Pitch (TV series)

Last updated
Pitch
Pitch Title Card.png
Genre
Created by
Starring
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producers
ProducerNeal Ahern Jr.
Production location San Diego, California
CinematographyYasu Tanida
Editors
  • Howard Ledger
  • Joel Goodman
Running time45–47 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Fox
ReleaseSeptember 22 (2016-09-22) –
December 8, 2016 (2016-12-08)

Pitch is an American drama television series created by Dan Fogelman and Rick Singer, that aired on Fox from September 22 to December 8, 2016. The series was commissioned on May 10, 2016. [1]

Contents

On May 1, 2017, Fox canceled the series after one season. [2]

Plot

The series, set in the confines of Major League Baseball, sets its focus on a young pitcher noted for her screwball pitch [3] [4] who becomes the first woman to play in the Major Leagues [5] when she is called up by the San Diego Padres. [6]

Cast

Main

Recurring

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		US viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot" Paris Barclay Dan Fogelman & Rick SingerSeptember 22, 2016 (2016-09-22)1AZL014.23 [8]
Ginny Baker becomes the first woman to play in Major League Baseball when she is called up from the minor leagues. Her first start is a disaster, with Ginny throwing just 10 pitches (all balls) and not recording an out. After the owner forces the team's manager to keep her on, Ginny receives inspiration from both her father and the team's catcher and records the win in her second start. A series of flashbacks shows her journey from Little League to the present. It is revealed that her father actually died six years earlier in a car accident.
2"The Interim"Paris BarclayDan FogelmanSeptember 29, 2016 (2016-09-29)1AZL023.68 [9]
Ginny's presence is an extreme distraction for the team. A video surfaces of Al making misogynist comments about Ginny. In flashbacks, we see how Ginny met her agent.
3"Beanball" Kenneth Fink Kevin Falls October 6, 2016 (2016-10-06)1AZL033.50 [10]
In a series of flashbacks, we learn something new and unexpected about one of Ginny's past relationships. After the Padres are involved in a beanball fight, Ginny draws closer to being accepted as one of the guys.
4"The Break" Regina King Rick SingerOctober 13, 2016 (2016-10-13)1AZL042.91 [11]
Baker is named to the All-Star team by the Commissioner, but surrenders a home run to Salvador Pérez. Her mom makes an uncomfortable appearance and it is revealed in a flashback that Baker's mom was having an affair with another man while Baker's father was still alive. Mike Lawson contemplates a career after baseball, while Oscar works covertly to sign a much sought-after Cuban refugee catcher who may force Lawson out of a job.
5"Alfonzo Guzman-Chavez"Paris BarclayBecky Hartman EdwardsOctober 27, 2016 (2016-10-27)1AZL052.91 [12]
In the final hours before the Major League trade deadline, Ginny fears Blip may not remain with the Padres. Meanwhile, Oscar is dealing with an abscessed tooth. In the end, Blip is not traded and stays with the Padres. It is revealed in a series of flashbacks that Ginny's best friend's father was the drunk driver of the other car during the accident that killed her father.
6"Wear It" Joanna Kerns Jonathan Igla November 3, 2016 (2016-11-03)1AZL062.71 [13]
After Amelia closes a major deal for Ginny with Nike, Ginny ditches the signing party to attend a more down-to-earth party with a waitress she met at the Nike event. Ginny then blows the Nike deal when she is captured on video donning a rival company's sneakers and leaping into a pool. Amelia sees this as a cry for help and Ginny admits she's having trouble with all the fame baseball has brought her.
7"San Francisco" Mary Lou Belli Eli Attie & Kevin FallsNovember 10, 2016 (2016-11-10)1AZL072.64 [14]
Ginny deals with the aftermath of nude photos that she sent to an old boyfriend being leaked online, but the team comes up with a way to distract the public and lessen the impact. Lawson is informed that the Padres are bringing up the young Cuban sensation Livan Duarte, dubbed the team's "catcher of the future." Luongo angers Lawson by saying the team wants him to learn to play first base. Flashbacks show Mike living a troubled childhood with a single mom who used him to con people.
8"Unstoppable Forces & Immovable Objects" Chris Koch Becky Hartman Edwards & Ester Lou WeithersNovember 17, 2016 (2016-11-17)1AZL082.47 [15]
It is approaching August 31, the last day players can be traded and remain playoff-eligible for their new teams. Charlie proposes to Oscar that, with Duarte playing well, they should consider trading Lawson to a contender, but they first have to get him to waive his no-trade clause. Ginny's brother returns with a proposal to open a sports bar named "Screwgies" (a reference to Ginny's screwball, her best pitch). Despite Amelia's cautions, both Ginny and Evelyn agree to invest.
9"Scratched" Zetna Fuentes Tanner Bean & Katrina MathewsonDecember 1, 2016 (2016-12-01)1AZL092.39 [16]
Charlie and Oscar propose a deal to trade Lawson to the Chicago Cubs, despite Luongo's objections that Duarte will be a much better catcher if Lawson stays to mentor him. As Mike says his goodbyes to Ginny, the two almost kiss, but are interrupted when Mike gets a phone call saying the Cubs deal is off. Elsewhere, Evelyn sees that large amounts of her investment in Screwgies have already disappeared and confronts Ginny's brother.
10"Don't Say It"Paris BarclayDan Fogelman & Rick SingerDecember 8, 2016 (2016-12-08)1AZL102.89 [17]
Mike deals with the fallout when teammates, especially Blip, learn that he wasn't the one who nixed the Cubs deal. Evelyn discusses the missing money from the Screwgies fund with Amelia, who then confronts Will. Will admits that he owed money for a loan on a previous business venture that failed. Meanwhile, the team wants to shut down Ginny for the season after their stat guru makes a point of how her offspeed pitches may be overtaxing her. They agree to let her have one last start, one in which she maintains a no-hitter through seven innings. Oscar implores Al to take Ginny out once she reaches 100 pitches, but Al defies him and lets an equally-stubborn Ginny pitch the next inning. Ginny makes a hard throw to first base for the third out of the eighth inning, then clutches her elbow in pain. As the episode ends, she is entering an MRI machine and does not know if she will ever pitch again.

