美国国家公共电台 NPR--'A League of Their Own' gets new life as a limited Amazon Prime Video series

'A League of Their Own' gets new life as a limited Amazon Prime Video series

Transcript¹

The series uses the 1992 film about a World War II-era, female baseball team as a loose template, but it leans into subjects the movie never explored, including gay and non-white players.

A MARTINEZ, HOST:

"A League Of Their Own" gets new life tomorrow as a limited Amazon Prime Video series that reinvents the 1992 film. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans says the series scores big by exploring subjects that the original film didn't approach 30 years ago.

ERIC DEGGANS, BYLINE³: The first thing to understand about Prime Video's "A League Of Their Own" is that the characters aren't directly lifted from Penny Marshall's nostalgia-drenched film. The story is still focused on a talented catcher who winds up playing in the all-female pro² baseball league created during World War II. That's when many male players were drafted into the military. But unlike Geena Davis' character from the movie, who reluctantly joins the league, Abbi Jacobson's superstar catcher Carson Shaw is desperate to join up. She jumps onto a moving train headed for Chicago to make the tryouts.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN")

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: (As character) Ma'am, do not approach a train.

ABBI JACOBSON: (As Carson Shaw) Sir, just let it happen. I'm in.

DEGGANS: And then Carson confesses to her new teammate Greta, played by "The Good Place" alum D'Arcy Carden, that she left home without telling anyone. Greta has her own insights.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN")

D'ARCY CARDEN: (As Greta Gill) Are you saying that your husband wrote you a letter saying he was coming home from war and then you left?

JACOBSON: (As Carson Shaw) I just ran away like I was possessed⁴ or something.

CARDEN: (As Greta Gill) See, I don't think you are running away from anything. I think you are running towards your destiny.

DEGGANS: Women seeking independence from patriarchy is a big part of the series' story, just like the film. But these women are very different, including Max, a Black pitcher⁵ who runs into a wall of prejudice when she shows up, backed by her best friend, to try out.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN")

JOHN GLORIA: (As Daryl) Look, I don't think you understand. This is the all-American league.

CHANTE ADAMS: (As Max Chapman) I mean, we're pretty all-American.

GBEMISOLA IKUMELO: (As Clance Morgan) Yeah. We American.

ADAMS: (As Max Chapman) We were born here.

IKUMELO: (As Clance Morgan) Yeah. In God, we trust.

ADAMS: (As Max Chapman) You know, Jesus...

GLORIA: (As Daryl) Look, we're not going to have colored girls playing with our girls. Go on home.

ADAMS: (As Max Chapman) Just give me one shot, one minute to throw for you. I promise you're going to want me pitching at every game.

DEGGANS: Unfortunately, Max's bravado⁶ wasn't rewarded, at least at first. Another big difference here - the TV series features several gay characters, including Carson, who both struggles to admit her attraction to Greta and to admit her love for the independence that baseball brings.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN")

JACOBSON: (As Carson Shaw) I feel like I'm screwing up my entire life. And I don't know why, but I'm not stopping because it feels good.

DEGGANS: Jacobson, who just announced her engagement to actress Jodi Balfour, also co-created the show and serves as an executive producer. She steers⁷ the story into places the film dared not explore, centered on race and sexuality. It's also a series that knows how to use its expanded canvas, bringing a universe of compelling Black and gay characters into the mix, including an estranged⁸ aunt of Max's with a gender-bending backstory. Problems aren't solved easily. Carson must overcome a lifetime of underestimating herself to lead the team, even as she - and us viewers, by extension - discover a gay-centered world hiding almost in plain sight. The players are forced into charm school and makeup⁹ lessons, and Greta tells Carson the real reason for the training.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN")

CARDEN: (As Greta Gill) It's to make sure that we don't look like a bunch of queers. Do you get that? That's what all of this is. Or maybe it just doesn't affect you, Mrs. Shaw.

DEGGANS: Toss in an inspired performance by Nick Offerman in the coach role that Tom Hanks originally made famous and a touching¹⁰ cameo from Rosie O'Donnell and you have an inspired series which somehow manages to be both a loving tribute and a bold new statement all at once. I'm Eric Deggans.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 pro   

n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者

参考例句：

• The two debating teams argued the question pro and con.辩论的两组从赞成与反对两方面辩这一问题。
• Are you pro or con nuclear disarmament?你是赞成还是反对核裁军？

3 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

4 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

5 pitcher   

n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手

参考例句：

• He poured the milk out of the pitcher.他从大罐中倒出牛奶。
• Any pitcher is liable to crack during a tight game.任何投手在紧张的比赛中都可能会失常。

6 bravado   

n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能

参考例句：

• Their behaviour was just sheer bravado. 他们的行为完全是虚张声势。
• He flourished the weapon in an attempt at bravado. 他挥舞武器意在虚张声势。

7 steers   

n.阉公牛，肉用公牛( steer的名词复数 )v.驾驶( steer的第三人称单数 )；操纵；控制；引导

参考例句：

• This car steers easily. 这部车子易于驾驶。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Good fodder fleshed the steers up. 优质饲料使菜牛长肉。 来自辞典例句

8 estranged   

adj.疏远的，分离的

参考例句：

• He became estranged from his family after the argument.那场争吵后他便与家人疏远了。
• The argument estranged him from his brother.争吵使他同他的兄弟之间的关系疏远了。

9 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

10 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。