The Bronx Is Burning
The Bronx Is Burning is a television drama that debuted on ESPN on July 10, 2007, after the 2007 MLB Home Run Derby. It is an eight-episode mini-series adapted from Jonathan Mahler's best-selling book, Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning. The book focuses on baseball's triumph over the turmoil and hysteria of 1977 New York City and how the New York Yankees came to embody the hopes and fears of an unforgettable summer with Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson's warfare under George Steinbrenner's leadership.
The show stars Daniel Sunjata, Oliver Platt, and John Turturro, while executive producers Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola, writer and executive producer James Solomon, and director Jeremiah Chechik work on the show. The series is produced by ESPN Original Entertainment in conjunction with Tollin/Robbins Productions. Filming began on September 18, 2006, in Connecticut and New York. The 2007 debut of the series marked the 30th anniversary of the 1977 World Series win for the Yankees, the first under Steinbrenner. After airing on ESPN, the episodes were placed on ABC on Demand.
Summary
The central theme of the adaptation is the 1977 New York Yankees against the backdrop of New York City. Yankee superstar Reggie Jackson and manager Billy Martin are locked in a perpetual state of warfare. Jackson was a perfect foil for the scrappy Martin, a popular former Yankee player and reminder of the less complicated past of the team and the city. While owner George Steinbrenner was a autocratic boss, he was also intent on keeping his promise to delivering a World Series title. The show also features subplots concerning the NYPD's pursuit of the Son of Sam serial killer that summer and the devastating blackout and resultant widespread looting in July, all while the city suffered through financial bankruptcy and massive municipal layoffs. Another subplot focused on the 1977 New York City Mayoral race featuring incumbent mayor Abraham Beame, former Congresswoman Bella Abzug, future Governor Mario Cuomo, and Congressman Ed Koch, the eventual winner.The title refers to an off-the-cuff comment allegedly made by broadcaster Howard Cosell during the ABC telecast of Game Two of the 1977 World Series.
Episodes were filmed in New London, Waterford and Norwich in Connecticut as well as in New York City. The series' soundtrack consisted of songs by The Ramones.
Episodes
| No. | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
Cast
| Actor | Role |
| Yankees manager Billy Martin | |
| Yankees outfielder Reggie Jackson | |
| Yankees owner George Steinbrenner | |
| Yankees president Gabe Paul | |
| Daryl Blonder | Yankees batboy Ray Negron |
| Rob Lavin | Yankees pitcher Ken Holtzman |
| Yankees catcher Thurman Munson | |
| Yankees back-up catcher Fran Healy | |
| Yankees outfielder Paul Blair | |
| Yankees bench coach Yogi Berra | |
| Yankees outfielder Lou Piniella | |
| Alex Cranmer | Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles |
| Evan Hart | Yankees shortstop Bucky Dent |
| Dock Pollard | Yankees second baseman Willie Randolph |
| Lou Provenzano | Yankees pitcher Ron Guidry |
| Darby Brown | Yankees designated hitter Cliff Johnson |
| Jason Kosow | Yankees pitcher Jim "Catfish" Hunter |
| Yankees third base coach Dick Howser | |
| Yankees outfielder Mickey Rivers | |
| Yankees Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio | |
| Yankees Hall of Famer Whitey Ford | |
| Robert Ward | Himself |
| Reporter Steve Jacobson | |
| Reporter Phil Pepe | |
| Captain Joseph Borelli | |
| Detective Kavanaugh | |
| Deputy Inspector Timothy Dowd | |
| News Reporter | |
| Detective Welker | |
| Josiah Schlatter | Clubhouse attendant |
| Newspaper columnist Jimmy Breslin | |
| Paul Marini | |
| Suzy Steinbrenner | |
| Russell Woron-Simons | Student watching TV |
| Taxi cab driver |