Mancrush Monday: 'Pitch's' Mark-Paul Gosselaar

​My mancrush this Monday is television’s best-kept secret on one of this season's best new shows, Pitch (seriously, watch this show!): Mark-Paul Gosselaar.  You may or may not be aware that Zack Morris has returned to television.  Thanks to his character’s beard that's authentic as it is epic, Gosselaar is nearly unrecognizable as veteran baseball player Mike Lawson. 
 
In addition to his new facial hair, MPG shows off some serious talent both on the field and in front of the camera.  

After rising to teen stardom in the early ‘90s by starring as the studly slacker, Zack Morris in the now iconic Saved By The Bell, Gosselaar bounced around television from starring roles to guest-stints on shows including NYPD Blue, Happy Endings, Franklin & Bash, and most recently, NBC’s blink-and-you-missed it sitcom, People Are Talking.  Thankfully, Gosselaar has fielded a new role on Pitch, and it's one of the best roles of his career.

Mike Lawson is a seasoned and cynical catcher who takes Ginny Baker (played by the fabulous Kylie Bunbury), the first female MLB player, under his wing when she’s called up to pitch for the Padres.  Ginny and Mike’s relationship involves taking turns swooning for one another while navigating the massive spotlight cast on their team. 
 
Pitch’s second episode delved into the psyche of Mike Lawson.  As his body is breaking down, he’s searching for life and love beyond baseball and hook-ups.  And like any sports movie or show, he delivers rousing speeches to motivate his struggling team and to attempt reclaim the love of his life with varied and heartbreaking results. 
 
Lawson may be a diva on the field, but beneath the flash and scruff is a lonely man with a heart of gold.  When paired with Bunbury’s beautiful beast-mode Baker, their chemistry crackles.   And for Gosselaar, his work on Pitch, which can skillfully veer from badass to slightly tragic is a grand slam. Zack Morris would be so proud!

Check out Mike counseling the team in this week's episode of Pitch on Thursday at 9/8c on Fox.