Production

Development

A pilot was sold on September 8, 2015, by series creators Dan Fogelman and Rick Singer. [18] On January 14, 2016, Fox ordered the pilot to be shot. [19] The creators opened up a casting call on February 24, 2016. [20] The pilot episode was picked up to series on May 10, 2016. [21] Major League Baseball cooperated in the production of the series. [22]

Filming

The series was filmed in San Diego, California, and features the Padres, the club the protagonist plays for. [23] Producers also planned to use Petco Park in downtown San Diego to shoot scenes when the Padres are away or during the off season. [24]

Casting

On January 14, 2016, Kylie Bunbury was cast as Ginny. [19] On February 11, 2016, Mark-Paul Gosselaar was cast as Mike Lawson. [25] On February 23, 2016, Mo McRae, Meagan Holder, and Tim Jo were cast as Blip, Evelyne, and Eliot respectively. [26] On February 29, 2016, Dan Lauria was cast as Al Luongo. [27] On March 10, 2016, Ali Larter replaced Elisabeth Shue as Amelia Slater. [28] On May 10, 2016, Mark Consuelos was cast as Oscar Arguella, the team's general manager and president. [29]

Reception

Pitch received positive reviews from television critics, with Bunbury's performance receiving praise. The editors of TV Guide placed Pitch fourth among the top ten picks for the most anticipated new shows of the 2016–2017 season. Its review, from writer Liz Rafferty, stated, "Not since Friday Night Lights have we seen a 'sports' show that managed to deliver week after week, making viewers feel as invested in the characters' personal dramas as we were in the final scores of the games" and added that "Pitch has the potential to pick up that torch." She also had high praise for Bunbury, whom she cited as a "breakout star, not to mention her (fictional) character Ginny Baker, the first woman to pitch in the MLB, to be a role model for young female athletes everywhere". [30] Based on 27 reviews, the show holds a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, with Critics Consensus being "A terrific lead performance and well-constructed setup and timely themes make Pitch a home run." [31]

Home media

DVD NameEp #Release Date
Pitch: The Complete Series10July 17, 2018

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Minority Report</i> (TV series) 2015 American science-fiction crime drama television series

Minority Report is an American science fiction crime drama television series that aired on Fox from September 21 to November 30, 2015. It was developed by Max Borenstein and is a sequel adaptation of the 2002 film of the same name based on the 1956 science fiction short story "The Minority Report" by Philip K. Dick. It was produced by Amblin Television, Paramount Television, and 20th Century Fox Television. It is the first Steven Spielberg–directed film to be adapted for television. On October 9, 2015, Fox announced that the series order was cut from 13 episodes to 10. Fox cancelled the series on May 13, 2016.

