By: Valerie Milano
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 7/20/22 – Abbi Jacobson and Will Graham co-create the TV reboot of Penny Marshall’s 1992 classic film A League of Their Own. For those unfamiliar, the film made its debut twenty-eight years ago and is a fictional story based on the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League that started during World War 11. The film starred Geena Davis, Rosie O’Donnell, Tom Hanks, Lori Petty, and Madonna.
This eight-episode series adaptation includes new characters with odes to the original and more women of color. In a statement, Prime Video said, “The show takes a deeper look at race and sexuality, following the journeys of these women as they carve their paths towards the field, both in the League and outside of it.”
Last night at the Director’s Guild of America Outfest hosted the premiere episode screening of the series. THT had the opportunity to catch up with a few of the series cast members.
THT: How did Outfest contact you guys to have this premier episode?
Abbi Jacobson: Amazon is a big supporter of Outfest and it all aligns with the show. We were super excited to screen it here, we hadn’t done a LA screening yet and a lot of us live here, it felt right.
THT: When you saw the original were you younger or was it more recently?
Abbi Jacobson: No, I grew up watching the film, in fact it was one of the first films I saw in a theatre.
THT: What do you and your character Jo have in common?
Melanie Field: We have so much in common, in fact I look a little more like Joe when I’m hanging out (Laughs). I identify as bisexual; I spent the first ten years of my adult life dating women and then I met my husband, we just got married in May.
THT: Congratulations!
Melanie Field: Thank you! Watching the pilot with our community was so exciting to me because they were able to notice the nuances and looks that we all got during the filming of the series. It felt like a big warm hug!
THT: How do you feel tonight?
Kelly McCormack: I feel incredible. I’m tripping out because I cannot believe that people are actually going to see the show. I love all these people; I love playing ball and I hope it inspires more people to do the same.
THT: Where do you live
Kelly McCormack: That’s an abstract question. I everywhere, I’m Canadian so I’m representing all the Canadian women who played for the AAPPBL, which was about a third of the women who played. I’m from Vancouver, but I technically live in Los Angeles.
THT: Where did you film?
Kelly McCormack: We shot the pilot in Los Angeles, and we shot the rest of the series in Pittsburg.
THT: Do you have any desire to continue to live in these others places you’ve shot at?
Kelly McCormack: I really miss Pittsburg, we spent five months there and had so much fun, like too much fun! We were all staying in the same building, so it felt like we were all back in college hanging out in the dorms. There’s lots of cool stuff, lot of bridges.
THT: Were you and the other cast members able to get to know any of the executives at Prime?
Kelly McCormack: There were a lot of wonderful executives that came to Pittsburg and were spending time with us. The show is going to mean a lot to many people because it’s a standout in so many arenas in women playing ball, in the queer community, and addressing racial issues. There was a lot of tact, love, care, and time to make sure all these stories were told properly.
A League of Their Own will premier August 12th on Amazon Prime. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmsrff-pRJ8&t=3s
