on the team. He has taken the place of an older guy, Leon Taylor (Russell Hornsby), who believes he should still be the one playing. Demetrius, or D.H., as he likes to be called, will remind you of a Terrell Owens with his brash touchdown displays and overall attitude on and off the field (not trying to imply that Owens has a drug habit. I don't know). Anyhow, D.H. faces problems due to his constant need for drugs, passing the tests, etc. Leon Taylor is struggling with trying to prove he can still go, getting traded to someplace where they would still play him, etc., all while still trying to keep his family life together at home.

I find it amazing how they can create a whole episode out of what is, essentially, one play in a football game. If the writing was kept fresh, there was seemingly endless material. I have left out many of the major players in this TV show. There are too many to talk about but, I assure you, there are many stories to tell. I am reminded of CSI or Las Vegas (my favorite show still on), only this is a drama surrounding a football team (the fictional Cougars). I also find it interesting that ESPN has canceled this show due to pressure from the NFL. Maybe it was more realistic than we thought? 8/10

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!

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...