<i>The Player</i> (2015 TV series) American action crime television series

The Player is an American action thriller crime drama television series created by John Rogers and John Fox, starring Philip Winchester, Wesley Snipes and Charity Wakefield. NBC ordered the pilot to series on May 8, 2015, and the show aired from September 24, to November 19, 2015 for one season. Because of low ratings, the count of episodes was reduced to nine, with the production wrapping up after shooting the ninth episode. Before that, Sony sold the series' airing rights to 105 international territories.

<i>Angel from Hell</i> 2016 American TV series or program

Angel from Hell is an American single-camera fantasy sitcom created by Tad Quill. The series was greenlit to order on May 8, 2015, by CBS, and premiered on January 7, 2016. On February 8, 2016, CBS cancelled the series and pulled it from the schedule after the first five episodes had aired, leaving eight produced episodes unaired. The remaining episodes began airing on July 2, 2016.

<i>The Catch</i> (American TV series) American comedy-drama television

The Catch is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on ABC from March 24, 2016, to May 11, 2017. It stars Mireille Enos and Peter Krause, was created by Jennifer Schuur, Kate Atkinson, and Helen Gregory, and developed by Allan Heinberg, and was executive produced by Shondaland's Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers. Julie Anne Robinson also served as an executive producer and directed the pilot episode. In May 2016, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on March 9, 2017. In May 2017, the series was canceled after two seasons.

<i>Second Chance</i> (2016 TV series) American science fiction crime drama television series

Second Chance is an American science fiction crime drama television series created by Rand Ravich. It is inspired by the 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley; Frankenstein was an early title. The show debuted online on December 25, 2015, and started broadcasting January 13, 2016, on Fox. On January 29, 2016, Second Chance was moved to Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following poor ratings in its first two episodes, swapping time slots and days with Hell's Kitchen.

<i>Son of Zorn</i> 2016 American TV series or program

Son of Zorn is an American animated/live action sitcom created by Reed Agnew and Eli Jorné for Fox. The series stars Cheryl Hines, Johnny Pemberton, Tim Meadows, Artemis Pebdani, and Jason Sudeikis as the voice of Zorn. Son of Zorn is a joint production by Agnew Jorné Productions, Lord Miller Productions, and 20th Century Fox Television. The series ran from September 11, 2016 to February 19, 2017.

<i>APB</i> (TV series) 2017 American police procedural drama television series

APB is an American procedural drama that aired on Fox from February 6, to April 24, 2017. A first trailer was released on May 16, 2016.

<i>The Exorcist</i> (TV series) 2016 American supernatural horror television series

The Exorcist is an American supernatural horror television series created by Jeremy Slater for Fox. Part of The Exorcist franchise, the series serves as a direct sequel to the original 1973 film and ignores the film's various sequels. Alfonso Herrera and Ben Daniels star as a pair of exorcists who investigate cases of demonic possession.

<i>Lethal Weapon</i> (TV series) 2016 American television series

Lethal Weapon is an American buddy cop action comedy-drama television series developed by Matt Miller and based on the Lethal Weapon film franchise created by Shane Black. The series served as a reboot, which ran for three seasons on Fox, from September 21, 2016 to February 26, 2019.

<i>Making History</i> (TV series) American comedy television series

Making History is an American sitcom created by Julius Sharpe for the Fox Broadcasting Company. Executive-produced by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, created and written by Julius Sharpe, the show stars Adam Pally, Leighton Meester, and Yassir Lester.

Conviction is an American legal drama television series on ABC. It premiered on Monday, October 3, 2016. The series, starring Hayley Atwell, was picked up from pilot on May 12, 2016. A full trailer was released on May 17, 2016. On November 8, 2016, ABC announced there would be no back-order for more than the thirteen contracted episodes; however, the remaining episodes of the season aired until its conclusion on January 29, 2017. ABC canceled the series after one season on May 11, 2017.

