From the streaming platform that brought us Big Mouth and BoJack Horseman comes Peak TV's latest adult animated comedy, Hoops. Created by Late Late Show with James Corden writer Ben Hoffman, the series follows a hot-headed high school basketball coach who's convinced that turning his terrible team around will help him snag a ticket to the “big leagues.” With Lego Movie directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller on board as executive producers, it should come as no surprise that the show features the voices of some heavy hitters from the world of comedy.
Here's a look at Hoops' most recognizable voice actors and where you know them from:
Jake Johnson made a name for himself playing lovable slob Nick Miller on FOX’s New Girl for seven seasons, but he's also carved out an impressive screen career for himself, with supporting roles in a handful of big-budget films, including 21 Jump Street, Jurassic World, The Mummy, Tag, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. In Hoops, he voices Coach Ben Hopkins, the show’s central, foul-mouthed high school basketball coach. He also currently stars alongside Cobie Smulders in the ABC drama Stumptown.
Funches is no stranger to TV. The popular stand-up comic gained early attention for a number of guest spots on shows like Mulaney, Kroll Show, Adventure Time, Another Period, and Drunk History. He went on to appear as Shelly on the NBC sitcom Undateable, and as Ron on the short-lived, live-action DC comics series Powerless. Funches is also the voice of King Shark on the DC Universe animated series Harley Quinn, and voices the character of Cooper in the Trolls franchise.
A celebrated stand-up comedian, Natasha Leggero has enjoyed a successful and varied TV career over the past decade. Viewers may remember her for her contributions to several Comedy Central roasts, her memorable panel appearances on shows like Chelsea Lately and @midnight, or perhaps most notably, for her work as one of the stars and co-creators of the acclaimed Comedy Central series Another Period. She also starred as Elizabeth on the recent CBS comedy Broke, and had recurring roles on Dice, Brickleberry, Are You There, Chelsea?, Ugly Americans, and Burning Love.
A veteran character actress, Cleo King has been turning in memorable film and TV performances since the '90s. TV viewers may remember her for her recurring role as Rosetta "Nana" McMillan on CBS’ Mike and Molly, or for her turn as Aunt Lou Marchbanks on HBO’s Deadwood, a role she reprised in last year’s Deadwood movie. King’s other TV credits include her work as Eleanora Pope on Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, Helene Parks on Boston Public, and a guest arc on the most recent season of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy.
From 2014-2017, A.D. Miles served as the head writer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, which followed his work as head writer on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Viewers may recognize him as the step-dad on Fallon’s longrunning Ew! Sketch series, or for his performance as Gary in the 2001 cult comedy Wet Hot American Summer, a role he reprised over a decade later in both Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp and Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later.
Rob Riggle’s career took off in the mid-2000s, first with his brief time as a Saturday Night Live! cast member in 2004 and 2005, followed by his tenure as a correspondent on The Daily Show from 2006 to 2008. Since then, Riggle has worked steadily, amassing one of the most wide-ranging screen careers of any actor or comedian working today. He’s turned in scene-stealing performances in films like Step Brothers, The Other Guys, 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street, 12 Strong, and Night School, and has had notable TV guest roles on Modern Family, Angie Tribeca, The League, and New Girl. He is also co-host on ABC’s hit mini-golf series Holey Moley.
Hoops premieres Friday, August 21st on Netflix.
Alex Welch has written about television and film for TV by the Numbers, IGN, The Berrics, Paste Magazine, Screen Rant and GeekNation. Follow him on Twitter @alexrwelch.