Pitch (TV series)
Pitch | |
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![]() | |
Genre | |
Created by |
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Starring | |
Composer(s) |
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Country of origin | United States |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 9 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) |
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Producer(s) | Neal Ahern Jr. |
Location(s) | San Diego, California |
Cinematography | Yasu Tanida |
Editor(s) |
Howard Ledger Joel Goodman |
Running time | 60 minutes |
Production company(s) |
Barnstorm Films Left Coast Productions Rhode Island Ave. Productions 20th Century Fox Television |
Distributor | 20th Television |
Release | |
Original network | Fox |
Original release | September 22, 2016 – present |
External links | |
Website |
Pitch is an American drama television series broadcast on Fox that premiered on September 22, 2016. The series was commissioned on May 10, 2016.[1]
Plot
The series, set in the confines of Major League Baseball, sets its focus on a young pitcher noted for her screwball pitch[2][3] who becomes the first woman to play in the league,[4] when she is chosen to play for the San Diego Padres.[5]
Cast
- Kylie Bunbury as Genevieve "Ginny" Baker, a rookie pitcher and the first female to play in Major League Baseball
- Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Michael "Mike" Lawson, the Padres' veteran catcher
- Mark Consuelos as Oscar Arguella, the Padres' general manager
- Mo McRae as Blip Sanders, a Padres player and friend and former minor league teammate of Ginny
- Meagan Holder as Evelyn Sanders, Blip's wife and Ginny's friend
- Tim Jo as Eliot, Ginny's social media manager
- Dan Lauria as Al Luongo, the Padres' manager
- Ali Larter as Amelia Slater, Ginny's agent
Recurring
- Michael Beach as William "Bill" Baker, Ginny's father
- Bob Balaban as Franklin "Frank" Reid, the Padres' owner
- Kelly Jenrette as Rhonda, Oscar's assistant
- Kevin Connolly as Charlie Graham, Padres' interim president of operations
- Christian Ochoa as Livan Duarte, Padres' backup catcher
Episodes
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Pilot" | Paris Barclay | Dan Fogelman & Rick Singer | September 22, 2016 | 4.23[6] |
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 ten 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 today. It is revealed that her father actually died six years ago in a car accident. | |||||
2 | "The Interim" | Paris Barclay | Dan Fogelman | September 29, 2016 | 3.68[7] |
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 | 3.50[8] |
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 Singer | October 13, 2016 | 2.91[9] |
Baker is named to the All-Star team by the Commissioner, but surrenders a home run to Salvador Perez. 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 and the GM works covertly to sign a much sought-after Cuban refugee catcher who may force Lawson out of a job. | |||||
5 | "Alfonzo Guzman-Chavez" | Paris Barclay | Becky Hartman Edwards | October 27, 2016 | 2.91[10] |
In the final hours before the Major League trade deadline, Ginny fears Blip may not remain with the Padres; meanwhile Oscar is dealing with tooth abscess. It is revealed in a series of flashbacks that her best friend's father was the drunk driver of the car which hit them, killing her father. | |||||
6 | "Wear It" | Joanna Kerns | Jonathan Igla | November 3, 2016 | 2.71[11] |
7 | "San Francisco" | Mary Lou Belli | Eli Attie & Kevin Falls | November 10, 2016 | 2.64[12] |
8 | "Unstoppable Forces & Immovable Objects" | Chris Koch | Becky Hartman Edwards & Ester Lou Weithers | November 17, 2016 | 2.47[13] |
9 | "Scratched" | Zetna Fuentes | Tanner Bean & Katrina Mathewson | December 1, 2016 | TBD |
10 | "Don't Say It"[14] | TBA | TBA | December 8, 2016 | TBD |
Production
Development
A pilot was sold on September 8, 2015, by series creators Dan Fogelman and Rick Singer.[15] On January 14, 2016, Fox ordered the pilot to be shot.[16] The creators opened up a casting call on February 24, 2016.[17] The pilot episode was picked up to series on May 10, 2016.[18] Major League Baseball cooperated in the production of the series.[19]
Filming
The series is being filmed in San Diego, California, and will feature the Padres, the club the protagonist plays for.[20] It also plans to use Petco Park in downtown San Diego to shoot scenes when the Padres are away or during the off season.[21]
Casting
On January 14, 2016, Kylie Bunbury was cast as Ginny.[16] On February 11, 2016, Mark-Paul Gosselaar was cast as Mike Lawson.[22] On February 23, 2016, Mo McRae, Meagan Holder, and Tim Jo were cast as Blip, Evelyne, and Eliot respectively.[23] On February 29, 2016, Dan Lauria was cast as Al Luongo.[24] On March 10, 2016, Ali Larter replaced Elisabeth Shue as Amelia Slater.[25] On May 10, 2016, Mark Consuelos was cast as Oscar Arguella, the team's general manager and president.[26]
Reception
Critical reception
Pitch has received positive reviews from television critics, with Bunbury's performance receiving praise. The editors of TV Guide has placed Pitch fourth among the top ten picks for the most anticipated new shows of the 2016–2017 season. In its review from writer Liz Rafferty, "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 has high praise for Bunbury, who she cites 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".[27] 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."[28]
