The premiere of “Hard Knocks” -- the HBO reality show that focuses on one NFL training camp -- drew 1.3 million viewers this week, a record number for the series, now in its sixth season. Part of that can be chalked up to this year’s team -- the New York Jets -- and its outspoken (and outsized) coach, Rex Ryan.
TheWrap spoke with HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg about the debut, knocks from critics and whether the “reality” is really real.
Is "Hard Knocks" real? Or is it like “The Hills" of the NFL?
Totally, totally real. It’s probably the most real of any reality show on television. We put cameras there and just roll them. It’s the truest form of reality TV. We have no writers. As [NFL Films president] Steve Sabol likes to say, “We’re building the plane while it’s in flight.” We had no idea, for example, there would be a whole segment on Rex Ryan’s black hi-top Converse sneakers he likes to wear on the first day of practice.
No one’s playing to the cameras. You know, a lot of cameras are robotic, and no one knows they are there. And the players and coaches tell us they forget about the cameras after a day or two.
There have been complaints about the vulgarity this season, and Rex Ryan even apologized for it. I read that his mom saw the show and said, "That wasn't Rex." Is it?
That’s real. That’s Rex. That’s the way he talks. There was a lot of salty language left on the cutting room floor.
Like Rex, I’d like to apologize to anyone that was offended by it, but that’s just how it is. That’s what is said in NFL locker rooms across the country. This is no different. We’ve done six seasons of this. And if that’s the worst thing people can say, we’re doing a good job.
Have you thought about bleeping the vulgarity?
When the show airs at 10 and 11, we don’t censor. But when it is played during the afternoon, we do. That’s to protect families.
All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis’ holdout is adding drama to the show, though some critics think that might be set up, too. What is your response?
That’s a joke. We’ve had plenty of holdouts on previous seasons, Larry Johnson, etc. That’s just part of the fabric of training camp, of the NFL. And we cover them as news events.
Honestly, we would probably rather Revis be in camp, so we could have him there. He’s a tremendous athlete, and would be great on the show.
He wasn’t shown on the first episode, but do you have a camera on him?
No. We wanted to, but his agents -- and Darrelle -- decided they did not want cameras following him during the holdout.
