Rob Ellis: The 2010 Eagles Are A Hit Drama
You have to say this about the pro football team in town: The Eagles do not lack for storylines. September typically marks the kickoff to TV’s fall season, but the folks in primetime ain’t got nothing on the drama that debuted last Sunday at 4:15 in South Philadelphia. Aaron Sorkin himself has never written anything with this many twists and turns.
The treatment for “Eagles 2010” began to be written Easter Sunday when franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb was dealt to none other than division rival Washington. That’s akin to Vincent Chase being shipped to “True Blood” for Sookie and a vampire to be named later. Then the leading role was handed over to relative unknown Kevin Kolb.
Before long, best supporting actor Brian Westbrook was written out of the script. Every great plotline has the bad boy – that’s where a certain southpaw on PETA’s most wanted list came into play, serving as an understudy while waiting for his big (re-) break.
You knew this season was going to be different from the same re-runs we’d season the last few years, where the story was just good enough to keep you tuning in but ultimately the ending left you wanting more. Add to that the 1960 Eagles cast reunion leading up to the premiere at the Linc, and you had all the elements for ratings winner. But little did we know this program would have more surprises and curveballs than an episode of “Lost.”
On the first play of the Kolb era, Andy Reid inserts Michael Vick. The play that ended in a penalty foreshadowed much of what was to come in the first half. Members of the Eagles’ offense must not have read their lines as they looked at different turns inept and outmatched.
Kolb’s afternoon ended in the second quarter with a nasty face plant by Clay Matthews, who looks like central casting out of “Sons of Anarchy.” Later in the quarter it was Stewart Bradley going down in scary fashion. Both were allowed back in the game, which has led to a weeklong debate on head injuries. Where were George Clooney and the “ER” docs when you needed them on the Birds’ sideline? Add to that carnage the season-ending losses of Jamaal Jackson and Leonard Weaver.
We’re only halfway through the show – what an action-packed pilot! But you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
Just when you felt like the show had “jumped the shark” with all that had happened, another surprise was in store. In comes the “bad boy” and back come the Eagles. Vick would run and throw for 278 yards, and it appeared as if the hometown team would have a happy ending and overcome the dreaded club from the land of “Happy Days”.
But curb your enthusiasm – Vick and the Eagles were stuffed on fourth down and lost the game, thanks to another bad play-call from the head writer, Andrew Reid. Bummer.
But that “Big Red” is crafty, because we’re left with a cliff-hanger. After Kolb’s struggles and Vick’s command performance, his Q-Rating is high among the short-sighted demo. So we don’t know who the lead actor will be next episode or throughout the season despite the coach’s claims. Nor do we have any idea what or who this team really is.
The team may have lost the game, but the news is good for the producers of the show. The ratings for Week 1 were through the roof; it was their highest locally-rated game since 2005 and more people tuned in Sunday than nine of their previous 10 season openers. Nationally 28 million people watched the debut of “Eagles 2010.”
And this was only Week 1; there are 15 more episodes planned with an option for some in January and one possibly in February. Next airing is Sunday at 1 p.m. Get your popcorn ready as some washed-up old actor once said.
Follow Rob Ellis on Twitter (@robellis610) and contact him at rellis@phillysportsdaily.com.
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