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MOJO's NEW 'DOCU-REALITY' SERIES THE SHOW PROFILES SIX MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS AND THEIR ATTEMPTS TO REACH THE MAJORS
Hi-Def Network Follows the Lives of Arizona Diamondbacks' Triple A Sidewinder Players As They Vie for a Place in the Sun
NEW YORK - May 1, 2007 - When six members of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondback's Triple A Team the Sidewinders gaze into their futures, they, like all minor league ballplayers, dream of making it into the majors. MOJO's (formerly INHD* Network) new Hi-Def series The Show premieres May 30 at 10PM, ET/PT. The Show is a window into the relentless physical and mental demands on players trying to achieve the ultimate goal: gaining a place on a major league teams' roster (a.k.a. arriving at "the show"). The series of six half-hour episodes is narrated by Joe Mantegna (Godfather III, Searching for Bobby Fischer) and is produced by Al Roker Entertainment, Inc. Shoot and Move Media, LLC and Major League Baseball Productions, Inc.
Some Tucson Sidewinders will rise to the majors. As the season unfolds, their athletic skills develop and each deals with escalating stress. Insights into each player's personality, aspirations and self-doubts provide a compelling look at what separates the fantasy from the harsh reality of what it takes to succeed. Many desire the dream - few get to attain it. The Show grants the rare opportunity to observe just how hard it is.
The emotional stories of six promising Tucson Sidewinders are captured on and off the field. They are:
- Brian Barden, age 25, (third baseman) the uncertain one-time "top prospect" now struggling to make the bigs. He's classified as a pretty good utility player but has much to overcome. He's got a good sense of himself as a ball player. He thinks he belongs in the big leagues and that mentality is an important criterion for a major league player.
- Bill Murphy, age 24, (pitcher) the southpaw reliever whose worldly wit and antics belie a gritty determination. He's been traded three times and likes to "stir it up" and "keep the clubhouse loose" wherever he goes.
- Chris Young, age 22, (center fielder) the affable, talented, gleam-in-the-eye five-tool center fielder from Houston who is described as maybe the best prospects in minor league baseball. Despite disappointments like a broken hand before spring training and a family who strongly advised Young to pursue a medical school education, he refuses to yield.
- Casey Daigle, age 25, (pitcher) the simple, straightforward, what-you-see-is-what-you-get 6'5" righty closer. He made it into the big leagues for two months—but called himself "immature." He didn't think he "had it," blaming his lack of success on his "short attention span." He's married to U.S. Olympic softball pitching superstar Jennie Finch who claims "Casey won't hit off me."
- Dustin Nippert, age 24, (reliever) the contemplative, let-the-cards-fall-where-they-may 6'8" reliever out of West Virginia. He made it in the bigs for one month. "I'm proud to say I'm a baseball player, not many people can say that." He talks about supporting his family and the "millions of people behind me who want my job."
- Carlos Quentin, age 23, (right fielder) the bright, humble, self-assured yet introspective "can't miss" outfield prospect from Stanford University. He's intense and always hardest on himself.
Their baseball futures lie in the hands of management from both the Diamondbacks and the Sidewinders including Diamondback GM Josh Byrnes, Diamondback manager Bob Melvin, scouts, coaches and others who appear in the series. Former Diamondback left fielder Luis Gonzalez (recently traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers) also weighs in to share his own experiences about his minor league experience as well as the uncertainty and pressures that face major league players.
"The Show is for anyone who has ever dreamt of making it in sports or anything, for that matter," says executive producer Al Roker. "Six minor league ball players show us major league determination and the heart and soul it takes to become a great team player."
The questions that surround the players featured are: Who makes it into "the show"? Can the player be consistent on a big league level? Is there a position available? What if the player is not seen as a "hot prospect"? How long will the team give them? What separates those who do succeed and those who don't? When does a player give up his dream?
The Show is produced by Al Roker Entertainment, Inc., Shoot and Move Media, LLC and Major League Baseball Productions, Inc.; Al Roker is Executive Producer. Sam Ciaramitaro is Director and Executive Producer. Steve Nemsick is Producer and Editor. David Sussan serves as Co-Executive Producer. Executive Producer for iN DEMAND is Emilio Nunez. Siobhan Graham is Supervising Producer.
*About MOJO (www.mojohd.com) As of May 1, MOJO is the new name of INHD which has been a pioneer in hi-def television since 2003, and is among the most widely distributed HD networks on cable. It consistently earns high marks from HD viewers for the pristine quality of its 1080i picture and Dolby 5.1 sound and ranks as a viewer favorite. MOJO was created exclusively for the discerning male, with attitude, wit and style, and became the network name as of May 1, 2007. Original shows are aboutlifestyle interests including high tech, finance, adventurous travel, music, cuisine and spirits. Other programming includes comedy-reality series, high profile professional and college sports, movies, concerts and big events. The network is 100% high definition and available as part of the HD offerings from such cable operators as Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Cox Communications, Bright House Networks, Cablevision, Mediacom and Patriot. MOJO is owned by iN DEMAND Networks, whose shareholders are Comcast iN DEMAND Holdings, Inc., Cox Communications Holdings, Inc., and Time Warner Entertainment - Advance/Newhouse Partnership.
About Al Roker Entertainment, Inc. Formed in 1994, Al Roker Entertainment, Inc. (ARE) is a thriving multimedia company based in NYC involved in the development and production of network, cable, home video and public television projects. Al Roker is CEO. ARE produces programming for a diverse clientele. Recent productions include Profiles in Courage: A Kennedy Legacy (NBC Station Group), An Honor Deferred (History Channel), 2006 Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge (NBC), Inside Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (NBC), Recipe for Success (Food Network), Renovate My Place (TV One), Roker on the Road (Food Network), The 2006 Quill Book Awards (NBC), Uncovered: The Hidden Lives of Miss USA (E! Entertainment Network), Meth, Murder & Madness (Court TV), Sheila Bridges Designer Living (Fine Living), Tribeca Film Festival: Live From The Red Carpet (NBC), Whoopi Goldberg (A&E Biography Series), Going Places (PBS), Intimate Portrait: Judge Judy (Lifetime), I Lost It – Primetime Special (Discovery Health). For more information, visit www.alrokerproductions.com.
Shoot and Move Media, LLC produces original branded content for network and cable television. CEO and President Sam Ciaramitaro has an established career in production and advertising with clients that include Reebok, United Airlines, Allstate, McDonalds, Proctor & Gamble and Def Jam Records. In 2000, he produced one of the first integrated television web campaigns ever for the United States Army. For more information, visit www.shootandmove.com.
For more information, please write to pressoffice@indemand.com or call 646.638.8206.
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