The Bronx Is Burning
| The Bronx Is Burning | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Jonathan Mahler |
| Directed by | Jeremiah Chechik |
| Starring | John Turturro Oliver Platt Daniel Sunjata |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Mike Tollin Brian Robbins Joe Davola |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | ESPN |
| Release | July 9, 2007 – August 28, 2007 |
The Bronx Is Burning is a television drama that debuted on ESPN on July 9, 2007 following the 2007 MLB Home Run Derby. It is an eight-episode mini-series adapted from Jonathan Mahler's best-selling book, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bronx Is Burning. The book focuses on baseball's triumph over the turmoil and hysteria of 1977 New York City, and how the New York Yankees came to embody all of the hopes and fears of an unforgettable summer with Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson's warfare under George Steinbrenner's leadership.
The show stars John Turturro, Oliver Platt, and Daniel Sunjata, while executive producers Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola, writer/executive producer James Solomon, and director Jeremiah Chechik work on the show. The series is produced by ESPN Original Entertainment in conjunction with Tollin/Robbins Productions. Filming began on September 18, 2006 in Connecticut and New York.
The 2007 debut of the series marks the 30th anniversary of the 1977 World Series win for the Yankees, the first under Steinbrenner.
After airing on ESPN, episodes could be viewed on ABC on Demand.
Tagline: A city in fear. A team in Turmoil. Win or lose 1977 was one year New York City would never forget. Another tagline was: Everybody has something to prove.
Summary
The central theme of the adaptation is the 1977 New York Yankees against the backdrop of New York City. Yankee superstar Reggie Jackson (Daniel Sunjata) and manager Billy Martin (John Turturro) are locked in a perpetual state of warfare. Jackson was a perfect foil for the scrappy Martin, the hero of New York's fed-up working-class and a powerful reminder of the team's—and the city's—less complicated past. While owner George Steinbrenner (Oliver Platt) was providing General Patton-style leadership, he was intent on keeping his promise to the people of New York of delivering a World Series title. The show also features subplots concerning the NYPD's pursuit of the Son of Sam serial killer that summer and the devastating blackout and resultant widespread looting in July, all while the city suffered through financial bankruptcy and massive municipal layoffs.
The title refers to an off-the-cuff comment by broadcaster Howard Cosell during the ABC telecast of Game Two of the 1977 World Series:
As night descended, ABC, broadcasting the game, cut to a helicopter camera for an overhead view of Yankee Stadium and the surrounding neighborhood, where, bizarrely, a large fire raged out of control. Howard Cosell intoned, 'There it is, ladies and gentlemen, the Bronx is burning.'[1]
According to the source book's author, Mahler, at the time property taxes were so high landlords would burn down their buildings for the insurance money, and some tenants would set a fire in a decrepit, privately-owned building in order to get priority for the newer public housing. [2]}}
Episodes were filmed in New London, Waterford and Norwich in Connecticut as well as in New York City.
Episode list
- The Straw, Debuted July 9, 2007
- Team in Turmoil, Debuted July 17, 2007
- Time for a Change?, Debuted July 24, 2007
- The Seven Commandments, Debuted July 31, 2007
- Caught!, Debuted August 7, 2007
- The Game's Not as Easy as It Looks, Fellas, Debuted August 14, 2007
- Past Combatants, Debuted August 21, 2007
- Mr. October, Debuted August 28, 2007
Cast
See also
- 1977 New York Yankees season
- 1977 American League Championship Series
- 1977 World Series
- David Berkowitz
- New York City blackout of 1977
References
- ^ Grimes, William (2005-03-30). "A City Gripped by Crisis and Enraptured by the Yankees". New York Times.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Brown, Tiffany (2008-04-07). "'The Bronx is Burning' Author Visits Lehman".
- Official Website
- Press Release: ESPN Original Entertainment to Develop Limited Series: "The Bronx is Burning"
- Press Release: ESPN Miniseries "The Bronx is Burning" to Begin Shooting for 2007 Premiere
- Press Release: John Turturro, Oliver Platt, and Daniel Sunjata to Star in ESPN's Upcoming Miniseries "The Bronx is Burning"
- Press Release: ESPN Announces Award-Winning Editor and Additional Cast for "The Bronx is Burning"