It's a perk I've been able to share with some of the friends and family who have been lucky enough to be present when I'm screening advanced episodes of a show.
My boyfriend Jody has gotten to reap the benefits of my job on many occasions. He saw the season premiere of "The Sopranos" weeks before it aired (though not the series finale — HBO wouldn't send me that).
As a sports fan, he's particularly thrilled whenever I get any shows about sporting events. He was even excited when I received sample episodes of "Fast Cars & Superstars — Gillette Young Guns Celebrity Race," a shoddy ABC reality show in which low-level celebs drove racecars.
But, sometimes, I forget to tell him when I get a show. I mean, I get at least 10 screeners a week. It's understandable that one or two would slip my mind, right?
Well, that's what I thought. Apparently, I was wrong. I learned that the hard way last week, when Jody and I saw an ad for the new ESPN miniseries "The Bronx is Burning," about the 1977 New York Yankees. The first installment of the eight-episode series airs Monday at 10 p.m.
When we saw the commercial, I offhandedly mentioned that I'd gotten an advanced copy of the first few episodes, but hadn't watched them yet. Jody's face fell, and his blue eyes went wide with shock and
"You've been holding out on me?" he said, his voice soaked with betrayal.
"Well, um, no," I stammered. "I kind of forgot that I had it. And, besides, I didn't think you'd want to watch."
Actually, that was true. I really didn't think Jody would be interested in it. As a native of the Philadelphia region, he's an avid Yankee-hater. Heck, he doesn't even like baseball that much.
I pointed this out to him. It didn't seem to make a difference. "You've been holding out on me," he repeated.
I had no choice. We had to watch the show immediately if I had any chance of redeeming myself.
I also realized that my redemption would need to include a public apology for my oversight. So here it is: Honey, I'm sorry I forgot to tell you about the miniseries. Even though you hate the Yankees, I should have realized that you are eager to watch any show that features a sporting event.
I also should have realized that, since the show also involves the notorious "Son of Sam" killings, you, as a true crime buff, would be interested.
I'm very, very sorry. Please, forgive me.
Now, with all that out of the way, I can move on to writing about the actual show which, based on the installments I've seen, isn't half bad.
"Bronx" is based on Jonathan Mahler's nonfiction bestseller "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx is Burning," a portrait of how the Yankees became a beacon of hope during a difficult time in New York's hysteria. The "Son of Sam," New York's first serial killer in 40 years, was running amok, there was a bitter mayoral race in the offing and, to top it all off, there was a blackout in the middle of a scorching summer heatwave.
And, as the miniseries explains, things weren't exactly peaceful in the Yankees ball club, either. The centerpiece of the story is the tumultuous relationship between the three men who came to symbolize the Yankees during this time: superstar player Reggie Jackson, manager Billy Martin and owner George Steinbrenner.
In the miniseries, the trio is played by, respectively, Daniel Sunjata, John Turturro, and Oliver Platt, sporting a truly unfortunate wig.
Of the three actors, Sunjata is the most physically convincing. The actor, best known for playing lothario firefighter Franco on the FX drama "Rescue Me" is nearly unrecognizable under a pair of glasses and mounds of fake hair (man, the wig budget for this thing must have been enormous), and does look a great deal like Jackson.
But it's Turturro who gives the standout performance here. The chameleon-like actor disappears into the role of the embattled Martin. He's alternately explosive and vulnerable, beautifully capturing a man who sees the world around him changing, and is fighting that change with all his might.
True, a good performance by Turturro is hardly a surprise, but it's always welcome. It's particularly refreshing here, as an anecdote to Platt's disappointing, one-note work as Steinbrenner. To be fair, even Olivier would have been handicapped by that awful wig. But Platt is notably bad in the role, all surface and no substance. He gets the voice right and, I imagine, some of the physical mannerisms, but there's absolutely no depth to his performance.
Larry David, who played Steinbrenner on "Seinfeld," gave a more nuanced portrayal — and he was just a disembodied voice.
Aside from the three leads, the cast features a number of familiar faces, including Dan Lauria (Kevin's dad on "The Wonder Years") as a cop investigating the Son of Sam murders, and character actor Michael Rispoli as newspaper columnist Jimmy Breslin.
I should also mention that "Bronx" was primarily shot in Connecticut, with Dodd Stadium in Norwich standing in for Yankee Stadium. This marks the first time that the Bristol-based ESPN has filmed a scripted drama in the state.
On the whole, "Bronx" is a worthy effort. It's quick moving and enjoyable, even for non-sports fans. I'm glad I got to watch my preview episodes.
And, once again Jody, sorry for holding out on you.
"The Bronx is Burning" debuts 10 p.m. Monday on ESPN. The next episode will air 10 p.m. July 17, and the series will continue to air Tuesday nights at 10 until Aug. 28.
Features writer Amanda Cuda can be reached at acuda@ctpost.com. Visit her blog at forum.connpost.com/turnedon.
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