The Franchise (TV series) - Misplaced Pages

Television series

The Franchise
Season 1 title card
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	15
Production
Production company	Major League Baseball Productions
Original release
Network	Showtime
Release	July 13, 2011 (2011-07-13) – August 22, 2012 (2012-08-22)

The Franchise is an American reality-documentary television show that debuted on July 13, 2011, on the Showtime television network. The series follows Major League Baseball (MLB) teams before and during the baseball season.

The first season of the show followed the San Francisco Giants as they defended their World Series title during the 2011 Major League Baseball season. The series focused mostly on the players themselves and followed their lives on and off the field. The players featured included Matt Cain, Barry Zito, Pablo Sandoval, Brian Wilson, Buster Posey, and Ryan Vogelsong. The Franchise provides a rare inside view into a Major League clubhouse, showing the ups and downs of a long and trying professional baseball season.

The second season premiered on July 11, 2012 and featured the Miami Marlins, in their first season in their new park. The season was cut short by one episode.

On January 12, 2013, Showtime Entertainment President David Nevins said the series will return if the "right team and the right story" is found. The Cleveland Guardians have been linked to the show as a possible choice.

Episodes

Season 1: 2011

No.	Title	Original air date
0	"San Francisco Giants: Special Preview"	April 13, 2011 (2011-04-13)
1	"San Francisco Giants: Episode 1"	July 13, 2011 (2011-07-13)
2	"San Francisco Giants: Episode 2"	July 20, 2011 (2011-07-20)
3	"San Francisco Giants: Episode 3"	July 27, 2011 (2011-07-27)
4	"San Francisco Giants: Episode 4"	August 3, 2011 (2011-08-03)
5	"San Francisco Giants: Episode 5"	August 10, 2011 (2011-08-10)
6	"San Francisco Giants: Episode 6"	August 17, 2011 (2011-08-17)
7	"San Francisco Giants: Episode 7"	August 24, 2011 (2011-08-24)
8	"San Francisco Giants: Episode 8"	August 31, 2011 (2011-08-31)

Season 2: 2012

No.	Title	Original air date
0	"Miami Marlins: Special Preview"	April 21, 2012 (2012-04-21)
1	"Miami Marlins: Episode 1"	July 11, 2012 (2012-07-11)
2	"Miami Marlins: Episode 2"	July 18, 2012 (2012-07-18)
3	"Miami Marlins: Episode 3"	July 25, 2012 (2012-07-25)
4	"Miami Marlins: Episode 4"	August 1, 2012 (2012-08-01)
5	"Miami Marlins: Episode 5"	August 8, 2012 (2012-08-08)
6	"Miami Marlins: Episode 6"	August 15, 2012 (2012-08-15)
7	"Miami Marlins: Episode 7"	August 22, 2012 (2012-08-22)

References

"The Franchise".
"MIAMI MARLINS TO BE FEATURED IN SEASON TWO OF THE FRANCHISE ON SHOWTIME" (Press release). Showtime Networks. February 13, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
Kaduk, Kevin (August 20, 2012). "Showtime calls an early end to 'The Franchise'". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
Tucker, Heather (August 20, 2012). "Showtime pulls plug on Marlins, 'The Franchise' a week early". USA Today. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
Brian Ford Sullivan (January 12, 2013). "Showtime at TCA: "Episodes" Won't Be Back Until Early 2014". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
Hoynes, Paul (9 February 2013). "Tribe pursuing Michael Bourn, Kyle Lohse? Unlikely, but possible: Cleveland Indians Insider". Cleveland Live. Retrieved 12 February 2013.

External links

The Franchise Official Website

Paramount+ with Showtime original programming

Current and upcoming

Current	The Chi (since 2018) The Curse (since 2023) Couples Therapy (since 2019) Dreaming Whilst Black (since 2023) Super Pumped (since 2022) Yellowjackets (since 2021) The Agency (since 2024) Dexter: Original Sin (since 2024)
Upcoming	The Associate (TBA)

