| | December 13, 1999
Reel Classics, a new, weekly sports movie series will premiere on ESPN Classic Sunday, Jan. 9 at 9 p.m. ET. Hosted by Nick Bakay, Reel Classics will present an entire evening of entertainment, including a feature film, followed by two hours of classic sports programming relating to the movie's subject matter.
One of several new initiatives scheduled on ESPN Classic, Reel Classics will offer sports movies that have helped shape the popular genre that exists today. The movie lineup will include 14 films licensed from Warner Bros. Domestic Pay-TV, Cable & Network Features such as "Viva Knievel!" and "Pastime."
"Sports and entertainment have proven a successful combination, and this unique approach to movie programming will become a staple of the network's lineup," said Mark Shapiro, vice president and general manager, ESPN Classic. "The presentation of these films -- from our marketing and promotion, to the off-beat humor of Nick Bakay will truly be original."
Bakay said, "The best of Reel Classics for me are like fever dreams. In 'Viva Knievel!' you have Evel Knievel not only playing himself, but fighting crime. What more could you ask for from a movie?"
Programming
Reel Classics will present a spectrum of film genres, from comedies to dramas to documentaries, followed by classic games, series and specials. The films, casts, producers, directors and writers include multiple award winners and well known hall of fame athletes. Programming will include:
Academy Award-winner Gene Hackman and Hall of Famer Jim Brown in "The Split" (distributed by Warner Bros.), which takes place around the L.A. Coliseum, followed by NFL Films' Jim Brown: Player of the Millennium and L.A. Coliseum Super Bowls.
"The Jackie Robinson Story," starring Robinson as himself, followed by "Brooklyn Dodgers: America's Original Team."
"Dead Solid Perfect" (distributed by Warner Bros.), based on Dan Jenkins' best seller about the world of pro golf, followed by classic U.S. Open matches.
Host
Host Nick Bakay will bring his witty and acerbic style to tie the film and sports programming together by providing trivia and behind-the-scenes, historical and updated information. Bakay contributes to ESPN's SportsCenter with his "Tale of the Tape" segments and also writes for ESPN The Magazine and reports on the network's NFL programs and ESPN Radio. The writer, actor and commentator works in a variety of roles, including having served as host, producer and writer on many series on ABC, FOX, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. His movie acting credits include "Jury Duty" and "A Weekend in the Country."
Debut
Reel Classics will debut on Jan. 9 at 9 p.m. with "Viva Knievel!" (distributed by Warner Bros.), starring Evel Knievel, Lauren Hutton, Leslie Nielson, Dabney Coleman, Gene Kelly, Red Buttons and Frank Gifford. Evel Knievel plays himself in a story about crooks who plan to have the daredevil killed during a motorcycle jump in Mexico so they can use his trucks to smuggle drugs into the U.S. It will be followed by Classic Wide World of Sports: Evel Knievel.
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ESPN CLASSIC SUNDAY LINEUP (beginning Jan. 9)
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7-9 p.m. ET
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Click & Pick
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9-11 p.m. ET
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Movie
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11 p.m.-1 a.m. ET
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Related classic sports programming
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ESPN Classic is a 24-hour, all-sports network devoted to telecasting the greatest games, stories, heroes and memories in the history of sports. ESPN Classic presents programming from the NFL, MLB, NHL, NASCAR, boxing (including the ESPN Big Fights Library), ABC's Wide World of Sports, tennis, golf, college football and basketball, Olympics and others. ESPN Classic is a wholly owned subsidiary of ESPN, Inc., The Worldwide Leader in Sports.
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