FOX to Present Six-Part BEING: MIKE TYSON Series, Begin. 9/22

By: Aug. 19, 2013
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In BEING: MIKE TYSON, FOX Sports' original Emmy Award-nominated all-access documentary series, the enigmatic former heavyweight champ opens his life and very soul, allowing audiences to experience his amazing transformation from world renowned sports superstar to Mr. John Q. Public. The original six-part series premieres Sunday, Sept. 22 on FOX either before (3:30 - 4:00 PM ET) or after (4:30 - 5:00 PM ET) local NFL On FOX coverage before moving to its regular time slot on Tuesday, Sept, 24 (10:30 PM ET) on Fox Sports 1, America's new sports network. Check local listings for time of premiere.

"We all know Iron Mike, we all know the stories, but very few people know Michael Gerard Tyson," offers Michael Bloom, Senior Vice President, Original Programming, FOX Sports. "The honesty and access Mike gave us allowed BEING: to paint a complete picture of an icon that you've never seen before. After watching all six episodes, viewers will know a whole new Mike Tyson, and one they never imagined."

As one of the most feared men ever to step into a boxing ring, Tyson was once the embodiment of a modern-day gladiator. Despite his well-documented rise and fall and the tales of his infamous tantrums in and out of the boxing ring, the public's fascination with him has endured.

"I'm very glad to be a part of the Fox Sports 1 family, premiering my first ever docu-series," said Tyson. "Although I have lived my life on the world stage since I got into boxing, I was still apprehensive about doing such an intimate portrayal of myself. It turned out to be an amazingly personal experience for me looking back at the life I once led via the life that I am so proud to be living now."

BEING: cameras follow Tyson traveling the country on a national tour of his one-man stage show, where he reflects on his past and seeks personal closure. He visits the prison in Indianapolis where he was incarcerated and spends unprecedented time with one-time rival Evander Holyfield discussing their true feelings about each other and their memories of "the ear" incident. Cameras roll during a very special and moving meeting with "The Greatest," Muhammad Ali, and also while Tyson discusses Parenthood and life with his personal hero and mentor Jim Brown. Documented are his visits to his old neighborhoods in Brooklyn and the Catskills and the time he spends playing with his children. Over the three hours, viewers see this emotional and revelatory journey first hand. Fox Sports cameras are with Mike as he re-connects with the public, who has both loved and vilified him, and shares this truly unique experience through his own eyes and voice. Unlike any portrait that has ever before been captured, BEING: MIKE TYSON is not a look back, but instead, a look inward and forward.

Early in the series, Tyson talks about not living in the past: "I don't have any delusions of glory or grandeur for anything I do these days. People have to realize that 'Iron Mike' is dead and I'm doing something else now and that's just what it is."

He opens up about getting control of his inner demons. "I was pretty dark and troubled back then," says Tyson. "I'm dark and trouble now, but not like back then. I'm cool now."

And Tyson discusses how he's gotten past some of the pivotal moments in his life, such as biting Holyfield's ear: "We're taking something that at one time in life was such a negative, now we look at it as a joke. I think that's the way we should look at it as two adults. I made a mistake."

Fox Sports Originals' BEING: series sets the tone for Fox Sports 1 original programming with a number of other high-profile, unprecedented, all-access projects in different stages of development and production, including BEING: MARIANO RIVERA and BEING: THE FINEST. Last year's BEING: LIVERPOOL was the first in the series.

BEING: MIKE TYSON is co-produced by Asylum Entertainment and FOX Sports, with executive producers Steve Michaels, Jonathan Koch, Alex Piper and Andrew Fried.

For series updates, follow BEING: MIKE TYSON and the BEING: franchise on Twitter at @BEINGonFOX.

BEING: MIKE TYSON Air Dates / Times:
Date Time Network
9/22/13 * 3:30 PM ET or 4:30 PM ET (check local listings) FOX
9/24/13 **10:00 PM ET Fox Sports 1
9/24/13 10:30 PM ET Fox Sports 1
10/01/13 10:30 PM ET Fox Sports 1
10/08/13 10:30 PM ET Fox Sports 1
10/15/13 10:30 PM ET Fox Sports 1
10/22/13 10:30 PM ET Fox Sports 1

*airs either before or after NFL On FOX singleheader coverage

**premiere episode encore

Photo Credit: Walter McBride



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