Take 5: Football is on the sidelines
"Necessary Roughness" is the new USA Network television series to premiere June 29, 2011. The show is based on a Long Island therapist, Dr. Donna Dannenfelser, who worked with the NY Jets as a therapist. Pictured here are Callie Thorne as Danielle Santino, and Marc Blucas as Matthew. (2010) Credit: Quantrell D.Colbert/USA Network
Callie Thorne stars in "Necessary Roughness" (debuting Wednesday at 10 p.m. on USA) as a Long Island woman who becomes a football team's therapist. Here are five other series that have used football as its backdrop:
SEMI-TOUGH (ABC, 1980) -- TV version of the Burt Reynolds movie featured David Hasselhoff and Bruce McGill as members of the sad-sack New York Bulls.
1ST AND TEN (HBO, 1984-91) -- Comedy about the fictitious California Bulls. Its cast included O.J. Simpson as a veteran running back forced to make the transition from player to coach.
PLAYMAKERS (ESPN, 2003) -- ESPN's first original scripted drama pulled few punches in its depiction of the off-field shenanigans of a fictional team called the Cougars.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (NBC, DirecTV, 2006-11) -- Critically acclaimed but little-watched drama (based on the book and movie) set in the highly charged world of Texas high school football.
THE GAME (CW, 2006-09; BET 2011-) -- In this spinoff of "Girlfriends," Tia Mowry stars as a young woman whose husband (Pooch Hall) plays for the fictitious San Diego Sabers.
-- ANDY EDELSTEIN
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