Customer Reviews

Playmakers: The Complete Series

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I can't believe I never watched this when it was on the air. I picked up the DVD yesterday after overhearing a few people talk about it, and WOW!, I watched all 11 hours of it already!

I am so spoiled with HBO that I hardly watch original series on "regular TV" anymore, but Playmakers is outstanding. I'm not even a huge football fan, but I was totally engrossed in this series. There is so much crap out there but great shows like this get canned. It doesn't make any sense. The NFL is stupid for forcing ESPN to cancel this show. They had it all backwards: The show actually made me WANT to watch football. And I don't even like football.

The only bad thing anyone could say about this show is that it's not "realistic". Well, of course all this stuff wouldn't happen to such a small group of people. But, you can say that about ANY show. The point is that this team represents all teams. At one point in time the stuff on this show has happened to some team out there, and Playmakers takes you into the lives of these players in a way that hasn't been done before.

I give this show my highest recommendation for anybody that likes HBO-quality dramas. Playmakers is top shelf TV. Definitely check it out.

A must-have boxed set for anyone that considers themselves a fan of the NFL. The coach is a little typical and the conflicts are over-dramatized, but I haven't been this entertained by a sports production since "The Program". So hot, it caught the attention of the NFL and they virtually demanded this show 'cease and desist' if it wanted to renew its television deal with ESPN/ABC. It's too bad that this show will never see a season 2, but not all that surprising. Your girlfriend might even like it, since it has more to do with sex/drugs/violence than sport itself. Filmed entirely in Toronto, Canadians will recognize alot of mini landmarks.

I dont understand the NFL's thinking here. This show not only has reached already NFL viewers but Non-viewers also. This show makes you want to watch football since it put a human face on NFL players. Not all of the players on the show were bad either. The linebacker was a very nice guy on the show... A gentle giant - just dont piss him off or play football against him. I have heard of many women who dont even like watching football getting hooked on this show.

One of my good friends, who loves watching football, was watching this show one day and his wife told him to "cut that crap off," however, instead she sat down and watched a little of it and got hooked. She watched every show. I hope another network starts this back up. This would be perfect for HBO. Heck, I'd watch it on the Cooking network if they'd give it a chance... ha ha.

I was not interested in watching this show at first, but after the first episode, I was a "playmakers" fiend. The show was right on target. It tackled modern day issues that not only affect athletes but also non-athletes. The show addressed drug-abuse, domestic violence, homosexuality, infidelity, health & fitness...all issues that affect everyday people. The main characters had their own private drama, but all of it was dealt with in the locker room, bar room, and on the football field. The team truly functioned as a team and offered support whenever possible (well, they didn't care much for the whole homosexualtiy issue). I was pissed when I heard that the NFL complained about the show, thus forcing ESPN to cancel the series....whiners and wimps!! It would be great if another channel, like HBO or Showtime would pick up the series; these channels are definitely not afraid to air/produce shows that touch on gritty, but real life topics.

this show was Part Oz,&a few other things combined but it worked so well in today's Modern ERA of Sports.20 even 15 years ago this would Be Hailed as Ground Breaking TV&if it caused this much of a Stir in 03-04 then Imagine 20,15&even 10 or 5 Years ago what would have happen? there is alot of truth in the Show.there was some Over acting&the team never went on the road but aside from that the Story lines&overall Chemistry of the team made this a Show not to miss.the Scared NFL&the Ultra Conservative ESPN Buckled up under pressure&made you forget that ESPN is on CABLE.goes to show what a Contract with the NFL will do to Scary you away from a show that truly hits home.

PLAYMAKERS is everything a good dramatic series should be. Multi-dimensional characters, solid writing, excellent acting and a heavy dose of realistic situations. These characters are worth caring about, and somehow the scripts successfully manage to avoid falling into the typical soap-opera cliches. Even if you're not a fan of football, you'll appreaciate the game more after watching this excellent series.

This is the most exciting, thrilling series I have ever seen. I wish a second season would come out, but the NFL had to whine. That's what actually happens in the NFL, but o well, the NFL ruins another thing....

When this series was on ESPN last football season, I was mesmerized by it. If I was surfing channels and landed on this show, even if it was an episode I saw several times before, I could not take my eyes off the screen. Every episode is jam-packed with drama, intrigue, and amazing characters. The series is about a fictional pro football team the Cougars and its wild season struggling to make the playoffs. Every ugly, controversial stereotype is played for all it's worth. If you have not seen this series yet and want to be surprised, do not read on. The following is a brief summary of some of the issues this series tackles:

One player pushes his wife down a few stairs in a heated argument and, although he and his wife know it was an accident, word gets out and he is soon arrested for spousal battery. Another player goes to all kinds of lengths (including proposing to a woman) to keep the fact that he is a homosexual from getting out to the public and his teammates. One running back (played expertly by Omar Gooding) has an ego surpassing those of Terrell Owens, Keyshawn Johnson, and Jeremy Shockey all rolled into one. He is also a drug addict who gets involved in a murder investigation (his brother is played by Snoop Dogg). The owner of the team is given a Darth Vader persona, caring more about money and image than his players' lives. Another player paralyzes an opponent with what he thinks might be a dirty hit. He also has to contend with the memory of his father, a dictatorial high school football coach who worked his other son (and that player's brother) to death from heat stroke. The quarterback has the equipment manager find women for him in the stands. He's also had his share of abortion bills. The coach is suffering from prostate cancer but cannot leave for fear he will lose his job to a hated rival. Another player is coerced into keeping on the bulk even though his health is in jeopardy. In one episode, the team's running back controversy is even discussed by Max Kellerman and the "Around the Horn" guys. I think I remember Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon from Pardon the Interruption in a clip as well. All this is just a taste of what this series goes into. Every episode is amazing and the acting is superb.

The extras include "On the set with Snoop Dogg," a Behind-the-scenes featurette, and commentary on the pilot by executive producer John Eisendrath. I'm not even that interested in the extras as the show itself is so good. The NFL whined about Playmakers which played a big part in its cancellation after one smoldering season. The topics obviously hit too close to home. I do not know how they could have improved in a second season or what they would cover, as just about every controversial topic was jammed into the first season. We will probably never know.

Playmakers was the break through series of 2003. It is high paced and highly controversial. I was excited to see a second season however the show was cancelled. It's really frusterating because of the reality put into the show. It deals with real issues like drugs, scandals, and serious problems that you expect athletes wouldn't have. Anyway I loved the series and most likely you will allso. (After you've seen it you'll know why the NFL wanted it of air. I disagree with their request despite the fact that I love the league)

To start things off, I just want to say that I'm just a casual fan of football (the only sport that I'm really passionate about is hockey) but since I saw the ESPN original movie, "Junction Boys" I knew that Playmakers was going to be a hit from the moment I saw the first commercial for it. However, I had no idea how good it would really turn out to be. I was addicted immediately! From the moment the show's run started until it ended I made sure that I saw (and taped) EVERY SINGLE episode. If I would miss is it one week (which happened VERY rarely) I would make sure that none of my friends would talk about the episode in front of me the next day in school. This way I could see the episode I missed right before the next one aired and not know what was going to happen. This show has to be my favorite show of all time eventhough it was only on for one season. When I heard there wasn't going to be a new season I flipped out and I still haven't forgiven the NFL. I can only hope that ESPN makes more dramatic shows in the near future and that another network will pick up Playmakers quickly (HBO or Showtime would be perfect!).