Up Close
Up Close is an American
from 1981–2001.History
Early years
The program debuted in
Time slots
Once it arrived at ESPN, SportsLook was slotted before
Hosts
The original host of Up Close was
Notable interviews
Roy Firestone was the subject of extensive criticism regarding what has been characterized as a "softball" and "chummy" 1992 ESPN interview with O. J. Simpson (or, as he called Simpson in the interview, "Juice") during which he asserted that Simpson's January 1989 arrest and subsequent conviction for beating his wife, Nicole, unfairly distorted Simpson's reputation to the point that Simpson was portrayed by the press as "the bad guy" merely for having "a little bit too much to drink." He further expressed his annoyance with the press' reports of Simpson's arrest and conviction for beating Nicole because the press, in reporting the facts, had the temerity to portray Simpson as "a wife beater" (the offense for which he was convicted). He then gave Simpson a free pass to downplay the criminal beating of Nicole and characterize it as an argument that got a "little loud," asserting that he and Nicole were "both guilty." These assertions, which were contrary to the public record, were not only unchallenged by Firestone, but were actively encouraged and endorsed by him. This criticism was renewed upon the release of the documentary OJ: Made In America which included an excerpt from the interview in which Firestone expresses these sentiments and where the "chumminess" is apparent.[1] Firestone has recently expressed remorse for how he handled the interview, stating, "The Simpson interview is one of the most tragic examples of how the media (including me) and the public trusted and accommodated their heroes, believing their mythology and perpetuating their deification."[2]
Chris Myers would later also interview O. J. Simpson live in November
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.
Broadcast locations
In 1999, Up Close broadcasts were moved from studios in Los Angeles to the ESPN Zone in Anaheim, on Disneyland property.
Cancellation
Declining
2021 revival
On May 27, 2021, SportsCenter anchor Sage Steele revealed during the show's noon ET episode that she would host a reboot of Up Close, exclusively on the digital subscription service ESPN+.[3][4] The first episode of the reimagined show was made available for streaming to ESPN+ subscribers on June 30, 2021.[5]
References
- ^ O.J.: Made In America, Part 2, A Film by Ezra Edelman. 2016
- ^ "My Regrets About How I Asked O.J. Simpson About Domestic Abuse". HuffPost. 15 June 2016.
- ^ "SportsCenter, May 27, 2021". Clippit. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ Koo, Ben (27 May 2021). "ESPN is relaunching Up Close on ESPN+ with Sage Steele hosting". Awful Announcing. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ Lopez, Isabelle (30 June 2021). "Up Close with Sage Steele Debuts Today on ESPN+". ESPN Press Room. Retrieved 1 July 2021.