Why wasn’t Pitch a home run? Recently, executive producer Kevin Falls spoke with Entertainment Weekly about the struggling FOX TV series.
The sports drama, which follows the first female player for a Major League Baseball team, stars Kylie Bunbury, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Ali Larter, Mark Consuelo, Dan Lauria, Mo McRae, Meagan Holder, and Tim Jo.
During the show’s brief first season, it notably struggled in the ratings. Over the course of 10 episodes, the series earned an average rating of .83 in the 18-49 demo and only 3.032 million viewers—low for a primetime network drama.
When asked about the low ratings, Falls said it might have something to do with baseball fans not wanting a woman at the center of the show:
That’s a good question. I wonder if people thought — I mean, if people who are baseball fans, thought, “Well, I don’t believe that they would be able to throw a baseball, I don’t believe a woman can be a starter in the major leagues,” if those people didn’t show up or if people thought it was going to be a show about sports, people who don’t follow baseball or sports thought it was going to be a sports show, or they checked out the novelty in the pilot. I don’t know, it’s confounded us because I think we have like a 93 percent Rotten Tomatoes [score]; most of the views of the pilot were extremely positive. We feel, and I know that the studio and network feel, like we delivered as a series creatively and we have a baseline of fans that really are not necessarily a strong wide viewing fan base, but they always come back and we get the +3s and +7s, they always kind of end up being the same number. The question is whether you can build on that number and we were hoping that we could. We certainly would’ve loved a different spot on the schedule, but that’s [something] every show can say that’s struggled, so I wish everything was better. But honestly, I don’t know, because between the critical reviews and the content and quality of the show, I don’t know. We struggle with that because we are so happy with the show.”
While FOX has still not announced whether Pitch will have a second season, Falls is hopeful:
I realize the numbers are what they are and it could end up being the final factor, but I do know that even as early as last week, there were discussions about putting it on in the summer. I know that there’s been no final decision made on the show, that they have a love for it a great deal. So we will see what happens.”
What do you think? Did you watch season one of Pitch? Why do you think the show didn’t catch on with many viewers?
We love it! Aside from the intriguing , and fun aspect of having the first female MLB player, as the main character, it’s so neat to see the inner workings of a team in the offices. locker room, and on the field!
Loved this show. I can’t wait for new season.
I don’t follow baseball, in fact I don’t follow any sports, but I really liked this show. I think the writing is really good and the cast is awesome. I enjoyed the storyline and learning about the types of “behind the scenes” happenings that occur in baseball. I would hate for the show not to continue. I agree with some of the previous comments, not enough advertising for this show. For me Pitch up there with This is Us, and I still see ads for that show everywhere.
I love baseball. I like watching the ins and outs of the baseball club. My favorite episode was when it was trade deadline and you were brought in to see how players being traded are affected. I like the show. Will I ever see a girl pitch for the MLB, likely not, but who cares. The characters and stories are interesting, well written.
I loved it. One of only 2 shows I really couldn’t wait each week for, the other being This Is Us. I think that the show would have done better if the promos were more about the character’s stories, the stuff at the heart of what makes it compelling. It just happens to be in the arena of baseball. Baseball fans are not the target audience, people who like character driven stories, that’s your audience. The same people who faithfully watched Friday Night Lights but could have cared less about football. People like me.
this show has great potential but I think the show lost a lot of viewers with a totally unbelieveable and stupidly executed pilot. Come on, how the heck can ANYONE believe a rookie pitcher throwing air balls over and over? I understand that stories have to have conflict but the over thrown balls coupled with a cocky rookie almost lost me the first show. There are still episodes where I’m tempted to walk away for good. Writers and director needs to give us a main character we can get behind and love, not some cocky, know-it-all rookie that we just… Read more »
Loved the show. It will be very disappointing if it doesn’t return for a second season.
Our favorite new show! Tired of the “execs” not giving new shows a chance!
I think Pitch is a great show I hope returns. I’m not in that younger demographic.It’s a great sport show and drama combination, the female lead is a good as are all the actors in the show. I believe if fox gives it a chance it will draw a larger crowd. Remember Firefly.
“Pitch” is a great show. I am very picky about what I bother with and the show gets my attention as does “Empire.” Fox really needs “Pitch” IMO because “Empire” would be the only interesting thing from the network if they were to pull the plug on “Pitch.”
Please keep this show going! I work hard n baseball and thoroughly enjoy this show.
I didn’t hear about it until I noticed it on Hulu in Dec. Have to wonder how much effort FOX, either through their own sports network, or through others like SI or ESPN, put in to actually trying to get this advertised.
Loved the show and it was up against Football on Thursday night.
This show had the same problem Notorious did and that was the placement on Thursday night against other more established shows. Pitch especially had compete with Shondaland on ABC which is an almost impossible task plus Thursday night football when its season began. I really loved this show and the cast. It should be given another season.
Please keep this show it’s great!