Game Seven; no crying in baseball
The discussion preserves two independent final choices: Game Seven and the no-crying-in-baseball scene. Earlier choices cover the Oregon opening, tryouts, newsreel, Jimmy's managerial debut, the season montage, the telegram, Dottie's attempt to quit, the home-plate collision, the sisters' farewell, the Hall of Fame reunion, Suds Bucket, Marla and Nelson, and the nighttime bus rides.
In the discussion (18)
- The Oregon opening is selected for establishing Dottie and Kit's rivalry and Ernie's recruiting pitch.
- The tryouts and roster reading are selected for introducing the players, showing their athletic credibility, and revealing that Shirley cannot read.
- The league newsreel is proposed as a rewatchable sequence.
- Jimmy's no-crying-in-baseball confrontation is proposed as a rewatchable scene.
- Jimmy's managerial debut, including his extended urination, is proposed as a rewatchable scene.
- The team-success montage is proposed, including the Black woman's powerful throw and Marla's marriage.
- The telegram delivery is proposed as an affecting scene.
- Jimmy confronting Dottie about quitting is selected for his argument that difficulty is what makes baseball great.
- Game Seven and the home-plate collision are selected for resolving the sisters' rivalry while leaving the dropped-ball question open.
- Dottie and Kit's farewell is proposed as a rewatchable scene.
- The Hall of Fame reunion is proposed, with an explicit objection that parts of it are corny and that grown-up Stillwell is unpleasant.
- Jimmy's managerial debut and Ira's response are proposed as a comic exchange.
- The Suds Bucket dance sequence is proposed.
- Marla meeting and marrying Nelson is proposed.
- Both nighttime bus rides are proposed as rewatchable sequences.
- One participant remains torn between Dottie trying to quit and the no-crying-in-baseball scene.
- One participant's final choice is Game Seven because the whole game holds up on a channel flip and renews the dropped-ball debate.
- A different participant's final choice is the no-crying-in-baseball scene.
Performances, baseball, friendship, and period craft
Geena Davis and Lori Petty are praised as believable baseball players. Madonna as All the Way Mae is the leading answer because the star casting and character unexpectedly work. Rosie O'Donnell's performance and her partnership with Madonna are praised. The Dottie-Kit arguments and Jimmy's small pieces of advice remain effective. The baseball settings, vendors, clothes, and Cynthia Flynt's costume design are praised. The ensemble's credible play, including Marla's switch-hitting power, is central to the movie's durability.
In the discussion (6)
- Geena Davis and Lori Petty are praised as believable baseball players.
- Madonna as All the Way Mae is the leading answer because the star casting and character unexpectedly work.
- Rosie O'Donnell's performance and her partnership with Madonna are praised.
- The Dottie-Kit arguments and Jimmy's small pieces of advice remain effective.
- The baseball settings, vendors, clothes, and Cynthia Flynt's costume design are praised.
- The ensemble's credible play, including Marla's switch-hitting power, is central to the movie's durability.
Failed series, fading context, deleted kiss, Marla's exit, and Kit
A six-episode TV series, with only five broadcast, is said to have died quickly. Madonna's historical impact on the casting is expected to diminish for younger viewers. The opening song is considered overly early-1990s and corny. The deleted Dottie-Jimmy kiss is rejected because it would change Dottie's motivation and violate the character's marriage. The older-Dottie actress is criticized for not quite bringing it, and the original actresses in aging makeup are preferred. Marla leaving the team immediately after marriage is rejected as inconsistent with her love and talent for baseball. Kit is criticized as resentful and insufficiently accountable despite being rewarded at the end. A proposed repair gives Kit a late acknowledgment that Dottie's trade helped her build an independent life.
In the discussion (8)
- A six-episode TV series, with only five broadcast, is said to have died quickly.
- Madonna's historical impact on the casting is expected to diminish for younger viewers.
- The opening song is considered overly early-1990s and corny.
- The deleted Dottie-Jimmy kiss is rejected because it would change Dottie's motivation and violate the character's marriage.
- The older-Dottie actress is criticized for not quite bringing it, and the original actresses in aging makeup are preferred.
- Marla leaving the team immediately after marriage is rejected as inconsistent with her love and talent for baseball.
