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Media/TV/Film Archive

Stronach Hops on Reality Bandwagon

First Donald Trump, then Richard Branson, and now, Frank Stronach. The Canadian billionaire and racing mogul is reported to be in talks with the producers of such fine TV fare as “For Love or Money” for his own reality show. “Details are not being released because once an idea gets out there, rivals try to copy it and get it on the air first, 3 Ball executive producer Todd Nelson said yesterday.” (Globe and Mail)

Posted in Media/TV/Film on December 16, 2004

Only in the Movies

Stripes: The little zebra that could. I give this film a week in theaters. (Warner Bros.)

Posted in Media/TV/Film on December 11, 2004

World Series of Handicapping

ESPN’s World Series of Poker is the model for the network’s planned broadcast of the National Handicapping Championship next February. (Thoroughbred Times)

Posted in Media/TV/Film on December 8, 2004

Calling Trump

A great idea: “Many of you know one of NBC’s big Thursday night hits is ‘The Apprentice,’ where candidates on two teams try to avoid being ‘fired’ by Donald Trump as they try to win tasks … One of these in the first two runs of the show has been an advertising campaign, in the first run for Marquis Jet and in the second for the NYPD’s recruitment campaign. Assuming there will be one if ‘The Apprentice’ returns for a fourth run next fall … it would be great if Breeders’ Cup, Ltd., the NTRA and NYRA work together with Mr. Trump and Mark Burnett to include early in the fourth run a task where the teams create an advertising campaign for the 2005 BC.” (Derby List)

Posted in Media/TV/Film on December 8, 2004

Those Were the Days

“‘Woodie’s World,’ an ESPN Classic series that revives sports memories through the commentary of the late Heywood Hale Broun, will look back at the winter bus trips horseplayers in New York would take to Bowie Race Track in Maryland as well as a journey Art Rooney took to Saratoga Race Course before he purchased the Pittsburgh Steelers.” The show will air at 7 p.m. (EST) on Thursday. (Thoroughbred Times)

Posted in Media/TV/Film on November 30, 2004

Casting Call

Matt Graves volunteers to cast Funny Cide: The Movie. “This is no easy job unless you know the Funny Cide folks pretty well…. We have to start with Gus Williams. I really don’t know where on this planet you could possibly find a clone of Sackatoga Stable’s most visible and vocal member, but Jack Knowlton suggested Don Rickles, and that’s probably as close as you could come.
“Knowlton is still the human star of this show, but he might be the easiest one to cast. I see Tom Hanks with that All-American-boy look and that down-home charm. How about Marsha Mason as his wife, Dorothy?
“The other main guys on the Sackatoga team would be sophisticated caterer Dave Mahan (George Clooney) and former Sackets Harbor mayor J.P. Constance, an erstwhile (and younger) Harvey Korman. We could safely go with William H. Macy as Lew Titterton.” (Times Union)

Posted in Media/TV/Film on November 10, 2004

All-Time Low Ratings for Cup

“Despite the buzz surrounding Thoroughbred racing the past two years thanks largely in part to dual classic winners Funny Cide and Smarty Jones and the movie Seabiscuit, NBC Sports registered the lowest overnight ratings ever for its telecast of the Breeders’ Cup on October 30 at Lone Star Park. The five-hour telecast earned a 1.9 rating and a four share, down 13.6% from last year.” (Thoroughbred Times)

Posted in Media/TV/Film on November 1, 2004

Reality Show Hopefuls

Turned out by the hundreds Saturday at Santa Anita. (Pasadena Star News)
Related: Those interested in “American Dream Derby” can still apply to be contestants. (GSN)

Posted in Media/TV/Film on October 4, 2004

So You Want to Be on TV

Then get to Santa Anita today, for the “American Dream Derby” casting call. The reality show is looking for 12 contestants and about 20 horses. Shooting begins October 31. (Blood-Horse)

Posted in Media/TV/Film on October 2, 2004

Reality Racing

Reality television, perhaps having exhausted all possible who-wants-to-marry my-madeover-millionaire-dad angles, comes to horseracing: “American Dream Derby will cast a dozen contestants and purchase at least that many thoroughbred horses in this unprecedented series that will encompass the twists and turns of a reality show along with real-life occurrences surrounding race horse training and the relationship between owners, jockeys and trainers.” Auditions will begin in September. (Yahoo Financial News)

Posted in Media/TV/Film on July 23, 2004