<i>Notorious</i> (2016 TV series) American crime and legal drama television series

Notorious is an American crime and legal drama television series broadcast on ABC. The series, starring Piper Perabo and Daniel Sunjata, was announced on May 12, 2016. The series premiered on Thursday, September 22, 2016. On October 25, 2016, the number of episodes was reduced by ABC from thirteen to ten; however, the series remained on the network's schedule until December 8, 2016, when the final episode of the first season was broadcast. The series was officially cancelled in May 2017.

Pure Genius is an American medical drama television series created by Jason Katims that aired on CBS from October 27, 2016 to January 26, 2017. The series stars Augustus Prew as James Bell, who is a Silicon Valley tech billionaire, and Dermot Mulroney as Dr. Walter Wallace. It was produced by True Jack Production, CBS Television Studios and Universal Television. In May 2017, CBS cancelled the series after one season.

<i>The Mick</i> (TV series) American television sitcom (2017–2018)

The Mick is an American television sitcom broadcast on Fox. Created by Dave Chernin and John Chernin, the series stars Kaitlin Olson, who is also an executive producer. The series premiered on January 1, 2017, and assumed its regular Tuesday night slot on January 3, 2017. On January 11, 2017, Fox picked up the series for a full season of 17 episodes.

<i>Great News</i> American sitcom television series

Great News is an American sitcom television series created and written by Tracey Wigfield, and executive produced by Wigfield alongside Tina Fey, Robert Carlock, and David Miner for 3 Arts Entertainment, Little Stranger and Universal Television. The series premiered April 25, 2017 on NBC.

<i>The Blacklist: Redemption</i> 2017 American TV series or program

The Blacklist: Redemption is an American crime thriller television series that aired on NBC from February 23 to April 13, 2017. A spin-off from the NBC series The Blacklist, The Blacklist: Redemption stars Famke Janssen as Susan Scott "Scottie" Hargrave, president of Halcyon Aegis, a private military company with teams of corporate operatives, and Ryan Eggold as Tom Keen. Eggold appeared in The Blacklist and returned to it after completing his role in The Blacklist: Redemption. After an episode of The Blacklist served as a backdoor pilot, the new series was ordered by NBC in May 2016. NBC cancelled the series after one season on May 12, 2017 due to low ratings.

<i>The Great Indoors</i> (TV series) American television sitcom

The Great Indoors is an American sitcom television series created by Mike Gibbons, starring Joel McHale that aired on CBS from October 27, 2016 to May 8, 2017. The series is produced by Gibbons Bros. and Shiny Brass Lamp Productions in association with CBS Television Studios, with Gibbons serving as showrunner.

<i>Ghosted</i> (TV series) 2017 American TV series or program

Ghosted is an American supernatural sitcom that premiered on Fox on October 1, 2017. The series debuted via streaming on the social media website Twitter on September 21 and 24, 2017. The show stars Craig Robinson and Adam Scott as two polar opposites recruited to investigate paranormal activity in Los Angeles. On November 29, 2017, it was announced that Fox had ordered six more episodes, for a total of sixteen. On June 28, 2018, Fox canceled the series after one season.

<i>The Passage</i> (TV series) 2019 American thriller television series

The Passage is an American thriller television series based on the trilogy of novels by Justin Cronin. It spans years in the life of Amy Bellafonte, as she moves from being manipulated in a government conspiracy to protecting humankind in a post-apocalyptic vampire future. The series premiered on January 14, 2019. The Passage was cancelled after one season on May 10, 2019.

<i>Perfect Harmony</i> (TV series) American musical comedy television series

Perfect Harmony is an American musical comedy television series created by Lesley Wake Webster that aired on NBC from September 26, 2019 to January 23, 2020. The series stars Bradley Whitford as Dr. Arthur Cochran who is a music director at a small church in the fictional town of Conley Fork, Kentucky and Anna Camp as Ginny who is a single mother and waitress, and is the leading choir member.

