Disney+ Scores With Basketball-Based Series “Big Shot”
No basketball addiction, no problem—the new Disney+ series Big Shot is more than just a sports display. The show follows Marvyn Korn (John Stamos), a basketball coach with a temper who gets booted from college-level coaching down to a private high school. Along the way, the coach and father learns that the game isn’t just about winning—it’s about connecting with the sport, as well as the players involved. Marvyn develops a close relationship with each team member, including Samantha (Cricket Wampler), who is often the target of bullying from the opposing team at Carlsbad. Below, Wampler takes readers to the court and explains why the series is a slam dunk.
How did you first become involved with Big Shot?
I first auditioned for the show in early August 2019. After a few callbacks for different roles and basketball testing, I booked the role of Samantha in late September 2019. We then began basketball training before beginning to film in November 2019.
How are you and your character similar? How are you different?
Samantha can talk a big game but is more scared of certain things (or people) than she'd like to admit. We have that in common. But I’m more direct and likely to speak my mind than Samantha. Since booking the role, I’ve been told by our showrunner/producer that they based Samantha a lot on how I was in real life. That shocked me. It also seems like we’re both big foodies and sometimes sweat the small stuff!
What was it like working with John Stamos? What did you learn from him?
Working with John could not have been more fun. One of the main things I learned from him was what being a great leader looks like. He truly made it feel like we were all on the same team. He always wanted us to have a good time and usually made us laugh. He called me “Potato Chip” in a scene instead of Samantha and ate pretzels out of his suit pocket in between takes. There was never a dull moment.
What was your favorite episode to film and why?
My favorite episode to film was probably Episode 8, “Kalm Korn.” It was a fun episode for Samantha. Not only did she get to drop into a split mid-basketball play, but she admits to being behind the Kalm Korn Instagram page. That was super funny to blurt out. Our amazing basketball coordinator Keyla Snowden also appeared in the episode, and we had scenes with her. It was super fun having her in front of the camera with us.
Which couple do you ship most on the show?
My favorite couple is Olive and Jake! I think their chemistry is adorable, and I love how Jake would do anything to prove he has pure intentions with Olive.
Any memorable behind-the-scenes moments you can share?
Besides John calling me “Potato Chip” (a personal favorite), I can't help but think back to the day we were filming some basketball practice scenes. There were supposed to be three rehearsed plays, but the director forgot to yell “cut” after we finished the last play. We ended up playing full-on, five-on-five basketball against our amazing basketball team. They all played at the collegiate level or overseas. We got toasted, and the camera just kept rolling for over seven minutes of play.
If Big Shot is granted a Season 2, what do you hope will happen for your character?
I’d love for Samantha to grow stronger in her friendships and show a deeper side to her. And let's just say if she gains a love interest, I wouldn't be mad about it!
What would you tell people who are hesitant to watch the show because they don’t watch basketball?
There’s so much more to our show than basketball! When I think about Big Shot, I think of amazing relationships, team spirit, drama and a lot of strong women.
What is the main message behind the series?
You’ll watch us all make mistakes. Big Shot is a lot about learning from your past and always fighting for a second chance. It's also pretty amazing to see what a bunch of female characters (and George) teach Coach Korn throughout the season.
This or That:
Westbrook or Carlsbad? Westbrook. Go Sirens!
Coach Korn or Coach Barrett? That's a toss-up! We learn so much from both of them.
High-school or college basketball? College. It’s my favorite sport to watch.
Practice or game day? Practice. I love putting in the work.
Point guard or shooting guard? Point guard.
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