Edwards (l) made a cameo appearance at Glazer's UFC-branded gym during a workout scene in the episodeYVES EDWARDS
Episode 5 of HBO’s “BALLERS” last night saw DWAYNE JOHNSON’s character, Spencer Strasmore, tackle the world of network distribution. The opening scene saw Strasmore talk with two fictitious execs at DirecTV HQ looking to get better placement for his action sports channel. Strasmore: “Get me out of the nosebleeds. How do I get around Fox Sports Net? NBC Sports?” But a DirecTV exec said of the channel placement and its content, “It doesn’t really matter where your house is located if nobody will come visit.” The exec also referenced the channel pulling a “0.001 rating” for recent programming and the fact that it went dark for a while and nobody complained. After asking DirecTV what he needed to make more money, an exec answers, “Content that moves the needle. Like (the NFL). … Surf and skate will never work in our demos.” Strasmore: “What about college football?” DirecTV exec: “We’d love that. SEC Network is killing it. Do you have exclusive rights to anything?” Strasmore: “No, but I can get access.” DirecTV exec: “Great. But we’re only interested in brand names. Notre Dame. Ohio State. Or if it’s a big market team like USC.” Later in the show, while Strasmore is meeting the top high school QB prospect in the country -- and dating his lawyer mother -- he offers the kid a piece of the sports channel he owns.
KROENKE LAND: A scene in episode 5 featuring the fictitious GM and team president takes place at the construction site of the new Rams/Chargers stadium being built in Inglewood. The team president, which is not KEVIN DEMOFF, does reference STAN KROENKE as owner of the team though. Rams coach SEAN MCVAY and his up-tempo offense is also referenced in the scene. The team president says, “It takes a lot more than just wins to succeed in L.A. You have to do it with style. Some panache.”
CAMEOS: Former MMA fighter YVES EDWARDS made an appearance at Fox’ JAY GLAZER's UFC-branded gym during a workout scene.