Former

1980s debuts	33 Brompton Place (1982) Bizarre (1980–1985) Brothers (1984–1989) Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre (1982–1987) It's Garry Shandling's Show (1986–1990) Nightmare Classics (1989) The Paper Chase (1983–1986) Showtime Championship Boxing (1986–2023) Super Dave (1987–1994) Tall Tales & Legends (1985–1987) Thunderbirds 2086 (1983) Video Concert Hall (1980–1984)
1990s debuts	American Heroes and Legends (1992–1993) Beggars and Choosers (1999–2000) Beverly Hills Bordello (1996–1998) A Bunch of Munsch (1991–1992) The Busy World of Richard Scarry (1994–1997) Chris Cross (1994–1995) Dead Man's Gun (1997–1999) The Hoop Life (1999–2000) Linc's (1998–2000) The Outer Limits (1995–2000) OWL/TV (1992–1997) Picture Windows (1994) Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996–1999) Ready or Not (1993–1995) Red Shoe Diaries (1992–1999) Rude Awakening (1998–2001) Stargate SG-1 (1997–2002) Thanks of a Grateful Nation (1998) Total Recall 2070 (1999) Women: Stories of Passion (1996–1999)
2000s debuts	American Candidate (2004) Barbershop: The Series (2005) Big Brother: After Dark (2007–2012) Body Language (2008–2010) Brotherhood (2006–2008) Californication (2007–2014) The Chris Isaak Show (2001–2004) Dead Like Me (2003–2004) Deeper Throat (2009) Dexter (2006–2013) Elite Xtreme Combat (2007–2008) Family Business (2003–2006) Fat Actress (2005) Free for All (2003) Going to California (2001–2002) Full Color Football: The History of the American Football League (2009) Huff (2004–2006) Inside the NFL (2008–2021) Jeremiah (2002–2004) Kama Sutra (2000) The L Word (2004–2009) Lady Chatterley's Stories (2000–2001) Leap Years (2001–2002) Lock 'n Load (2009) Masters of Horror (2005–2007) Meadowlands (2007) Nurse Jackie (2009–2015) Odyssey 5 (2002) Out of Order (2003) Penn & Teller: Bullshit! (2003–2010) Queer as Folk (2000–2005) Queer Duck (2002–2004) Resurrection Blvd. (2000–2002) Street Time (2002–2003) Secret Diary of a Call Girl (2008–2011) ShoMMA (2009–2012) ShoXC (2007–2008) Sleeper Cell (2005–2006) Soul Food (2000–2004) Tracey Ullman's State of the Union (2008–2010) The Tudors (2007–2010) The Underground (2006) This American Life (2007–2009) United States of Tara (2009–2011) Weeds (2005–2012)
2010s debuts	60 Minutes Sports (2013–2017) The Affair (2014–2019) Beach Heat: Miami (2010–2012) The Big C (2010–2013) Billions (2016–2023) Black Monday (2019–2021) The Borgias (2011–2013) City on a Hill (2019–2022) The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth (2016–2023) Dark Net (2016–2017) Dave's Old Porn (2011–2012) Desus & Mero (2019–2022) Dice (2016–2017) Escape at Dannemora (2018) Episodes (2011–2017) The Fourth Estate (2018) The Franchise (2011–2012) Gigolos (2011–2016) The Green Room with Paul Provenza (2010–2011) Guerrilla (2017) Happyish (2015) Homeland (2011–2020) House of Lies (2012–2016) I'm Dying Up Here (2017–2018) Inside Comedy (2012–2015) Inside NASCAR (2010–2012) Just Another Immigrant (2018) Kidding (2018–2020) The L Word: Generation Q (2019–2023) La La Land (2010) Look: The Series (2010) The Loudest Voice (2019) Masters of Sex (2013–2016) On Becoming a God in Central Florida (2019) Our Cartoon President (2018–2020) Patrick Melrose (2018) Penny Dreadful (2014–2016) Polyamory: Married & Dating (2012–2013) Ray Donovan (2013–2020) The Real L Word (2010–2012) Roadies (2016) Shameless (2011–2021) Shangri-La (2019) SMILF (2017–2019) Submission (2016) Time of Death (2013) Twin Peaks (2017) Web Therapy (2011–2015) White Famous (2017) Who Is America? (2018) Work in Progress (2019–2021) Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men (2019) Years of Living Dangerously (2014)
2020s debuts	A Gentleman in Moscow (2024) American Gigolo (2022) American Rust (2021) Bellator MMA (2021–2023) The Comey Rule (2020) Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court (2023) Dexter: New Blood (2021–2022) Everything's Gonna Be All White (2022) Fellow Travelers (2023) The First Lady (2022) Flatbush Misdemeanors (2021–2022) George & Tammy (2022–2023) Ghosts of Beirut (2023) The Good Lord Bird (2020) Gossip (2021) I Love That for You (2022) Let the Right One In (2022) The Lincoln Project (2022) Love Fraud (2020) The Man Who Fell to Earth (2022) Moonbase 8 (2020) Penny Dreadful: City of Angels (2020) Vice (2020–2023) Waco: The Aftermath (2023) The Woman in the Wall (2024) Your Honor (2020–2023) Ziwe (2021–2022)

See also: Paramount+; Showtime (OTT)

Major League Baseball on television

Contract history

By decade	1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s

Over-the-air broadcasters

Fox
ABC
- history

Former	CBS DuMont NBC history

Pay television broadcasters

Former	USA Fox Family/ABC Family

Streaming media carriers

Apple TV+
The Roku Channel

Former	Peacock YouTube

MLB owned
and operated entities

Broadcast days

Local broadcasters

Regional sports networks	AT&T SportsNet Fox Sports NBC Sports FanDuel Sports Network Marquee Sports Network MASN NESN Root Sports SNY Space City Home Network Spectrum SportsNet LA Sportsnet SportsNet Pittsburgh SportsChannel YES Network
Superstations	TBS (Atlanta Braves) WGN Sports (Chicago Cubs and White Sox)
Pay-per-view services	GiantsVision
Owned-and-operated stations	Fox
Syndication arrangements	MLB Local Media Gray Television

News television series

MLB Network programs	Hot Stove Intentional Talk MLB's 20 Greatest Games MLB Network Showcase MLB Tonight Off Base Quick Pitch

Specialty programming

Reality television series	The Club The Franchise

Rebroadcasts	ESPN Classic Mets Classics Yankees Classics

Broadcasters by event

International coverage

MLB International

Australia	ESPN Australia Fox Sports One
United Kingdom and Ireland	TNT Sports Five BBC Sport (UK only)
Canada	Sportsnet TVA Sports
Latin America	ESPN Fox Sports
Brazil	ESPN Brasil Fox Sports
Japan	Fuji TV NHK TBS
South Korea	SPOTV

Landmark events

Miscellaneous

Major League Baseball on CBS

Related programs

Major League Baseball Game of the Week (1955–1965; 1990–1993)
Major League Baseball on CBS Radio (1927–1941; 1976–1997)
Sunday Afternoon Baseball (1958–1965; 1990–1991)
College World Series on CBS (1988–2002)
The Franchise (2011–2012)

1964 season	Baltimore Orioles Chicago Cubs New York Yankees Philadelphia Phillies St. Louis Cardinals
CBS TV stations	WJZ 13 (Baltimore Orioles, 1954) WBZ 4 (Boston Braves, 1948–1949; Boston Red Sox, 1948–1954) WCBS 2 (Brooklyn Dodgers, 1946–1949; New York Yankees, 2002–2004) KPIX 5 (Oakland Athletics, 1975–1981; 1985–1992) WPTZ 3 (later KYW) (Philadelphia Athletics, 1947–1954) KDKA 2 (Pittsburgh Pirates, 1958–1995)
Sponsors	Falstaff Brewing Corporation

Commentators

Play-by-play announcers	Red Barber Jack Buck Dizzy Dean Connie Desmond Greg Gumbel George Kell Gene Kirby Sean McDonough Dick Stockton Jack Whitaker
Color commentators	Buddy Blattner Frankie Frisch Gabby Hartnett Jim Kaat Tim McCarver Jim McKay Pee Wee Reese Frank Reynolds
Hosts & field reporters	James Brown Jerry Coleman Bill Geist Jim Gray Andrea Joyce Pat O'Brien Lesley Visser
Guest commentators	Johnny Bench Tommy Lasorda Russ Meyer Steve Stone
Other announcers	William (Rosko) Mercer Don Robertson

World Series

1947 (Games 3-4)
1948
1949
1950
1990
1991
1992
1993

AL Championship

NL Championship

All-Star Game

Lore

Seasons

Early World Series coverage	1947 1948 1949
Initial Game of the Week era	1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 (New York Yankees games only)
Exclusive network package	1990 1991 1992 1993
Website: CBS Sports - MLB News

San Francisco Giants

Established in 1883
Formerly the New York Gothams and the New York Giants
Based in San Francisco, California (Bay Area)

Franchise

Ballparks

Polo Grounds Oakland Park St. George Grounds Hilltop Park Seals Stadium Candlestick Park Oracle Park
Spring training:	Bolton Street Park Payne Park Flamingo Field LSU Varsity Baseball Field Denison Field Al Lang Stadium Phoenix Municipal Stadium Scottsdale Stadium

Culture

Lore

Rivalries

Athletics
Los Angeles Dodgers
New York Yankees
- Subway Series (historically)

Retired numbers

Pre-World Series Champions (2)

1888
1889

Temple Cup Champions (1)

1894

World Series Champions (8)

National League
Championships (23)

Division titles (9)

Wild card (3)

Minor league affiliates

Triple-A: Sacramento River Cats
Double-A: Richmond Flying Squirrels
High-A: Eugene Emeralds
Single-A: San Jose Giants
Rookie: ACL Giants; DSL Giants Black; DSL Giants Orange

Seasons (143)
1880s	1880 · 1881 · 1882 · 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889
1890s	1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899
1900s	1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909
1910s	1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
1920s	1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
1930s	1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
1940s	1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
1950s	1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
1960s	1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
1970s	1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980s	1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990s	1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000s	2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010s	2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020s	2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

Miami Marlins

Established in 1993
Formerly the Florida Marlins
Based in Miami, Florida

Franchise

Ballparks

Culture

Lore

Retired numbers

Key personnel

Owner: Bruce Sherman
President of baseball operations: Peter Bendix
General manager: vacant
Manager: Clayton McCullough

World Series Championships (2)

1997
2003

National League Pennants (2)

1997
2003

Division titles

National League East: none

Wild card berths

Minor League affiliates

Triple-A: Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
Double-A: Pensacola Blue Wahoos
High-A: Beloit Sky Carp
Single-A: Jupiter Hammerheads
Rookie: FCL Marlins; DSL Marlins; DSL Miami

Seasons (33)
1990s	1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000s	2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010s	2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020s	2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

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