Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon recently reunited to reflect on their beloved film Fever Pitch and its surprising original ending. In a sneak peek of the Oct. 10 episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, the pair shared anecdotes from their time on set and how the Boston Red Sox’s historic 2004 season influenced the film’s conclusion.
In Fever Pitch, Fallon portrays Ben Wrightman, a die-hard Red Sox fan, while Barrymore plays Lindsey Meeks, who falls in love with him. The rom-com climaxes with the Red Sox completing a dramatic comeback from a 3-0 deficit against the New York Yankees in the ALCS, ultimately sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. However, Barrymore revealed that the film was originally intended to end with the characters aging into the future, dressed as elderly people, to witness the Red Sox’s long-awaited victory.
“As we’re filming, this is baseball history,” Fallon noted. “They make it into the wild card, then they make it into the playoffs. It’s the most magical year.” Barrymore elaborated, recalling how they had cameras rolling at every game during the Red Sox’s playoff run. She shared, “Fox Sports said, ‘We’ll let you use our cameras. You cannot bring movie cameras to the finale.’” During this time, Barrymore was also romantically linked to Fabrizio Moretti, and they were caught on camera sharing a kiss during the game’s finale.
Despite their plans to use the footage for the film, the broadcast network panicked and aired their kiss on live television after the team’s victory. “I still have the sand from the mound,” Barrymore revealed, while Fallon proudly noted that his well-worn baseball hat, now filthy and salt-stained, is preserved in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In addition to their cinematic discussion, the friends also reminisced about Fallon’s recent milestone birthday. He opted for a low-key celebration with family rather than a large gathering. His wife, Nancy Juvonen, surprised him with a nostalgic breakfast reminiscent of his childhood, featuring pancakes with fried eggs styled as eyes.
Fallon also shared a touching story about a family gift that echoed his past. “Two years ago, my friend called Nancy and said, ‘If you want a good gift for Jimmy, I think I saw his dad’s jukebox at an electronics store.’” After restoring the jukebox, Fallon discovered his father’s handwriting on the 45s, including the song “Oh Babe What Would You Say” by Hurricane Smith—an important track used in Fever Pitch and a favorite at his wedding to Juvonen.
Catch the full episode of The Drew Barrymore Show airing Thursday, Oct. 10, to see more of their delightful conversation.
Related topics: