Hoyt 'n Andy's Sportsbender

Did You Know?

• The series was ESPN's first attempt at an animated series.
• In Singapore, the series aired on Premiere 12 in 1997 to finish its weekend block of sports programming.
• The series juggles topics such as corruption, media manipulation, sexism and inculture among sports fanatics.

Production

ESPN first announced Hoyt 'n Andy's Sportsbender in July 1995, marking the network's debut in animation, with a planned November premiere. The show targeted a niche audience, though an Orlando Sentinel piece suggested it might appeal to real sports commentators, likening it to sports radio morning shows. ESPN Vice President John Wildack described it as "a real departure" for the network, pointing to the popularity of adult cartoons like The Simpsons and The Ren & Stimpy Show. The launch was pushed to December 25, but days before that date, ESPN said the series was "postponed indefinitely." Even so, newspapers continued listing it, suggesting they had stale information. The series eventually aired overseas: in Spain on Canal+ as Los superdeportistas, and in Singapore on Premiere 12 in 1997. German distributor Studio 100 International, owned by Belgium's Studio 100, now holds the rights.