The two-episode premiere of Esquire Network's "Friday Night Tykes," a series that gives an "extensive look at the rough and relentless way some local youngsters" are treated by youth football coaches, marked the net's "highest-rated premiere of an original program to date," according to Jeanne Jakle of the SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS. The premiere on Jan. 14 drew "more than 428,000 people." For the "fledgling, male-skewed Esquire," which launched 16 weeks ago, the debut "was a big success." Portions of the series featuring "screaming coaches, obsessive parents, clashing helmets and crying, vomiting kids" have created controversy. Esquire President Adam Stotsky said of the show, "It ignited a conversation we expected it to ignite" (MYSANANTONIO.com, 1/18). The show was examined on NBC's "Today" yesterday, and host Matt Lauer said it is "raising some serious questions about things like player safety and just how far we should push our children" ("Today," NBC, 1/21).
HARD HITTING: ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert noted the opening montage of the show includes "a violent collision that ends with one child lying face down, his arm contorted in the kind of awkward position that we often see from those who have suffered concussions." NFL Senior VP/Health & Safety Policy Jeff Miller said, "The program is definitely troubling to watch. Our understanding is that this is not a league that signed up with USA Football to be a part of the Heads Up Football program." Seifert wrote two "unique aspects" of the show are "worthy of genuine concern, be it from the NFL or USA Football or anyone else." A potential head injury is "at one point celebrated and at another point almost totally disregarded." Also, the "language and violent imagery used in the opening sequence is more typical of high school and college coaches." Seifert: "It's questionable at best for 8- and 9-year-olds" (ESPN.com, 1/17). In Washington, Micah Rice wrote the show is "everything bad about youth sports presented with the sensationalistic flair of reality television." It is TLC's "Toddlers & Tiaras" with "shoulder pads -- pure train-wreck television that invites viewers to gaze upon the carnage." Rice: "But we watch. We snidely condemn the crazy coach or the pushy parent. It makes us feel better about ourselves, that no matter what failings we have as parents or mentors, we're not that bad" (Vancouver COLUMBIAN, 1/19).
