After Abbi Jacobson's 'Coward' Comments, A League Of Their Own Showrunner Shares Long And Uplifting Message With Fans Upset About Cancellation
The series struck a chord with a lot of viewers.
Amazon Prime Video arguably doesn’t get as chastised as other streaming services when it comes to TV show cancellations. However, a swath of fans were taken aback last week when it was reported that A League of Their Own had been canceled. The development arrived months after the series was renewed for an abbreviated second and final season. This move was attributed to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA actors and WGA writers strikes. Showrunner (and lead actress) Abbi Jacobson criticized the decision, calling it “cowardly.” Now, her co-creator, Will Graham, has shared a long and uplifting message for viewers disappointed with the series’ demise.
Will Graham had a lot to say when he took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his reaction to the news via a thread. He specifically addressed the fans belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community, saying that A League of Their Own’s cast and creative team learned about its cancellation at Prime Video last Friday as well. Acknowledging that he sees series devotees’ “pain and anger and worry,” Graham asked that they please “take care” of and “be kind” to themselves before doing anything else. He also implored people to know that “you aren’t alone.” The EP then proceeded to quote the 1992 film on which the show is based and address whether it might find a new streaming home:
The showrunner – who’s also worked on Daisy Jones & the Six and Mozart in the Jungle – acknowledged that Amazon is currently “pursuing different kinds of programming.” However, he also says that for others, “this show is a hit and has huge value and even greater potential.” A League of Their Own did indeed amass a solid following during its run. Set in 1943, the series centered on the formation of the all-women Rockford Peaches baseball team. While it was inspired by Penny Marshall’s fan-favorite movie, it notably featured new characters and storylines to boot. Ultimately, it received highly positive reviews, with audiences praising the writing, direction, tone and cast. It was also praised for having LGBTQ+ characters in prominent roles.
Will Graham further emphasized just how important the show has been to the aforementioned community. He commended audiences for being so enthusiastic about the series and for helping to spark true societal change. Above all else though, he thanked loyal viewers for choosing to live their truths as a result of watching the dramedy:
It’s fair to say that the sports show debuted amid a time in which the entertainment is starting to shift, making space for more diverse and rarely told stories. Abbi Jacobson, Will Graham and their colleagues’ work represented a positive step for representation. Based on the comments made by both Graham and Jacobson (who also shot down the notion of the strikes causing the cancellation), they’re both incredibly proud of what they accomplished in one season. While fans definitely wanted the situation to play out differently, there’s at least some comfort in knowing that the series did get to exist for a while and will likely continue to inspire for a lot longer.
if you'd like to revisit A League of Their Own or check it out with fresh eyes, you can stream it in its entirety using a Prime Video subscription.
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Erik Swann is a Senior Content Producer at CinemaBlend. He began working with the publication in 2020 when he was hired as Weekend Editor. Today, he continues to write, edit and handle social media responsibilities over the weekend. On weekdays, he also writes TV and movie-related news and helps out with editing and social media as needed. He graduated from the University of Maryland, where he received a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After shifting into multi-platform journalism, he started working as a freelance writer and editor before joining CB. Covers superheroes, sci-fi, comedy, and almost anything else in film and TV. He eats more pizza than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.