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Original Message
"ESPN Picks it Up!!!"
Posted by KendraFan on 08-11-05 at 03:41 PM
The deal's gone through... here's the press release from espn.com:

"The Contender," the reality television series about professional boxers, will begin its second season in April 2006 on ESPN.

The network, Mark Burnett Productions, and DreamWorks Television made the announcement Thursday.

"The Contender" is an unscripted drama about the lives of 16 professional boxers as they compete for the chance to change their lives. The show will air as part of ESPN Original Entertainment (EOE) programming and be executive produced by "Survivor" creator Mark Burnett, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Sylvester Stallone. Casting and production on the series, which will air in primetime beginning April 2006, will begin immediately.

" 'The Contender' has all of the elements that make it the right fit for ESPN: compelling storylines, dynamic characters and suspense over the outcome," Mark Shapiro, ESPN executive vice president, programming and production, said. "This series speaks to our viewers' love for competition and their appreciation for triumph over adversity, and it goes without saying that the track record of Mark Burnett is exemplary -- a perfect match for the critical and ratings successes EOE has delivered in both scripted and unscripted drama."

Said Burnett: "Our vision from the onset was to improve the entertainment experience of televised boxing for the fans. What better platform to achieve that vision than on the network that pioneered sports television programming."

After being introduced to the contestants in the first episode, subsequent shows will see one or more boxers eliminated through ring competition. Viewers will see contestants training in the ring, living together in one house and witness their personal interactions, while learning the details of these men's lives and what led them to pursue their dreams.

ESPN has options to renew the series for two subsequent seasons.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2131600&CMP=OTC-DT9705204233

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Messages in this discussion
"RE: ESPN Picks it Up!!!"
Posted by PagongRatEater on 08-11-05 at 04:53 PM
That is great news. Now I just pissed I have to wait until April.



"RE: ESPN Picks it Up!!!"
Posted by brvnkrz on 08-11-05 at 05:15 PM
Great news. Long wait though.


You are forever changed when you find a true friend

"RE: ESPN Picks it Up!!!"
Posted by Gaz1875 on 08-13-05 at 10:09 AM
Can only echo what's already been said..excellent news!!
Gonne be a little bit longer to wait for it here in the UK though!
"RE: ESPN Picks it Up!!!"
Posted by Wacko Jacko on 08-16-05 at 10:30 AM
Looks like ESPn has reached agreement with Stallone. That is good news....wonder about Leonard.
"RE: ESPN Picks it Up!!!"
Posted by JiveGuy on 08-16-05 at 09:42 PM
Really? Where did you hear they got Stallone?
"RE: ESPN Picks it Up!!!"
Posted by Wacko Jacko on 08-17-05 at 09:56 AM
It says the following above:

"The show will air as part of ESPN Original Entertainment (EOE) programming and be executive produced by "Survivor" creator Mark Burnett, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Sylvester Stallone."

I am assuming if he is producing the show he will also be on the show.

"RE: ESPN Picks it Up!!!"
Posted by Douglas Lilly on 09-08-05 at 10:16 PM
Does anyone know where and who will be doing casting for the Contender 2???
"RE: ESPN Picks it Up!!!"
Posted by Bebo on 09-09-05 at 08:52 AM
Please don't post the same message multiple times - this is a violation of our community guidelines.

Ask a question once...and then give your fellow posters a chance to answer, if they can.