I've watched the first two episodes and have had mixed feelings. While the baseball side of the story has been consistently engaging, I've been let down when the show turns its focus to the Son of Sam killings and the police procedurals that go along with this. I suppose this could be an effect of countless cop shows and films that have covered similar terrain many times, as well as this specific case on more than one occasion.

When you consider that the show is produced by ESPN it does make sense that the sports side would be better handled, but still I was hoping that the non-sports elements would be equally compelling.

Any other thoughts?

The (far superior) book on which it was based began as a Yankee-specific memoir of the year, but as author Mahler did more research on the New York of '77, he expanded the scope to include the Son of Sam killings, blackout, mayoral race, etc.

I really can't remember enjoying any book in the last few years as much as this one. It probably helped that I grew up here, and already knew of all the major players. The real strength of the book is in the kaleidoscopic portrayal of so many aspects of city life. The biggest weakness of the miniseries (aside from the prosthetic ears borrowed from William H Macy's Door to Door makeup trailer) is an over-emphasis on the Yankees - but once it was announced that ESPN was producing, it's fate was sealed.

p.s. - cost be damned; if you can't film this story in NYC, don't film it at all.

I also read the immensely enjoyable book upon which the miniseries is based...can't help but wonder what HBO would have done with this material.