Unscripted with Chris Connelly
Encyclopedia
Unscripted with Chris Connelly is a half-hour daily interview program that aired on ESPN
from October 22, 2001 until June 25, 2002.
at Downtown Disney
in Anaheim, California
, and hosted by Chris Connelly
, Unscripted was designed to be an updated, more contemporary version of Up Close
, which ran on the network for nearly 20 years prior. On the show, Connelly would spend the entire half-hour with one guest (or a group appearing together), usually an athlete or someone connected with sports, although other entertainers would make occasional appearances. On the guest's way onto the stage, he/she would stop and sign an autograph onto the wall of the set. The show was shot in front of a live audience.
, ESPN's highly-successful debate show, and served as its lead-in. Unscripted, however, never enjoyed the same success. Due to low ratings and the potential of another debate show to capitalize on the success of PTI, Unscripted was canceled after just eight months on the air. After a period of random programming in its timeslot, it was eventually permanently replaced by Around The Horn
.
, Connelly remains employed by ESPN as a reporter working primarily on human interest stories
. His reports are often seen on weekend editions of SportsCenter
.
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
from October 22, 2001 until June 25, 2002.
Format
Originating live Monday through Friday at 5PM ET from the ESPN ZoneESPN Zone
ESPN Zone is a Southern California-based chain of two sports-themed restaurants that include arcades, TV studios, and radio studios that are currently franchised, but formally owned by the American cable network ESPN. The first ESPN Zone opened in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 11, 1998, in the Power...
at Downtown Disney
Downtown Disney (California)
Downtown Disney is an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment area, also known as a "shoppertainment center", located at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, United States...
in Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, and hosted by Chris Connelly
Chris Connelly (reporter)
Chris Connelly is an American sports and entertainment reporter.Connelly joined ESPN in 2001 to host the daily interview program Unscripted with Chris Connelly, designed to be a more contemporary version of the long-running Up Close interview show which previously occupied the 5PM ET timeslot...
, Unscripted was designed to be an updated, more contemporary version of Up Close
Up Close
Up Close is a sports interview show that aired on ESPN for 20 years.-Early years:The program debuted in 1981 on USA Network and was created by the advertising agency Foote, Cone and Belding to advertise one of its clients, Mazda cars...
, which ran on the network for nearly 20 years prior. On the show, Connelly would spend the entire half-hour with one guest (or a group appearing together), usually an athlete or someone connected with sports, although other entertainers would make occasional appearances. On the guest's way onto the stage, he/she would stop and sign an autograph onto the wall of the set. The show was shot in front of a live audience.
Cancellation
Unscripted with Chris Connelly debuted the same day as Pardon The InterruptionPardon the Interruption
Pardon the Interruption is a sports television show that airs weekdays on various ESPN TV channels, TSN, ESPN America, XM, and Sirius satellite radio services, and as a downloadable podcast. It is hosted by Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, who discuss, and frequently argue over, the top stories...
, ESPN's highly-successful debate show, and served as its lead-in. Unscripted, however, never enjoyed the same success. Due to low ratings and the potential of another debate show to capitalize on the success of PTI, Unscripted was canceled after just eight months on the air. After a period of random programming in its timeslot, it was eventually permanently replaced by Around The Horn
Around the Horn
Around the Horn is a daily, half-hour sports roundtable on ESPN filmed in Washington, D.C. It airs at 5:00 pm ET, as part of a sports talk hour with Pardon the Interruption. The show is currently hosted by Tony Reali.-History:Around the Horn premiered on November 4, 2002, hosted by Max Kellerman...
.
, Connelly remains employed by ESPN as a reporter working primarily on human interest stories
Human interest story
A human interest story is a feature story that discusses a person or people in an emotional way. It presents people and their problems, concerns, or achievements in a way that brings about interest or sympathy in the reader or viewer....
. His reports are often seen on weekend editions of SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
.