References

  1. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (May 10, 2016). "'The Exorcist', 'Lethal Weapon', 'Making History', 'Pitch', 'The Mick' & 'APB' Get Fox Series Orders". Deadline Hollywood . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  2. ↑ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (May 1, 2017). "'Pitch' Officially Cancelled After One Season at Fox". Variety . Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  3. ↑ Koblin, John (16 September 2016). "Fox and Major League Baseball Team Up for 'Pitch'". The New York Times.
  4. ↑ "Preview Ginny Baker's not-so-secret weapon in new 'Pitch' promo". 16 September 2016.
  5. ↑ Barclay, Paris (2000-01-01), Pitch , retrieved 2016-08-25
  6. ↑ "Fox orders baseball drama Pitch, about first female player in MLB". 2016-05-11. Retrieved 2016-08-25.
  7. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (September 29, 2016). "Mark-Paul Gosselaar on Training for 'Pitch' and How His Beard Helped Get Him the Part". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  8. ↑ Porter, Rick (September 23, 2016). "Thursday final ratings: 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Superstore' and 'Good Place' adjust up, 'Notorious' adjusts down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on September 24, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  9. ↑ Porter, Rick (September 30, 2016). "Thursday final ratings: 'Superstore' and 'The Good Place' adjust up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 2, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  10. ↑ Porter, Rick (October 7, 2016). "'Superstore' adjusts up, 'Grey's' and ABC adjust down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  11. ↑ Porter, Rick (October 14, 2016). "'Notorious' adjusts down, final NFL numbers: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 17, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  12. ↑ Porter, Rick (October 28, 2016). "'The Good Place' and 'Chicago Med' adjust up, 'Pure Genius,' other CBS shows down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 29, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  13. ↑ Porter, Rick (November 4, 2016). "'Big Bang Theory,' 'How to Get Away' adjust up, 'Great Indoors' and NBC adjust down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  14. ↑ Porter, Rick (November 11, 2016). "'Chicago Med' and NBC adjust down with NFL pre-emptions: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 12, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  15. ↑ Porter, Rick (November 18, 2016). "'Grey's Anatomy' adjusts up, 'The Great Indoors' adjusts down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  16. ↑ Porter, Rick (December 5, 2016). "'Legends of Tomorrow' adjusts up; 'Supernatural,' 'Great Indoors,' 'Baking Show' adjust down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 6, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  17. ↑ Porter, Rick (December 9, 2016). "'Life in Pieces' adjusts up plus final NFL numbers: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 10, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  18. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (September 8, 2015). "Baseball Drama From Dan Fogelman & Rick Singer Set At Fox As Put Pilot". Deadline Hollywood . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  19. 1 2 Andreeva, Nellie (January 14, 2016). "Dan Fogelman Baseball Drama 'Pitch' Gets Fox Pilot Order, Kylie Bunbury To Star". Deadline Hollywood . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Open Casting Call for TV Extras Coming To San Diego – FOX TV Show "Pitch"". Auditions Free. February 24, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  21. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (May 11, 2016). "'Pitch': How Dan Fogelman Is Swinging for the Fences With Fox Baseball Drama". The Hollywood Reporter . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  22. ↑ "The trailer for 'Pitch,' a new TV series about MLB's first female pitcher, is here". MLB.com . Major League Baseball. May 16, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  23. ↑ Molnar, Phillip (April 4, 2016). "TV pilot about female Padres pitcher filming tonight". The San Diego Union-Tribune . Tribune Publishing . Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Clear your fall schedule, because FOX has greenlit a series about the first female player in MLB". MLB.com . Major League Baseball. May 11, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  25. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (February 11, 2016). "Mark-Paul Gosselaar To Star In Fox Pilot 'Pitch'". Deadline Hollywood . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  26. ↑ Petski, Denise (February 23, 2016). "'Pitch': Fox Pilot Adds Mo McRae, Meagan Holder, Tim Jo To Cast". Deadline Hollywood . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  27. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (February 29, 2016). "'Pitch': Dan Lauria Joins Fox Baseball Pilot". Deadline Hollywood . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  28. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 10, 2016). "Ali Larter To Co-Star In Fox Drama Pilot 'Pitch' After Recasting". Deadline Hollywood . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  29. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (February 26, 2016). "Mark Consuelos Nabs Key Role in Fox Baseball Drama 'Pitch' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Our 10 Most Anticipated New TV Shows of Fall 2016" from TV Guide (September 16, 2016)
  31. ↑ "Pitch". Rotten Tomatoes .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.