Mindy Kaling, executive producer of Running Point Netflix series, helped launch a new comedy phenomenon earlier this year at the Lakers training facility, where Hollywood’s comedic talent celebrated the show‘s rapid rise. Since its debut in February, Running Point—featuring Kate Hudson and inspired by Lakers president Jeanie Buss’s life—has drawn an enthusiastic fanbase, prompting a swift renewal for season two and establishing its place within the competitive comedy landscape.
Mindy Kaling’s Role Behind the Scenes Elevates the Show
The creative strength behind Running Point features luminaries both in front of and behind the camera. Mindy Kaling, co-creator and executive producer, teamed up with Ike Barinholtz and David Stassen—both veterans from The Mindy Project—to bring this vision to life. Their collaborative effort has steered the show to its current heights, with each lending their comedic sensibilities and established camaraderie to the project. At a recent panel, Kaling highlighted the camaraderie that makes their partnership unique.
“When you’re on [set] and you’re there since 6 a.m. in hair and makeup, and you’re like, ‘I’m not sure about this material,’ just to know that they are really funny, feminists, and want you to shine, look beautiful, and kill, that’s exactly who you want for a show like this,”
—Mindy Kaling, Executive Producer.
She also described their off-screen bond, saying,
“That was like a no-brainer. Also the three of us, while we’re very different from each other, we love extremely heavy meals. We like going out to dinner and they’re two of my closest friends.”
—Mindy Kaling, Executive Producer.
Kate Hudson Steps into the Spotlight with Her First Major TV Role
The casting of Kate Hudson as Isla Gordon marked her first lead on television and set a new tone for her career. According to Barinholtz, Hudson embodies the essence of Southern California, channeling both humor and authenticity into her role. He observed,
“Her and Jeanie Buss share this quality where they just look like they emerge from the water in Santa Monica, and she’s incredibly funny but also has a ton of heart and is an amazing actress. At the end of the day, people just like her. People like me, but they love her.”
—Ike Barinholtz, Co-Creator.
Drew Tarver, who stars as Isla’s half-brother Sandy, expressed his admiration for Hudson’s comedic presence and versatility.
“I’ve been a fan of hers for so long. It was a real pleasure getting to watch her do TV. I was so excited in every scene I did with her. She’s so funny and she’s so right there with us at all times. … When she burps on FaceTime [in the series] and is like, ‘Excuse me,’ it’s one of my favorite moments of the show. She’s the best.”
—Drew Tarver, Actor.
Max Greenfield, recognized for his role as Schmitt on New Girl, plays Isla’s fiancé Lev. Navigating the challenge of sharing the screen with a film star, Greenfield reflected,
“I think I was really excited, and then I got to set the first day and she brings so much, and we were trying to make this relationship seem [real] and I was just like, ‘Oh man. I am hanging on for dear life.’”
—Max Greenfield, Actor.
Kaling’s Creative Leadership and Hudson’s Enthusiastic Embrace
Kate Hudson recalled her immediate attraction to the show and her admiration for Mindy Kaling.
“I was looking for something to do on television,”
—Kate Hudson, Actress. She continued,
“Honestly, I got sent this traditional offer, and I remember reading the email and it was like ‘offer’ and then it said in big caps ‘Mindy Kaling,’ and immediately I was like, ‘Ooh, yes.’ Then when I read the synopsis I knew immediately. I was like, ‘Oh, I’m going to do this show and I hope the script is good.’ All the energy immediately, the log line itself, I felt like I could do it. I’ve had history with Jeanie and felt honored they even wanted me to do it, and then I read the script and it was so funny, and so good, and so smart. I remember sitting with Mindy and I said to her, ‘Is this what we’re making or is this going to change?’ A lot of times in comedy I find that you read something and it’s so good, and then people get scared and they kind of water it down. Mindy was like, ‘This is what we’re making.’ And, you know, this is what we made, and it got better and better as the season went on. … I felt so safe and secure, and I know that sounds very female, but I did. I felt like I had so much support and the cast was so incredible. We had a ton of great actors who also write and so it was just constant ideas happening all the time.”
