For the last several years, cable channels have tried to bring a sports satire program to the air, with little success either in creation or execution. Most notable was Versus’ Sports Soup, which failed to replicate the wit often displayed in its inspiration, Talk Soup.↵
Onion Sports Network Is Comedy Central Bound
↵
↵
↵↵Comedy Central is the latest to take the gamble by bringing on the Onion Sports Network for a 10-episode run of 30-minute shows beginning next year. It’s not the first time the network has tried the concept, years ago unsuccessfully attempting to adapt the Daily Show format into a sports show. That never made it to air, but this new proposed show benefits from bearing the ever-popular Onion brand. ↵
↵
↵Oddly enough, the announcement comes only weeks after it was reported that the Onion News Network, like its sports counterpart already an established destination on the Internet, will appear on IFC next year. Of course, it's odd for The Onion to hitch itself to separate networks, but in a way, they can hedge their bets if one of the shows proves unsuccessful. The sports show's stated intent is to satire the entire sports universe while replicating "the flashy look, breathless pace and general insanity of modern sports coverage."↵
↵↵That might be a difficult task given only 10 scripted episodes. It’s certainly not impossible to make it work with people as talented as those behind The Onion, but tackling topical humor is difficult when accounting for production time and other delays involved with getting the show to air.↵
↵
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
See More:
