HOLLYWOOD, CA – In 1994 the landmark Emmy Award®-winning documentary series Baseball captured the hearts of more than 43 million viewers, and now acclaimed filmmakers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick return to the national pastime with The Tenth Inning, a two part, four hour mini series. Showcasing the game’s tumultuous history, greatest stars, and unforgettable moments over the past 17 years,
The Tenth Inning debuts on DVD and Blu-ray October 5, 2010 from PBS Home Video and Paramount Home Entertainment.
Directed by Burns and Novick (producer of the Baseball series), and written and produced by Burns, Novick and David McMahon, The Tenth Inning celebrates baseball’s enduring appeal and how it continues to reflect the complicated country that created it. Following baseball’s trajectory from 1992 through 2009, the film vividly presents the ups and downs of the sport against a backdrop of the social and cultural changes in the
United States at the turn of the millennium.
“So much has transpired in baseball since we last examined the game and all of its many nuances,” said Burns. “Above all, this new installment furthers a sense of celebration and introspection around one of our nation’s greatest institutions, the seemingly simple stick and ball game whose infinite variations and possibilities have entranced our ever-changing nation for nearly 200 years.” Ken and I are passionate baseball fans,” added Lynn Novick. “We have worked hard to provide a human dimension to the recent history of the game. It has been tremendously exciting, and challenging, to try to do justice to this complicated story, and to try to understand what it says about who we are.”
The Tenth Inning documents a hugely consequential period for the national pastime: Cal Ripken becomes the game’s new Iron Man; players and owners wage a cataclysmic battle over money and power; dazzlingly talented Latin and Asian players transform the sport; sluggers Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds do things that have never been done before; the Yankees build a dynasty, while their arch rivals, the
Red Sox, stage the greatest comeback in history. In September of 2001, at a time when America seems most threatened, baseball offers the hope that things will one day return to normal.
Narrated by acclaimed screen and stage actor Keith David, The Tenth Inning includes interviews with a new generation of international superstars as well as veterans of the game, writers, broadcasters, and fans. It is presented in two parts: “Top of the Tenth” and “Bottom of the Tenth”. The two-disc DVD and two-disc Blu-ray each features hours of bonus material including interviews with filmmakers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, additional scenes and outtakes.
DVD & Blu-ray
The Tenth Inning – A Film By Ken Burns and Lynn Novick two-disc DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Surround with English SDH and Spanish Stereo. The DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $24.99 U.S. The Blu-ray is presented in 1080i high definition 1.78:1 with English True HD 5.1 with English SDH and Spanish Stereo. The Blu-ray will be available for the suggested retail price of $29.99 U.S. The disc contents are as follows:
Disc 1:
Top of the Tenth
In 1994, the national pastime faces its worst crisis in 70 years when a bitter and prolonged strike forces the cancellation of the World Series, infuriating fans dismayed by the athletes and teams they once worshipped. Baseball has to rebuild. And rebuild it does, with new stadiums, an infusion of new players from Latin America and the shattering of historic records previously considered unbreakable. Cal Ripken Jr. sets an amazing record of consecutive games played, helping rekindle the country’s love of the game. Barry Bonds, son of the great right fielder Bobby Bonds, signs the most lucrative contract to date in baseball history and thrills San Francisco fans. Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Greg Maddux pitch the Atlanta Braves to the pinnacle. The Yankees return to glory after two decades of disappointment. The bulked up sluggers Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa captivate the nation as they chase Roger Maris’ single season home run record. Meanwhile, more and more players are making life-altering decisions about how far they are willing to go to succeed.
Bonus Features:
· “Back to the Baseball Park” – an interview with Ken Burns and Lynn Novick
· Additional Scenes: Dodger Town, A Night at Fenway Park, A Tour of
Fenway Park
· Full of Knowledge, a look at baseball in the Dominican Republic
· Central Park & Outtakes
Disc 2:
Bottom of the Tenth:
In the first decade of the 21st century, baseball is booming. In an age of home runs and power, Pedro Martinez and a handful of other superb pitchers still manage to dominate. The astonishingly talented right fielder Ichiro Suzuki becomes MLB’s first Japanese position player and a hero back home. As America reels from the horror of the 9/11 attacks, baseball provides solace, and in an incredible World Series, gives the country something to cheer about. As the rivalry between the Yankees and the Red Sox reaches the boiling point, long-suffering Boston fans rejoice in their first World Series victory in 86 years, while Giants and Cubs fans endure devastating losses. Barry Bonds demolishes Mark McGwire’s home-run record and sets his sights on Henry Aaron’s revered all time mark. The game is more popular than ever, but revelations about steroids cast a shadow on many of the era’s greatest stars and their historic accomplishments.
Bonus Features:
· Outtakes
The all-new BASEBALL: THE TENTH INNING brings the Emmy®
Award-winning series, BASEBALL, up to date. The saga spanning from 1840 – 2009 is an epic overflowing with heroes and hopefuls, scoundrels and screwballs. The 11 disc set will also be available for $99.99 U.S.
About PBS Distribution
PBS Distribution is the leading media distributor for the public television community, both domestically and internationally. Jointly owned by PBS (Arlington, VA) and WGBH (Boston, MA), PBS Distribution extends the reach of public television programs beyond broadcast while generating revenue for the public television system and our production partners. PBS Distribution offers a diverse range of programming to our customers, including Ken Burns’s films (The National Parks, The War, Baseball, Jazz, The Civil War), documentaries from award-winning series NOVA (The Elegant Universe, Origins,
The Miracle of Life), FRONTLINE (Bush’s War, Growing Up Online), and American Experience (We Shall Remain, Jonestown, New York), dramas from Masterpiece (Jane Eyre, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries), films from independent producers (Latin Music USA,
The Botany of Desire, The Story of India, Journey into Buddhism, I.O.U.S.A.), and popular children’s programming from Super Why!, Wordgirl, Cyberchase, Martha Speaks, and Arthur.