—Kate Hudson, Actress.
Hudson also shared admiration for Kaling’s dedication during the smallest and most significant moments of production.
“I have to say, I’ve fallen in love with this woman,”
—Kate Hudson, Actress. She added,
“She’s not only so brilliant but is so trusting, puts the best team together, and let me tell you something. She was pregnant. We had our first table read, she’s on Zoom, she then has the baby and is sending notes like an hour after she has the baby. We were like, ‘Isn’t Mindy literally in labor? I’m just curious.’ She is a powerhouse and delivers what she says she’s going to deliver. I’ve learned a lot from that.”
—Kate Hudson, Actress.
Brenda Song and Real-Life Inspiration for Isla’s Ally
Brenda Song steps into the role of Ali—Isla Gordon’s indispensable right-hand woman, taking inspiration from Linda Rambis, Jeanie Buss’s confidant. Kaling, during the panel, acknowledged Song’s passionate following and basketball devotion. Song herself recalled her reaction at being cast, declaring,
“As a lifelong Laker fan, when I sat down and chatted with Mindy, Ike and Dave, within the first five minutes I was like, ‘I will do anything. Do you need a PA? Do you need me to pull a cable? What do you need?’”
—Brenda Song, Actress.
Song also emphasized how much the role resonated with her both professionally and personally.
“I feel like I’ve worked my entire life for this moment and this project because I’m living my best life. We’re at the Lakers practice center! C’mon! This is insane. … I truly want to be like Linda when I grow up. We have a lot of things in common. She has two boys, I have two boys. Her son actually has this really funny photo of us from our first cast dinner. We were sitting next to each other, both talking to tall men with our black curls and leather jackets and our hands in the air. Her son literally calls me his TV mom because we are actually quite a lot alike.”
—Brenda Song, Actress.
Chet Hanks Channels His Persona for a Unique Role
Chet Hanks, son of Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, brings an eccentric energy to the role of Travis Bugg—a character with the hallmarks of Hanks’s own viral persona. He explained the approach he took:
“When I got the audition the character description was that he’s covered in tattoos, he’s a wannabe rapper and he’s just a huge liability because of the controversial things he posts on social media,”
—Chet Hanks, Actor. Getting laughs from the gathered audience, he went on,
“And honestly? I said to myself, ‘Well I don’t know how I’m going to pull this off ‘cause me and this character are nothing alike. I’m really going to have to get my Daniel Day-Lewis on and get really Method with this.’ I’ve been wanting to say this for a long time: my life has just been a series of performance art. All that stuff you guys saw was just me preparing for this role.”
—Chet Hanks, Actor.
The Path Ahead: Season Two Anticipation and Creative Aspirations
With the season two renewal now public and table reads reportedly happening, both cast and creative team are looking to push boundaries and keep audiences engaged. Ike Barinholtz offered a tongue-in-cheek glimpse of where he would like to see the series go, saying,
“I’m trying to get in more adult scenes on the show of a sexual nature,”
—Ike Barinholtz, Co-Creator. He joked,
“All of them do it, family be damned.”
—Ike Barinholtz, Co-Creator.
Impact on Awards and Hollywood’s Comedy Scene
The overwhelming support from fans, a cast packed with comedic talent, and Mindy Kaling’s unwavering leadership have set Running Point apart in a crowded streaming landscape. As buzz builds around possible Emmy recognition and with the Netflix comedy already securing its next chapter, the ensemble’s excitement and camaraderie suggest that Running Point is poised to become a mainstay. Mindy Kaling’s experiment—delivering a show both sharply funny and emotionally rich—proves fruitful, and the blend of real-life inspiration from figures like Jeanie Buss and Linda Rambis ensures its ongoing relevance and appeal within both the entertainment industry and broader viewers. With more stories yet to be told, anticipation for the next season is already high, signaling a bright future for both show and creative team.
