NBC’s ‘Sports Action Team’ boasts local talent, generates original laughs

If you haven’t seen “Sports Action Team,” you’re not spending your late Sunday nights wisely.

Cast entirely with regulars from the Chicago improv comedy circuit, “Sports Action Team” is an original, mostly improvised show about a group of hapless sports reporters trying to make it big. The show often incorporates big-name athletes and celebrities into the storylines as a way to jumpstart the comedic high jinks.

Rather than me rambling, it’s better to let four members of the cast tell you about their show. In its second season and now available in 33 markets, “Sports Action Team” airs Sundays at approximately 11:45 p.m. on NBC following the late local news and “Bears Game Night Live.”

Niki Lindgren, Kevin Fleming, Katie Nahnsen and Al Samuels took time out to answer a few questions about generating laughs from the sports world. You can find additional goods on the show online at www.sportsactionteam.com.

1. In a nutshell, describe what “Sports Action Team” is all about.

Lindgren: “Sports Action Team” is currently on NBC and HDnet. It’s kinda like ESPN meets “The Office” and “Reno 911.” We are a bumbling sports reporting team that doesn’t quite have it together both on and off the air. Other than loosely knowing the storyline, the show is improvised.

Nahnsen: The “Sports Action Team” is a behind-the-scenes, mostly improvised mockumentary of an ESPN-type show. The show follows the lives and relationships of four hapless sports journalists, an intern and a producer. Real-life professional athletes and celebrities are featured as the Sports Action Team tries to execute a weekly show.

Samuels: “Sports Action Team” is “The Office” combined with “SportsCenter.” Now if that doesn’t boost ratings, I don't know what will. Oh, yeah — we’re also like “Heroes.” Without the powers.

2. People should watch us on Sunday nights because ...

Lindgren: We’re Chicago, baby! All of the actors of the Sports Action Team are improv alumni from the Second City stages or I.O. There aren’t too many shows on TV right now that are improv- based, so it’s a fun side note to know once you see it. And if for no other reason, it’s funny.

Fleming: Corporate Answer: A show that’s produced right here in Chicago but shown nationally. It blends comedy and athletics and features some of the biggest names in sports like Dwyane Wade, Mike Ditka, Randy Moss, Danica Patrick and Jerry Rice. It’s one of most unique and fun shows around.

Real answer: Cause it’s f-ing tits, bro. And plus, what the hell else are you going watch at 11 something p.m. on a Sunday night?

Samuels: It’s the best thing all week. Once you see us, you’re set for the next seven days. You can just stay home.

3. What has the response been like from the athletes and celebrities you’ve interviewed or included in the show?

Lindgren: Everyone we’ve interviewed has been super fun. They are great sports (no pun intended) about being on the show. We always reassure them that they will always look good because we are the bumbling idiots. It’s also cool to see how great the athletes are at improvising.

Fleming: Corporate answer: They’ve all been great. Everyone one of them has been extremely nice and surprisingly funny. When you see a guy or girl who steps outside of their element (into comedic acting), you don’t expect them to be so quick and comfortable on camera.

Real answer: The athletes response is always like, ‘Your show is f-ing tits, bro.’

Nahnsen: Overwhelmingly positive. Many of them have encouraged their friends (other professional athletes) to do the show, and many of them have returned for the second season. They love to have the chance to be funny and reveal a part of themselves that the public doesn’t generally see. And they’re all extraordinarily nice. We make it a priority to explain to them that they will always look funny, they’re in on the joke, and that this isn’t a “Punk’d” episode. If anyone’s going to look silly or stupid, it will always be the actor over the athlete. Many times they’re having so much fun that they’ll ask for second or third takes.

Samuels: On the whole, pretty amazing. They’re better actors than we are. And 10 times funnier. At least I could play pro football too if I really wanted.

4. How much easier is it to be working on this project with mostly familiar faces from Chicago?

Lindgren: We are so lucky to have such a tight ensemble. We’ve all worked with each other at one point or another during our “improv journey” in Chicago. I am always in awe of the rest of the cast. These people are so funny that I find it hard to keep from breaking most of the time. The other nice thing is, we’ve been able to bring in a lot of our friends from the improv community around Chicago to play different characters. Chicago is blessed with so much talent, it’s nice to be able to have a venue to show them off. My favorite moment this year was when we “ran” the Midwest Relay. Al Samuels was running to the finish line acting like he was about to die while we were screaming at him to get it together. Unfortunately, the spectators and other runners in the race didn’t know we were acting, and this one very sweet woman ran up to Al to try to help him get through the finish line. We had to run up to her and let her know that Al was acting and we were filming. If you are out there, kind lady, sorry for scaring you. Al is fine, and we are sorry for looking like such assholes.

Fleming: Corporate answer: It really makes a difference being able to work with people that you are so familiar with; and it is a huge relief to not have to worry about your co-star not saying something funny — because they always do. Because we all come from the same background (the Chicago improv community), we know each other and have performed with one another on some stage somewhere in town. Because of that, there was never a “getting to know each other” period, which was great because you don’t have the luxury of “feeling” your way through a scene when have five minutes to do bits with folks from the NFL, NBA or MLB.

Real answer: It’s f-ing tits, bro.

Nahnsen: I admired the entire cast before we started working on this. It’s the greatest thing in the world to work with people that make me laugh. Everyone in the cast brings something really unique to the table in terms of comedy and personality; it makes for a very balanced ensemble. Improvisers are wired to say yes to everything, and we’re trained to collaborate well with others. Agreement and positivity are great attributes when you’re working in a world of no’s.

Samuels: It’s great to do this in Chicago with our friends and fellow performers here. And you need a lot fewer collagen injections than in L.A.

5. The life of a sports broadcaster…

Fleming: Corporate answer: It’s f-ing tits, bro.

Real answer: It’s f-ing tits, bro.

Nahnsen: Is probably super awesome if you love sports. If you play a character on TV that is a sports broadcaster that doesn’t love sports, it’s still super awesome.

Samuels: Is just like the life of an athlete. Without the glory. Or the athleticism.

Trent Modglin
Publisher
The Real Chicago
Trent@TheRealChicago.org

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