Put the Playmakers Back in the Game

As I came across the 37th weekly airing of Tilt earlier this evening, I couldn't help but shake my head. I thought back to the fall of 2003, when we were introduced to ESPN's first scripted series, Playmakers. The show had everything- ridiculous plots, frenetic football scenes, salacious women, completely exaggerated characters and over-the-top dialogue. It was impossible to avoid being sucked in by such a guilty pleasure, so naturally it was extremely disheartening when ESPN cowered under pressure from the NFL and cancelled the highly-rated show after 11 episodes.

It's been 15 months since Playmakers left the air, so here's my question: Why in the world hasn't another network ripped this show off? Dozens of cable networks are dying for young male viewership, sports are more popular than ever, and TV writers have squeezed every last drop out of the cop, lawyer and doctor genre. It would make perfect sense for a network like Spike TV, TBS or USA to simply steal the idea (it's not like you can copyright a TV show concept) and make their own version of a behind-the-scenes pro football drama. They could even apply the same formula to baseball or basketball- any sport would do the trick as long as there are drug scandals, lascivious groupies and testosterone-fueled fisticuffs. Heck even NBC could air the show- don't you think the struggling network would love a unique, buzz-worthy, male-skewing show to throw on after Las Vegas on Monday nights? But alas, this idea makes so much sense, there's no way a TV network would go for it.