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WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY, THE: ANGELS IN THE INFIELD (TV)

Summary

One of this series of Disney movies presented under the umbrella title "The Wonderful World of Disney." This made-for-television production, loosely based on characters from the 1951 film "Angels in the Outfield," concerns a group of angels trying to help a baseball team win the championship while reuniting an estranged family. The program starts with angel Bob Bugler in heaven discussing how he's always been a benchwarmer as he watches Babe Ruth, now right-handed, at the plate. Bob feels he could have made his mark on baseball if -- before his death at age thirty -- he could have had one more season as a starting pitcher for the Anaheim Angels. Back on Earth, the current-day Angels are a team of malcontents. As they prepare for a game, starting pitcher Eddie Everett shows up late to the contest and is typically unfocused. Watching from the stands are Eddie's ex-wife Claire and his disinterested daughter Laurel. The Angels are close to losing yet another game due to Eddie's shoddy pitching. During the game, Claire calls Eddie, telling him that she is taking a job at Harvard and he will need to watch his estranged daughter for the next two months. He begins pitching atypically brisk in order to get through the inning and prevent Claire from leaving Laurel with him. After getting out of the inning, Eddie rushes to try and stop Claire but he is unable to reach her. Meeting up with Laurel, Eddie struggles to reconnect with her. Eddie takes Laurel back to his bachelor pad and sets her up in his weight room. She is immediately unhappy with her new life and Eddie is unsure how to treat her.

Meanwhile, Eddie continues getting bashed on ESPN by commentator Dexter Deekin. That night, Eddie watches a highlight tape of the 1992 American League Championship, when the Angels were about to trounce the Red Sox. However, one out away from victory, Eddie makes two key errors and costs his team the pennant. Shutting the tape off, Eddie reflects on how the change in fortune resulted in his family's dissolution. Later, Laurel says a prayer, hoping someone up above can bail her dad out of his funk and give him another chance at winning a championship. Back in heaven, the wingless Bob gets the assignment and is sent to Earth. The next day at ballet school, Laurel works on her exercises. Through the window, she notices Bob fall to the ground. At lunch break, the other girls mock Laurel and her father. Just when a nasty classmate is about to dump juice on Laurel's head, Bob secretly steps in and makes the bully pour it on herself. Then, Eddie's agent, Simon, picks up Laurel after school. Bob gets into Simon's car, revealing that Laurel is the only one that can see or hear him. At the ballpark, Bob explains to Laurel that he is an angel and has come to help due to her prayer. At Eddie's next start, Laurel tells him to "believe." However, on Eddie's first pitch, he gives up a home run. On the next pitch, though, Bob uses some angelic peers to help the centerfield try and snag a potential home run. The angels fail and Bob reveals to Laurel that he is just a "second-string" angel, as are his colleagues. Bob realizes that his angels need to start training.

Fourteen games out of the wild card, as manager Gus tries to motivate his Angels, Bob tries to likewise inspire his fellow angels. Bob tells Laurel that they need a better manager, too. Laurel asks her father if he remembers Bob from his days in the majors and indeed he does. Laurel reveals that Bob is her angel but Eddie is incredulous. That night, Claire calls Eddie to see how he is doing as a parent. Claire reveals that it was actually Laurel's idea to stay in California with him. Eddie goes to his daughter's room to apologize for not believing about angel Bob. Laurel questions her dad about baseball strategy. Then, Laurel and Bob begin training the angels at baseball and soon they are running like clockwork. Simon, however, isn't quite sure what is going on -- but he is definitely supportive. Meanwhile, Laurel teaches some of her ballet moves to her father to increase his agility, and he passes the skills on to his teammates. That afternoon, Eddie picks Laurel up from school, where he reveals that the team just released him. Laurel tells Bob that "it's now or never," as the angels need to save Eddie's career. At that day's game, the Devil appears in the stands. Eddie somehow has a 1-0 lead against the Orioles as he faces a bases-loaded jam. Then, using his daughter's ballet skills and a little angelic help, Eddie begins throwing some heat and soon retires the side for a victory. After the game, the Devil approaches Devils' slugger Randy Fleck -- a longtime nemesis of Eddie -- offering a deal to make the Devils clinch the American League pennant. Randy signs the contract in blood. Meanwhile, Laurel is kicked out of the ballet class for having missed too many sessions. Bob inspires her to go and try to be readmitted. The teacher decides to allow her if she can nail the routine. She does and -- with Bob's aid -- performs so admirably that she is made the soloist. However, Laurel refuses to believe her father's claim that he will attend the recital. When Eddie doesn't understand her reaction, he watches some old tapes which Claire filmed of Laurel's recitals, during which the young girl continually asks of her father's whereabouts. Realizing that he needs to prove his love, Eddie turns his weight room into a legitimate girl's bedroom. He then tells Laurel that he'll be a better father and definitely attend her dance recital. The Angels' next series is against the Red Sox, with the Angels hoping to score their second victory in a row. Bob and Laurel notice that reserve player Jacobs "believes" and thus they encourage Eddie to have the lowly batter go in to pinch-hit. Shockingly, Jacobs hits a home run and the Angels continue their amazing winning streak, soon making the playoffs. Even Dexter is starting to think the Angels can beat the Devils.

That night, Bob meets with the Devil, who admits to championing his namesake team. Bob tells the Devil to stay away from the Angels, and the Devil cryptically notes that he'll achieve his goal without having to go near Eddie. The next game, an afternoon affair between the Angels and Devils, is right before Laurel's dance recital. Claire even calls Eddie to say she's been following his games. Then, Claire tries to get a flight to California. Meanwhile, Bob tries to figure out what the Devil meant when he said that Eddie wouldn't play that day. Then, the skies open and a rain delay is called. The game is pushed back until 4 p.m., the exact time of Laurel's ballet performance. Eddie doesn't want to miss the recital but he likewise can't miss such an important game. At the last second, Eddie appears at the theater to watch Laurel's solo. After her performance, which speeds along with a little heavenly intervention, Laurel encourages her father to get back to the ballpark. There, Simon is stalling for his client, whose absence is felt by his team and the crowd of ardent fans. Eddie finally makes it to the game in the eighth inning with the Angels trailing by two runs. Eddie immediately gives his team a quick dugout pep talk. Meanwhile, Claire arrives in California and rushes to the ballpark. Jacobs comes to the plate and Bob reveals to Laurel that angels aren't allowed to be used in championship games. Though the Devil tries to hold him back, Jacobs still hits a home run. Now, Eddie just needs three more outs to win the title for the Angels. He easily gets the first two out and with one out to go and a Devil on third, Randy comes to the plate. With the Devil on his side, Randy is able to work the count. Eddie asks for help from above. At long last, Bob appears to Eddie and tells him that he no longer needs angelic help as he finally has confidence. Bob also alerts Eddie to the fact that Claire is in the stadium. Eddie throws one final pitch to Randy, who hits it back up the box, causing Eddie to field it and make the winning assist. Thus, the Angels win the American League Championship. Eddie, Claire, and Laurel reunite on the field as the Angels celebrate their victory. Finally, back up in heaven, Bob gets his wings and gets to play with the baseball legends. Includes commercials.

(Network varies; this series was also telecast on NBC from 1961 to 1981 and on CBS from 1981 to 1983.)

Details

  • NETWORK: ABC
  • DATE: April 9, 2000 7:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:57:05
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:60341
  • GENRE: Comedy
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Angels; Baseball; Children's programs
  • SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1997-2008
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - "Stuart Little" home video
    • TV - Commercials - 4-H volunteer organization
    • TV - Commercials - Ace Hardware stores
    • TV - Commercials - Biore skin care
    • TV - Commercials - Boy Scouts of America
    • TV - Commercials - Cadbury chocolate eggs
    • TV - Commercials - Carnation Good Start baby formula
    • TV - Commercials - Carnival cruise lines
    • TV - Commercials - Chevrolet automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Chili's restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - Claritin allergy-relief syrup
    • TV - Commercials - Dentyne gum
    • TV - Commercials - Duracell batteries
    • TV - Commercials - Education Excellence Partnership
    • TV - Commercials - Educational Testing Service
    • TV - Commercials - Honda automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Jell-o gelatin
    • TV - Commercials - Kellogg's Nutri-Grain bars
    • TV - Commercials - Kotex maxi-pads
    • TV - Commercials - Listerine mouthwash
    • TV - Commercials - Matchbox toys
    • TV - Commercials - Maxwell House coffee
    • TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - Meridia weight-loss medication
    • TV - Commercials - Milkfuls candies
    • TV - Commercials - Nabisco Cafe Cremes cookies
    • TV - Commercials - Nissan automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Olive Garden restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - Oreo cookies
    • TV - Commercials - Pepsi soft drinks
    • TV - Commercials - Quaker mini-rice cakes
    • TV - Commercials - Revolution flea, heartworm protection
    • TV - Commercials - Ruffles chips
    • TV - Commercials - Sears stores
    • TV - Commercials - Sprint calling plans
    • TV - Commercials - Stouffer's frozen meals
    • TV - Commercials - The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering
    • TV - Commercials - Tic Tac breath mints
    • TV - Commercials - Tostitos chips
    • TV - Commercials - United States Census 2000
    • TV - Commercials - Visa credit cards
    • TV - Commercials - Walt Disney Gold Classic Collection home videos
    • TV - Commercials - Walt Disney organization
    • TV - Commercials - Welch's grape juice
    • TV - Commercials - Wendy's restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - Wrigley's Extra gum
    • TV - Commercials - www.Disney1.com internet site
    • TV - Promos - "Arabian Nights"
    • TV - Promos - "Disney's One Saturday Morning: The Weekenders"
    • TV - Promos - "The Miracle Maker"
    • TV - Promos - "The Practice"
    • TV - Promos - "The Ten Commandments"
    • TV - Promos - "The Three Stooges"
    • TV - Promos - "The Wonderful World of Disney: Geppetto"
    • TV - Promos - "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"

CREDITS

  • Roger Birnbaum … Executive Producer
  • Fitch Cady … Producer
  • Deb Lefaive … Co-Producer
  • Gary Stutman … Co-Producer
  • Irby Smith … Co-Producer
  • Holly Goldberg Sloan … Co-Producer
  • Robert King … Director, Writer
  • Garrett K. Schiff … Writer
  • Holly Goldberg Sloan … Writer
  • Ira Newborn … Music by
  • Jocelyn Snowden … Choreographer
  • Patrick Warburton … Cast, Eddie Everett
  • Brittney Irvin … Cast, Laurel Everett
  • Kurt Fuller … Cast, Simon
  • Rebecca Jenkins … Cast, Claire Everett
  • Duane Davis … Cast, Randy Fleck
  • Beau Starr … Cast, Gus Keeler
  • Colin Fox … Cast, The Devil
  • Peter Keleghan … Cast, Dexter Deekin
  • Dan Duran … Cast, Rex Lombard
  • David Alan Grier … Cast, Bob Bugler
  • Leif Anderson … Cast, Student
  • Joanne Boland … Cast, Pretty Baseball Groupie
  • Joe Bostick … Cast, Soren Fishigf-Jist
  • Tannie Burnett … Cast, Dejected Fan
  • Laura Catalano … Cast, Ballet Teacher
  • Rufus Crawford … Cast, Assistant Manager
  • Shane Daly … Cast, Indian Base Chaser
  • Adam David … Cast, Jay Snodgrass
  • Neil Girvan … Cast, Angel Catcher
  • Miku Graham … Cast, Celine Dion Wannabe
  • Tamara Hickey … Cast, Pretty Elevator Woman
  • Kyle Kassardjian … Cast, Piano-Playing Kid
  • Cuilio Kukurugya … Cast, St. Peter
  • Hannah Lochner … Cast , Young Laurel
  • Paul A. MacFarlane … Cast, Babe Ruth
  • Jamie McRoberts … Cast, Opera-Singing Kid
  • Brian Paul … Cast, Umpire
  • Jeanette Roxborough … Cast, Lily Hart
  • Peter Simtic … Cast, Jacob
  • Rachel Skarsten … Cast, Brigitte
  • David Sparrow … Cast, Taxi Driver
  • David Talbot … Cast, Valet
  • Wayne Ward … Cast, Male Ballet Dancer
  • Scott Watson … Cast, Hot Dog Vendor
  • Rudy Webb … Cast, Usher