The 90s reunion no one asked for, but is maybe the one we deserve
Patrick Renna, who I mostly know from your favourite Pauly Shore movie and mine Son In Law, is better known to the world as a cast member of the surprisingly beloved 1992 kids film The Sandlot.
In Australia, the film was released as The Sandlot Kids, which I think is a more memorable title. But, I digress.
Renna is set to star in a new baseball-themed TV series to be titled Dugout Dads, with a plan to bring his Sandlot co-stars on for appearances. This includes Tom Guiry, Chauncey Leopardi, Marty York, Brandon Quintin Adams, Victor DiMattia, Shane Obedzinski, Grant Gelt, and Will Horneff.
Boy Meets World star Danielle Fishel will co-star as Renna’s wife.
As per Deadline, the premise:
In Dugout Dads, when an idealistic dad (Renna) volunteers to coach his kids’ Little League team, he discovers that the most unruly players on the field aren’t the ten-year-olds… they’re the other coaches, parents, and sometimes himself. Throughout the season, Coach Patrick finds himself constantly at odds with his own advice to the kids: baseball is supposed to be FUN.
The characters in this will be original and not related to The Sandlot, or the extended Sandlot Universe which included a direct to video sequel starring James Earl Jones (who was in the first film). A second direct to video sequel starred Luke Perry and had Chauncey Leopardi reprising his role from the first film.
Neither James Earl Jones or Luke Perry have been named as appearing in Dugout Dads. *Ahem*
Apparently Renna has a production company with onetime teen actor Kyle Howard, Hambino Media. Dugout Dads will be produced through the new company. Howard has been a mainstay on television since the 90s, with sitcom My Boys his most notable show (not including Opposite Sex, which is notable for its premise and now-famous cast, but went under-seen when it initially aired). Victor Nelli Jr, a journeyman TV director with credits including Gilmore Girls, The Office, Scrubs, Happy Endings, Brooklyn Nine Nine, The Blacklist, and Superstore is on board to direct. Nelli has a relationship with Howard through working as a producer and director on My Boys, with his attachment here suggesting this is a real TV show and not just an aspirational press release.
I’ve admittedly never seen The Sandlot and have zero attachment to the show. But there’s something lovely about the idea of Renna getting the band back together as they all hit middle age. It’s maybe just a shame that this won’t be set in the actual Sandlot universe, but maybe it’s better for that.
News Desk
The UK has started a formal review of the Paramount Skydance acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has set an initial deadline of August 7. Read: THR
Paramount has started the search for a business-side counterpart to CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss. Should the acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery get across the line, Weiss would then go on to also oversee CNN. Read: Axios
Trade publications in the US are pushing all sorts of interviews and roundtables with talent from all manner of kinda prestige-y TV shows right now as publicists drive efforts for Emmy nominations. I ignore most of them, but it is kind-of interesting to see Deadline today publishing the script for episode 207 of The Pitt. That’s the rape kit episode that seems destined for an Emmy. Read: Deadline
Lesley Manville has joined the cast of the new Prime Video Brett Goldstein comedy Escourted. Read: THR
International sales are underway for US Doc Martin remake Best Medicine. Nothing yet for Australia. Read: thefutoncritic
The Stranger Things stage show The First Shadow has announced closures on both Broadway and the West End. Read: Deadline
Robert Irwin has been announced as the host of Australia’s Logie Awards for this year. Read: TV Tonight
Hugh Laurie admits he was a little bit drunk when he tweeted back at UK journo Janet Murray over her silly House insights. Read: Deadline
A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder has been renewed for a third and final season at Netflix. Read: thefutoncritic
Because you apparently can’t have an Australian drama without a UK or US star in the main cast, Rupert Everett has been announced as part of the cast of new ABC crime drama Fortitude Valley. Read: TV Tonight
The BBC has announced Rhodri Talfan Davies as its deputy director general. Read: Deadline
Trailer Park
Elle debuts July 1 on Prime Video.
Season One of Elle follows Elle Woods before she was a fish-out-of-water at Harvard. We meet her in 1995 as a fish in the tumultuous waters of high school where she encounters tricky friendships, forbidden romance, and questionable fashion choices. Through it all, Elle uses her family as a touchstone, and forms an even tighter bond to her mother, proving that they can get through anything life throws their way as long as they have each other. With each challenge she faces, Elle grows closer to the Elle Woods we know and love today.
Enola Holmes 3 debuts July 1 on Netflix.
Trying returns for season 5 on Apple TV July 8.
Camp Snoopy is back for season 2 on Apple TV June 26.
The Doomies debuts on Disney+ June 26.
When best friends Bobby and Romy accidentally open a portal to evil, their tranquil coastal town transforms into a hotspot for terrifying creatures of doom.
That’s the newsletter for the today.
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