Thursday, July 30, 2009

TCA: Why I'd rather watch '30 for 30' than blog about it

In my latest press tour blog post at NJ.com, I talk about why there haven't been a ton of blog posts so far, and talk about how ESPN's "30 for 30" trailer is among the more exciting things I've seen in the short time I've been here.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

That looks really exciting -- Barbara Kopple too! -- but I'm sorry to say David Maysles has been gone since the 80s.

Alan Sepinwall said...

David's been gone since the '80s, but the Holmes/Ali doc is made from footage the brothers shot and largely assembled at the time of the fight. They just could never find a buyer for it back then, because everybody found the story too depressing. So Albert was able to give it to ESPN more or less gift-wrapped.

Robert Cervantes said...

This is a really interesting concept. It's pretty cool to see them talking about subjects that aren't in the news today, but are very interesting to us in the 30-40 age group. I'm only 25, which is why the Reggie Miller piece is something I will make sure to watch.

Wondering how Ice Cube will do on this show. Anyword on when the trailer will be public?

Mike Mac said...

Please tell me you and the Sports Guy worked out a time for you to appear on his podcast... it is one of the better 30 to 60 minutes of conversation about sports and pop-culture that exists right now in the world of changing media.

Zac F. said...

I hope one of the soon to be announced 9 docs is one on Art Modell moving the Browns from Cleveland to Baltimore and then winning a Super Bowl, further breaking the hearts of Cleveland fans used to annual heartbreak.

Carl said...

I want to like the 30 for 30 concept better, but, at first glance, it sounds like it going to be just longer, slightly more stylized Outside the Lines segments. Looking forward to your thoughts, Alan -- before the series starts airing, I hope!

Blair Waldorf said...

30 for 30 sounds really cool. All of those directors and subjects sound fantastic! I am not exactly ESPN's target audience but I might have to check this out. It sounds kind of like something from HBO Sports. I absolutely love their documentaries. "Dare to Dream" about the US Women's national soccer team never fails to make me cry. The one about the Ohio State / Michigan rivalry never fails to crack me up.

Jay said...

You said "laying pipe."

Hehehe.

Hatfield said...

I've been hearing about this for months, between Simmons' podcasts and columns, so it's exciting to hear that it looks good. He can be a bit of a homer sometimes.

I second the idea of you on the BS Report. He loves shows that you love, your natural Yankees/Red Sox rivalry is already in place, and I think you two would be funny. Make it happen! Um, please.

Alan Sepinwall said...

I want to like the 30 for 30 concept better, but, at first glance, it sounds like it going to be just longer, slightly more stylized Outside the Lines segments.

It's really not going to be that, based on what I know of the filmmakers and what little I saw in that trailer. They're really not going to have anything in common with Outside the Lines, or even with each other, save that they're airing on ESPN under this one banner.

Anonymous said...

One note: you wrote that Terry Fox "walked across Canada on one leg to raise money for cancer research", which is a little inaccurate. He RAN across Canada; running the equivalent of a marathon a day on a prosthetic leg. I can't wait for that doc and to have Americans introduced to his story, as it's truly one of Canada's proudest moments.

In 2004, Terry Fox was voted 2nd place on the The Greatest Canadian list put together by the CBC, which should give you an idea of his place in our history.

Alan Sepinwall said...

A good point, Andy. Will go address this.

Karen said...

I've been spending a lot of time laying pipe

Alan, you really know how to make the TCA sound intriguing.

Colin Fast said...

I agree with Mike, I'd love to hear Sepinwall on the BS Report. Simmons, are you listening?

Srimshaw said...

Does anyone know where the trailer can be found online?

Agree with all comments - Sepinwall and Simmons on a podcast would be good. I know that Simmons has mentioned (either in print/podcast) your blog. If is infact, how I first starting reading this.