upcoming UM football show on Amazon
Was curious if everyone plans to watch this documentary series, due out on Amazon in January? I, for one, found this to be a painful season to watch, at least after Week 1 vs. Florida. I'm not sure I want to relive the injuries and disappointment.
November 28th, 2017 at 12:00 PM ^
I want to get it just because I am betting they captured some pretty cool behind-the-scenes stuff. Probably not Harbaugh's ultra-secret game plans, but maybe some high level strategy or practice clips from one of our easier games.
Hopefully there isn't too much "spin" added. A lot of reality shows seek to create artificial drama where there is none, and doing so could be harmful to our program.
Any idea when this comes out (targeted for January) and how much it'll cost?
November 28th, 2017 at 12:22 PM ^
According to Freep, it's airing exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, which means it will be free for Amazon Prime members and unavailable (even for purchase, I assume) to non-members. If you aren't an Amazon Prime member you can sign up for a free month (it auto-renews, so be sure to cancel it) once the documentary series is released and probably binge the whole thing right then (unless they're doing it the old-fashioned, one-episode-per-week way). Otherwise, Amazon Prime is $99 for a year. It doesn't look like you can use it for a few months and then cancel and get a partial refund, either.
November 28th, 2017 at 12:50 PM ^
All great info, and I'd add that Amazon offers Prime discounted at times, usually around this time of year. If you're someone like myself with 2 small kids and love the convinience of stuff shipped free to you including big crap (diapers and whatnot), it's well worth it.
November 28th, 2017 at 2:09 PM ^
monthly now. I think it's around $10 or $12, so you do get a discount for paying all at once. And if you prepay the $99 and decide to cancel they'll give you a prorated refund.
Amazon has excellent return policies like that, even for merchandise.
November 28th, 2017 at 2:21 PM ^
They also offer discounted rates for students/teacher if you have a .edu email address. I may still use my old umich.edu emai for it to get the discount...
November 28th, 2017 at 3:03 PM ^
Yay! My .edu work email finally pays off!
Too bad I can't use it for personal stuff.
November 28th, 2017 at 2:53 PM ^
November 28th, 2017 at 12:02 PM ^
November 28th, 2017 at 12:03 PM ^
I'm excited for it. The guys played their guts out this year despite a ton of adversity with injuries and tough losses. It will be a great measuring stick for our expectations of the team next year with almost everyone returning.
November 28th, 2017 at 12:04 PM ^
November 28th, 2017 at 12:30 PM ^
You're fooling yourself if you think the reason non-Michigan fans in the rest of the country will "love" this will be for anything other than to make fun of Michigan.
You can bet that the single most popular hot take by viewers—among them will be more than a few Michigan fans—will be that Harbaugh should spend more time coaching his team and less time having film crews running around. Doesn't matter whether that's extremely dumb or not—after 8-4, people will be eager to pile on Harbaugh.
I'm not a Prime member, but even if I was I'd have no interest in watching it.
November 28th, 2017 at 12:37 PM ^
Not sure I agree. This could suck, or could be pretty awesome. We're kind of at the mercy of Amazon's production team.
But if this show provides some good insight into the life of student athletes, or shows behind-the-scenes game planning, then college footbal fans will be dying to see the same thing for their own teams. On the other hand, if the show tries to be like "MICHIGAN IS AWESOME" and then we go out and keep losing, then yeah, it will just be comedic value to everyone else.
November 28th, 2017 at 1:28 PM ^
I wasn't referring to the quality of the production, but to the reaction of the average CFB fan across the country. It could be award-winning documentary excellence, but the majority of fans in Ohio or Lansing or Wisconsin—not to mention SEC country—will react the mouth-breathing way you'd expect them to. The mentality of the great mass of our fellow citizens is the reason that shows like "Honey BooBoo" and that Duck Commander crap exist in the first place.
I'd have no interest in watching it because it would be too painful to relive the losses, and I doubt that any truly informative nuggets of information about behind-the-scenes coaching strategy discussions will be aired. I don't care about players getting physical therapy during the week or attending classes and studying.
November 28th, 2017 at 1:50 PM ^
Plenty of people watch Friday Night Tykes, Last Chance U, All or Nothing and Hard Knocks...more than the fans of the team...and more than just to watch them lose.
November 28th, 2017 at 4:48 PM ^
The guys doing this had a hand in All or Nothing, the NFL series that was embedded with the Cardinals during their 2015 NFC Championship game run, and the Rams as they moved to Los Angeles and crashed and burned to 4-12 under Jeff Fisher.
Both those programs did a good job being even handed, but naturally they found some protagonists and gave you reasons to root for them to give viewers a feeling of something to be apart of. During the Cardinals season they focused a lot on Bruce Arians and the ups and downs he faced, it provided some warm moments, like players and their families celebrating Christmas, it also featured some gut wrenching moments (Spoilert Alert) like when the Cardinals team president lost his dog to a terminal illness, and seeing Larry Fitzgerald contemplate if the NFC CG loss to Carolina was his final game.
Now, this being college football, there will be some differences, but if this matches the tone of All or Nothing, we will be flies on the wall through the ups and downs of the 2017 season of Michigan Football.
