The Bronx Is Burning

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Bronx Is Burning
Format Drama
Created by Jonathan Mahler
Directed by Jeremiah Chechik
Starring John Turturro
Oliver Platt
Daniel Sunjata
Country of origin Flag of the United States United States
No. of episodes 8
Production
Executive
producer(s)		 Mike Tollin
Brian Robbins
Joe Davola
Running time 60 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel ESPN
Original run July 9, 2007 – August 28, 2007
External links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

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.

Contents

[edit] 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.

[edit] Episode list

  1. The Straw, Debuted July 9, 2007
  2. Team in Turmoil, Debuted July 17, 2007
  3. Time for a Change?, Debuted July 24, 2007
  4. The Seven Commandments, Debuted July 31, 2007
  5. Caught!, Debuted August 7, 2007
  6. The Game's Not as Easy as It Looks, Fellas, Debuted August 14, 2007
  7. Past Combatants, Debuted August 21, 2007
  8. Mr. October, Debuted August 28, 2007

[edit] Cast

Actor Role
John Turturro Yankees manager Billy Martin
Daniel Sunjata Yankees outfielder Reggie Jackson
Oliver Platt Yankees owner George Steinbrenner
Kevin Conway Yankees president Gabe Paul
Daryl Blonder Yankees batboy Ray Negron
Rob Lavin Yankees pitcher Ken Holtzman
Erik Jensen Yankees catcher Thurman Munson
Loren Dean Yankees back-up catcher Fran Healy
Seth Gilliam Yankees outfielder Paul Blair
Joe Grifasi Yankees bench coach Yogi Berra
Mather Zickel Yankees outfielder Lou Piniella
Alex Cranmer Yankees third Baseman Graig Nettles
Evan Hart Yankees shortstop Bucky Dent
Dock Pollard Yankees second baseman Willie Randolph
Lou Provenzano Yankees pitcher Ron Guidry
Darby Brown Yankees designated hitter Cliff Johnson
Jason Kosow Yankees pitcher Jim "Catfish" Hunter
Max Casella Yankees third base coach Dick Howser
Leonard Robinson Yankees outfielder Mickey Rivers
Christopher McDonald Yankees Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio
Tom Wiggin Yankees Hall of Famer Whitey Ford
Robert Ward Himself
Alan Ruck Reporter Steve Jacobson
Josh Pais Reporter Phil Pepe
Dan Lauria Captain Joseph Borelli
Nestor Serrano Detective Kavanaugh
Stephen Lang Deputy Inspector Timothy Dowd
John Mahoney News Reporter (Background Casting)
Casey Siemaszko Detective Welker
Josiah Schlatter Clubhouse attendant
Michael Rispoli Newspaper columnist Jimmy Breslin
Russell Woron-Simons Student watching TV
Jason Giambi Taxi cab driver

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Grimes, William (2005-03-30). A City Gripped by Crisis and Enraptured by the Yankees. New York Times.
  2. ^ Brown, Tiffany (2008-04-07). 'The Bronx is Burning' Author Visits Lehman.