Kenny Mayne is ESPN’s third-best all-time anchor (behind Dan Patrick and Keith Olberman, obvi), but the one that’s most likely to have a second career outside the network in something not sports or news-related.
Besides his penchant for covering ponies, Mayne is equal parts comedian and reporter known for what Michele Greppi at TV Week aptly describes as a “dry wit and a deadpan delivery that trusts [his fans] to get the joke, whether it’s on him, his confreres at the sports network or the audience.”
His characteristic brand of comedy gained Mayne the acclaim of Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Snoop Dogg, and thousands of adoring fans, but until now his humor’s been relegated to SportsCenter segments, the 2 Minute Drill, and installments of HungryMan’s ingenious This is SportsCenter ad campaign.
But now Mayne is going to have his own show in which to shine thanks to the upcoming, 15-episode web series dubbed Mayne Street, set to premiere on ESPN.com October 2.
It’s the second scripted online show for the “Worldwide Leader in Sports,” and if it’s sophomore effort is anything like Endless Drama, it should be one to watch.
The series/promo for ESPN’s fledlging Fantsay Baseball League is a fantastically produced, well-mixed blend of soap opera spoof and insider sports humor, riddled with cameos from ESPN personalities, professional athletes, and stars of daytime television. Expect the same from Mayne Street except inside the Arrested Development/Curb Your Enthusiasm genre, a focus on pop culture instead of cheesy drama (including guest appearances from former Sopranos), and more facetime from our pokerfaced star.
The series is created by former ESPNers Josh Shelov and Todd Pellegrino, and features a talented crew of up-and-coming comedians including Allison Becker (check her out in Elevator), Jordan Carlos (he’s a black comic), Ben Schwartz (of Rejected Jokes), and Aubrey Plaza.
Couple Mayne Street with Vuguru’s Topps-based series and this Fall should be a good entertainment season for sports fans.
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