Teamwork makes the dream work, unless you’re talking about the Lions vs. a fictional Lion.
Monday night’s Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers game, which is airing nationally on ESPN, also will be broadcast locally at 8 p.m. on Fox 2 Detroit (WJBK-TV).
That means the 9 p.m. premiere of the Fox dramedy “The Big Leap” will be delayed until approximately 11:30 p.m. in Detroit.
It just so happens that one of the characters is a Lions player attempting to save his crumbling career.
Set in Detroit, “The Big Leap” follows a diverse group of characters who are competing on a reality show that challenges amateur dancers to stage the ballet “Swan Lake.”
More: New Fox dance drama ‘The Big Leap’ set in Detroit, gives underdog characters second chance
Among the storylines is the off-the-field meltdown of Reggie Sadler, who’s played by Ser’Darius Blain (“Charmed,” “Survivor’s Remorse”).
Reggie has been suspended from the Lions for driving under the influence. He also is going viral for a video that was taken of him dancing naked and intoxicated on a football field.
Plus, Reggie is in trouble for a tweet he posted about Michelle Obama’s physique that he meant as a compliment.
As the show puts it, Reggie needs to stay out of TMZ’s headlines and focus on the dance competition if he wants to preserve his $13-million salary.
In a recent interview with the Free Press, Blain said that he hasn’t done any professional dancing before this, adding, “It’s funny because my first movie ever was actually (the remake of) ‘Footloose.’”
But he has been cast previously as a football player. You might recognize him from his role as Fridge in the 2017 hit “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” and its followup, 2019’s “Jumanji: The Next Level.”
Blain has “a lot more added, profound respect” for dancers since taking intense lessons to prepare for the series. “Dancers are definitely athletes, for sure,” he said.
He thinks viewers will relate to the “The Big Leap” for its theme of not giving up on your dreams.
“We’re all experiencing hurt and anguish with everything that’s happening in the world and I think that this will be freeing for a lot of viewers. The characters are very relatable. I don’t know even which character is my favorite,” he said.
If the real Lions are your favorite and you can’t stay up late tonight, you can watch the first two episodes of “The Big Leap” online now at Hulu and Fox Now.
Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@freepress.com.