A typical day at the studio for veteran sports broadcaster Rich Eisen involves racing toy cars with a NASCAR champion and getting the scoop from the creators of his favorite TV show, “Breaking Bad.”
One of most respected voices currently covering the NFL, Eisen has expanded his reach into sports, pop culture and entertainment with his new show on DirecTV’s Audience Network, which launched in October.
It’s not what you might expect from a sports program, but “The Rich Eisen Show” is anything but normal, as TheWrap learned during a behind-the-scenes visit to its El Segundo, California set.
“I am definitely not the first person with a sports program to have a Hollywood star come on, but I don’t know of any that does it as a staple of the program, which is something we are trying to do,” Eisen told TheWrap.
“The NFL is part of the pop culture landscape, so sports fans don’t bat an eye when you stop in the middle of a piece to talk about a new movie.”
But recent guests — such as Mike Tyson, Adam Carolla, Seth Meyers, Ice Cube, Joel McHale, Super Bowl champion Julian Edelman and Sports Illustrated model Lily Aldridge — are as likely to change the conversation from promotion of their own projects to the latest scoops on their favorite teams.
Seth Meyers/DirecTV
“Vince Vaughn came on to promote ‘Unfinished Business’ and he turned the tables and asked me what I think about the NFL draft and the latest Chicago Bears trade,” said the NFL Network anchor. Similarly, Ryan Phillippe wanted to talk about the Philadelphia Eagles as much as his latest show “Secrets and Lies” on ABC.
“I have some guests who get angry when they don’t get to talk about sports and have to talk about the project they are promoting,” Eisen said.
“The Rich Eisen Show” also welcomes Hollywood stars and executives who don’t know the Dodgers from the Lakers, which is “something that a regular sports show can’t do,” said the host.
“Better Call Saul” creators Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould are prime examples of that, telling TheWrap that they know nothing about sports.
“I had the honor being on Rich’s first episode, and I am not a sports guy — I know nothing,” said Gilligan, revealing that when they first met at LAX he didn’t even know who Eisen was. “He recognized me and said he was a huge ‘Breaking Bad’ fan so we got to chatting. Meanwhile, everyone in the Southwest terminal was looking at Rich and whispering. I didn’t realize I was talking to a sports icon.
“If I am ever on a show and he calls me about football then I am in trouble,” G added.
Mike Tyson/DirecTV
Eisen’s expansive purpose-built set at DirecTV’s El Segundo campus was inspired by private club The Soho House, and is a jock’s dream, packed with classic sports memorabilia and historic items from Eisen’s personal collection, including photos with his former sidekick on ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” Stuart Scott. A spacious concourse between buildings is also the perfect spot to have some fun, such as a toy car race with Daytona 500 winner Joey Logano for TheWrap’s visit, when Eisen took a suspiciously easy victory as the NASCAR champ’s car mysteriously malfunctioned.
“The Rich Eisen Show is not only on DirecTV but also 150 radio stations and an NFL app that’s available internationally. “We are getting calls from the U.K. or Europe and they are just as knowledgeable as fans from the U.S. My parents watch on an iPad, and it’s also available on Apple TV and Amazon because of the NFL Now App,” he said, regarding the wide-reaching accessibility of the show. “It is really an incredible platform. It is the 21st century and this is a 21st century show.”
From a business standpoint, now is the ideal time for such a wide-reaching show, according to Chris Long, DirecTV’s SVP, Entertainment & Production. “We have a pending merger [with AT&T], and content is king. And the more original content we can create will give us a leg up.”
While it was inspired by Dan Patrick’s show at the Super Bowl four years ago, the media corporation’s latest venture has a very different tone. “It really develops a connection between entertainment and sports in L.A.,” Long told TheWrap.
“Good late-night humor can work at any time of the day,” said Eisen, who is inspired by late-night greats like David Letterman and Johnny Carson.
His show is still “in the embryonic stages,” Long said, but is a prime example of how important original content has become to DirecTV, especially over the past five years, with the addition of shows such as “Kingdom,” “Billy and Billie,” “Rogue” and “Full Circle,” with Calista Flockhart. “It gives DirecTV the feel that we’re in the entertainment business and not just the provider.”
“The Rich Eisen Show” airs at Noon ET/9 a.m. PT weekdays on DirecTV’s Audience Now.
Julian Edelman/DirecTV
18 Dramatic Championship Sports Movie Moments: From 'Rocky' to 'Remember the Titans' (Photos)
"The Pride of the Yankees" (1942)
This beautifully dramatized moment of sports history, as wonderfully monologued by Gary Cooper, helped to immortalize the already infamous "Luckiest man" speech by Lou Gehrig.
“Rocky” (1976)
In the ultimate underdog story, newcomer Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) gets a shot at the world heavyweight title against champ Apollo Creed. Rocky proves he has the goods, going the entire 15 rounds against Creed, but loses in a split decision. Rocky would get a rematch though and win the title in “Rocky II”.
"Breaking Away" (1979)
One of the most inspiring underdog stories ever made, the Little 500 bicycle race in Bloomington, Indiana, is a local classic as made famous by this film. In the film's closing race scene, the locals -- dressed in plain white T-shirts with their nickname the "Cutters" -- upset the richer college students with more expensive bikes and uniforms, riding across the finish line in pure glory.
“Chariots of Fire” (1981)
Two Englishmen push each other to be the best sprinter at the 1924 Olympics. While they won gold on the big screen’s racetrack, “Chariots of Fire” would go on to win Oscar gold for best picture.
“The Natural” (1984)
Robert Redford plays middle-age rookie Roy Hobbs in “The Natural.” Hobbs leads his team to a championship on his final at-bat when he launches the most famous home run in movie history. Thus proving the unspoken rule in baseball: If you break the lights you win the game.
“Hoosiers” (1986)
Another Indiana classic in what is widely considered one of the greatest sports movies of all time, “Hoosiers” follows a small town high school basketball team as they make it all the way to the state finals. They play a bigger and more athletic team in the finals, but with a last second shot pull off the surprise victory.
“Major League” (1989)
Charlie Sheen and Tom Berenger lead an outfit of misfit Cleveland Indians from last place to a shot at the league pennant against the powerhouse Yankees. Even though the film is a comedy, the final game plays out in dramatic fashion.
“A League of Their Own” (1992)
“A League of Their Own” proved that girls can play baseball, and ends in a play at the plate that determines the championship. Geena Davis’ Rockford Peaches may lose that final game, but as Tom Hanks taught us, “there is no crying in baseball!”
Steve James’ revolutionary documentary follows inner-city Chicago kids William Gates and Arthur Agee throughout their high-school basketball careers. The film culminates in both striving to reach the finals of their city wide championship tournament.
“Remember the Titans” (2001)
Based on the true story of Virginia’s first integrated high school football team (led by coach Denzel Washington), the Titans not only change the views of an entire town, but they go undefeated on their way to a thrilling state championship against an all-white team.
“Friday Night Lights” (2004)
The film that spawned the critically acclaimed TV series (which in turn may spawn a film of its own) is memorable in that its featured team doesn’t win the championship. The Permian Panthers mount a great comeback, but come up one yard short of the state title.
“Miracle” (2004)
In perhaps one of the greatest upsets in sports history, a team of U.S. college hockey players defeated the Soviet Union, the three-time defending gold medal winner and best team in the world, during the Cold War.
"DodgeBall" (2004)
Okay, okay. This is really a parody of sports movies. But for all its send-ups of underdog sports movie formulas, it also embraces them full-heartedly during the gripping championship showdown between the Average Joes and Globo Gym.
“The Fighter” (2010) David O. Russell‘s Oscar-winning picture depicted boxer Mickey Ward’s (Mark Wahlberg) climb up the ranks from middling contender to a shot at the title. The final fight shows the grit and heart that it took for Ward to win the belt.
"Senna" (2010)
The best sports documentaries are as riveting as their scripted counterparts, putting viewers right in the action as if they are watching it unfold live. "Senna" is one of the finest examples, using primarily archival footage with no narration and few interviews to show the bitter Formula 1 rivalry between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost that led to the 1989 and 1990 championships being decided in controversial fashion at Japan's famed Suzuka Circuit.
"Survive and Advance" (2013)
ESPN's "30 for 30" series included a look at arguably the most famous championship run in college basketball history. In 1983, Jimmy Valvano led the North Carolina State Wolfpack on a streak of nine consecutive overtime or one-point wins, culminating in a last-second basket to win the championship over top-ranked Houston. In this documentary, even though the outcome is known, every game's heart-stopping drama is recreated perfectly.
"Creed" (2015)
The power and hypnotic beauty of this famous running scene from "Creed" as directed by Ryan Coogler is immense. Michael B. Jordan captures the inspiring training run from the original "Rocky" with a modern spirit. You can feel the emotion of the moment so strongly and can't help but root for him.
"Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies" (2017)
Another ESPN documentary that puts you right in the moment. Narrated by Lakers fan Ice Cube and Celtics fan Donnie Wahlberg, this five-hour doc covers the most famous championship rivalry in sports, which peaked with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in the 80s. The tension hits its peak with Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals, in which Bird infamously missed a game-tying three-point shot.
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Whether it’s the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat, TheWrap recaps the biggest moments in these sports classics
