Ted McGinley to Narrate Kings of the Beach Film
The documentary on professional beach volleyball is scheduled to debut on digital platforms on November 3, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Volleyball
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Actor Ted McGinley will narrate the upcoming documentary Kings of the Beach, which is set to premiere on digital platforms on November 3, 2026. The film explores the rise and fall of professional beach volleyball across the 1980s and 1990s.
Why it matters
The documentary offers an inside look at the volatile history of the Association of Volleyball Professionals, detailing internal control disputes and player rivalries that defined the era. It chronicles how professional beach volleyball evolved from a Southern California pastime into a high-stakes sport.
The production by Coolfire Studios spans the sport's trajectory from the early 1980s through the 1990s. The film utilizes rare archival footage and insider interviews to document the era.
The players
Ted McGinley
An actor and native of Newport Beach, California, who provides the narration for the documentary.
Coolfire Studios
A St. Louis-based production company responsible for creating the documentary.
David Johnson
A co-director who helped lead the documentary's examination of professional beach volleyball.
Tom Feuer
A co-director who collaborated on the film to detail the history of the sport.
The details
Co-directed by David Johnson and Tom Feuer, the film examines the influence of ego and ambition on the Association of Volleyball Professionals. It incorporates personal anecdotes and rare visual archives to depict the primary setting of the sport in Southern California.
Timeline
The heyday of beach volleyball began in the early 1980s.
The film debuts on digital platforms on November 3, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The documentary follows a pattern set by the sport's explosive 1980s growth, analyzing the internal conflicts that eventually led to its decline. By documenting the rise of the Association of Volleyball Professionals, the film provides a historical counterpoint to the modern structure of the game.
Viewers can expect a comprehensive look at the historical power dynamics within the Association of Volleyball Professionals. The film offers insights into the sport's evolution that shaped the current professional landscape for athletes and fans.
The takeaway
The documentary highlights how organizational instability can undermine the growth of a professional sport. It serves as a reminder to sports enthusiasts that the history of their favorite games is often defined as much by internal politics as by athletic competition.
What happens next
The documentary Kings of the Beach will be available for purchase or rental across digital platforms beginning November 3, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the history of the sport, explore the Volleyball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
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