Deals Over Dinks: Why Pickleball Is the New Golf for Hollywood Elites

Hollywood’s brightest stars and power players are swapping their suits for sweatbands, and the Entertainment Pickleball League (EPL) is their new stage. On November 16, the Calabasas Pickleball Club played host to the league’s championship, where agents and execs battled it out with paddles in hand. Gersh Agency’s “Let’s F*cking Gersh” triumphed over Netflix’s “Netflix and Dill,” cementing their place as league champions. The EPL, founded just this past September, has rapidly grown from four to eight teams, and plans are underway to expand to 16 by January. With team names like Disney’s “Monster Dinks” and NBCUniversal’s “Dis-Pickleball Me,” the league blends competition with a playful edge, making it the hottest new draw in Tinseltown.

The EPL has not only brought a competitive spirit but also fostered camaraderie among entertainment rivals. Created by TV producer Zee Batal and showrunner Erica Hanson, the league provides a unique space for rivals to connect on and off the court. “It’s fantastic to see this sense of community,” Hanson shared, noting how the league is redefining networking in Hollywood. Gone are the stiff negotiations of golf courses or tennis matches; pickleball’s social and dynamic gameplay is the perfect backdrop for friendly competition. Batal likened the sport’s accessibility to MMA fighting versus tennis’s boxing-like intensity, emphasizing its appeal as Hollywood’s latest social glue.

As the EPL grows, it’s clear that pickleball is more than just a pastime; it’s becoming the entertainment industry’s new arena for networking and deal-making. With plans to include teams from Amazon, Roku, and Sony, the league is shaping up to be a who’s-who of showbiz. For now, congratulations are in order for the Gersh Agency’s victorious squad. But with Netflix and other titans of entertainment hungry for redemption, next season promises even louder “twocking” sounds echoing across Calabasas. Hollywood, meet your newest obsession.