Last Updated on: 13th December 2023, 10:03 am
What happens when you put a diehard Patriots fan on the same sportscast as former New York Giants Quarterback Eli Manning? We found out last week on ManningCast when Peyton and Eli welcomed Hollywood actor and Pats fanatic Mark Wahlberg as a guest.
ManningCast is produced by ESPN2 and Omaha Productions (a sports media company founded by Peyton Manning and Jamie Horowitz). Peyton and Eli host celebrity guests on their live broadcast every Monday night (previous guests have included everyone from President Obama to David Letterman to Tom Brady). Wahlberg’s rivalry-charged appearance was certainly one of the most entertaining of the Emmy-winning show’s third season.
The Patriots/Giants rivalry is among the most contentious in the NFL. The two teams have met twice at the Super Bowl, and Eli Manning led the Giants to underdog victories on both occasions.
While sibling rivalry is a hallmark of ManningCast, Peyton and Eli’s antics took a backseat to the Giants/Patriots rivalry as Eli playfully ribbed Wahlberg about his team’s Super Bowl let-downs.
“I would say that I was sorry for that 18-0 season,” Eli said to Wahlberg, referring to the Patriots’ perfect 2007 regular season before losing to the Giants. “But I’d be lying.”
“You have no remorse whatsoever,” Wahlberg said, shaking his head.
Next, Eli really dug his claws in.
“I know you attended a few Super Bowls that the Patriots played in, but you were at neither of the Super Bowls at which the Patriots played my Giants,” Eli said. “What do you remember most about watching those games on TV?”
Before Wahlberg could answer, Eli continued: “Mark, it’s only the first quarter, so please take your time and give a long, thoughtful answer.”
Despite his Pats fandom, Wahlberg couldn’t hold a straight face and broke into a chuckle.
Eli got a few shots in, but The Fighter star was quick on his feet, landing a few jabs of his own.
Early in the interview, Eli asked Mark Wahlberg how he could endear himself to Philadelphia Eagles fans after so many years as a New York QB.
“You?” Wahlberg said wide-eyed. “Actually, this year you probably could because I think the Giants are 3-8.”
Peyton Manning was clearly loving the two rivals’ back-and-forth—especially when Wahlberg took aim at Eli. He was only too happy to add fuel to the fire.
“Were you aware that tonight’s ManningCast appearance was over Zoom and not in person?” Peyton asked Wahlberg. “So you won’t be able to curse Eli to his face.”
But Mark Wahlberg, known for being one of the nicest guys in Hollywood, wouldn’t take the bait.
“I’ve always liked Eli because we’re both younger brothers living in our older brothers’ shadow,” he said. “I’m very much a fan of both you guys.”
After plenty of good-natured jabs and plenty of laughs, Mark Wahlberg left ManningCast feeling hopeful about the following week’s game between the Giants and the Patriots.
“I think the biggest game of the year is next week, Giants vs Patriots,” he said, before adding: “I still hate the Giants to this day because of Eli.”
Peyton and Eli also welcomed Iowa point guard Caitlin Clark and former NFL Quarterback Michael Vick on that night’s broadcast. ManningCast’s blend of Celebrity guests and football expertise has helped turn it into a sports and pop culture phenomenon. The Chiefs vs Eagles matchup provided further evidence of this, earning ManningCast its highest ratings of the season with nearly 2 million viewers tuning in.
Omaha Productions co-founders Peyton Manning and Jamie Horowitz took an innovative approach to developing ManningCast, combining live commentary from the NFL’s top former QBs with celebrity guests and cutting-edge technology. That approach has paid off big time. ManningCast has won 2 Emmys, and it continues to garner solid ratings among key demographics.
Omaha Productions has also created a slate of other popular sports programs, including Netflix’s Quarterback and Eli’s Places on ESPN+.
Last week’s record-breaking ManningCast featuring Mark Wahlberg was another fun moment for Omaha Productions, and it was yet another indicator of just how quickly the company is becoming a major competitor in the sports media industry.
