DODGE THOSE HOLIDAY BLUES WHEN ESQUIRE NETWORK DELIVERS THE "BETTER-THAN-A-SWEATER" MARATHON

-- This Weeklong Celebration of Esquire Network's Finest Original Series Commences on Monday, December 19th --

-- The Network's Entire Catalog of Programming Now Available On Demand --

LOS ANGELES- December 6, 2016 - 'Tis the season to celebrate the passions and interests of men with Esquire Network's "Better-Than-A-Sweater" marathon beginning on Monday, December 19th. From fashion, food, and drink to travel, adventure, and relationships, the 147 hour-long stocking stuffer of the network's greatest original series is guaranteed to make your holidays merrier. The marathon features fan favorite full seasons, both critically acclaimed scripted series "Spotless" and "Beowulf," in addition to all-new episodes of "Team Ninja Warrior: College Madness," "Wrench Against the Machine" and "Joyride" the night of Tuesday, December 20th. Like what you see? Check out the entire catalog also available on demand. Any episode. Anytime. Anywhere.

The line-up includes:

"Team Ninja Warrior: College Madness"

An expansion of the hit series "American Ninja Warrior," sixteen teams compete in a dual course, which includes even more challenging obstacles with a whole new strategy of racing. Racers pulled from some of the most historical and deep-seeded collegiate rivalries battle it out on this amped-up version of the world's most intense obstacle course. The full season marathon begins Thursday, December 22nd at 7 PM ET/PT.

"Car Matchmaker"

In each episode, Spike Feresten finds someone in need of a vehicle, gets to know them, and then draws upon his two decades of expertise and instinct to find three different options perfectly suited to the buyer. After taking the ultimate test drive, the prospective buyer picks their favorite vehicle and rides off into the sunset. A selection of the best episodes begin Wednesday, December 21st at 3 PM ET/PT.

"Spotless"

Laced with dark humor, the genre-bending scripted series follows two estranged brothers who are forced to reconnect after their lives were torn apart by a terrible childhood secret. Witnessing a double murder, they jeopardize their successful crime scene cleaning business by inadvertently becoming entangled in the deadly dynamics of organized crime. Starring Marc-André Grondin ("C.R.A.Z.Y."), Denis Ménochet ("Inglourious Basterds"), Miranda Raison ("24: Live Another Day") and Brendan Coyle ("Downton Abbey"). The full season marathon begins Friday, December 23rd at 4 PM ET/PT.

"Knife Fight"

It's cook or be cooked as this gritty cooking competition show hosted by "Top Chef" season two winner Ilan Hall delivers underground, after-hours cooking bouts between the country's most celebrated chefs. In each episode, two chefs go head-to-head, making at least two dishes in one hour from a combination of secret ingredients. A selection of the best episodes begin Saturday, December 24th at 5 PM ET/PT.

"Best Bars in America"

Everyone needs a hilarious drinking buddy. Tour the booziest cities in the country when comedians and best friends Sean Patton and Jay Larson (along with some of their raucous friends) explore the best bars America has to offer. Take the world's greatest watering holes, mix with wild patrons, genius bartenders and one-of-a-kind drinks, and garnish with special episodes featuring the best dive bars, hotel bars and bar food. A full season marathon begins Monday, December 19th at 7 PM ET/PT.

"Brew Dogs"

James Watt and Martin Dickie, owners of the UK's fastest-growing brewery, makers of the world's strongest ale, and evangelists of the craft beer movement travel across the country visiting different American beer towns, celebrating distinctive craft beers and creating their own locally-inspired drafts. A full season marathon begins Tuesday, December 20th at 7 AM ET/PT.

"Beowulf"

Based on the complex protagonist of a classic poem written between the eighth and tenth century, Beowulf takes place in a mythological place, The Shieldlands, and challenges the notions of good and evil, heroes and villains, and the rule of law against one's moral code. The drama stars Kieran Bew ("Da Vinci's Demons"), in the lead role Beowulf; multi-award-winning actor William Hurt ("Damages"); acclaimed actress Joanne Whalley ("Wolf Hall"); Ed Speleers ("Downton Abbey") and David Ajala ("Black Box"). The full season begins Sunday, December 25th at 8 AM ET/PT.

"Wrench Against the Machine"

In the most grueling, seemingly impossible build challenge in the motorcycle world, each hour-long episode has two teams of three expert builders battling head-to-head with only three days and $3,000 to transform basic stock motorcycles into rowdy, riding, works of art. The 72 hours of round-the-clock wrenching includes tasks to build café racers, choppers, bobbers, and beyond. At the end of the 3 days, the expert judges test and evaluate the custom rides, crowning the winning team with the coveted "wrench" and the losing team's bike. The full season marathon begins Wednesday, December 21st at 9 AM ET/PT.

"The Getaway"

Anyone can be a tourist, but experiencing a city like a local takes a great guide. From executive producers Anthony Bourdain and Zero Point Zero Production comes a series exploring the world's greatest cities through the eyes of a revolving cast of travel-loving celebs. Celebrities include Aziz Ansari, Chrissy Teigen, Adam Pally, Aisha Tyler and more. A selection of the best episodes begin Saturday, December 24th at 7 AM ET/PT.

"Joyride"

Continuing the car obsession with hosts: rapper T-Pain; professional racecar driver Brian Vickers; actress Mischa Barton; and actor Oliver Trevena, each episode features the four celebrity auto fanatics as they hit the road in some of the most incredible new and vintage cars in existence. With exciting and comical tests, the cars are pushed to their limits to determine once and for all, the absolute best cars of all time in a variety of categories. The full season marathon begins Wednesday, December 21st at 7 PM ET/PT.

