As a seasoned movie reviewer who’s been around the block more times than a well-worn football, I must say that “ManningCast the Musical” is a spectacle worthy of Broadway itself! This extravaganza, which feels like it was born from a brilliant and slightly mad brainstorming session, is a testament to the Mannings’ audacious sense of humor and their knack for creating engaging content.
There isn’t an award category for “Most Comically Elaborate Broadway-Style Advertisement for a Football Broadcast Series,” but if there was, “The ManningCast Musical” would undoubtedly win hands down.
“The ‘ManningCast,’ ESPN’s well-liked live show for Monday Night Football games, led by NFL stars Peyton and Eli Manning, unveiled its fourth season on Sept. 3 through a ten-minute YouTube video detailing their (imaginary) attempts to create “ManningCast the Musical.” This production featured original tunes, dance routines, a ‘Rent’-inspired segment, sparkling replicas of the Mannings’ trademark quarter-zip sweaters, an eclectic assortment of cameos from stars like Robert Downey Jr., Backstreet Boys, Kevin Hart, Michael Bublé, Pete Davidson, Paris Hilton, Snoop Dogg, and Disney CEO Bob Iger. All these celebrities were interspersed with the usual football personalities.”
The brief comedy skit, that garnered an impressive 6.6 million views on social media within just two days of release, leaves one pondering: How on earth did they manage to create such a spectacle? And, moreover, what was the motivation behind it?
Therese Andrews, head of production at Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, spent most of a year managing a 22-day shoot that spanned over seven months and featured more than 40 cameos. She collaborated with a team consisting of writer-conceiver DJ Gallo, executive producer (and co-founder of Omaha) Jamie Horowitz, and frequent Broadway performer Tom Kitt. Notably, the composer of “Next to Normal”, Tom Kitt, also made an appearance in the promotional video, sitting next to a man who may not be immediately recognizable as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
The initial cameos were filmed as far back as February during the Pro Bowl in Orlando. “Imagine us asking a team of star athletes: ‘Could you please wear these costumes, dance, and lip-sync to some of our tunes?'” Andrews chuckles. (paraphrased)
The creators of “ManningCast,” who have won Emmys for Outstanding Live Series (in 2021 and 2022) and for Outstanding Personality/Sports Event Analyst (Peyton Manning in 2023), are known for introducing new seasons with eye-catching, amusing, slightly self-deprecating promotional videos. Drawing inspiration from Peyton Manning’s “Emily in Paris” skit on a 2022 episode of “Saturday Night Live,” Lily Collins announced the second season of “ManningCast.” The third-season promo featured a comedy, filled with cameos, that spanned seven minutes and followed the brothers as they conducted disastrous auditions for a new co-host. This video garnered a massive 42.5 million views on social media.
“Andrew commented, ‘We really tested the limits with this promotion.’ It seems we pushed it quite far. Once we completed production for that project, we immediately moved on to the next one.”
Back in October, the production team started brainstorming various ideas, and eventually, the Manning family decided that a musical theme would be the best choice. In February, Lin-Manuel Miranda suggested his Broadway colleague Kitt for the project, prior to a significant production day with the Mannings and the cast of the fake musical in May. The vocal recordings were finished in June, and the final cameo was filmed only last month.
The Kent Denver School’s Anschutz Theater in Denver, Colorado, served as a substitute for a Broadway venue, as it happens to be the location where Peyton Manning resides. The cast of the stage musical was selected from the renowned theater department at the University of Colorado.
Indeed, the Mannings took charge of their singing duties, whether it was during live performances or recording sessions in the studio. (Watch out, Hugh Jackman!)
The anticipation for the “ManningCast” fifth season announcement has been raised significantly, as they will begin brainstorming sessions for it next month.
In the interim, Andrews humorously remarks, “Wow, we’ve almost got an entire musical! Why not continue and see where it leads us?”
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2024-09-06 18:18