Bonds on Bonds

Infobox Television
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show_name = Bonds on Bonds


caption =
format = Reality
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audio_format =
runtime = Premiere - 60 minRest - 30 min
creator =
developer =
executive_producer = Brian Robbins
Mike Tollin
starring = Barry Bonds
narrated =
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country = USA
network = ESPN
first_run =
first_aired = April 4, 2006
last_aired = May 30, 2006
num_episodes = 10
website =
imdb_id = 0783620
tv_com_id =

"Bonds on Bonds" was a 10 part reality TV series starring former San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds that aired on ESPN. The show revolved on the life of Bonds and his chase of Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron's home run records. It was produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions, producers of the Nickelodeon series "All That" and many other shows and movies.

Criticisms

From its first announcement, the show faced criticism. At the time, Bonds was (and still is) mired in the scandal of steroid allegations. The show was viewed by some as a see-through attempt by Bonds to garner positive publicity for his side in the guise of a carefully manipulated reality show. ESPN was criticized as allowing Bonds such a one-sided public pulpit, as ESPN was the most powerful name in American sports journalism; the show was seen by some as ESPN giving up any semblance of journalism in favor of becoming a PR front for major sports teams and players. ESPN responded to the criticism by claiming that Bonds would not have creative control and that the episodes would be fair, balanced, and only document the day-to-day activities of Bonds as they occurred, not as Bonds wanted them to occur. However (see below), Bonds grasped at more control and ESPN ultimately cancelled the show.

egment breakdown

The first segment of "Bonds on Bonds", aired Tuesday, April 4 nationwide on ESPN2. Much of the premiere episode dealt with how Bonds has coped with questions about whether steroids have fueled his athletic performance. At one point, Bonds even started to break down in tears. "If it makes them happy to go out of their way to try to destroy me, go right ahead. You can't hurt me any more than you've already hurt me," he said. He continued by saying, "You don't see me bringing anyone else into this. I'm going to take it myself." Bonds paused as his eyes welled and he choked back tears, "And I'm going to take it because there's so many people who depend on me."

In different segments throughout the program, Bonds acknowledged his often rocky relations with the press but cast himself as a victim of critics out to tear him down. He described himself as "mentally and emotionally drained" but insisted he was not going to let anyone "bring me down."

Cancellation

In June 2006, ESPN and producer Tollin/Robbins Productions officially pulled the plug on the reality series, citing "creative control" issues with star Barry Bonds and his representatives. No other details about the decision were given. "Bonds on Bonds" had been absent from the network's schedule since May 30, 2006 and given its poor ratings, the decision to cancel the show was hardly surprising, especially when coupled with the "creative control" issues.

External links

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