Ep 1. Rally Cap

In the first episode of Brockmire, titled "Rally Cap," we meet our titular character Jim Brockmire, played by Hank Azaria. Brockmire is a former Major League Baseball announcer who had a famous on-air meltdown after discovering his wife's infidelity. The episode begins a decade after his infamous meltdown, with Brockmire now working as a minor league announcer in an attempt to rebuild his career.

Brockmire arrives in Morristown, Pennsylvania, where he is set to announce a game for the Morristown Frackers. Brockmire is immediately greeted by Jules James, played by Amanda Peet, the Frackers' owner and a big fan of Brockmire's work. Jules has a reputation for being tough and no-nonsense, but she takes a liking to Brockmire and invites him to dinner.

Over dinner, Jules tells Brockmire about her plans to revitalize the Frackers and turn them into a successful minor league team. She explains that the town has fallen on hard times and that she wants to give locals something to cheer for. Brockmire is supportive of Jules's plan and they bond over their shared love of baseball.

The next day, Brockmire is set to announce the Frackers' first game of the season. Before the game, he meets Charles, the Frackers' mascot, who is dressed in a giant hot dog costume. Brockmire is unimpressed by Charles's antics and dismisses him as "a man in a meat suit."

As the game gets underway, Brockmire settles into his announcing duties. He quickly proves himself to be a knowledgeable and entertaining announcer, describing the action on the field with colorful and sometimes vulgar language. Brockmire is a hit with the fans, who appreciate his enthusiasm and humor.

However, things take a turn when the Frackers start to lose badly to their opponents, the Blue Sox. Brockmire's spirits and commentary become increasingly despondent as the game goes on, and he begins to drink heavily. Jules notices Brockmire's decline and tries to get him to sober up, but he refuses.

In a moment of desperation, Jules puts on the hot dog costume and starts to dance around on the field, hoping to rally the Frackers and their fans. Brockmire is initially dismissive of Jules's antics, but something about her performance resonates with him. He starts to come around and gets back into the game, helping to rally the fans and the Frackers.

In the end, the Frackers still lose the game, but Brockmire and Jules celebrate the small victory of bringing some joy to the struggling town. Brockmire realizes that he might be able to make a difference in Morristown, both as an announcer and as a member of the community.

Overall, "Rally Cap" is a strong start to Brockmire, introducing us to a fascinating and flawed protagonist and setting up an interesting dynamic between Brockmire and Jules. The episode is well-written and well-acted, with plenty of humor and heart. Fans of baseball and dark comedy are sure to enjoy it.