Fox's New Fall TV Show: PITCH (Starring Kylie Bunbury)
ReeNoun
Courtesy of Fox TV
There's no doubt in mind that the main character of the new Fox TV Show, PITCH is named Ginny (Baker) after Jenny Finch. The "real" Jenny, is a softball Olympian (2004 and 2008) who some believed, could have been the first female to play Major League Baseball. I once saw her pitch to Alex Rodriguez (on TV) and got goosebumps. Time Magazine's "Most Famous Softball Player in History" is now a married mother of 3. She married, none other than, a professional baseball player, Casey Daigle.
Jenny Finch (namesake for Ginny Baker?) Image source: ESPN.com
The fictitious Ginny may or may not meet a similar fate.
We will learn if the name is the only thing the show borrowed from real life. To date, there has never been a professional female Major League Baseball player. At least, there are none that I know of.
FUN FACT: Moses Fleetwood Walker was actually the first professional African-American baseball player (late 1800's) before Jackie Robinson but the MLB--as we know the league today, hadn't been established yet so Walker technically played under a different league with the Toledo Blue Stockings.
The pilot episode of PITCH aired Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 9pm. In the hour-long drama, directors used several flashbacks to explain Ginny Baker’s rough road to the majors. There are a couple moments, including the very end, that jolt the viewer. You may think you know what’s probably going to happen, but then the show throws, well, a curve ball.
It's not shocking that the forces behind PITCH, gave Jenny Finch the namesake nod, but the choice to cast a woman of color impressed me. It does seem that times are a changin' and Hollywood is now having TV characters reflect the actual diversity of real life with less stereotypical crap! (Yay!)
PITCH joins the growing number of major network TV Shows, now starring women of color in lead roles. The show, didn’t hesitate to bring on the predicted prejudices of a woman on a 25-man, I mean, a 24-man, 1-woman roster. We hear Ginny being called the B-word by one of her teammates because she is threatening to take his spot on the roster. Luckily, she’s got at least one teammate in her corner, Blip Sanders (Mo McRae), whose wife is played by Meagan Holder (Formerly Kelly, Born Again Virgin).
Then, there’s Mike Lawson (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), the team captain, who’s initial meeting (he slaps her butt) is awkwardly uncomfortable. The two quickly reach a common ground and there’s something very much brewing between them. A pitcher and a catcher have to have a good relationship, but just how good will this one be? It’s only a matter of time (or seasons) before that plot starts to get underway.
Kylie Bunbury, who portrays Ginny Baker, beat out, what I can only assume was a ton of hopefuls for the role. I first saw Bunbury, as Lacey Porter on the show, TWISTED, opposite Avan Jogia (Danny Desai) and Maddie Hasson (Jo Masterson).
Promo photo for the short-lived TV show, TWISTED.
TWISTED was an ABC Family (now, FREEFORM) show about a group of teenagers who grew up together until one of them went to juvie for killing his aunt (strangling her nonetheless with a jump rope). Once, he is released and returns home...drama ensues. The first and only season of TWISTED is available on Netflix.
Catch: PITCH Thursdays at 9/8pm on Fox!
We love that Fox made the tv episode look like a REAL LIVE game!!!
WHY WE ALREADY LOVE GINNY BAKER:
She’s a beautiful 22-year-old with daddy issues.
She has an older brother.
Her ball-bustin’ (pun intended) agent, Amelia Slater (played by Ali Larter) calls her “G”.
She spent 5 years in the minors leagues.
She’s got a high 80’s fast ball (which isn’t that fast by comparison) but her secret weapon is a screwball.
She wears number #43 (one off from Jackie Robinson-which is intentionally given to her)
She does terrible in her first outing (10 balls, 3 walks) but then after a little supernatural inspiration from her Dad, she kills it in her second MLB appearance cementing her as a REAL pro baller.
MY FAVORITE QUOTES FROM THE PILOT EPISODE:
“I slap asses, it’s my thing.” -Mike Lawson (Mark-Paul Gosselaar)
“She’s a Kardashian with a skill set.” –Amelia Slater (Ali Larter)
“I’m a robot in cleats and I’m malfunctioning.” –Ginny Baker (Kylie Bunbury)
“The ticketing and sales people are excited to meet me. 75% (of my teammates) think I’m the next San Diego Chicken, the other 25% just want to see me shower.” –Ginny Baker (Kylie Bunbury)
“It’s my ball club, I know, because I kept the $7 million dollar receipt.” - Frank Reid (Bob Balaban)