EMMY-NOMINATED "BEING" SERIES TAKES THE GLOVES OFF FOR SIX-PART "BEING: MIKE TYSON"
Enigmatic Former Heavyweight Champ Takes Unprecedented
Look Inward and Forward
Series Premieres on FOX; Continues on FOX Sports 1
New York - In BEING: MIKE TYSON, FOX Sports' original Emmy Award-nominated all-access documentary series, the enigmatic former heavyweight champ opens his life and very soul, allowing audiences to experience his amazing transformation from world renowned sports superstar to Mr. John Q. Public. The original six-part series premieres Sunday, Sept. 22 on FOX either before (3:30 - 4:00 PM ET) or after (4:30 - 5:00 PM ET) local NFL on FOX coverage before moving to its regular time slot on Tuesday, Sept, 24 (10:30 PM ET) on FOX Sports 1, America's new sports network. Check local listings for time of premiere.
"We all know Iron Mike, we all know the stories, but very few people know Michael Gerard Tyson," offers Michael Bloom, Senior Vice President, Original Programming, FOX Sports. "The honesty and access Mike gave us allowed BEING: to paint a complete picture of an icon that you've never seen before. After watching all six episodes, viewers will know a whole new Mike Tyson, and one they never imagined."
As one of the most feared men ever to step into a boxing ring, Tyson was once the embodiment of a modern-day gladiator. Despite his well-documented rise and fall and the tales of his infamous tantrums in and out of the boxing ring, the public's fascination with him has endured.
"I'm very glad to be a part of the FOX Sports 1 family, premiering my first ever docu-series," said Tyson. "Although I have lived my life on the world stage since I got into boxing, I was still apprehensive about doing such an intimate portrayal of myself. It turned out to be an amazingly personal experience for me looking back at the life I once led via the life that I am so proud to be living now."
BEING: cameras follow Tyson traveling the country on a national tour of his one-man stage show, where he reflects on his past and seeks personal closure. He visits the prison in Indianapolis where he was incarcerated and spends unprecedented time with one-time rival Evander Holyfield discussing their true feelings about each other and their memories of "the ear" incident. Cameras roll during a very special and moving meeting with "The Greatest," Muhammad Ali, and also while Tyson discusses parenthood and life with his personal hero and mentor Jim Brown. Documented are his visits to his old neighborhoods in Brooklyn and the Catskills and the time he spends playing with his children. Over the three hours, viewers see this emotional and revelatory journey first hand. FOX Sports cameras are with Mike as he re-connects with the public, who has both loved and vilified him, and shares this truly unique experience through his own eyes and voice. Unlike any portrait that has ever before been captured, BEING: MIKE TYSON is not a look back, but instead, a look inward and forward.
Early in the series, Tyson talks about not living in the past: "I don't have any delusions of glory or grandeur for anything I do these days. People have to realize that 'Iron Mike' is dead and I'm doing something else now and that's just what it is."
He opens up about getting control of his inner demons. "I was pretty dark and troubled back then," says Tyson. "I'm dark and trouble now, but not like back then. I'm cool now."
And Tyson discusses how he's gotten past some of the pivotal moments in his life, such as biting Holyfield's ear: "We're taking something that at one time in life was such a negative, now we look at it as a joke. I think that's the way we should look at it as two adults. I made a mistake."
FOX Sports Originals' BEING: series sets the tone for FOX Sports 1 original programming with a number of other high-profile, unprecedented, all-access projects in different stages of development and production, including BEING: MARIANO RIVERA and BEING: THE FINEST. Last year's BEING: LIVERPOOL was the first in the series.
BEING: MIKE TYSON is co-produced by Asylum Entertainment and FOX Sports, with executive producers Steve Michaels, Jonathan Koch, Alex Piper and Andrew Fried.
For series updates, follow BEING: MIKE TYSON and the BEING: franchise on Twitter at @BEINGonFOX.
