SHAPIRO Says Jump To SIX FLAGS Not Far

(From The USA Today -- By Michael Hiestand)

MARK SHAPIRO tried to get his new boss, DAM SNYDER, to open up in a joint interview Thursday.

Snyder, THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS OWNER and member of THE NFL's TV COMMITTEE, had been asked how he liked PLAYMAKERS, the ESPN dramatic series where some NFL players were portrayed as immoral if not downright evil, which the NFL objected to publicly.

Snyder's response -- "I can't say. Uh, it's a sensitive issue."

Said Shapiro, chuckling -- "Dan, we're so far past that. Let's just say Dan was intrigued by THE STORY LINES."

Shapiro oversaw ESPN PROGRAMMING AND PRODUCTION -- and spearheaded PLAYMAKERS -- until Snyder hired him Wednesday to run SIX FLAGS, in which Snyder is THE LARGEST INVESTOR.

This could be A FUN COUPLE. Or A PILOT for AN ESPN SERIES. TWO BRASH 30-SOMETHINGS become BIG NAMES IN THE SPORTS WORLD, then SPLASH DOWN IN THEME PARKS.

Shapiro -- whom Snyder says is "a dominating creative force in the world of entertainment" who was "remarkable in stretching THE ESPN BRAND" -- says he's not making a total change. "RADIO AND TELEVISION are in the SAME BUSINESS as THEME PARKS -- THE EMOTION TRANSPORTATION UNIVERSE," says Shapiro, adding both provide "ESCAPE AND DIVERSION FROM EVERYDAY LIFE."

Shapiro suggests he isn't necessarily leaving TV work by taking his new job -- "I see SIX FLAGS, potentially, as A TOTAL ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY. Who knows what?"

Looking back at ESPN, Shapiro is "proudest of my relationship with my team. I wish I could give you a more SEXY ANSWER, because you know I'm never opposed to that."

True.

Shapiro added A DASH OF PAPRIKA TO TV SPORTS, where executives increasingly seem intent on PUBLIC BLANDNESS. And although Snyder is publicly trying to replace SIX FLAGS BOARD MEMBERS -- and install Shapiro as CEO -- Shapiro gamely suggests there's HOMEYNESS ahead -- "I'm leaving one FAMILY ATMOSPHERE for another FAMILY COMPANY."

And no, Dan, none of THE PLAYMAKERS were supposed to be 'SKINS.