A League of Their Own Gets Axed, Showrunner Throws Major Shade at Amazon
The cancellation of this show exemplifies why actors and writers carry on with their strikes.
The WGA members' strike is now in its fourth month, and SAG-AFTRA actors have been supporting it for two months now. Both unions are pressuring media giants and streaming services to increase wages, address issues concerning the use of AI and residuals, and rein in the greed that has resulted in unbearable conditions for industry professionals.
As a result, the entire industry has come to a halt. The studios are incurring substantial losses, which could have been prevented had they heeded the actors' and writers' demands. Instead, to save costs, they are hastily cancelling shows. A League of Their Own fell victim to this approach, and both its showrunner and fans are speaking out against Amazon's blatant commercialism.
A League of Their Own provided a platform for the representation of the struggles faced by women, PoC, and the queer community. Through its depiction of women passionate about baseball trying to break into the major leagues during WWII, the series addressed prejudice, misogyny, homophobia, and racism — issues that are still relevant in today's world.
The series was greenlit for a second season in March 2023, which was to be its finale. However, audiences will now remain in the dark about the Rockford Peaches' narrative, as the show has now been cancelled, with the strikes being cited as the reason. Showrunner Abbi Jacobson expressed her dismay on Instagram, openly criticising Amazon for its hypocrisy and cowardice.
'To blame this cancellation on the strike, (which is an essential fight for fair wages, protections and working conditions, etc…) is bullshit and cowardly. But this post isn't about all that. About all the ways this show has been put through the ringer. Not today,' she proclaimed.
Naturally, fans were shocked by the news.
'I rewatched Season 1 when it was over and enjoyed it even more than the first time around. And I hate thinking about it being left open-ended now, forever,' a fan complained.
Many aligned with Jacobson, questioning Amazon's priorities: rather than compensating writers and actors fairly, the corporation appears to be cutting costs by axing promising series.
'Amazon, per usual, immediately scrapping everything (also just cancelled Peripheral after having already said they’d renew) as soon as strikes or unions happen. They really hate paying people livable wages,' another fan noted.
The cancellation of A League of Their Own is a significant blow to underrepresented communities, especially considering Amazon's historically lacklustre promotion of shows designed to appeal to audiences beyond the white male demographic.