- Bonds on Bonds
Infobox Television
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show_name = Bonds on Bonds
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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
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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 formerSan Francisco Giants outfielderBarry Bonds that aired onESPN . The show revolved on the life of Bonds and his chase ofBabe Ruth andHank Aaron 'shome run records. It was produced byTollin/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 aPR 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 onESPN2 . 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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