November 28th, 2017 at 1:40 PM ^
Winning is a cure all. You win and this kind of stuff doesn't matter. You lose and people are going to question the judgement of having a film crew follow your team around.
November 28th, 2017 at 4:15 PM ^
November 28th, 2017 at 12:05 PM ^
It should be required viewing for the UNACCEPTABLEs in Michigan fandom as it will no doubt humanize all the little things that work for and against these kids week in and week out.
Personally, I find it telling that Harbaugh agreed to it this year with an extremely young squad. It shows a lot of confidence in your program, IMO.
November 28th, 2017 at 12:08 PM ^
To get to know the kids. But, yes, this was a painful season and I don't need to see any replays of game days.
November 28th, 2017 at 12:09 PM ^
I'm guessing JOK will be a major "character" on the show and that a lot of people are going to end up feeling bad about how they treated him, talked about him online, etc. after it airs.
November 28th, 2017 at 12:11 PM ^
I wonder if the Great MGoBlog Meltdown of 2017 will make it on the air?
November 28th, 2017 at 12:18 PM ^
Amazon was just here filming my posts and doing a short interview. So probably, yes.
November 29th, 2017 at 6:39 AM ^
November 28th, 2017 at 12:10 PM ^
Amazon paid $2 Million for this. They probably did not think they were paying all of that for an 8-4 season and a Holiday bowl.
You pays your money, you takes your chances.
November 28th, 2017 at 12:15 PM ^
Not sure the record really matters. Characters and human drama matter for television and I think Michigan football had plenty of that this year.
Think about Hard Knocks. Its best moment had nothing to do with the team they were covering being future Super Bowl champs or even football, it was Rex Ryan yelling, "Let's go eat a God damn snack!"
I am sure Harbaugh will provide compelling enough television. I'm also sure the producers will find the kids on the team who make for a fun watch as well. I bet it's an enjoyable watch, despite the overwhelming feeling from this season being one of frustration.
November 28th, 2017 at 12:19 PM ^
To my knowledge, this is the first time a show like this has been done on a big scale. The novelty factor here is high.
November 28th, 2017 at 1:04 PM ^
November 28th, 2017 at 1:24 PM ^
just following Chase Winovich around.
November 28th, 2017 at 12:17 PM ^
November 28th, 2017 at 12:52 PM ^
I agree, they spend A LOT more for the Grand Tour (car show with the former Top Gear guys)
November 28th, 2017 at 1:53 PM ^
if Amazon tracked which of a certain number of schools purchased merchandise on their site..and how much they spend...in order to narrow down which school they would choose. Having a large fanbase of mostly educated (read: employed) individuals helps sway that decision.
November 28th, 2017 at 12:10 PM ^
November 28th, 2017 at 12:57 PM ^
to watch the show when the season was going well
but I'll still tune in, cuz it's Michigan
November 28th, 2017 at 3:26 PM ^
We'll always have Florida.
November 28th, 2017 at 12:13 PM ^
November 28th, 2017 at 12:23 PM ^
Not sure how the pricing will work. For many shows/videos, Amazon Prime only entitles you to a small (a few $) discount. I searched the internet but couldn't find a pricing scheme for this show (they may not have decided yet). That said, the original articles from September say that this will a show for prime members, without specifying if they mean "exclusive to prime members" or "cheaper for prime members."
November 28th, 2017 at 12:15 PM ^
Actually, it's sort of because of the 8-4 outcome that I want to see this - I kind of wonder if you get a glimpse into the fustrations on offense for example and what that looked like from the inside. Well, at least as much as they will show us, of course, but I am certain to find things that make things I may have said here seem foolish and I am all about that.
November 28th, 2017 at 12:16 PM ^
I have been hard pressed to find specifics on this so far this year. Does it have an actual release day and a working title?
November 28th, 2017 at 12:23 PM ^
Not to my knowledge. I cant find details either
November 28th, 2017 at 12:16 PM ^
November 28th, 2017 at 12:17 PM ^
Wish it happened during a year with at least one memorable win to celebrate
November 28th, 2017 at 1:22 PM ^
At the time, the Week 1 win over Florida was a pretty big deal. Only in retrospect was it mostly meaningless.
November 28th, 2017 at 1:24 PM ^
I imagine the celebration after Florida will be fun to watch. At the time, no one really knew how bad they truly sucked.
November 28th, 2017 at 3:28 PM ^
Don't worry, they'll film our big bowl win over Stanford.
November 28th, 2017 at 12:18 PM ^
I'm looking forward to the scenes in the ready-room with the officials before the OSU game.
Ref #1 holds script: "Do I call holding or PI on Michigan if they do something really good?"
Ref #2: "How big of a lead are we suppose to let them have before we take over? TWO touchdowns??? Jesus H Christ people - we're going to have to really take over to bring OSU back if you dont let us get involved before then.
Ref #3: "Now common. You guys want me to completely ignore EVERYTHING OSU does all game and only call penalties on Michigan? I know this is scripted but dont we need to at least make the audience think it's fairly done? Everybody will see through this if we call the game the way the script is written"
November 28th, 2017 at 12:19 PM ^
November 28th, 2017 at 12:21 PM ^
I will probably watch it. No, I don't want them to do it again.
November 28th, 2017 at 12:24 PM ^
November 28th, 2017 at 12:25 PM ^