If you’re wondering how a group of actors this funny was able to get through a scene of Running Point Season 2 without making each other giggle, it’s a good question: “Every day, we’re like, who’s going to make someone break first? Who’s going to land the joke best and make everybody laugh the hardest?” says star Kate Hudson on Skip Intro with Krista Smith. “We enjoy the work so much that it then translates onto the screen.”
Running Point — written and executive produced by Mindy Kaling, Ike Barinholtz, and David Stassen — boasts a deep bench of comedians and actors. The series follows the LA Waves, a fictional basketball franchise run by the Gordon family. When team president Cam (Justin Theroux) unexpectedly goes to rehab in Season 1, he shocks everyone by naming his sister Isla (Hudson) as his replacement over his brothers Ness (Scott MacArthur), the team’s general manager, or Sandy (Drew Tarver), chief financial officer. An avid yet underestimated basketball fan, Isla defies the male-dominated basketball world’s expectations and takes the underdog team to the playoffs with some help from Ali (Brenda Song), her best friend and the LA Waves chief of staff.
Season 2 introduces new beefs, heightened chaos, and, somehow, even more laughs. When Cam surprises everyone by returning home early from rehab, he swears he’s not trying to reclaim his old title. But slowly, it becomes clear that Cam is one of several trying to block Isla’s shot.
“I love the sibling dynamic in this. Family is everything to me,” says Hudson. “It’s a comedy about a dysfunctional family, but at the core of it, they can’t live without each other.”
From physical humor to spot-on cultural references, razor-sharp wit, and perfectly timed barbs, it’s impossible to make it through Running Point Season 2 with a straight face thanks to this cast, featuring a slew of starry jokesters who fit seamlessly into the production. “Mindy, Ike, and David really thought about people who would like each other,” says Hudson. “Who can hang? There’s not going to be any ego. They put the greatest group of people together, and we have an absolute blast.”
Catch up with the chaotic Gordon family and Season 1 cast, and meet all the surprising cameos in Season 2 of Running Point, now streaming.
In Season 1, Isla unexpectedly took up the mantle of LA Waves president mid-season and led the team to the playoffs only to suffer a brutal loss in Game 7.
This year, the stakes have never been higher as Isla straddles the demands of her franchise and family. With chaotic brother Cam (Theroux) back early from rehab, Isla isn’t sure who she can trust, and who wants to see her fail.
The character of Isla is loosely based on Jeanie Buss, the president and owner of the LA Lakers, whom Hudson has known for years. “She has big sister energy,” says Hudson.
Almost Famous, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Bride Wars
Sandy has his hands full in Season 2 with organizing the Oscars pool, planning book club (they’re sobbing through The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo), and juggling some unexpected challenges in his love life — including an accidental shot of his bare butt on a Bravo reality show.
“I love Drew’s storyline this year,” says Hudson. “There’s something about Drew, he’s a really wonderful, dramatic actor. His physical comedy is so good. But there’s also a weight and a beauty to his ability.”
The Other Two, The American Society for Magical Negroes
Ness steps up as the LA Waves general manager this season, trying to stop his siblings from using his name as a derogatory verb (as in, “Ness it up”). He’s another Gordon sibling with something to prove to the rest of his family.
Just as he loses one word from his vocabulary, he adds another — “kiki” — which he dispenses liberally, much to Sandy’s horror.
The Righteous Gemstones, No Hard Feelings
With the help of a fat check, Cam cuts his time in rehab short to get back in the game. The eldest Gordon claims he doesn’t want to take his job as LA Waves president back from his sister, but old habits die hard and his chaos might not be too far behind him.
“Justin is so profoundly funny and he’s so perfect for this part,” says Hudson. “He just needs to walk into a room and we will break [character].”
Mulholland Drive, Your Highness
The newest member of the Gordon family, just-discovered littlest brother Cam asks some unconventional favors from Jackie in the name of brotherly bonding. Jackie balances the demands of his LA Waves City Dancer girlfriend, Sofia (Marissa Reyes), with his one-tracked-minded siblings.
Family, World War Z
The LA Waves — especially Isla — would be lost without their chief of staff, Ali. But sometimes Ali gets (very) taken for granted in the Gordon sibling shuffle. With the help of Miley Cyrus’s empowering anthem “Flowers,” Ali learns to stand up for herself — even if that means standing up to her longtime best friend.
“On a day-to-day basis, it’s me, Brenda, and a bunch of boys. Thank God it’s Brenda because she is just the greatest, funniest, most down, talented woman, and she’s become a really good friend,” says Hudson. “There are certain people you meet and you’re like, ‘Oh, I’m gonna know that person forever.’ ”
The Last Showgirl, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
It takes team superstar Marcus a second to adjust to a new coach in Norm (Ray Romano), who doesn’t seem to care that his all-star player feels underappreciated and that his seniority is not respected. “Marcus doesn’t run sprints,” as Ness puts it. It takes some wooing from the team’s new leader to win over the star player.
The Royals, The Game
Thanks to his newfound sobriety and app-based brain games, point guard Travis’s head has never been clearer. He even finds himself a girlfriend, Brielle (Stella Everett), who matches his freak — and then some. Just as he did in Season 1, Hanks delivers some of the new installment’s most hilarious lines.
Larry Crowne, Project X, Fantastic Four
Last season Dyson was the team’s underdog, but now, he’s stepping into his power as a key member of the starting five. His new swagger gets the best of him, and he gets into some trouble when he makes a play for Travis’s girlfriend, actor Zoé Debay (Aliyah Turner).
Rise
The LA Waves are without a coach in the Season 1 finale. When Isla remembers that former coach Jay (Jay Ellis) cites Norm Stinson as his mentor, she sets out to hire Norm, who worked for the LA Waves years ago, back to the team. But Norm has some baggage and a slight learning curve to hurdle before he can lead the team in the way he once did.
Everybody Loves Raymond, The Irishman, The Big Sick
Sofia is an LA Waves City Dancer who dates Jackie. When her troupe gets fed up with the team’s mistreatment — the janky locker room, low pay, and remote parking lot are just some of their complaints — Sofia leads her team on strike, which they announce via a TikTok video that goes viral and attracts high-profile attention.
Days of Our Lives, Raven’s Home
Jay and Isla have known each other since he was a player on the LA Waves, and share a steamy kiss in the Season 1 finale. When he returns to town unexpectedly, their sexual tension is hard to ignore, and they have to figure out what their charged moment meant to both of them.
Insecure, Top Gun: Maverick
Lev takes Isla back after their relationship fares some ups and downs of Season 1.
New Girl, The Big Short, Promising Young Woman