BEING: MIKE TYSON Air Dates / Times:
Date Time Network
9/22/13 * 3:30 PM ET or 4:30 PM ET (check local listings) FOX
9/24/13 **10:00 PM ET FOX Sports 1
9/24/13 10:30 PM ET FOX Sports 1
10/01/13 10:30 PM ET FOX Sports 1
10/08/13 10:30 PM ET FOX Sports 1
10/15/13 10:30 PM ET FOX Sports 1
10/22/13 10:30 PM ET FOX Sports 1
*airs either before or after NFL on FOX singleheader coverage
**premiere episode encore
BEING OVERVIEW:
FOX Sports Originals' BEING: franchise gives fans a deep, thoughtful look at today's teams and players from an insider's point of view. It is an all-access invitation into the personal and professional lives of some of the iconic people and institutions in sports today. The first installment of FOX Sports Originals' BEING: series, BEING: LIVERPOOL, was nominated for a Sports Emmy Award and won Cynopsis Sports Media Awards in the categories of Documentary Series and New Sports Show.
About FOX Sports 1
FOX Sports 1 is a new national 24-hour multi-sport channel launching on August 17 in over 90 million homes, marking the largest sports network launch in history. FOX Sports 1, boasting nearly 5,000 hours of live event, news and original programming annually, has seven pillar sports: college basketball and football, MLB (in 2014), NASCAR, NFL (ancillary programs), soccer and UFC. College football is highlighted by regular season coverage of Big 12, Pac-12 and Conference USA games, while the college basketball spotlight shines on the Big East, Big 12, Pac-12 and Conference USA and the Big East men's basketball tournament. Starting in 2014, select MLB League Championship Series and Division Series games as well as regular season games are coming to the channel. FOX Sports 1 also carries select NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events beginning in 2015; NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races; the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race; and all Speedweeks coverage, including Daytona 500 Qualifying, Sprint Unlimited at Daytona, (2014, 2017-22) the Budweiser Duel, and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NCWTS Practice and Qualifying sessions. Additionally, FOX Sports 1 carries NASCAR RaceDay, NASCAR Victory Lane and Race Hub shows. The channel also carries the world's most prolific club soccer competitions, like UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and CONCACAF Champions League, along with the world's oldest soccer competition, the FA Cup; plus CONCACAF Gold Cup; CONCACAF Qualifiers, EURO 2016 Qualifiers; 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers; FIFA Women's World Cup in 2015 and 2019; FIFA Men's World Cup in 2018 and 2022. In addition to Saturday pay-per-view preliminary cards, Wednesday nights are home to the UFC with UFC TONIGHT, live events and THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER. FOX SPORTS LIVE is FOX Sports 1's flagship 24/7 news, opinion and highlights program, providing around the clock coverage through regularly scheduled programs, hourly updates and an information rich ticker. Original programs include: FOX FOOTBALL DAILY, CROWD GOES WILD, a new live sports entertainment talk show hosted by Regis Philbin; and the groundbreaking BEING: documentary franchise. FOX Sports GO, a groundbreaking authenticated mobile sports experience for iPhone, iPad, Android devices and the web, serves as the channel's digital extension. The app offers more than 1,100 live games and events from cross FOX Sports, FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports' 22 regional sports networks, as well as scores, highlights, news, stats and analysis. For more information visitwww.FOXSports.com/FOXSports1.
Asylum Entertainment
Emmy Award winning Asylum Entertainment was established with the idea of producing diverse projects that are both creatively distinctive and commercially rewarding. From gritty documentaries and highly original reality series to scripted television and feature films, Asylum has produced over 700 hours of television in its 11 year history. Asylum Entertainment's most notable productions, include the epic 8-part mini-series "THE KENNEDYS" for which they received 10 Emmy nominations and won four. Additionally, Asylum's scripted division was recently nominated for 4 Emmy Awards on the television film, RING OF FIRE starring Jewel. Asylum's life blood is unscripted television. Their notable unscripted projects include the 10-time Emmy nominated BEYOND THE GLORY, ESPN's 30 FOR 30, THE LOCATOR, ADDICTED, AMERICAN GANGSTER, BEVERLY HILLS PAWN and many more. Additionally, Asylum Entertainment is eagerly anticipating the Spring 2014 release of its' first theatrical feature film SMALL TIME, directed and produced by 24 creator, Joel Surnow. Currently, Asylum Entertainment is in production on the much anticipated feature documentary HAPPY VALLEY, that focuses on the gripping scandal that has rocked Penn State University.
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