- Kit is criticized as resentful and insufficiently accountable despite being rewarded at the end.
- A proposed repair gives Kit a late acknowledgment that Dottie's trade helped her build an independent life.
Mark Holton and Joey Slotnick
The announcer played by David Lander is considered through his Squiggy recognition. Adult Stillwell, recognized as Chubby from Teen Wolf, is selected; his Hall of Fame remembrance of his mother is praised. Joey Slotnick as Doris Fan Number Two is another selection.
In the discussion (3)
- The announcer played by David Lander is considered through his Squiggy recognition.
- Adult Stillwell, recognized as Chubby from Teen Wolf, is selected; his Hall of Fame remembrance of his mother is praised.
- Joey Slotnick as Doris Fan Number Two is another selection.
Madonna
Madonna's heightened rich-chocolate-man line wins over Marla's deliberately large serenade.
In the discussion (1)
- Madonna's heightened rich-chocolate-man line wins over Marla's deliberately large serenade.
Jon Lovitz
Jon Lovitz wins for delivering a dense series of jokes in roughly twelve minutes.
In the discussion (1)
- Jon Lovitz wins for delivering a dense series of jokes in roughly twelve minutes.
Geena Davis, Penny Marshall, Lori Petty, and women's sports films
Geena Davis is judged at Apex after Thelma & Louise and this film in consecutive years. Penny Marshall is judged at Apex because this became her most commercially successful film. Lori Petty is judged at Apex because Kit remained her defining role. Cow-milking scenes and long urination scenes are debated without a firm affirmative selection. David Strathairn, Madonna, Jon Lovitz, Bill Pullman, Rosie O'Donnell, and Tom Hanks are rejected or left below other career peaks. Women's baseball, women's sports movies, and baseball movies receive affirmative Apex judgments; sister movies do not.
In the discussion (6)
- Geena Davis is judged at Apex after Thelma & Louise and this film in consecutive years.
- Penny Marshall is judged at Apex because this became her most commercially successful film.
- Lori Petty is judged at Apex because Kit remained her defining role.
- Cow-milking scenes and long urination scenes are debated without a firm affirmative selection.
- David Strathairn, Madonna, Jon Lovitz, Bill Pullman, Rosie O'Donnell, and Tom Hanks are rejected or left below other career peaks.
- Women's baseball, women's sports movies, and baseball movies receive affirmative Apex judgments; sister movies do not.
A longer, more adult series
A new series is considered viable after thirty years, provided it preserves the story's appeal while using more time and a somewhat more adult tone. Concerns include forcing current concerns into the 1940s and failing to distinguish the show from the film. The longer format could deepen the teammates and introduce new characters, though an episode centered on Stillwell is treated skeptically.
In the discussion (3)
- A new series is considered viable after thirty years, provided it preserves the story's appeal while using more time and a somewhat more adult tone.
- Concerns include forcing current concerns into the 1940s and failing to distinguish the show from the film.
- The longer format could deepen the teammates and introduce new characters, though an episode centered on Stillwell is treated skeptically.
The dropped ball
The dropped ball is the consensus choice, possibly paired with Dottie's mitt and a Jimmy Dugan inscription. The torn Jimmy Dugan card and the Betty “Spaghetti” Horn card are runners-up.
In the discussion (2)
- The dropped ball is the consensus choice, possibly paired with Dottie's mitt and a Jimmy Dugan inscription.
- The torn Jimmy Dugan card and the Betty “Spaghetti” Horn card are runners-up.
Geena Davis
Geena Davis is the consensus winner for her indelible performance as Dottie. Separate alternate cases are made for Tom Hanks, the Madonna–Rosie O'Donnell pairing, and Penny Marshall before Davis is reaffirmed.
In the discussion (5)
- Geena Davis is selected and immediately supported as the winner for her performance as Dottie.
- Tom Hanks receives a separate alternate case.
- Madonna and Rosie O'Donnell receive a separate alternate case as a pairing.
- Penny Marshall receives a separate alternate case for shaping the film.
- Geena Davis is reaffirmed as the consensus winner for an indelible performance.
Podcast choices
Most Rewatchable Scene
