November 28, 2009

Origins of "The League"

I'm loving the show on FX, as I've mentioned. But does the premise sound familiar? From Bill Simmons' intern contest a few years ago, when entrants were asked to submit programming ideas for a 24-hour sports channel:

The Season: (insert fantasy league name -- ex.: Old School Nasty)

A mockumentary in the Christopher Guest and company mold about an over-the-top fantasy league. Episodes would involve a draft taken more seriously than Middle East peace negotiations, a life-long friendship being torn apart over a questionable trade, a maniacal commissioner on an out of control power trip, an owner who completely breaks down and refuses to leave his home (think Favreau in Swingers) when his top pick tears an ACL, and the most elongated slow-motion celebration ever in the season finale when a champion is crowned.

No, it doesn't have the mockumentary angle but there was both a draft episode and a crazy commissioner. Still, I'm surprised this show didn't happen years earlier. Mr. McGibblets is too.

Posted by Stephen Silver at November 28, 2009 11:50 PM
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