New CBS Series Based On Colin Cowherd

[DToTheJ]

Remember a few years ago, when CBS showed that sitcom "Listen Up" starring Jason Alexander? Apparently, that show was inspired by ESPN's Tony Kornheiser. The show was cancelled faster than you can say "The Michael Richards Show."

Well, looks like CBS is going to be dipping back into the old "sitcom based on an ESPN guy" once again. This time, the show will be based on Colin Cowherd - and Damon Wayans is scheduled to star as "Nick Herd" (that's the show's lead character - you can't make it up).
http://www.bet.com/news/celebrities/2011/03/18/damon-wayans-set-to-star-in-cbs-comedy-pilot.html

 

[quadraphonic]

If it's "Nick Herd" then it's not about Colin Cowherd. It's got to be based on "Tick Turd" one of the sheriffs from "Smokey and the Bandit."

Why can't they just bring back Slap Maxwell?

 

[Rusty Muck]

The show was cancelled faster than you can say "The Michael Richards Show."

There was one show canceled quicker that that: "Australia's Naughtiest Home Videos." The show was ordered off the air by the network head 30 minutes in, the host was fired on the spot, and the in-studio audience was quickly escorted off the property.

And let's not forget another memorable TV turd, "Turn On." :

 

[GenXRadio]

They couldn't find someone better than Damon Wayans to play the part? REALLY!?
That's just bad, very bad, almost as bad as Jason Alexander as the Kornheiser type character.

 

[Nate Wesley]

They couldn't find someone better than Damon Wayans to play the part? REALLY!?
That's just bad, very bad, almost as bad as Jason Alexander as the Kornheiser type character.

Damon Wayans, the noted comedian who's starred in several films and two successful TV shows (In Living Color, My Wife & Kids)? You're right, terrible choice.

 

[GenXRadio]

Ok, do you buy Damon Wayans as a sports talk show host?
This isn't "In living color" where he can be outlandish and so forth and it's not the hoky and disgustingly insipid "My wife & kids" - which unless you're shooting for the ABC family crowd the show won't work.
Fact is if the show is based, even loosely on Cowherd than Wayans is not the guy for the job, just isn't and not that the show is going to be aimed strictly at sports fans because I am sure that the show will revolve around other aspects of the main characters life but you have to have a guy that people can believe is a sports talk host.
Damon Wayans for me is not that guy.

They couldn't find someone better than Damon Wayans to play the part? REALLY!?
That's just bad, very bad, almost as bad as Jason Alexander as the Kornheiser type character.

Damon Wayans, the noted comedian who's starred in several films and two successful TV shows (In Living Color, My Wife & Kids)? You're right, terrible choice.

 

[quadraphonic]

What's the appropriate formula for 'sports talk host?'
Damon Wayans doesn't seem like he's that far off some middle ground.

 

[lifeguardofradio]

We all hope Colin is healthy after his recent heart concern. He is a great host and I cant imagine him not being on the air.

 

[Nate Wesley]

Ok, do you buy Damon Wayans as a sports talk show host?

Without having seen the actual pilot--I'm assuming he's playing a character. I'd have some confidence in being able to pull this off somewhat because...

This isn't "In living color" where he can be outlandish and so forth

A sketch show where he played multiple characters? Golly gee, experience like that could only hurt him!

it's not the hoky and disgustingly insipid "My wife & kids" - which unless you're shooting for the ABC family crowd the show won't work.

I wonder what worth it would be to you that the show worked well enough to last five seasons on ABC network television. Wonder upon wonders, there was actually a syndication market for it--a few stations across the country actually paid money to clear it. Ask the producers/writers/actors connected to dozens of shows pitched and piloted annually that don't get picked up by any network, broadcast or cable--you could easily do worse.

Fact is if the show is based, even loosely on Cowherd than Wayans is not the guy for the job, just isn't and not that the show is going to be aimed strictly at sports fans because I am sure that the show will revolve around other aspects of the main characters life but you have to have a guy that people can believe is a sports talk host.
Damon Wayans for me is not that guy.

Whatever GenX, you're just being petty and argumentative--providing no good reason why Wayans can't be 'believed' as a sports talk host, the same Damon Wayans who actually got Fox to bite on a dramatic series. Its pretty obvious that the producers are inspired by Colin Cowherd's sports radio life instead of deeming it worthy of direct biographical accuracy (OMG! They made him Black...and potentially funny on his own merit!). This is pretty much the same approach made with Listen Up!, where they decided to tweak Michael Wilbon's fictional representative into a tall retired athlete with plenty of hair (a well braided Malcolm Jamal-Warner, as opposed to a stocky bald guy).

