Greg Whiteley has a brand new sports activities docuseries at Netflix that actually isn’t new in any respect. The seven-episode (at 45-minutes apiece) “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders” will premiere this summer time on Netflix. The streamer first introduced the collection on Thursday, when it additionally put out a teaser (under).
Greg Whiteley… Netflix… cheerleading docuseries… Why does this all sound so acquainted? Oh yeah, it’s as a result of Whiteley is the man behind Netflix’s two-season docuseries “Cheer” (in addition to the equally wonderful five-season “Final Probability U”).
Followers of “Cheer” have been not-so-patiently ready for a 3rd season, so… isn’t this simply that? Why not name “America’s Sweethearts” what it truly is: “Cheer” Season 3. That’s what we wish.
There’s loads of precedent right here. Whereas “Cheer” Seasons 1 and a pair of centered on aggressive collegiate cheerleading (principally) at Navarro Faculty (additionally in Texas!), Whiteley’s precursor “Final Probability U” not solely modified faculties — it modified sports activities. Initially a junior-college soccer docuseries, “Final Probability U” transformed to a junior-college basketball docuseries for Seasons 4 and 5. Why not simply graduate “Cheer” to comply with an expert soccer cheerleading squad this season?
It’s potential the Dallas Cowboys — known as “America’s Staff” and an absolute TV rankings juggernaut for the NFL and its broadcast companions — and their very well-known cheerleading squad is being seen because the stronger branding for such a program. Ranging from scratch, that may be correct. However Whiteley isn’t ranging from scratch: he’s halfway by a killer mat routine.
“Cheer” has an present fanbase of Netflix subscribers and the model is way extra culturally related (and positively of upper high quality) than that different Cowboys cheerleader actuality present, the long-running “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Staff” on CMT.
IndieWire requested Netflix reps if “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders” was thought of at any level for a 3rd season of “Cheer.” We solely type of received a solution.
“‘America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders isn’t related to ‘Cheer,’” a rep responded. “We’re persevering with to do extra collection with [Whiteley],” the individual continued, pointing to their upcoming Boston Crimson Sox docuseries collaboration.
We additionally inquired concerning the futures of “Cheer” and “Final Probability U,” however didn’t obtain a response on that. Not encouraging.
Possibly it’s time to transfer on. There’s a black mark related to the “Cheer” present, and it’s as dangerous because it will get — but it surely has nothing to do with Whiteley or Netflix. Jerry Harris, the breakout stunter from “Cheer’s” first season, was arrested on little one pornography costs in 2020, between Seasons 1 and a pair of. Harris achieved crossover fame after the primary season, and was in a lot of the second season. Whiteley defined his laborious option to IndieWire in January 2022, which is when “Cheer” Season 2 premiered.
“I spent a while puzzling over simply what proportion of our viewers will know the story. We shot for nearly a complete season earlier than these allegations even got here out. And so he’s a member of that crew. In fact, he exhibits up within the footage,” Whiteley mentioned. “And I simply saved pondering that the viewers, in the event that they know the story, it’s going to be so bizarre. They usually’re going to be asking the filmmakers, ‘What occurred? Are they going to acknowledge this? Are they simply going to faux it didn’t?’ And so, the answer ended up being, ‘Let’s deal with it proper up entrance. We all know that this occurred. That is coming. We’re going to clarify it later.’”
Season 2 certainly acknowledges Harris’ arrest up entrance and devotes most of its fifth episode to the creating authorized state of affairs. The episode consists of interviews with the journalists who broke the story of the (then) allegations towards Harris and with the mother and father of dual boys who have been (on the time of the taping, alleged) victims in Harris’ crimes.
In June 2022, 5 months after the second season of “Cheer” launched on Netflix, Harris pled responsible to federal costs associated to soliciting little one sexual abuse imagery and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. He’s serving 12 years in a federal jail in Oklahoma Metropolis.
So, for now not less than, no “Cheer” Season 3. As a substitute, it’s “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders,” which follows the 2023-24 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders squad starting with auditions and coaching camp and ending when the Cowboys season predictably (sorry, I’m a Giants fan) ended within the NFC Wild Card Spherical.
Netflix says “America’s Sweethearts” will present “unfiltered entry into this iconic crew and franchise.” This system will “doc the private tales behind the uniforms — revealing the drive, hustle, and drama among the many cheerleaders and coaches.”
We’re positive it will likely be good; time will inform if it’s “Cheer” good.
“The type of entry and artistic freedom we have to make the type of work we need to make isn’t straightforward to return by—particularly when coping with a model as massive because the Dallas Cowboys,” Whiteley mentioned in an announcement offered to media.
There’s that “model” factor.
“To their infinite credit score, the Cowboys provided unfettered entry for the yr we filmed the DCC and left us alone,” Whiteley continued. “The result’s an genuine portrait of one of the storied and beloved establishments we’ve got in American popular culture.”
“America’s Sweethearts” hails from One Potato Productions and Boardwalk Photos, in affiliation with Campfire Studios. Whiteley government produces alongside Adam Leibowitz of One Potato Productions, Andrew Fried and Dane Lillegard of Boardwalk Photos, and Ross M. Dinerstein and Rebecca Evans of Campfire Studios.
Watch the trailer right here: