“Dugout Dads,” the nine-episode series streaming on YouTube, is seeking a bigger playing field.
The short-form series, created by Patrick Renna and Kyle Howard’s Hambino Media, reunites the cast of 1993 hit “The Sandlot” for a new coming-of-age sports story. The comedy, which dropped on YouTube on Wednesday, stars Renna, Tom Guiry, Chauncey Leopardi, Marty York, Brandon Quintin Adams, Victor DiMattia, Shane Obedzinski, Grant Gelt, Will Horneff and Michael Pena. Danielle Fishel stars as Renna’s character’s wife.
The series tells the story of an idealistic dad (Renna) who volunteers to coach his kids’ Little League team and learns that the adults involved — ie., coaches, parents, and maybe himself — are more unruly than the kids. The storyline was inspired by Renna’s own experience meeting other dads at his own kids’ games.
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On Wednesday, Oh Dip!!! Entertainment came on as executive producers, led by NBA all-star Chris Paul and his brother, CJ Paul. The duo formed the company with top documentary studio Words + Pictures to launch Ohh Dip!!! Entertainment last year, to produce content about sports and entertainment.
“It looks like you guys need a ninth,” Paul said in an Instagram video on a FaceTime with Renna. “I loved everything that I saw. My production company, we want to get involved and try to take this thing to the next level.”
“This experience has been one I will never forget,” Renna wrote on Instagram on Wednesday as the series was released. “Being back on a field filming a show with my brothers was something I wasn’t sure would happen again. We so appreciate each and every one of you that’s been with us for the last 30+ years! This is a passion project we’ve wanted to do for years and it wouldn’t have been possible without you! Hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.”
The “Dugout Dads” team is hopeful that the first short-form season will lead to a full-length season, viewing this batch of episodes as their pre-season.
“Dugout Dads” is written by Sebastian Jones and Dan Kopelman and is directed by Victor Nelli Jr. Victoria Fradkin produces. All episodes are streaming on YouTube now.
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