It should be noted that Listen Up, for all of its alleged awfulness, regularly attracted 10 million viewers on Monday nights. 'Rising production costs' is how the cancellation for that Jason Alexander show was publicly justified. In reality, it probably skewed too old for CBS to renew--a smart cancellation considering what replaced it.

 

[DToTheJ]

Looks like it could already be curtains for this show before it even hits the air, thanks to ESPN's revised policy for its on-air personalities:
http://www.mediabistro.com/sportsnewser/cbs-sitcom-a-conflict-of-interest-for-espns-cowherd_b8031

 

[Nate Wesley]

Looks like it could already be curtains for this show before it even hits the air, thanks to ESPN's revised policy for its on-air personalities:
http://www.mediabistro.com/sportsnewser/cbs-sitcom-a-conflict-of-interest-for-espns-cowherd_b8031

I think that blogger is jumping to conclusions. This proposed show isn't being shopped to the CBS Sports broadcast division or its renamed, re-positioned sports channel. Even if in some warped world that was the case, nobody at CBS would likely allow direct reference to ESPN anyway.

Colin Cowherd isn't even making a credited acting appearance on this unrelated-to-sports-commentary program. There might be a question of whether or not Cowherd could accept a writing or a production credit for said show--but even that would seem flaky to prevent as he wouldn't actually be 'working' for CBS Corporation in an official capacity, not to mention the the gamut of other fingers-in-multiple-pastries situations (Ryan Seacrest, J.J. Abrams, Dick Clark, etc.).

 

[Rusty Muck]

Looks like it could already be curtains for this show before it even hits the air, thanks to ESPN's revised policy for its on-air personalities:
http://www.mediabistro.com/sportsnewser/cbs-sitcom-a-conflict-of-interest-for-espns-cowherd_b8031

I think that blogger is jumping to conclusions. This proposed show isn't being shopped to the CBS Sports broadcast division or its renamed, re-positioned sports channel. Even if in some warped world that was the case, nobody at CBS would likely allow direct reference to ESPN anyway.

Colin Cowherd isn't even making a credited acting appearance on this unrelated-to-sports-commentary program. There might be a question of whether or not Cowherd could accept a writing or a production credit for said show--but even that would seem flaky to prevent as he wouldn't actually be 'working' for CBS Corporation in an official capacity, not to mention the the gamut of other fingers-in-multiple-pastries situations (Ryan Seacrest, J.J. Abrams, Dick Clark, etc.).

Might I add, CBS ran a sitcom loosely based on humorist/satirist Dave Barry for four seasons... but VERY loosely based - and by Dave's own admission. He appeared on the show for a small cameo role, and that was it. That's very well likely the same road that will be traveled for "Untitled Sports Show Pilot."

If the pilot is in trouble, it will be because of external issues that are complicating production... and NOT Cowherd himself. So far, I haven't seen or read ANYTHING that the pilot is dead. And I look at the Hollywood trade sites on occasion.

 

[DToTheJ]

Nathan quoted his own post, lol... :

Meanwhile, Mike Greenberg is the latest to get a sitcom pilot based on his likeness - though, this one is actually with ABC, the network owned by ESPN parent company, Disney.

 

[johnnyu]

I never saw Listen Up and I will never see this show.

 

[kjl]

Listen Up was a mediocre show. My Wife and Kids was terrible. Damon Wayans? Who is making these calls on casting? Yikes. Also how does Mike Greenberg still have a job?

 

[Nate Wesley]

Listen Up was a mediocre show. My Wife and Kids was terrible. Damon Wayans? Who is making these calls on casting? Yikes. Also how does Mike Greenberg still have a job?

And what's the deal with airline food? It's so terrible, its like eating dry glue. You know what else? Paper cuts. Paper cuts really, really suck--I don't recommend them. Georgia Pacific and the Scott company and Dunder Mifflin ought to be brought on federal charges for that crap. And speaking of crap, has anyone heard the newest David Cassidy CD? Total garbage! I mean...

 

[quadraphonic]

Whoa, are you channeling "The Ref" Nate?

 

[Nate Wesley]

Whoa, are you channeling "The Ref" Nate?

I actually came back to this thread with the update that Colin Cowherd's sitcom didn't get picked up, but that last post...I was suddenly compelled to add to it facetiously.