‘Chad Powers’ Avoids a Problem Plaguing Modern Sports Projects

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The new Hulu comedy, Chad Powers, started as a fun experiment. NFL quarterback Eli Manning decided to secretly try out for a college football team, surprising everyone with his abilities. This led to a funny segment on his show, Eli’s Places, which quickly became popular online. Glen Powell, known for Top Gun: Maverick, and Michael Waldron, the creator of Loki, saw the potential for a full TV series based on the original idea.

The story of *Chad Powers* isn’t a direct retelling of Eli Manning’s life; it reimagines his career as a college athlete, allowing the creators to add a story of overcoming challenges. Usually, changes like this would indicate a focus on spectacle over substance – a “Hollywoodification” where the core truth is lost. But *Chad Powers* is different. It avoids a common pitfall of many recent sports-based projects by staying true to its core message.

Football Media Rarely Care About What the Sport Looks Like


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The creators of ‘Chad Powers’ are continuing a long tradition of using football to tell compelling stories. For decades, the sport has been the backdrop for popular sports movies like ‘Rudy,’ ‘The Replacements,’ and ‘Remember the Titans.’ However, those films all came out over twenty years ago. Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, filmmakers really focused on making sports movies feel authentic, which helped audiences connect with the stories. Lately, though, football hasn’t felt very realistic in movies or on TV.

Recent football movies, like *The Blind Side*, often receive praise, but they usually focus more on the stories surrounding the game than the actual football action. Similarly, TV shows like *All American* often go viral for their unrealistic portrayals. In contrast, *Chad Powers* deliberately aims for positive attention. The show smartly balances humor and authenticity; it doesn’t sacrifice one for the other. Instead, these elements work together to create genuine tension and provide much-needed comic relief as the competitive pressures of the athletic world build throughout the series.

‘Chad Powers’ Sets Itself Up for Success


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The beginning of the *Chad Powers* sketch is instantly engaging. We see Russ Holidau, a skilled but overconfident quarterback from Oregon, trying to drive his team to victory and win the national championship. It’s a familiar situation for many quarterbacks, and Holidau looks like a real contender as he expertly navigates the defense, seemingly on the verge of scoring. However, he makes a critical error – he fumbles the ball – which allows the opposing team to quickly turn the game around and score a touchdown.

The show *Chad Powers* immediately establishes its energetic pace and doesn’t let up, even when the main character arrives at a struggling school. Eli and Peyton Manning, who are also executive producers, likely ensured the show accurately portrays football. But the entire creative team deserves recognition too – just like in football, a successful TV show requires a coordinated team effort. You can watch *Chad Powers* now on Hulu.

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2025-10-18 23:51