Shirts & Skins
Encyclopedia
Shirts & Skins an American
6 episode television
reality series premiered September 15, 2008 on Logo
. The show explores the lives of the San Francisco The Rockdogs, "an all-gay basketball team trying to uphold its three-generation legacy of international Gay Games
gold medals, and U.S. national tournament wins" .
After their 2006 Gay Games victory, the Rockdogs split up due to weakened team morale and interpersonal conflict amongst the team members. In the series, many team members return to San Francisco and stay in a refurbished firehouse where the teammates live and practice for the Chicago National Championship. The show focuses on six players of the team and lives on and off the court: Mike Survillion, Rory Ray, Peter Hannibal, Chris Johnson, Jamel Lewis and DeMarco Majors. With only a month to train before the national championship, all of the men will have to put aside their differences and learn to become a team again. Guest appearances in the show include professional basketball athletes John Amaechi
and Sheryl Swoopes
. Sports Illustrated described the series as "The Rockdogs have talent, and the show's basketball action is strong. On and off the court someone like [Shavlik] Randolph could learn a few things from Shirts" .
, the show features the lives of players Chris, DeMarco Majors, Jamel, Mikey, Peter, and Rory, as they share a house in San Francisco's Mission district and prepare, physically and financially, for the 2008 national basketball tournament held in Chicago
. Shirts & Skins premiered September 15, 2008 on the Logo television network.
The show spanned six episodes and featured guest appearances from gay professional athletes such as former-NBA player John Amaechi
as the team's "mentor" and "psychologist", and WNBA Superstar Sheryl Swoopes
.
101 - "On The Rocks" - Meet the San Francisco Rockdogs, an all-star gay basketball team with a three-generation legacy of winning, and a new generation of talented athletes with big dreams. Follow Mike, Rory, Chris, Peter, Jamel and Coach Alex as they strive to reach another National Championship title. Once reunited under one roof, Jamel shocks the team with a surprise announcement before a challenging game against the San Francisco Fire Department team.
102 - "Love The Game" - Former and out NBA pro basketball player John Amaechi
arrives to motivate the Rockdogs as they struggle to reach the National Gay Basketball Championships in Chicago. Amaechi also helps the team console Mike when he admits that he is not yet out to his family and friends. At the team dinner, Rory presents a fundraising idea, which the Rockdogs support despite skepticism from others.
103 - "Hoop Dreams"- With teammates hurling accusations about commitment and talent at each other, Jamel decides to miss practice before their monumental game against the pro San Francisco ABA team, the Rumble. At the tip-off, Coach Alex benches Jamel for missing practice and the Rockdogs rely on DeMarco to pull them through.
104 - "Sister Swoopes" - Just as the Rockdogs find themselves in desperate need of inspiration after their loss to ABA Rumble pro team, WNBA pro superstar Sheryl Swoopes surprises the guys with a visit. Swoopes lifts the Rockdogs’ spirits by sharing her experiences on hoops, family, faith and coming out, and helps bring the team closer together. With hopes of proving Papa Joe wrong and raising enough money to get the team to the National Championships, Rory and Francis prepare for the fundraiser and prime the house for the boys to strut their stuff in sexy swimsuits and undergear.
105 - A Family That Plays Together" - Former NBA pro and life-coach John Amaechi
returns to check-in on the Rockdogs as the Chicago National Gay Basketball Championships near and notices that the team is still disorganized. In an attempt to promote greater team and family unity, Coach Alex and Papa Joe arrange a reunion game between the original “Old Dogs” and new Rockdogs. Afterwards, the three-generations of Rockdogs are immersed in an emotionally charged dinner at the training house, where “Old Dogs” share the history and legacy of the team.
106 - "The Big Dance" - Francis brings some of the guys to Glide Memorial Church for inspiration, before heading to the National Gay Basketball Championships in Chicago. The Rockdogs fall into chaos when star guard DeMarco comes down with the flu and Simon, Jamel, and others get sick after arriving in Chicago. Coach Alex and Papa Joe come to the rescue, but with six games to play in two day the Rockdogs’ legacy is at stake.
(The CW), I Want to Work for Diddy
(VH1), Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List
(Bravo), and Transamerican Love Story
(Logo).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
6 episode television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
reality series premiered September 15, 2008 on Logo
Logo (TV channel)
Logo is an American digital cable television channel owned by Viacom's MTV Networks division. Launched in June 2005, the channel's programs are geared towards the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community...
. The show explores the lives of the San Francisco The Rockdogs, "an all-gay basketball team trying to uphold its three-generation legacy of international Gay Games
Gay Games
The Gay Games is the world's largest sporting and cultural event organized by and specifically for LGBT athletes, artists, musicians, and others. It welcomes participants of every sexual orientation and every skill level...
gold medals, and U.S. national tournament wins" .
After their 2006 Gay Games victory, the Rockdogs split up due to weakened team morale and interpersonal conflict amongst the team members. In the series, many team members return to San Francisco and stay in a refurbished firehouse where the teammates live and practice for the Chicago National Championship. The show focuses on six players of the team and lives on and off the court: Mike Survillion, Rory Ray, Peter Hannibal, Chris Johnson, Jamel Lewis and DeMarco Majors. With only a month to train before the national championship, all of the men will have to put aside their differences and learn to become a team again. Guest appearances in the show include professional basketball athletes John Amaechi
John Amaechi
John Uzoma Ekwugha Amaechi OBE is a retired American-born British basketball player who currently works as a psychologist, educator and political activist in Europe and the United States....
and Sheryl Swoopes
Sheryl Swoopes
Sheryl Denise Swoopes is an American professional basketball player who, subsequent to being waived into free agency, signed to re-join the WNBA to play with the Tulsa Shock in 2011. She was the first player to be signed in the WNBA when it was created. She has won three Olympic Gold Medals and...
