Hoops

Jake Johnson’s Raunchy Animated Comedy Hoops Dribbles Into Controversy and Laughs

Netflix’s Hoops (2020) arrived with little fanfare but plenty of attitude, delivering a crude, fast-paced animated comedy about a hapless high school basketball coach. Starring Jake Johnson (New Girl) as the foul-mouthed, self-sabotaging Coach Ben Hopkins, the series leaned hard into vulgarity, awkward humor, and a cast of voice actors who seemed to relish pushing boundaries. latestnetflix.com's take is that Behind the scenes, the show’s chaotic energy and unfiltered tone sparked both praise and eye rolls—though details about its creation remain frustratingly scarce.

A Cast That Embraced the Chaos

The ensemble behind Hoops reads like a who’s-who of comedy veterans and rising stars, many of whom have histories with raunchy, improvisational humor. Johnson, known for his deadpan delivery on New Girl, took center stage as the perpetually frustrated Coach Ben, a character who oscillated between delusional confidence and self-loathing. Rob Riggle (The Daily Show), Natasha Leggero (Another Period), and Ron Funches (Tuca & Bertie) rounded out the cast, each bringing their signature comedic styles to the table.

In a promotional panel, Johnson and Riggle joked about the show’s reliance on "vulgarity on top of vulgarity," with Johnson admitting the humor was intentionally over-the-top . The cast’s chemistry was a selling point, with behind-the-scenes clips showing them riffing on the show’s mean-spirited insults and absurd scenarios . Funches, in particular, seemed to relish the opportunity to voice a character far removed from his usual wholesome roles, while Leggero’s sharp wit fit perfectly with the show’s biting tone .

A Show That Divided Critics and Fans

Hoops didn’t just push boundaries—it bulldozed them. Reviews were mixed, with some praising its fearless humor and others dismissing it as shock value without substance. A Netflix review video described the series as "a messy, often hilarious experiment in cringe comedy," noting that its reliance on offensive jokes might not land with everyone . The show’s premise—a washed-up coach navigating the absurdities of high school basketball—served as a thin veneer for a barrage of insults, awkward situations, and surreal humor.

Johnson himself acknowledged the show’s divisive nature, telling The Rich Eisen Show that Hoops was "not for everyone" and that its humor was designed to be polarizing . The series’ trailer, released as part of Netflix’s "Is A Joke" campaign, leaned into this, showcasing rapid-fire insults and over-the-top scenarios . Whether this approach paid off remains unclear—Netflix has never released viewership numbers, and the show’s cultural footprint appears limited compared to other adult animated series like Big Mouth or Rick and Morty.

Behind-the-Scenes: What We Know (and Don’t Know)

Despite the cast’s enthusiasm, details about Hoops’ production are sparse. The show’s creator and director remain uncredited in available sources, and there’s no evidence of behind-the-scenes drama or major creative conflicts. What is clear is that the cast embraced the show’s chaotic energy. In a Comic-Con panel, Johnson and the team shared some of the "funniest and meanest insults" from the series, hinting at a collaborative, improvisational process . Riggle, known for his physical comedy, seemed particularly invested in the project, appearing in multiple promotional interviews alongside Johnson .

One unverified rumor—likely a case of mistaken identity—suggests Hoops was inspired by a social media personality of the same name . However, this appears to be a red herring; the show’s premise and tone bear no resemblance to the airport-beer-posting account mentioned in the snippet. Beyond that, there’s little to suggest any real-world inspiration for the series.

The Verdict: A Short-Lived Experiment?

Hoops premiered on August 21, 2020, with no second season announced. Whether this was due to lukewarm reception, low viewership, or simply Netflix’s notoriously fickle algorithm remains unclear. The show’s legacy, if it has one, is as a footnote in the careers of its talented cast—a brief, unfiltered experiment in adult animation that either delighted or repelled, depending on the viewer.

For fans of crude, fast-paced humor, Hoops delivered exactly what it promised: a barrage of insults, awkward moments, and a protagonist who was as unlikable as he was hilarious. For everyone else, it was easy to see why the show never quite found its footing. Either way, it’s a curious blip in Netflix’s animated comedy lineup—one that’s worth revisiting, if only for the sheer audacity of its jokes.