REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL Returns to HBO Next Week

REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL, TV's most honored sports journalism series, returns with a football-themed installment when the show's 221st edition debuts at a special time TUESDAY, AUG. 18 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

For up-to-the-minute updates about REAL SPORTS, follow on Twitter at @RealSportsHBO or join the conversation using #RealSports.

Segments include:

*Rex Ryan. REAL SPORTS correspondent Andrea Kremer goes one-on-one with Rex Ryan, who opens up for the first time on TV about his firing from the New York Jets, his mercurial relationship with Jets management and the New York media, and his new beginning in Buffalo. She accompanies Ryan, 52, on a skydiving adventure, spends time with him at his summer home in Nashville, connects with his twin brother, Rob, of the New Orleans Saints, and visits Bills training camp to learn more about one of brashest, most colorful characters in sports.

Producers: Chapman Downes, Tim Walker.

*Bond of Brothers. Ma'ake and Chris Kemoeatu are one of 373 sets of brothers who've played pro football, but their bond may be unlike any other. Two of seven siblings born in Tonga, but raised in Hawaii, they had similar career trajectories. Both stood out at the University of Utah and went on to play professionally in the AFC North, one of the NFL's best divisions. The older, Ma'ake, played nose tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, while Chris played on the offensive line for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both reached the pinnacle of success in the NFL by capturing SUPER BOWL rings.

But in 2011, a lingering kidney ailment forced Chris out of the game, and it was later discovered he would need a kidney transplant to survive. By Tongan tradition, it was the responsibility of the eldest son, Ma'ake, to step forward, and he sacrificed his career to save his brother's life by donating a kidney. REAL SPORTS correspondent Jon Frankel speaks with the Kemoeatu brothers about this inspiring story and the unbreakable bond they formed long before football.

Producer: Nisreen Habbal.

*Between the Numbers. Kevin Kelley, head football coach at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Ark., uses his own mathematical research to back up the philosophy that his team should never punt, and should attempt an onside kick after every score. While this sounds too unorthodox to be effective, the team has had 138 wins and just 24 losses during his time at Pulaski. When REAL SPORTS first met Kelley in 2012, Pulaski Academy had recently captured its third Arkansas state title. Now, on the heels of its fourth state title, correspondent Jon Frankel reconnects with Kelley in Little Rock to see what new tricks the coach has up his sleeve.

Producers: Nick Dolin, Jake Rosenwasser.

Throughout 2015, REAL SPORTS features three-to-four-minute segments spotlighting a different comedy star from the HBO family, who closes each show with a personal, unfiltered take on an element of sports. This month, George Lopez, who has starred in two stand-up specials on HBO, gives his take on Latinos in Major League Baseball.

Other HBO playdates: Aug. 18 (11:00 p.m.), 20 (1:00 p.m.), 22 (10:30 a.m.), 24 (4:25 a.m.), 25 (5:15 p.m.), 28 (8:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m.) and 31 (8:00 p.m.), and Sept. 6 (9:30 a.m.) and 10 (2:55 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Aug. 23 (2:00 p.m.), 26 (10:30 a.m., 9:00 p.m.) and 31 (4:15 p.m.), and Sept. 8 (11:00 p.m.), 12 (4:45 p.m., 2:15 a.m.) and 16 (1:45 p.m.)

REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL is also available on HBO NOW and HBO GO.

On May 5, REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL captured two Sports Emmy® Awards, in the Outstanding Sports Journalism and Outstanding Sports News Anthology categories. The show has won Outstanding Sports Journalism Emmys® 16 times and earned 28 Sports Emmy®Awards overall since debuting in 1995.