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The Dink tops Apple TV viewership, sparks pickleball backlash

7/25/2026

30 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

The Dink Dominates

The Dink premiered on Apple TV on July 24, 2026 and topped viewership in the United States, the Bahamas and Canada.
Jake Johnson plays Dusty Boyd while Mary Steenburgen, Ed Harris and Ben Stiller co-star, with Stiller also co-producing.
Writer Sean Clements removed profanity to secure a PG-13 rating while preserving the pickleball conflict.
Rotten Tomatoes lists a Certified Fresh 73% Tomatometer score.

Summary

Greenbaum Pushes Slap

Director Josh Greenbaum told Jake Johnson to increase the slap’s force on the second take, saying, “You hate hitting him, right?”
Johnson said the stronger take “stung” and he quit the scene after that take.
Anna Leigh Waters, the 19-year-old leader of the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) rankings, voiced concerns the comedy could mock the sport she loves.

History

Historical Context

The Professional Pickleball Association, launched in 2018, built on decades of organized play dating to USA Pickleball’s 1984 rulebook and the International Federation of Pickleball’s 2010 formation. By 2022 the PPA logged 4,500 players and a 350% jump in televised matches, prompting the 2026 Apple TV+ series “The Dink” and new streaming-rights negotiations.

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The Dink Dominates

The Dink premiered on Apple TV on July 24, 2026 and topped viewership in the United States, the Bahamas and Canada.
Jake Johnson plays Dusty Boyd while Mary Steenburgen, Ed Harris and Ben Stiller co-star, with Stiller also co-producing.
Writer Sean Clements removed profanity to secure a PG-13 rating while preserving the pickleball conflict.
Rotten Tomatoes lists a Certified Fresh 73% Tomatometer score.

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