Sports cable TV outlet Versus recently launched a new show called Fanarchy. The production is loosely based on the ESPN’s Around The Horn, but instead of sportswriters, the Versus version features webcam-tethered fans as the protagonists.

From the show’s website:

Each week the webcammers will stake out hard-core opinions (not necessarily expert, but always entertaining) and do battle. EVERY sports fan has an opinion, and on this show they’ll get an opportunity to share it. Instead of the tired old formula of sports-writers and generic TV talking heads spewing endless stats, calculating salary cap numbers and reading from steroids subpoenas, these sports fans are rabid, ready to do battle and unrelenting in their opinions. … (Nobody is above the fray, but some people do have fancier webcams).

It’s easy to mock Versus for something like this, but I give them credit for taking a chance and trying something different. The show isn’t my cup of tea, but I’m not in the show’s target demographic.

(For encore airing, may have to wait for funds to settle)

That is, I thought I wasn’t - until I saw the performance of some female fans on cam. Read more…