Ratings
No. | Title | Air date | Rating/share (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | DVR (18–49) | DVR viewers (millions) | Total (18–49) | Total viewers (millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Out of Time" | September 22, 2016 | 1.1/4 | 4.23[6] | 0.7 | 2.37 | 1.8 | 6.59[29] |
2 | "The Interim" | September 29, 2016 | 1.0/4 | 3.68[7] | 0.6 | 2.01 | 1.6 | 5.69[30] |
3 | "Beanball" | October 6, 2016 | 1.0/4 | 3.50[8] | 0.6 | 1.72 | 1.6 | 5.20[31] |
4 | "The Break" | October 13, 2016 | 0.8/3 | 2.91[9] | N/A | 1.61 | N/A | 4.52[32] |
5 | "Alfonzo Guzman-Chavez" | October 27, 2016 | 0.8/3 | 2.91[10] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
6 | "Wear It" | November 3, 2016 | 0.9/3 | 2.71[11] | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
7 | "San Francisco" | November 10, 2016 | 0.7/2 | 2.64[12] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
8 | "Unstoppable Forces & Immovable Objects" | November 17, 2016 | 0.7/3 | 2.47[13] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
9 | "Scratched" | December 1, 2016 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
10 | "Don't Say It" | December 8, 2016 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
See also
References
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (May 10, 2016). "'The Exorcist', 'Lethal Weapon', 'Making History', 'Pitch', 'The Mick' & 'APB' Get Fox Series Orders". Deadline.com. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Fox and Major League Baseball Team Up for 'Pitch'".
- ↑ "Preview Ginny Baker's not-so-secret weapon in new 'Pitch' promo".
- ↑ Barclay, Paris (2000-01-01), Pitch, retrieved 2016-08-25
- ↑ "Fox orders baseball drama Pitch, about first female player in MLB". 2016-05-11. Retrieved 2016-08-25.
- 1 2 Porter, Rick (September 23, 2016). "Thursday final ratings: 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Superstore' and 'Good Place' adjust up, 'Notorious' adjusts down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
- 1 2 Porter, Rick (September 30, 2016). "Thursday final ratings: 'Superstore' and 'The Good Place' adjust up". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
- 1 2 Porter, Rick (October 7, 2016). "'Superstore' adjusts up, 'Grey's' and ABC adjust down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
- 1 2 Porter, Rick (October 14, 2016). "'Notorious' adjusts down, final NFL numbers: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- 1 2 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. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
- 1 2 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. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
- 1 2 Porter, Rick (November 11, 2016). "'Chicago Med' and NBC adjust down with NFL pre-emptions: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- 1 2 Porter, Rick (November 18, 2016). "'Grey's Anatomy' adjusts up, 'The Great Indoors' adjusts down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
- ↑ "(PTH-110) "Don't Say It"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (September 8, 2015). "Baseball Drama From Dan Fogelman & Rick Singer Set At Fox As Put Pilot". Deadline.com. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
- 1 2 Andreeva, Nellie (January 14, 2016). "Dan Fogelman Baseball Drama 'Pitch' Gets Fox Pilot Order, Kylie Bunbury To Star". Deadline.com. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Open Casting Call for TV Extras Coming To San Diego – FOX TV Show "Pitch"". Auditions Free. February 24, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ Molnar, Phillip (April 4, 2016). "TV pilot about female Padres pitcher filming tonight". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (February 11, 2016). "Mark-Paul Gosselaar To Star In Fox Pilot 'Pitch'". Deadline.com. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ↑ Petski, Denise (February 23, 2016). "'Pitch': Fox Pilot Adds Mo McRae, Meagan Holder, Tim Jo To Cast". Deadline.com. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (February 29, 2016). "'Pitch': Dan Lauria Joins Fox Baseball Pilot". Deadline.com. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 10, 2016). "Ali Larter To Co-Star In Fox Drama Pilot 'Pitch' After Recasting". Deadline.com. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Our 10 Most Anticipated New TV Shows of Fall 2016" from TV Guide (September 16, 2016)
- ↑ https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/pitch/s01/
- ↑ Porter, Rick (October 4, 2016). "'Designated Survivor' is your premiere week DVR champion: Broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
- ↑ Porter, Rick (October 11, 2016). "'Designated Survivor' posts more big DVR gains: Broadcast Live +7 ratings for Sept. 26-Oct. 2". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
- ↑ Porter, Rick (October 19, 2016). "Rich get richer as 'Empire,' 'Big Bang,' 'Designated Survivor' lead broadcast Live +7 ratings for Oct. 3-9". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
- ↑ Porter, Rick (October 27, 2016). "'This Is Us', 'Big Bang', 'Designated Survivor' lead broadcast Live +7 ratings for Oct. 10-16". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
External links
- Pitch at the Internet Movie Database
- Pitch at TV Guide