Regional basic cable’s Comcast SportsNet Chicago (CSN)is getting into the game-show business through old-school thrifty ingenuity and an uptick in sponsorship, with studio-produced “Batter’s Box” and on-location “Gas Money” — rare Chicago-produced game shows on any outlet.
For the first show, fans who correctly answer sports-trivia questions win ballpark luxury-suite access/tossing-out-the-first-pitch honors and for the second, literally gas money.
Comcast Sportsnet’s VP/programming Greg Bowman took the two program ideas from earlier runs in other markets and refined the concepts. Eager to proceed in recent years, he had to wait until sponsorship finally came through this season.
“Batter’s Box” was originated by Boston’s StarPilot Productions for a two-year run on the NESN regional sports network. Bowman contacted StarPilot founder Chris Linnane in 2011, but again there wasn’t sufficient sponsor support.
This season, however, title sponsor Midas came aboard, joined by AT&T and Domino’s Pizza. StarPilot licensed the show to CSN and its 15-week run began July 1.
Both shows are hosted by local Sportsnet anchor Luke Stuckmeyer.
StarPilot produces “Batter’s Box” with local techs
A total of 16 Cubs and White Sox fans, all of whom auditioned for “Batter’s Box,” duel each other in trivia questions of mounting difficulty.
StarPilot’s Linnane co-produced and Andy McCarthy directed the shoot of all 15 “Batter’s Box” shows over one weekend in CSN’s River North studios, with a SportsNet crew of 10.
Stuckmeyer changed suits for each show.
Taping only was stopped to bring contestants’ helpers, in the manner of “phone-a-friend” to aid answering questions, from an off-stage green room into the studio.
Bowman held down costs by pulling out the main anchor desk of his pre- and post-game set and replacing it with two contestants’ and host’s lecterns.
“Then it was a matter of creatively looking at our monitor arrangement,” he says. “I wanted to have a scoreboard on the back of the set and make other set changes so the show had its own, unique look to it.”
Linnane had considered audience participation at a Connecticut casino for the original version of “Batter’s Box,” but demurred due to insurance issues. Linnane said he might bring up the audience-participation idea to Bowman for upcoming seasons.
“Gas Money” being shot on location
“The ‘Gas Money’ concept was formulated by IMG (Intergrated Marketing Group)” of Salt Lake City, notes Bowman, a 26-year veteran of CSN and its three predecessor sports-cable channels, SportsVision, SportsChannel and Fox Sports Chicago.
“Gas Money” was produced/directed by Sarah Lauch with a crew of three camera operators.
CSN first aired the show here, but sponsorship issues prevented further exposure. But this year reactivation was made possible when Honda stepped up as a sponsor.
The show takes Stuckmeyer and personality Susannah Collins, two producers and two cameras on location to Chicago sports events for the currently airing “Gas Money.”
Stuckmeyer can hand out up to $130 in cash, the price of a gas-guzzler’s fill-up and then some. But the handout stops once a contestant gets a question wrong.
“Batter’s Box” credits: TD, Rob Repin; camera operators, Don Albert, Paul Kalmuk, Glynn Morgan, Bob Remedi, Brett Ritzenthaler and Jason Saraga; lighting/technician, Scott Zeugner; tape, Steve Gardner; audio Paul Barkowiwak; research/statistics, Chris Kamka.
Brian Sanderlin, senior director of operations.
Graphics: Andrew Bloustein, graphic design/execution; Kristina Quinn, graphic design, Don Karulski, Mike Liaone and mark Stasiowski.
“Gas Money” camera: Brian Skonesey, Jeff Korbitz and Eric Fogle.
George Castle is a longtime Chicago-based sportswriter, author and radio talk-show host.
