The Scene Drift

In the crowded world of sports comedies, Running Point has found its rhythm by leaning into something messier and more human. It is not just about winning games. It is about family, ego, pressure, and the kind of chaos that comes with all three colliding at once.

With season two, the show grows into itself. The stakes are higher, the characters feel more defined, and the world around the Gordon family becomes sharper and more unpredictable. We sat down with creator Stassen to talk about the evolution of Running Point Season 2, from the addition of Ike Barinholtz to the energy behind the basketball episode, and why Isla Gordon continues to stand out as one of the most compelling underdogs in sports television.

The Missing Piece Of The Family

One of the biggest additions this season is Ike Barinholtz as Benny, a chaotic cousin who instantly feels like he has always been part of the Gordon family. What makes his dynamic with Scott McArthur’s Ness work so well is that it comes from something real.

“I’ve known Scott McArthur his entire life,” Gordon says. “Ike has known Scott for probably... I mean going on 40 years. So we have a real good dynamic and we knew when we put it on the page that they have this grifter, low class cousin from Vegas named Benny... we knew that the interplay with the Gordon family was going to be great”.

That familiarity translates on screen. Their scenes feel loose, fast, and unpredictable in a way that cannot be forced. Stassen describes the balance between writing and improvisation as an even split.

“I always love writing for him, especially on set. I love coming up with, you know, extra jokes because he is so good at taking it and running with it”. The result is a character who does not feel like a late addition, but someone who completes the dynamic in a way that feels natural.

Chaos On The Court

One of the standout moments in Running Point Season 2 is the basketball episode, which brings the entire cast together in a setting that feels as chaotic as it does controlled.

“It was two days of shooting basketball on our practice court,” Stassen explains. “Everyone was like... was friends... and they had a blast. It was two days of shooting... wrangling all these people who were just throwing shots in the air and, you know, having a blast”.

The energy works because the cast already had strong relationships off screen. Scott Speedman, who plays the rival hockey head, was already close with the group, which allowed the rivalry to feel authentic yet fun. At the same time, there was a clear structure behind it all.

“Our director Erica Oyama did an incredible job choreographing the basketball, planning out the shots, but also wrangling them,” he says. “It was a big episode and she handled it really well”.

Isla Gordon And The Weight Of Leadership

At the center of the series is Isla Gordon, played by Kate Hudson, who brings a steady presence to a world that is constantly shifting. In season two, Isla is no longer just finding her place; she is trying to hold onto it.

“She is always going to be the underdog, right, and underestimated by her brothers,” Stassen says. “Maybe less so as she grows... but she is still a woman in a man’s world. This is professional basketball, she is the one female owner”.

The pressure increases with her older brother back in the office, creating tension that follows her throughout the season. “Her position is not always secure,” he explains. What makes Isla stand out is not just the obstacles she faces, but how she handles them.

“She does not always have the answer, but what I like about the character is that she does maintain confidence while she is searching for the answer episode to episode. It is important to show an underdog character that does not always have to doubt themselves”.

Finding Its Own Identity

As Running Point continues to grow, comparisons to other sports series like Ted Lasso have naturally followed. When asked about the possibility of a crossover, Stassen laughs.

“That would be funny. No one’s suggested that. But the problem is they are competing streamers... so I do not know how that would work”. While the comparison is flattering, the show remains focused on its own identity. Instead of looking toward other sitcoms, it draws inspiration from real life figures in the basketball world.

“Luckily, I think we fall back more... our instincts are to think about what Jeanie Buss and Linda Rambis, who run the Lakers, what they go through as they are our producers and helped us come up with the show. So we always kind of think of them as our original inspiration”.

Running Point Season 2 streaming on Netflix April 23rd