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Extreme Makeover?

post #1 of 2
Thread Starter 
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu...nnsi&type=lgns

Tour de farce
John Donovan, SI.com


Negotiations are continuing between a Los Angeles production company and ESPN that could result in a Barry Bonds reality show airing during the 2006 season.

(Wait a minute ... wait ... wait ...)

Nobody's saying exactly what shape the show's going to take, or how "real" it will be. Bonds, as has been well documented, never has been particularly forthcoming with details of his life and avoids those who would chronicle it -- we're talking about your friendly neighborhood reporters here -- as much as he does advice from the Giants' trainers.

(Hold back ... not yet ... not yet ...)

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But Bonds would have a vested interest in this show. He's partnering with Tollin/Robbins Productions, responsible for TV's Smallville and Crumbs and movies such as Coach Carter and Radio. TRP would co-produce with ESPN Original Entertainment.

(Almost there ...)

The show would follow the San Francisco slugger on his quest to push past Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list and approach the record held by Henry Aaron. Ostensibly, it would be inside and close up, giving viewers a glimpse of a Bonds we never have seen before. For instance, we could see ...

(Here we go.)

• Bonds in the middle of a loose, easy Giants clubhouse, laughing and joking with his teammates.

• Bonds patiently answering reporters' questions.

• Bonds spending his free time bantering with fans.

• Bonds signing autographs for a half-hour.

• Bonds being humble.

• Bonds praising Ruth.

• Bonds and Gary Sheffield sharing a friendly ride.

• Bonds and Jeff Kent going duck hunting together on a day off.

• Bonds putting his head down after a homer, immediately leaving the batter's box and simply trotting around the bases.

• Bonds looking into the camera and truthfully explaining, at length, his relationship with Victor Conte and Greg Anderson and detailing the workout regimen and the supplements he has used to get him where he is today, enough so as to remove any doubts we may have about his amazing power surge.

The name of the proposed series? Well, as far as we know, that still has not been determined. Chasing Barry? Dancing with the Star? The Amazing Chase?

Or, for the less kind among us: Beauty and the Beast? Extreme Makeover?

If Bonds is hurt, would the show be called American Idle?

Whatever, we're still at least a couple of weeks away from a deal for the show being finalized, according to an ESPN publicist, if it indeed gets there. As they say in the business ... stay tuned.
post #2 of 2
Thread Starter 

Confirmed

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns

Bonds show on ESPN becomes a reality

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Barry Bonds' reality TV show chronicling the slugger during his pursuit of Hank Aaron's career home run record will debut April 4 on ESPN2, the network announced Wednesday.

The show, titled "Bonds on Bonds" and produced by Mike Tollin and Brian Robbins, will offer a weekly behind-the-scenes look at Bonds and the San Francisco Giants throughout the season. Bonds, who turns 42 in July, enters 2006 with 708 homers, seven shy of passing Babe Ruth and 48 from breaking Aaron's mark.

"It was over 10 years ago when Mike Tollin interviewed me for the Hank Aaron documentary and I said at the time that no one will ever get close to 755," Bonds said in a statement. "At the age of 42 to finally have a chance to catch legends like Babe and Hank is really a mind-blowing honor."

The first episode will be an hour long and air April 4 at 8 p.m. EDT on ESPN2. The rest of the episodes air at 7 p.m. EDT on Tuesdays throughout the season. ESPN said it has an agreement to air 10 hours of programming, with most episodes being a half-hour and some an hour.

Bonds has already been followed around lately by his own videographer, who has been chronicling his every move at spring training, including in the locker room. There will be two to three cameras filming Bonds most of the season. The show will also include archival footage and game highlights.

Giants manager Felipe Alou said earlier this spring he had no concerns about the show becoming a distraction in the clubhouse.

"I don't believe it will affect this veteran team," Alou said. "The main guy is Barry and if he does his thing with the bat and is not affected by it, I don't think we'll be."
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