Saturday, September 24, 2022

On The Air: Eli's Places (2021)

 We have to wonder if the Manning family bought stock in the Walt Disney Company.

In the last three years alone, the two Super Bowl winning quarterbacks, Peyton & Eli, have been constant presences on ESPN programming. First, it was Peyton, the Gomer Pyle of the NFL, who landed a docuseries, Peyton's Places, on ESPN+, repurposing on Hulu. Last year, after retiring from the Giants, Eli teamed with Peyton for alternate broadcasts of Monday Night Football, billed as the Manning-cast, which proved to be a ratings draw.

In addition, Eli landed his own series, Eli's Places, now in its 2nd season on ESPN+ & Hulu. You're also aware of the Caesar's Sportsbook ads with papa Archie, plus J. B. Smoove and Halle Berry, of course.

Because the latest episode of Eli's Places got major media attention because of its content, ESPN decided to include most, but not all, of the episode, today on College GameDay. Borrowing from CBS' Undercover Boss, Eli poses as a walk-on at Penn State after a preliminary meeting with coach James Franklin. This also invokes the late George Plimpton's undercover stunt in Detroit, adapted into "Paper Lion".


Yes, Peyton & Eli are executive producers, adding to Peyton's portfolio (Capital One College Bowl, The Final Straw). Just don't let them try to do a variety show.

Rating: B--.

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