MSG will take a look back at the tumultuous summer of 1977 in New York via the acquisition of the rights to ESPN's The Bronx is Burning and burnish the miniseries with related original content.
The regional sports network, beginning on April 5 at 9 p.m., will telecast the eight-episode miniseries, based on the best-selling book, on Sunday nights. Presented by CadillacTriState.com with limited commercials -- only three breaks over the course of the hour -- the miniseries will be followed by MSG's original 'Summer of '77' programming, featuring interviews with the athletes, celebrities, and elected officials who lived through the heated summer.
That year the "Son of Sam" serial killer David Berkowitz terrorized New York, which was also devastated by a citywide blackout that led to looting and arson and a very heated mayoral race. In the meantime, there was combustion at Yankee Stadium between Reggie Jackson and his new teammates and manager, the late Billy Martin, not to mention the club's then imperious Boss, George Steinbrenner.
MSG's original Summer of ‘77 will offer new commentary and never-before-heard tales from such Bronx Bombers as Reggie Jackson, Chris Chambliss, Bucky Dent, Ron Guidry, Sparkly Lyle, Graig Nettles, Willie Randolph, Mickey Rivers and Fran Healy.
Walt "Clyde" Frazier, Whoopi Goldberg, Luis Guzman, baseball writers Henry Hecht, and Steve Jacobson, Spike Lee, John Leguizamo, Steve Schirripa and John Turturro, who plays Martin in the miniseries, will also weigh in.
Clips of the original content, including bonus footage and full-length interviews from Summer of ‘77, will be accessible online at www.MSG.com/summerof77. In addition, there will be trivia for Yankees diehards, photo galleries of 1977 and message boards. Starting March 27, CadillacTriState.com will also be home to video clips and other original content.
"MSG is bringing viewers a unique look back at a extraordinary time in New York City, joining ESPN's scripted drama ‘Bronx is Burning' and MSG's original ‘Summer of ‘77' interviews for one-hour of must-watch Sunday night programming," said Dan Ronayne, general manager and executive vice president of MSG Networks. "New Yorkers will be captivated by the untold stories we have captured from Yankee's legends Reggie Jackson, Ron Guidry, Mickey Rivers, and many others that lived during this unprecedented time in history."
