When the worlds of sports and comedy intertwine, the results can sometimes be less than favorable. For every gem like The Longest Yard and Major League, there’s BASEketball and The Benchwarmers. Running Point, a new comedy series on Netflix created by Mindy Kaling and starring Kate Hudson, is quite literally a slam dunk as it tackles the world of professional basketball. Fans of the show might not realize that the comedy is based on the story of Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss. In Running Point, Kate Hudson portrays Isla Gordon, an unlikely force of nature in professional sports who becomes the head of the Los Angeles Waves.
The Real Inspiration Behind ‘Running Point’
Kate Hudson’s portrayal of Isla Gordon in Running Point as a force of nature in the typically male-dominated world of professional sports is based on the real-life saga of Jeannie Buss. To say that Buss is a powerhouse in professional basketball would certainly be an understatement and one that underplays her accolades and achievements over the past several years.
Jeanie Buss was thrust into an unforeseeable situation in 2013 following the passing of her father, Jerry Buss, owner of the Los Angeles Lakers. Now the controlling owner, Buss was candid about the pressure she found herself under when she spoke to Netflix: “Not only am I trying to do well by myself, I’m carrying the hopes and dreams of all women in professional sports or the entertainment business. It’s hard enough to be successful, but with that kind of weight placed on you, it’s a scary task.” Jeannie Buss’s hard work and determination have certainly paid off; in 2020, she became the first female controlling owner in the NBA to lead her team to a championship.
Buss has been complimentary of Hudson’s portrayal of Isla Gordon and Mindy Kaling’s efforts in bringing a facsimile of her persona to life on the screen. “What I really liked was she (Kaling) understood what it was like to be in this position.” Buss recently told Netflix in a recent interview. She stated: “I could spend hours trying to explain what she can say in one scene with a couple lines of dialogue. It’s brilliant.“
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The Talent Behind ‘Running Point’
Running Point is a 10-episode series that combines the world of sports and comedy. Created by Mindy Kaling, Running Point follows Isla Gordon (Kate Hudson) as she takes over a leadership position with The Los Angeles Waves, a basketball team she’s tasked with breathing new life into.
There’s some real veteran work behind the scenes of Running Point, as Mindy Kaling is reunited with writers Ike Barinholtz and David Stassen. The trio had previously worked together on The Mindy Project. Kaling has been vocal about her passion for the Running Point, recently telling Netflix: “I really love writing shows about ambitious women, whether they’re a 15-year-old girl in the valley or the president of a basketball team.” Kaling went on to mention that Isla Gordon is a “strong woman navigating a high-pressure environment.”
While professional sports are the crux of the narrative that Running Point thrives on, it’s not the primary focus. Joining Hudson are cast members Brenda Song, Drew Tarver, Scott MacArthur, Toby Sandeman, and Max Greenfield. Running Point shifts its focus between the boardroom of the Waves with its multitude of personalities and the diverse group of athletes tasked with winning games. Like any professional organization, several parts need to work in unison to achieve an intended result; Running Point runs the gamut of all of them with empowerment and comedic timing.
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Where Can I Watch Running Point?
Running Point, the new comedy series created by Mindy Kaling and starring Kate Hudson, is currently streaming on Netflix.
