Series synopsis
Playmakers is an American drama crime television series that premiered on ESPN on August 26, 2003. It ended on November 11, 2003. It was created by John Eisendrath. It stars Tony Denison, Omar Gooding, Russell Hornsby and Jason Matthew Smith.
The series is a gritty ensemble drama about the off-field lives of a group of players on a pro football team and how they deal with the pressure of being on the professional level.
Premise
The series is a gritty ensemble drama about the off-field lives of a group of players on a pro football team and how they deal with the pressure of being on the professional level.
Premise: If all you see is the athlete, open your eyes.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Tony Denison as Coach George
- Omar Gooding as Demetrius Harris
- Russell Hornsby as Leon Taylor
- Jason Matthew Smith as Eric Olczyk
- Marcello Thedford as Kelvin ‘Buffalo’ James
- Christopher Wiehl as Derek McConnell
- Bruce Gray as Gene Wilbanks
- Stephen Bogaert as Phil Chambers
Guest cast
- Sasha Roiz as Stephen Lyles
- Snoop Dogg as Edwin ‘Big E’ Harris
- Pat Mastroianni as Mendes
- Janet-Laine Green as Miss Duberstein
- Jennifer Baxter as Carole Lohan
- John Bourgeois as Stan Olczyk
- Kristin Adams as Juicy Girl / O. D Girl
- Karen LeBlanc as Robin Taylor
- Benz Antoine as Ray Barnes
- Leilene Ondrade as Woman in Pool (uncredited)
- Daniel Kash
- Patrice Goodman as Robin's Friend
Episodes
This series spans 2 seasons with 13 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 2 | ||
| Season 1 | 11 | August 26, 2003 | November 11, 2003 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Behind the Scenes | |
| 2 | Cast Speaks Out |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Game Day The Cougars are 2-3 and it's six hours to kick-off. Leon Taylor, back from injured reserve, plans to retake the running back throne from rookie Demetrius ""DH"" Harris, who will not slow down for anyone. Coach George must get hard-hitting middle linebacker Eric Olczyk's head together before the game. |
August 26, 2003 |
| 2 |
The Piss Man The league drug testing official a.k.a. The Piss Man is coming: no one knows which two players are on the list. They better be clean - otherwise it's automatic suspension. Guard Dog tempts Leon with a way to get his mojo back. Olczyk needs to calm his demons. McConnell's got pain management issues. |
September 2, 2003 |
| 3 |
The Choice (1) Part 1 of 2. Leon faces the possibility of a trade; DH must decide where his loyalty lies; McConnell's in a slump. |
September 9, 2003 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ESPN |
|---|---|
| First aired | August 26, 2003 |
| Last aired | November 11, 2003 |
| Runtime | 45 minutes |
| Status | Ended |