"Going Deep with David Rees"

In the ultimate go-to guide, comedian, writer and entrepreneur David Rees reveals the not so obvious complexities of the most seemingly simple things we do every day. By delving into the science and the history, he attempts to de-familiarize the ubiquitous to increase our appreciation and wonder. From how to pet your dog to how to take a nap, life's seemingly menial tasks require much more brain work than you can ever imagine. A selection of the best episodes begin Thursday, December 22nd at 3 AM ET/PT.

"Lucky Bastards"

After decades of friendship, these six best friends and bachelors define lucky bastards. Now businessmen, privileged ne'er-do-wells and even a prince (seriously - one of them is an actual prince), they won't let each other get away with anything. Are they running NYC or is the city running them? No one goes home until the sun comes up. The full season marathon begins Monday, December 19th at 9 AM ET/PT.

"Boundless"

Going on an adventure of a lifetime, Rory Bosio and Hunter McIntyre join Simon Donato and Paul "Turbo" Trebilcock as they trek across the world competing against each other, in pairs or as a group in extreme endurance races. Pushing their minds and bodies to the limits, the squad races against stunning backdrops of exotic locales that are enticing to the senses but camouflage the demands of the arduous terrain. From the snow-capped mountains of Sisimiut, Greenland to the vast, unforgiving desert in Atacama Chile, this quartet of friends and rivals are a force to be reckoned with. A selection of the best episodes begin Wednesday, December 21st at 7 AM ET/PT.

"White Collar Brawlers"

The series that lets quarreling co-workers trade in their business clothes for boxing gloves delivers 11 pairs of competitors who get to settle their workplace differences in the boxing ring. They train for ten weeks at the famous Gleason's gym in Brooklyn and with some of the best professional trainers in the country, including Mike Tyson's former sparring partner. A selection of the best episodes begin Thursday, December 22nd at 7 AM ET/PT.

"This is Mike Stud"

Each episode takes viewers inside the world of Mike Stud - a Duke educated, former All-American baseball player who unexpectedly turned to music after an injury robbed him of his lifelong dream to play pro ball. Now, Mike Stud can be seen at the top of the Billboard and iTunes charts as he continues to build his brand in the most unconventional way -- as an unsigned artist, heavily relying on social media to build awareness, sell tickets and engage with fans around the world. A selection of the best episodes begin Wednesday, December 21st at 10 PM ET/PT.

"Weekend Fix"

In each episode actor Omar Miller (CSI: Miami) and fashion designer Andres Izquieta of Five Four Clothing travel to a different city, using every social networking tool at their fingertips to seek out recommendations from friends, locals and strangers alike for the go-to hotels, off-the-radar restaurants and can't-miss local experiences guidebooks just can't tell you about. A selection of the best episodes begin Monday, December 19th at 7 AM ET/PT.

"Uncorked"

Master Sommelier is more than just a title; it's a badge of honor, and to earn it you need to be a wine expert in mind, body, and spirit - an achievement measured by passing one of the world's most difficult exams. If you can pass it, you'll be let into a club with just over 200 members worldwide and granted access to the most desirable jobs in the entire food and wine industry. Uncorked follows six aspiring master sommeliers from New York, as they prepare for the Court of Masters Sommelier exam. The full season begins Saturday, December 24th at 10 PM ET/PT.

"The Agent"

Behind every professional football player is an agent. Their clients make the plays on the field, but they run the game off the field. Viewers have an inside look at the business behind America's biggest sports obsession as cameras follow four top real-life "Jerry Maguire" sports agents navigating the cutthroat world of professional football. The full season marathon begins Thursday, December 22nd at 10 AM ET/PT.

"How I Rock It"

Every man has a personal style, but that personal style is more than what he wears. It's a connection to what inspires him. A passion. A story. Hosted by NBA superstar Baron Davis, the series takes a closer look at the motorcycles, suits, sneakers, and meatballs that fuel a generation of icons, athletes, musicians and influencers. The full season begins Friday, December 23rd at 2 AM ET/PT.

"My Friends Call Me Johnny"

Produced by Joel Silver, the series provides an exclusive, unfiltered look into the world of Jean Pigozzi, one of the world's most connected men. In each episode, Johnny travels the globe to ask the most provocative questions of his famous friends, including Brett Ratner, Dov Charney, Michael Douglas, Calvin Klein and Martha Stewart - just to name a few. A selection of the best episodes begin Tuesday, December 20th at 2 AM ET/PT.

"Risky Listing"

Go behind the velvet rope and enter the exclusive, intensely competitive world of New York nightlife real estate, where there are millions on the line - and where those who don't take advantage... get taken advantage of. Meet NYC's high-end listings agents as they cut deals for the hottest restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The full season marathon begins Friday, December 23rd at 10 AM ET/PT.

"Alternate Route"

The great American road trip meets the modern era as photojournalist and blogger Matt Hranek ("The William Brown Project") hits the road in search of people, places and objects that embody the timeless American spirit. The full season marathon begins Friday, December 23rd at 7 AM ET/PT.

The "Better-Than-A-Sweater" marathon starts Monday, December 19th only on Esquire Network.

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About Esquire Network

Esquire Network champions the pursuit of a well-played life. The lifestyle and entertainment network features programming that speaks to classic and contemporary passions and interests, from fashion and style to food and drink, travel, family and relationships. Building on Esquire magazine's 80 years of insight into what makes men tick, Esquire Network is available wherever viewers are watching: in nearly 70 million homes nationwide, online at http://esquiretv.com, On Demand, via mobile with the Esquire TV Now app and other platforms. Esquire Network is a unit of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal. To find Esquire Network, visit: http://esquiretv.com/channelfinder. For more corporate information, visit www.nbcuniversal.com.