SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers for Eli Manning Presents The Undercovers: Micah Parsons.

When Eli Manning Presents The Undercovers set Baker Mayfield loose on NFL fans, it was a fun show that was too darn short. Now Manning and Prime Video have brought the series back with Micah Parsons in the lead—and it’s even better. There’s no reason not to take this idea and run with it for more specials or even an entire season.

For those who may need a refresher: Eli Manning has a knack for going undercover, which he turned into the idea for the upcoming Hulu series Chad Powers. But before that, there was The Undercovers, in which Mayfield became Gus Swayze and surprised a group of Tampa Bay Buccaneers superfans. It worked because both Manning and Mayfield were so committed to the bit, in an almost Police Squad! sort of way. Athletes going undercover is nothing new, but The Undercovers leaned hard into the joke and made everyone laugh.

Eli Manning Presents The Undercovers has that same wholehearted self-deprecation, but with a twist. Parsons’ stint as Lester Vandross the waiter—one must admire his taste in music—was filmed shortly before his contract debacle with the Cowboys that led to him being traded to Green Bay. The one knock on the show is that it brings this up too much, including the release of this episode happening just before Parsons makes his return to Dallas. That’s great marketing on Prime Video’s part, and there will likely be some interest in this special because of the trade, but talking about it does get slightly distracting.

The Undercovers is best when it forgets the outside world and focuses on Parsons just being awkward as all heck, which is an understandable contrast from his on-field personality. He’s more interested in eating the food than serving it to people (idea: Micah Parsons should start a food review blog). He also has a whole story figured out about Lester’s failed football career. The innate gag of these shows is being in on the joke while the people being filmed have no idea, and Parsons gets great reactions out of people. He’s quirky enough to be entertaining but not so out there that it becomes obvious. He’s found the sweet spot. Most importantly, his care for the fans is so heartwarming; it’s clear that he doesn’t see himself as the star of the show.

The other strength is that Eli Manning fits perfectly into the role of the cluelessly obnoxious host. His dialogue is hilariously bad (“Yards and meters are not the same thing; yards are in the front of your house”) and he knows how to deliver it perfectly. Making fun of his being drafted by the Chargers and calling himself “the king of San Diego” will likely get a rise out of Chargers fans who still remember that story—but that’s why it’s funny. He’s willing to make himself look ridiculous and deserves a ton of credit for that. The Undercovers has that same goodwill. It doesn’t rest solely on the gimmick of sticking athletes in odd jobs. It’s a success because it takes that idea and then surrounds it with this whole vibe of having fun.

There’s one more special with Justin Jefferson coming later this season, but Prime Video would be wise to keep The Undercovers on tap. Obviously there’s logistical challenges with the NFL and the sheer star power of many of the players. It’s easy to imagine someone like Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen having a blast on this show, but if they’d be able to stay undercover is the bigger issue. That said, Eli Manning Presents the Undercovers may not need a huge star to make it work.

There are lots of less recognizable players in the league with great personalities. Or what about throwing a head coach like the Chargers’ Jim Harbaugh in the mix? Possibly with his brother, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, roped into it somehow? Or even a retired player—if Prime Video let Ryan Fitzpatrick off the Thursday Night Football desk to team up with Eli Manning, it would be a riot. Eli Manning Presents The Undercovers: Micah Parsons sets the bar high and there’s plenty of room to keep going.

Eli Manning Presents The Undercovers: Micah Parsons is now streaming on Prime Video. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Amazon.

Article content is (c)2020-2025 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.