Big Shot
Parents say
Based on 5 reviews
Kids say
Based on 13 reviews
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Big Shot
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Big Shot is a drama about a college basketball coach who ends up being "demoted" to coaching high school basketball in a private, girls-only facility after he throws a temper tantrum during a game that injures a referee. The levels of mature content are suitable for tweens and up. Language is infrequent; the odd "ass" or "hell" is as salty as it gets. Sexual content is restricted to talk and visuals about romance and dating. Expect kissing and romantic complications, and several teen characters say that their fifty-something coach is "cute." Violence is mostly of the sports variety -- i.e. players knocking each other to the ground during a game. In another scene, a character throws a chair that hits a sports official. Adults are present and caring; teachers are attuned to mentoring their young charges and helping them succeed in life. Characters grow emotionally over the course of the series, with messages of perseverance and teamwork front and center.
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What's the Story?
Decades of single-minded focus on coaching basketball brought BIG SHOT's Marvyn Korn (John Stamos) success -- and failure, as his marriage fell apart and the strains of his career led to an incident in which he injured a ref. Now he's been busted down to the minor leagues, the really minor leagues: high school basketball, with a new job coaching at an elite private school and a new set of pressures. These include Principal Thomas (Yvette Nicole Brown), who's not so sure he's right for the job, wealthy donor Lucas Gruzinsky (Dale Whibley), whose cash brought Marvyn to the all-girls school. Gruzinsky hopes Marvyn's the man who will usher his talented daughter Louise (Nell Verlaque) to a college basketball career; Marvyn's not even sure if he has it in him. But maybe he can help his new team win a few games while he's figuring it out. The series is co-created by David E. Kelley (Big Little Lies, Ally McBeal) and Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond).
Is It Any Good?
Lovely writing and powerful acting transforms a high-concept series that could be a walloping load of tropey sports cheese into a heartwarming triumph. Not that there aren't sports tropes: get ready for training montages, sudden reversals, game that hinge on one...last...shot as the camera lingers on a basketball circling the net in slo-mo. Well, okay, what would a sports show be without the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat? Big Shot ultimately scores because you care about who wins and loses. John Stamos is alluring and sympathetic as Marvyn, a guy who's down on his luck but hasn't lost his gift. Crusty cinematic coaches are a dime a dozen, but Stamos actually gives his pre- and post-game pep talks meaning; in one spine-tingling example in Big Shot's pilot, he gives his players a hard truth: "Life is cruel, and difficult, and you don't have a fighting chance. Unless you fight."
It's a bit of wisdom that will ring true with viewers, and Big Shot is shot through with insights like that; David E. Kelley isn't a revered TV showrunner because he's bad at drama that connects. In another powerful moment, Marvyn's assistant coach Holly (Jessalyn Gilsig) points out that behind the "arrogant, cocky" facade of star player Louise she's actually pretty fragile: "as the arrogant and cocky tend to be." Will Marvyn and Louise learn how to turn their power battle into fireworks on the court? Will Marvyn's trial by fire forge a better, kinder man? This is inspirational sports TV, we all know where this is headed, but Big Shot will give you a good time while getting there, we count that as a win.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what success means, in real life and on Big Shot. Is Marvyn a successful person? Why or why not? Is he successful in some ways and not in others? What drives his success? How do parents and other adult role models help kids learn what success means? What defines success in your community?
Shows about sports teams are usually dramas. Why? What is it about sports that lends itself to drama? Where's the dramatic potential? Why aren't shows about sports teams comedies? Musicals? Horror?
How do the characters on Big Shot demonstrate perseverance and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date: April 16, 2021
- Cast: John Stamos, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jessalyn Gilsig
- Network: Disney+
- Genre: Drama
- Character Strengths: Perseverance, Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
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