Playmakers

Playmakers is an American drama television series created by John Eisendrath that aired on ESPN from August 26 to November 11, 2003. It depicts the lives of the Cougars, a fictional professional football team playing in an unidentified city. The show stars Tony Denison, Omar Gooding, Russell Hornsby, Jason Matthew Smith, Marcello Thedford, and Christopher Wiehl. The show, which ran eleven episodes, was the first original drama series created by ESPN. Although the ratings were very high for ESPN—Playmakers was the highest-rated show on the network other than its Sunday night NFL and Saturday college football games—ESPN eventually canceled the series under pressure from the National Football League, who disliked the portrayal of the negative aspects of its players' lives off the field.

Style

The show follows the lives of various members of an ensemble cast who portray the players and personnel on a fictional American football team, the Cougars, in a fictional league (referred to in the series as "The League") during the regular season.

Many of these segments are prefaced by an internal monologue in the format of a character narrating in his head.

Cast and characters

Main

• Tony Denison as Coach Mike George - The head coach in his ninth season with the team.
• Omar Gooding as Demetrius Harris, #39 - A rookie running back from Colorado.
• Russell Hornsby as Leon Taylor, #33 - A ninth year running back from USC.
• Jason Matthew Smith as Eric Olczyk, #54 - A fifth year middle linebacker from Penn State.
• Marcello Thedford as Kelvin "The Buffalo" James, #60 - A fourth year offensive tackle from Oklahoma State.
• Christopher Wiehl as Derek McConnell, #11 - A fourth year quarterback from Louisville.

Recurring

• Stephen Bogaert - Phil Chambers, Team Equipment Manager
• Bruce Gray - Gene Wilbanks, the team's owner
• Phillip Jarrett - Coach Rudman, Defensive Coordinator and close friend of Coach George
• Karen LeBlanc - Robin Taylor, Leon's wife
• Thea Andrews - Samantha Lovett, reporter who presumably shows a love interest for Leon Taylor.
• Dan Petronijevic - Thad Guerwicz, a wide receiver who is a closeted gay man
• Kevin Jubinville - Dr. Gatewood, The team Physician
• Sasha Roiz - Stephen Lyles, Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator
• Gabriel Hogan - Guard Dog Fredericks
• Tacquira LaTouche - Herself
• Frank Chiesurin - David, Guerwictz's boyfriend
• Laura Jordan - August, Guerwictz's girlfriend and later fiancé to publicly cover up his homosexuality
• K. C. Collins - Ron Martin, a rookie Wide Receiver for the Cougars.

Roster

Cougars
Quarterbacks -- Madziak 11 Derek McConnell  6 Phillips Running backs -- Bradford FB 39 Demetrius Harris 29 Beiderman FB 33 Leon Taylor -- Thaysen FB Wide receivers -- Connon 86 Davies 83 Thad Guerwitcz 87 Lawrence 82 Martin -- Pearson Tight ends 89 Belling -- Ireson 85 Valentine		Offensive linemen -- Curtis RG -- Earle LT -- Federov RT 65 "Guard Dog" Fredericks RG 80 Harvey LG -- Henton RG 79 Inglis C 60 Kelvin "The Buffalo" James LT -- Katz C -- Moore C -- Katz C 68 Sands RT -- Wallace LG -- Wilson LT 70 Wright RT Defensive linemen 73 Brophy RE -- Carter DT 75 Downey DT -- Flynn LE -- Gerstein DT -- Green DT 78 Hart DT -- Hupponen RE -- Krauskopf LE -- Maltais RE 66 Rock LE -- Simons DT		Linebackers -- Edwards OLB -- Egan MLB -- Ferguson OLB -- Hootstein OLB 51 Trent King OLB -- Knight OLB 59 Mooney MLB 30 Nelson OLB 54 Eric Olczyk MLB Defensive backs 27 Adams SS -- Angeli FS 43 Ray Barnes CB 22 Carter SS -- Clarke CB  9 Gibson FS -- Grazian CB -- Holland SS -- Oliver CB -- Peters CB 38 Rodriguez FS Special teams 10 Mendes K 15 O’Shae P				Unknown Positions 67 Harvey 57 Johnson 26 Rodgers 31 Stark 71 Williams

Production

Filming took place in Toronto from May to October 2003. Game scenes were filmed at the SkyDome, with Canadian Football League players serving as background actors or stunt doubles.

DVD

The only season of Playmakers was released on DVD by ESPN Home Video in 2004.

Awards

• Won AFI TV Award, Top TV Series (2003)
• Won GLAAD Media Award, Outstanding Drama Series (2004)
• Nominated CSC Award, Best Cinematography in TV Series (2004)
• Nominated DGC Craft Award, Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing - Television Series (2004)

See also

• List of American football films

External links

• Template:Official website
• Template:First word/ Template:Trim at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidata