Rarely in recent memory has a TV show been so propitiously timed as “The Last Dance.” The 10-episode documentary series about the Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls premiered in May, weeks after the coronavirus pandemic caused the shutdown of all major live sports events, leaving fans bereft.
Into that void slipped “The Last Dance,” turning five straight Sunday nights into must-see events for large swathes of audiences quarantined at home. Over the course of its run, “The Last Dance” averaged 5.6 million viewers. And in seizing the moment, it’s becoming emblematic of a wave in sports documentary programming that has been building for years.
“It’s a funny time to celebrate any project and pat yourselves on the back, but I will say, I think it was the perfect project at a really specific point in time in our history,” says Libby Geist, vice president & executive producer, ESPN Films and Original Content.
Into that void slipped “The Last Dance,” turning five straight Sunday nights into must-see events for large swathes of audiences quarantined at home. Over the course of its run, “The Last Dance” averaged 5.6 million viewers. And in seizing the moment, it’s becoming emblematic of a wave in sports documentary programming that has been building for years.
“It’s a funny time to celebrate any project and pat yourselves on the back, but I will say, I think it was the perfect project at a really specific point in time in our history,” says Libby Geist, vice president & executive producer, ESPN Films and Original Content.
- 7/1/2020
- by Daniel Holloway
- Variety Film + TV
ESPN’s newsmagazine “E: 60” led all nominations (with 10) for the 41st Annual Sports Emmy Awards, as announced on Thursday by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
The Sports Emmys, originally scheduled for April 28 at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall, has been postponed due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, with no replacement date yet announced. Nonetheless, NATAS has moved ahead with revealing this year’s nominees. Among network groups, Disney’s suite of ESPN networks led all companies, with 58 nods. Among individual networks, Fox — fueled by Super Bowl Liv — had the most with 39.
Ironically, the announcement comes as sports events have come to a halt — leaving sports networks to vamp via classic games and other means.
“We look forward to celebrating our community and the wide range of outstanding achievement across all facets of our industry,” said Justine Gubar, executive director of the Sports Emmy Awards.
The Sports Emmys, originally scheduled for April 28 at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall, has been postponed due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, with no replacement date yet announced. Nonetheless, NATAS has moved ahead with revealing this year’s nominees. Among network groups, Disney’s suite of ESPN networks led all companies, with 58 nods. Among individual networks, Fox — fueled by Super Bowl Liv — had the most with 39.
Ironically, the announcement comes as sports events have come to a halt — leaving sports networks to vamp via classic games and other means.
“We look forward to celebrating our community and the wide range of outstanding achievement across all facets of our industry,” said Justine Gubar, executive director of the Sports Emmy Awards.
- 3/26/2020
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
The Seattle Film Festival wrapped Sunday with top Golden Space Needle audience awards going to “Tel Aviv on Fire” for best film and “We Are the Radical Monarchs” for best documentary.
Ulaa Salim won best director for “Sons of Denmark,” while Damla Sonmez won best actress for “Sibel” and Julius Weckauf won best actor for “All About Me.” Best short film went to “Stepdaddy.”
Juried award winners included “House of Hummingbird” for the official competition, “The Extraordinary Journey of Celeste Garcia” for New Directors; “The Awakening of the Ants” for the Ibero-American Competition, “International Falls” for the New American Cinema competition and “Q Ball” for documentary.
The largest festival in the United States, it featured more than 400 films from 86 countries including 12 feature premieres.
“It’s been an incredible 25 days full of important stories from around the world. We’re incredibly proud to showcase women in comedy, from jump starting the...
Ulaa Salim won best director for “Sons of Denmark,” while Damla Sonmez won best actress for “Sibel” and Julius Weckauf won best actor for “All About Me.” Best short film went to “Stepdaddy.”
Juried award winners included “House of Hummingbird” for the official competition, “The Extraordinary Journey of Celeste Garcia” for New Directors; “The Awakening of the Ants” for the Ibero-American Competition, “International Falls” for the New American Cinema competition and “Q Ball” for documentary.
The largest festival in the United States, it featured more than 400 films from 86 countries including 12 feature premieres.
“It’s been an incredible 25 days full of important stories from around the world. We’re incredibly proud to showcase women in comedy, from jump starting the...
- 6/9/2019
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
In today’s roundup, Netflix announces the premiere date for the final season of “Marvel’s Jessica Jones” and the basketball documentary “Q Ball” premieres tonight on FS1.
Dates
The third and final season of “Marvel’s Jessica Jones” will launch on Netflix on June 14, making it the last entry in Netflix and Marvel’s TV series partnership. The titular super-strong private detective played by Kristen Ritter will have to repair the broken relationship with her friend Trish (Rachael Taylor) to take down a highly intelligent psychopath who crosses their paths. The 13-episode season also includes Carrie-Anne Moss, Eka Darville, Benjamin Walker, Jeremy Bobb, Sarita Choudhury, Tiffany Mack, Jessica Frances Dukes, Aneesh Sheth and Rebecca DeMornay in its cast. “Jessica Jones” was one of six Marvel shows to air on the streamer, but all of those have been canceled as Disney prepares to launch its own streaming service.
“Q Ball,...
Dates
The third and final season of “Marvel’s Jessica Jones” will launch on Netflix on June 14, making it the last entry in Netflix and Marvel’s TV series partnership. The titular super-strong private detective played by Kristen Ritter will have to repair the broken relationship with her friend Trish (Rachael Taylor) to take down a highly intelligent psychopath who crosses their paths. The 13-episode season also includes Carrie-Anne Moss, Eka Darville, Benjamin Walker, Jeremy Bobb, Sarita Choudhury, Tiffany Mack, Jessica Frances Dukes, Aneesh Sheth and Rebecca DeMornay in its cast. “Jessica Jones” was one of six Marvel shows to air on the streamer, but all of those have been canceled as Disney prepares to launch its own streaming service.
“Q Ball,...
- 5/28/2019
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
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