Logo

TVWeek

Former ESPN Personality Resurfaces With New TV Show

Apr 26, 2016  •  Post A Comment

Onetime ESPN lightning rod Bill Simmons, who got the boot from the sports channel about a year ago after building a reputation for controversy, has resurfaced with a new show on HBO.

In an announcement from HBO for “Any Given Wednesday with Bill Simmons,” the veteran sports media personality says: “I’m excited about the show, I’m excited about the title and I’m really, really excited to drop my first F-bomb on TV.”

The pop culture and sports talk show launches Wednesday, June 22, with a 20-episode order for its first season.

Simmons, whose 14-year tenure at ESPN included overseeing the popular Grantland website, had a difficult relationship with the network, marked by a series of confrontations focusing on censorship and creative freedom. HBO signed him back in July 2015, a few weeks after ESPN announced that it would not be renewing his contract.

Said Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming: “Bill Simmons represents a unique and distinct voice with a proven track record of challenging the norm and igniting debate and discussion on a wide range of topics. We are excited about the concept Bill and his team have developed for this show, which takes advantage of Bill’s intelligence, talent and insights.”

Please click here for more details.

hbo-logo

Your Comment

Email (will not be published)