Bleacher Report is launching a new digital show situated in the setting of a mock press conference with comedian Funny Marco. The show will feature Marco interviewing professional basketball players and other celebrities in the format, officially making its premiere on Friday at 5 p.m. EST through the B/R App and YouTube. The first guest on the program, which is titled Marco is Off the Ball, is Sacramento Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox, who was honored as an NBA All-Star during the 2023-24 season. Future guests and premieres of new episodes for Marco is Off the Ball will be announced at a later date.
“Growing up watching sports, I always knew those postgame interviews needed a little something extra,” Marco said in a statement. “Now, with Off the Ball and Bleacher Report, we’re doing it my way. I’m interviewing players in a way they didn’t see coming and asking the questions nobody else would think to ask. Linking up with B/R is perfect because they get it – sports isn’t just about the game; it’s about bringing that entertainment factor. Trust me, basketball fans haven’t ever seen their favorite players in interviews like what we’re about to bring them.”
Marco is known for the unconventional style in which he goes about interviewing celebrities and has released videos with millions of views across various platforms. Through these ventures, he has accrued many followers interested in hearing his conversations with stars such as Kevin Hart, Nicki Minaj, John Cena and others. The show represents a new basketball offering within the Bleacher Report lineup, which includes The Edge with Micah Parsons and On Base with Mookie Betts. Parsons, a defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys, was named the president of the B/R Gridiron division earlier in the year upon signing a multiyear contract extension with the outlet.
The addition of the show takes place shortly after parent company Warner Bros. Discovery reached a settlement on a lawsuit against the NBA regarding media rights negotiations. TNT Sports will not broadcast live NBA games in the United States for the first time since 1984 starting next season, but the entity will continue to have digital rights for Bleacher Report and House of Highlights. In a separate deal, TNT Sports is sublicensing Inside the NBA to ESPN, which will air the show surrounding marquee events beginning next season.
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