Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lots of language, drugs in "Ted Lasso"-ish sports comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Running Point
What's the Story?
RUNNING POINT introduces the Gordon family: three brothers (Justin Theroux, Drew Tarver, Scott MacArthur) and a sister (Kate Hudson) who've inherited the Los Angeles Waves basketball team from their father. When current president and oldest brother Cam (Theroux) takes a forced hiatus, he appoints his sister, Isla, to take over. Soon, Isla discovers she's managing not only the team, but also her turbulent extended family.
Is It Any Good?
Just like building a sports team, this show has found a winning formula by taking parts from other successful series and assembling them to work together. Running Point feels awfully familiar, maybe because it's a slightly more cynical (aka American) version of Ted Lasso, or maybe because it's another comedy-drama loosely based on the L.A. Lakers. Yet Running Point wins on its own terms: Kate Hudson is at the center of a deep supporting cast who excel in their roles, and there's no better place for formulaic writing than a sports story. If it's easy to root for Hudson's Isla Gordon, that's because the creative team has put her in the best possible position to succeed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about basketball. How does Running Point give viewers a window into the business side of basketball? What new insight does it give to the game?
What is Isla Gordon's management style? What's the difference between her successful and unsuccessful choices? How do her decisions affect the rest of the characters?
Which characters demonstrate courage? When do communication skills pay off in the show? Why are these important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : February 27, 2025
- Cast : Kate Hudson , Justin Theroux , Max Greenfield
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate