Pop Culturalist Chats with Patrick Renna

Only a few films in cinematic history can call themselves cult classics. And twenty-five years ago, David Mickey Evans and Robert Gunter took us to the sandlot and taught us to always keep swinging. They created beloved characters that have stood the test of time and introduced us to fresh faces poised to make their mark in the industry. And that couldn’t ring truer than for Patrick Renna. Since delivering the iconic line, “You’re killin’ me, Smalls”, Patrick has gone on to have an illustrious career with credits in Boy Meets World, Home Improvement, The X-Files, and Judging Amy. This summer, he’s joining the cast of GLOW and we spoke to him about the project, his character, and what it was like reuniting with the cast of The Sandlot.

GLOW Questions

PC: For readers who may not be familiar with GLOW, can you tell us about the series and what attracted you to this project?
Patrick: GLOW stands for the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling and it’s a fantastic show on Netflix. I heard great things about it but I had never actually seen it. When I got this role, I binge-watched the entire first season with my wife.

The main character is played by Alison Brie. She’s an out-of-work actress who comes in contact with Marc Maron’s character. He’s creating a league of women wrestlers but none of them really know what they’re doing except maybe one or two. A lot of hilarity results from that.

PC: We know you can’t say too much but what can fans expect from your character?
Patrick: I play a super fan. It was a great character to play because I’m such a fan of the show. His name is Cupcake and he has a fun story arc in the second season.

PC: How much of yourself would you say is in your character?
Patrick: You have to channel a little bit of yourself into every character you play. But that’s also one of the great challenges of being an actor: you sometimes have to play characters who are completely different from who you are. Luckily, I’m a super fan of certain things and I used those emotions for this role.

I’ve been acting for a while so I try and roll with what the writers of a show have created for you instead of changing it. Especially with a show as special as GLOW. They know what they’re doing. I took what they had and added a little more of myself.

PC: What are you a super fan of?
Patrick: Oh gosh! [laughs] I’m the biggest super fan of sports—football, baseball, and basketball. If I were able to watch the NBA Finals courtside, I’d be just as big of a super fan as Cupcake is with GLOW.

The Sandlot Questions

PC: When you look back at that experience, did you ever imagine it would become the cult classic it is today? Why has this story stood the test of time?
Patrick: The simple answer is no. There’s no way we could have predicted The Sandlot would become what it is today. It was the first project that I ever did, so I can look back on that experience now and truly appreciate how special it was. Everyone on set was so great at what they did. There was an aurora on set. We knew we were making something good. We didn’t know it would become what it has. That never seizes to amaze me. It still amazes the director to this day. He’ll be the first to tell you that it still blows his mind. It’s pretty incredible when two different generations still come up to him and tell him how much it’s meant to them and their kids.

PC: Where do you think your character Ham would be today?
Patrick: At the end of the film, he becomes a wrestler. I think GLOW season two is actually The Sandlot’s sequel.

PC: What was it like reuniting with everyone twenty-five years later?
Patrick: I loved it! It was really special. The nostalgia that people talk about when they watch the film twenty-five years later is what I felt reuniting with everyone. I hadn’t seen them in over twenty-five years. When we met at L.A. Community College for The Today Show, I was the second guy there. The field was really long. I saw Tom walking up these stairs, coming more and more into focus, and it felt like Field of Dreams, no joke. I got chills.

PC: Do you have a fun fact that fans would be surprised to learn about the film now?
Patrick: The two fun facts that I usually share happen back-to-back in the film. It’s the insult scene and the one where we destroy the other team. When we were getting ready to film the insult scene, we had already filmed a lot of the movie. That scene was originally written for Benny but I think because we were so deep into filming, the director saw that Benny had become this legend figure, and saw what I was creating with Ham and how he was the defender of the sandlot that it made sense for me to do that instead of Benny.

The second scene on the field the next day was all improv and not just by me. The director was in the dug out with a bullhorn yelling insults. I don’t think we even cut. As each batter came up, the director would yell an insult for me to say. It was hard to keep a straight face.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Patrick: There are so many! I think it has to be Revolution.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Patrick: Now that I have a one-year-old, I am the biggest fan of Moana.

PC: Favorite book?
Patrick: The Harry Potter series.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Patrick: I’m not the biggest play guy but I liked Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Patrick: Tay Tay (Taylor Swift)

PC: Favorite social media platform?
Patrick: Instagram

PC: Last show binge-watch?
Patrick: GLOW and I’m half-way through Lost in Space.

PC: Hidden talent?
Patrick: I’m really good at random games like pool and bowling.

Make sure to follow Patrick on Twitter and Instagram, and catch Glow season two when it premieres on June 29th.

Photo Credit: Bjoern