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What to Watch this week: Derek Jeter ESPN docuseries ‘The Captain’ premieres

Here’s what to watch this week, July 18-22.

The Captain (10 p.m., ESPN)

Premiering Monday night after MLB’s Home Run Derby is a new seven-part documentary series about Derek Jeter: “the face of the New York Yankees, a five-time World Series champion, the most popular and admired player in baseball, and one of the great sports superstars of any age.”

The docuseries, directed by Emmy-winner Randy Wilkins, tells the story of Jeter’s life and Hall of Fame career anchored by “exclusive, extensive, unprecedentedly candid interviews with Jeter, along with his family (his wife, mom, dad and sister) and dozens of teammates, rivals, and observers.”

Included are interviews with Joe Torre, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettite, Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez, Alfonso Soriano, Darryl Strawberry and Jorge Posada, Roger Clemens, Willie Randolph, Alex Rodriguez and CC Sabathia. Also interviewed, are hip hop artists Fat Joe and Jadakiss and many others.

The first episode airs Monday, July 18, and Episode 2 airs Thursday, July 21, at 9 p.m. Episode 1 will repeat Thursday at 8 p.m.

Other episodes premiere on subsequent Thursdays at 9 through August 11.

Episode 1 (July 18): Jeter’s upbringing as a bi-racial kid in the Midwest and his journey to the major leagues. It features never-before-seen footage of Jeter getting drafted by the Yankees.

Episode 2 (July 21): Jeter has an instant impact on the Yankees as he captures a title in his first season as a pro. This catapults him to superstardom but fame comes with a price. Jeter reveals the privileges and perils of fame. But through it all, Jeter becomes a leader on a team that is considered by many to be the greatest in the history of the game, the 1998 Yankees.

Episode 3 (July 28): The importance of loyalty and trust to Jeter as the Yankees cap off a three peat beating the New York Mets, and his friendship with Alex Rodriguez is changed.

Former New York Yankee Derek Jeter in the ESPN documentary series “The Captain.”
Former New York Yankee Derek Jeter in the ESPN documentary series “The Captain.” ESPN
Former New York Yankee manager Joe Torre in the ESPN documentary series about Derek Jeter, “The Captain.”
Former New York Yankee manager Joe Torre in the ESPN documentary series about Derek Jeter, “The Captain.” ESPN
Former New York Yankee Andy Pettite in the ESPN documentary series about Derek Jeter, “The Captain.”
Former New York Yankee Andy Pettite in the ESPN documentary series about Derek Jeter, “The Captain.” ESPN
Former New York Yankee Mariano Rivera in the ESPN documentary series about Derek Jeter, “The Captain.”
Former New York Yankee Mariano Rivera in the ESPN documentary series about Derek Jeter, “The Captain.” ESPN
Former New York Yankee Bernie Williams in the ESPN documentary series about Derek Jeter, “The Captain.”
Former New York Yankee Bernie Williams in the ESPN documentary series about Derek Jeter, “The Captain.” ESPN
Former New York Yankee Jorge Posada in the ESPN documentary series about Derek Jeter, “The Captain.”
Former New York Yankee Jorge Posada in the ESPN documentary series about Derek Jeter, “The Captain.” ESPN
Former New York Yankee Tino Martinez in the ESPN documentary series about Derek Jeter, “The Captain.”
Former New York Yankee Tino Martinez in the ESPN documentary series about Derek Jeter, “The Captain.” ESPN
Former New York Yankee Darryl Strawberry in the ESPN documentary series about Derek Jeter, “The Captain.”
Former New York Yankee Darryl Strawberry in the ESPN documentary series about Derek Jeter, “The Captain.” ESPN

Some programming descriptions are provided by networks.

This story was originally published July 18, 2022 at 7:12 AM.

Brooke Cain
The News & Observer
Brooke Cain is a North Carolina native who has worked at The News & Observer and McClatchy for more than 30 years as a researcher, reporter and media writer. She is the National Service Journalism Editor for McClatchy. 
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