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.

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!!!!

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

So far this show looks very promising. I really dig the way the show is shot and edited. even if you are not a football fan you still might get something out of this orginal series. the acting is great and so are the depth of each character shown so far on the show. If you have seen it tell others. No one will be let down by this gem of a 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...