Boston Red Sox: David Ortiz reality TV show to debut on January 31
Former Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz will be back in the spotlight with a new reality TV show that debuts on January 31.
After a year away from knocking home runs out of ballparks across the country,former Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz will be back in the spotlight next week when his new TV show debuts on Fusion. The cameras will follow Ortiz from job to job in a 10-part, half-hour series called “Big Papi Needs a Job.” In reality, Ortiz doesn’t actually need a job. He made almost $160 million in his career, but the 42-year-old is probably driving his wife crazy now that he’s not on the road playing baseball six months out of the year.
In a statement, Ortiz said, “I’ve always been about trying new things, and this series is all about that. I’ve been meeting new people and having a lot of fun.” With this new show, Ortiz will share the fun with the public. Fans can follow along starting with the premiere at 8 pm on Fusion on Wednesday the 31st.
On the show, Ortiz will try his hand at different jobs, including a musician, a manicurist, and a dog groomer. Two clips were released recently that show Ortiz playing music at the Berklee College of Music and learning how to give manicures. In the music clip, Ortiz plays the guira, which is an instrument played in his native country, the Dominican Republic.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
Ortiz seems like a big, lovable guy who enjoys himself wherever he goes. He played 20 years in the big leagues and was part of the 2004 Red Sox team that broke “The Curse of the Bambino” with the franchise’s first World Series title since 1918. The Red Sox won the World Series three times in the 14 years Ortiz played in Boston and he had many incredible postseason moments along the way.
As important as he was to the Boston Red Sox during baseball games, Ortiz had a big non-baseball moment following the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. It was less than a week after the bombing and the city was still dealing with the aftermath. The Red Sox held a pregame ceremony to honor the people who were killed in the bombing and Ortiz made an unforgettable speech that included dropping an F-bomb. The Red Sox went on to win the World Series that year, with Ortiz being named series MVP after hitting .688/.760/1.188 against the Cardinals.
Two years ago, Ortiz teamed up with another New England icon, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, on a few Dunkin’ Donuts commercials promoting Dunkin’ Ice. The videos are as ridiculous as you’d expect from two guys known for having a good time.
Like with most things, the announcement about the debut of “Big Papi Needs a Job” has prompted reactions both positive and negative. Some people love Ortiz for his big personality and the impressive things he did on the field. Others consider Ortiz to be a cheater because the New York Times reported that his name appeared in the Mitchell Report for testing positive for PEDs in 2003, a year before wide-scale testing was instituted.
Next: Hanley looks to return to form
Where you fall in that continuum will likely determine if you watch his show. With the current offseason being painfully slow, it’s at least something to watch that is tangentially related to baseball before pitchers and catchers start to report to spring training on February 13.