. Sports Illustrated described the series as "The Rockdogs have talent, and the show's basketball action is strong. On and off the court someone like [Shavlik] Randolph could learn a few things from Shirts" .
Overview
Set in San FranciscoSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, the show features the lives of players Chris, DeMarco Majors, Jamel, Mikey, Peter, and Rory, as they share a house in San Francisco's Mission district and prepare, physically and financially, for the 2008 national basketball tournament held in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Shirts & Skins premiered September 15, 2008 on the Logo television network.
The show spanned six episodes and featured guest appearances from gay professional athletes such as former-NBA player John Amaechi
John Amaechi
John Uzoma Ekwugha Amaechi OBE is a retired American-born British basketball player who currently works as a psychologist, educator and political activist in Europe and the United States....
as the team's "mentor" and "psychologist", and WNBA Superstar Sheryl Swoopes
Sheryl Swoopes
Sheryl Denise Swoopes is an American professional basketball player who, subsequent to being waived into free agency, signed to re-join the WNBA to play with the Tulsa Shock in 2011. She was the first player to be signed in the WNBA when it was created. She has won three Olympic Gold Medals and...
.
Episodes
101 - "On The Rocks" - Meet the San Francisco Rockdogs, an all-star gay basketball team with a three-generation legacy of winning, and a new generation of talented athletes with big dreams. Follow Mike, Rory, Chris, Peter, Jamel and Coach Alex as they strive to reach another National Championship title. Once reunited under one roof, Jamel shocks the team with a surprise announcement before a challenging game against the San Francisco Fire Department team.
102 - "Love The Game" - Former and out NBA pro basketball player John Amaechi
John Amaechi
John Uzoma Ekwugha Amaechi OBE is a retired American-born British basketball player who currently works as a psychologist, educator and political activist in Europe and the United States....
arrives to motivate the Rockdogs as they struggle to reach the National Gay Basketball Championships in Chicago. Amaechi also helps the team console Mike when he admits that he is not yet out to his family and friends. At the team dinner, Rory presents a fundraising idea, which the Rockdogs support despite skepticism from others.
103 - "Hoop Dreams"- With teammates hurling accusations about commitment and talent at each other, Jamel decides to miss practice before their monumental game against the pro San Francisco ABA team, the Rumble. At the tip-off, Coach Alex benches Jamel for missing practice and the Rockdogs rely on DeMarco to pull them through.
104 - "Sister Swoopes" - Just as the Rockdogs find themselves in desperate need of inspiration after their loss to ABA Rumble pro team, WNBA pro superstar Sheryl Swoopes surprises the guys with a visit. Swoopes lifts the Rockdogs’ spirits by sharing her experiences on hoops, family, faith and coming out, and helps bring the team closer together. With hopes of proving Papa Joe wrong and raising enough money to get the team to the National Championships, Rory and Francis prepare for the fundraiser and prime the house for the boys to strut their stuff in sexy swimsuits and undergear.
105 - A Family That Plays Together" - Former NBA pro and life-coach John Amaechi
John Amaechi
John Uzoma Ekwugha Amaechi OBE is a retired American-born British basketball player who currently works as a psychologist, educator and political activist in Europe and the United States....
returns to check-in on the Rockdogs as the Chicago National Gay Basketball Championships near and notices that the team is still disorganized. In an attempt to promote greater team and family unity, Coach Alex and Papa Joe arrange a reunion game between the original “Old Dogs” and new Rockdogs. Afterwards, the three-generations of Rockdogs are immersed in an emotionally charged dinner at the training house, where “Old Dogs” share the history and legacy of the team.
106 - "The Big Dance" - Francis brings some of the guys to Glide Memorial Church for inspiration, before heading to the National Gay Basketball Championships in Chicago. The Rockdogs fall into chaos when star guard DeMarco comes down with the flu and Simon, Jamel, and others get sick after arriving in Chicago. Coach Alex and Papa Joe come to the rescue, but with six games to play in two day the Rockdogs’ legacy is at stake.
Awards
Shirts & Skins was nominated for a 2008 GLAAD Media Award in the Outstanding Reality Program category, along with other reality shows America's Next Top ModelAmerica's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model is a reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of America's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry....
(The CW), I Want to Work for Diddy
I Want to Work for Diddy
I Want To Work For Diddy was a reality show on VH1. Co-executive produced and directed by Mark Jacobs, the 13 contestants are brought together to see who can become Sean Combs' assistant. The show premiered on August 4, 2008...
(VH1), Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List is a reality show starring Kathy Griffin. The series aired on Bravo. It debuted in August 2005, and was cancelled in November 2010....
(Bravo), and Transamerican Love Story
Transamerican Love Story
Transamerican Love Story is an American reality television program featuring transgender woman Calpernia Addams and hosted by Alec Mapa. It originally aired on February 11, 2008 on Logo, the LGBT television network...
(Logo).