Mike Ayers | Speakeasy

Earlier this week, Gene Simmons told Speakeasy that his new AMC AMCX +1.53%reality show, “4th and Loud,” was an up-close, personal look at guys trying to make it in the world of Arena League Football – specifically, with his new franchise, the L.A. Kiss. Surprisingly, Simmons wasn’t all that concerned with bringing loyal KISS fans into the sports world. “We want new fans,” he said. “Sports fans will take care of themselves.”

As you’d expect, one can’t launch a football team without getting the rest of the league on board. In this exclusive clip from “4th and Loud,” see how Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons presented themselves to the league owners – and bring that on-stage confidence they’ve cultivated for over 40 years into a stuffy board room. The meeting appears to get tense for a moment, but in the owners’ defense, it’s probably pretty surreal to have two founding KISS members tell you that they want to be successful football owners.

“4th and Loud” premieres on AMC on Tuesday, August 12 at 9 p.m. Watch the clip.

Verne Gay | Newsday

THE SHOW “4th and Loud”

WHEN | WHERE Tuesdays at 9 p.m., AMC

WHAT IT’S ABOUT Almost exactly a year ago, Kiss frontmen Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons — along with manager Doc McGhee and Arena Football League executive Bret Bouchy — bought a Los Angeles Arena Football League expansion team, and quickly named it — what else? — the LA Kiss. Coaches and players were hired — tonight the 24-man roster is put together — and a future begins to take shape, which this doc-series will track. And what a future: Simmons and Stanley decided to impose Kiss style and energy on the team, which was smart, perhaps, from a marketing standpoint, but perhaps not from a winning one. The Kiss had a very rough first season — three wins, 15 losses. As such, this series may not have a happy ending, at least for the first season.

MY SAY Deep, deep in the shadow of the NFL is the AFL — arena football, well hidden to most except dedicated fans who like its pace (fast) and scoring (high). Games are played in pocket-size stadiums (arenas, if you will) by talented players who, nonetheless, were not quite talented enough to play in the NFL.

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