Up Close
Encyclopedia
Up Close is a sports interview
show that aired on ESPN
for 20 years.
on USA Network
and was created by the advertising agency Foote, Cone and Belding to advertise one of its clients, Mazda
cars. Mazda SportsLook moved to ESPN in 1982
and was subsequently rechristened Up Close.
. The show aired at 6 p.m. Eastern time
, followed by SportsCenter at 6:30. The show remained in that slot until September 1999
, when SportsCenter was expanded to an hour and Up Close, as it was then renamed, moved to 5:30 p.m.
, who served as host for 13 years. During this time, both Firestone and the show won many CableACE Awards, then the gold standard
for cable television programming. When Firestone left in 1994
, Chris Myers
became the new host; he stayed there until 1998
and enjoyed the highest ratings in the history of the program. Gary Miller
was the show's host when Up Close signed off in 2001
.
; this was Simpson's first full-length interview since he was acquitted in the so-called "trial of the century" a month earlier.
Some interviews, notably those with college basketball
coaches
Jim Valvano
and Bob Knight, are still occasionally shown on ESPN Classic
under the name Up Close Classics.
, Up Close broadcasts were moved from studios
in Los Angeles
to the ESPN Zone
in Anaheim
, on Disneyland property.
and the rise of a confrontational style of talk led to the show's demise, which took place on Friday, October 19, 2001. Three days later, Up Close was replaced with Unscripted with Chris Connelly
, which updated the Up Close format to be more contemporary. The new program lasted less than a year.
Interview
An interview is a conversation between two people where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.- Interview as a Method for Qualitative Research:"Definition" -...
show that aired on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
for 20 years.
Early years
The program debuted in 19811981 in television
The year 1981 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1981.For the American TV schedule, see: 1981-82 American network television schedule.- Events :...
on USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
and was created by the advertising agency Foote, Cone and Belding to advertise one of its clients, Mazda
Mazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...
cars. Mazda SportsLook moved to ESPN in 1982
1982 in television
The year 1982 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1982.For the American TV schedule, see: 1982-83 American network television schedule.-Events:...
and was subsequently rechristened Up Close.
Time slots
Once it arrived at ESPN, SportsLook was slotted before SportsCenterSportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
. The show aired at 6 p.m. Eastern time
North American Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
, followed by SportsCenter at 6:30. The show remained in that slot until September 1999
1999 in television
The year 1999 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1999.For the American TV schedule, see: 1999-00 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-Miniseries:...
, when SportsCenter was expanded to an hour and Up Close, as it was then renamed, moved to 5:30 p.m.
Hosts
The original host of Up Close was Roy FirestoneRoy Firestone
Roy Firestone is an American sports commentator and journalist. Firestone is a graduate of Miami Beach High School and the University of Miami.-Television career:...
, who served as host for 13 years. During this time, both Firestone and the show won many CableACE Awards, then the gold standard
Gold standard
The gold standard is a monetary system in which the standard economic unit of account is a fixed mass of gold. There are distinct kinds of gold standard...
for cable television programming. When Firestone left in 1994
1994 in television
The year 1994 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1994.For the American TV schedule, see: 1994-95 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-Miniseries:...
, Chris Myers
Chris Myers
Christopher Patrick "Chris" Myers ) is an American sportscaster.-Biography:With more than 20 years in broadcasting, Chris Myers has covered premiere events, including the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, NCAA Final Four, The Masters and U.S...
became the new host; he stayed there until 1998
1998 in television
The year 1998 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1998.For the American TV schedule, see: 1998–99 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
and enjoyed the highest ratings in the history of the program. Gary Miller
Gary Miller (sportscaster)
Gary Miller is an American sportscaster and radio host.-Education:Miller graduated in the same high school class, in Naperville, Illinois, as former CNN news anchor Paula Zahn....
was the show's host when Up Close signed off in 2001
2001 in television
The year 2001 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 2001.-Events:-Debuts:-1940s:*Meet the Press .*Candid Camera .*CBS Evening News ....
.
Notable interviews
Myers interviewed O.J. Simpson live in November 19951995 in television
The year 1995 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1995.For the American TV schedule, see: 1995-96 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
; this was Simpson's first full-length interview since he was acquitted in the so-called "trial of the century" a month earlier.
Some interviews, notably those with college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
coaches
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Jim Valvano
Jim Valvano
James Thomas Anthony "Jim" Valvano , nicknamed Jimmy V, was an American college basketball coach.While the head basketball coach at North Carolina State University, he won the 1983 NCAA Basketball Tournament against high odds...
and Bob Knight, are still occasionally shown on ESPN Classic
ESPN Classic
ESPN Classic is a sports channel that features reruns of famous sporting events, sports documentaries, and sports themed movies. Such programs includes biographies of famous sports figures or a rerun of a famous World Series or Super Bowl, often with added commentary on the event...
under the name Up Close Classics.
Broadcast locations
In 19991999 in television
The year 1999 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1999.For the American TV schedule, see: 1999-00 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-Miniseries:...
, Up Close broadcasts were moved from studios
Television studio
A television studio is an installation in which a video productions take place, either for the recording of live television to video tape, or for the acquisition of raw footage for post-production. The design of a studio is similar to, and derived from, movie studios, with a few amendments for the...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
to the ESPN Zone
ESPN Zone
ESPN Zone is a Southern California-based chain of two sports-themed restaurants that include arcades, TV studios, and radio studios that are currently franchised, but formally owned by the American cable network ESPN. The first ESPN Zone opened in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 11, 1998, in the Power...
in Anaheim
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, on Disneyland property.
Cancellation
Eventually, declining ratingsNielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
and the rise of a confrontational style of talk led to the show's demise, which took place on Friday, October 19, 2001. Three days later, Up Close was replaced with Unscripted with Chris Connelly
Unscripted with Chris Connelly
Unscripted with Chris Connelly is a half-hour daily interview program that aired on ESPN from October 22, 2001 until June 25, 2002.-Format:...
, which updated the Up Close format to be more contemporary. The new program lasted less than a year.