Any update on Amazon Original Series?

Submitted by MFDoom_ on

Just wondering if anyone has heard anything about the release of the Amazon Original Series. All that I can find says that a release date was supposed to be sometime in January. Assuming that coaches/admin needs to sign off on the final product. Perhaps the early signing period and then current NSD slowed this process down?

Anyone have an idea of the release date? I've been checking Amazon Prime here and there and don't even see it in the "coming soon".

Wolverine Devotee

February 16th, 2018 at 9:11 PM ^

I'm guessing the coaches don't want to sign off on it.

Honestly was a very tacky and lame move. Win a championship first and then have a show.

switch26

February 16th, 2018 at 9:38 PM ^

Amazon is slightly bigger than the dumbass btn network.. pretty positive it will be airing..

Regardless of Michigan having a letdown season they would make their money back ten fold.

Rabbit21

February 16th, 2018 at 9:13 PM ^

Yeah, I have a feeling it doesn't tell any sort of story anyone wants to watch and given Michigan fans moods right now, would.just be waving a red flag in front of a bull, hope it never sees the light of day.

Ty Butterfield

February 16th, 2018 at 9:21 PM ^

Honestly would be fine with the athletic department returning all the money and burning the footage.

Sparty Doesn't Know

February 16th, 2018 at 9:21 PM ^

There is no way in hell Michigan will let that show hit the board and there is no way in hell Amazon wants it to.  Good riddance to a season worth forgetting.  Onward to Shea giving the defense adequate rest!

Arb lover

February 16th, 2018 at 9:54 PM ^

January and directly after that season was a pretty crappy time to roll it out, so I was nothing less than relieved when they got some experts involved.

Strategy has them holding off (they get to have edits wherever they want) at a minimum until the NCAA makes a decision on Patterson. That does two things, 1) it keeps Michigan more in normal school mode- the NCAA being what it is, is more likely to say no to a Shea move to a primadonna school that just went celebrity gosip on them (even though they okay'd the concept to begin with)(trust me, you haven't seen athletic directors the SEC over complain in mass to the NCAA about Michigan's tactics like you will when a quality show featuring behind the scenes with Michigan footballers gets released and makes kids the country over want to go there), and 2) it provides a compelling narrative for a two season series if there's a potential good ending.

Amazon is really only hooked into producing it if they can get at least two seasons out of it. (Similar to what they did with Arizona). Yeah, they were willing to do just the one on a limited budget, but it could be a lot better, which means better for the university (more footage to pick from, better quality video, an actual narrative and amazon marketing). Now? They have the pain, the emotional rebuilding, and the get back to work offseason.

Assuming Michigan is predicted by the pundits to have a breakout year next year, which they might buy more readily if Shea and Calvin Anderson are available, it gives Michigan a bit more negotiating leverage to help build a brand improving image type series rather than a "season with the simpsons". Coincidentally that's also Michigan's desire. Michigan is doing this series because 1) its better than letting Ohio state do it, and you can bet your ass that's who was going to be asked if we said no, 2) they have some control over the product, and 3) its an incredibly powerful potential recruiting tool as high school kids watch more tv than any of us and believe all of it, and if Michigan can show that something special, it will go a long way towards getting top kids interested in that school. (A big point here for the MgoBlogger's is as far as Michigan is concerned, its for the kids, not us. As far as Amazon is concerned, its for potential viewers in general). All that's null and void if season two is another 8-5 though. 

I actually see them holding off on season one until mid August when people are starting to get football hungry, and doing season two one week at a time, during the actual football season and for maximum viewing interest. Nobody rolls out a football movie or show during the spring/summer months. Late august and continuing also keeps it fresh in recruits minds, and yes, this could blow up spectacularly, but that's what the university pays its top branding people for. It could also bring about a more golden recruiting age. 

If you don't buy any of that, you can at least verify that its not happening for the next few months because Amazon doesn't even have it listed under their "coming soon" section, and they have their February lineup released. 

maineandblue

February 16th, 2018 at 10:28 PM ^

I love this post, and think it makes a lot of sense both for Amazon and Michigan. 

This past season was full of pain and disappointment, but I really do think next year has the potential to be a special year. Top 5 defense, Shea eligibility seems likely, and I can't imagine the O line being worse. Not worried about RBs, WRs, TEs, or play calling. 

I love stories of suffering followed by redemption. Magnolia is my favorite movie, and the Rilo Kiley "Better Son or Daughter" is my favorite sports video of all time. I have no interest in watching whatever was filmed in the last season right now, but if we have a good to great year next year (which I think is quite possible) this Amazon special will become my favorite thing ever. 

LSAClassOf2000

February 16th, 2018 at 10:55 PM ^

Maybe that's true, but how many people in 2075 will really care about the sort of season that Michigan football had in 2017? Indeed, how many of those people will still even be watching football or whatever version of it remains? Most of us will be gone by then most likely, so it wouldn't matter anyway really, but I still wonder...

Hold This L

February 16th, 2018 at 10:44 PM ^

Can offer every student athletes free prime for a year? Does bezos have it in his $90 billion dollar heart?

Hail Harbo

February 17th, 2018 at 3:31 AM ^

If it never aired it would not be the first time a production venture hit the circular file.  Sure, there is a sunk cost associated with it, but with a season that turned out, well, crappy, there are still the editing, marketing, and distribution costs that need to be spent if it is to air.  If there is no hope to at least break even, they'll take a powder on the sunk costs rather than throw good money after bad.

Tony Soprano

February 17th, 2018 at 6:59 AM ^

Almost nobody predicted any more than 8 wins for Michigan.  The 8-5 season wasn't a suprise to non-Michigan folks, including Amazon. Michigan's record was actually better than what would be expected with the youth, inexperience, and injuries it had.   So, the idea that Amazon won't air it because of the 8-5 season doesn't make sense.  Maybe the original plan was to cover 2 seasons - the season of struggle and then the season of triump - makes for a good story. 

mGrowOld

February 17th, 2018 at 10:39 AM ^

Last time I checked Amazon's (and the B1G) audience extended just a wee bit outside the borders of the mitten itself.   And NOTHING will make the non-Michigan audience happier than watching each of those five losses and our HCs reaction to them.

In case you guys are new to college football we're not exactly loved by the rest of the world.  Shocking I know.

Honk if Ufer M…

February 17th, 2018 at 10:58 AM ^

Until I hear otherwise I'm going to assume that the filming caught too much truth about how things were run in the program and that Harbaugh bought out the contract & footage out of his own pocket to prevent the release, with a contractual gag order on everyone involved, to avoid his ruination.