We sat down with Richard Robichaux, who plays George Pappas in the new Disney+ Show “Big Shot.”
Dribble it, pass it, we want a basket – is exactly what we scream to the television when watching the recently released dramedy series “Big Shot” on Disney +. The show staring Full House legend, John Stamos premiered Friday, April 16 on the streaming platform (with new episodes out weekly.)
The sports-centric show produced by award-winning, David Kelley follows Marvyn Korn (Stamos), who became expelled from the NCAA. Korn who was previously a men’s basketball coach is given a second chance for redemption with a coaching position at an elite all-girls private high school.
However, at the beginning of the series, Korn comes to the realization that his team full of teenagers requires a role model to lean on. They crave empathy and vulnerability, which is a foreign concept to the hot-headed coach. While watching the heartwarming, yet hysterical series – you will witness coach Korn grow as an individual and become the man he always wanted to be. As result, the girls learn to take themselves more seriously, how to be a quality teammate, and discover who they are off the court as well.
“Like any David Kelley show – it’s got drama and comedy, and I think that there’s something very sweet and needed right now in the idea of a second chance,” says Richard Robichaux who plays the school’s counselor in an exclusive Celeb Secrets interview. “I think we all could use a second chance, I think we are all making mistakes in all kinds of different places. In our culture, in politics, in our relationships, and family. Here’s a story about second chances, where Marvyn Korn needs a second chance, not just as a coach, but as a father. The young women who are basketball players in this – they just lost their coach and they need a second chance for somebody to really root for them. So in classic Disney fashion, I think it’s a second chance story,” he adds.
With that being said, Robichaux opened up to Celeb Secrets about his experience on the show, the character George Pappas, and what it was like to work alongside Stamos.
“George is the school counselor, which has been really good because I’ve been able to say ‘I’m not a therapist, but I play one on TV,’” says the Disney+ star. “Now, John Stamos plays Maryvn Korn who has some anger issues. So, before I agree to let him coach our students, he has to do some anger management counseling with me. So, I don’t know…you will have to see, but I may not be a great therapist.”
Due to their one-on-one sessions, Stamos and Robichaux have developed a strong relationship on and offset. While working together, Robichaux said that the icon would share acting tips and provide valuable advice to his fellow castmates.
“He’s so funny and so generous. He has a big theater background and he’s a great Broadway performer and musician. So when I told him that I taught theater, we had so much to talk about and we just built a great comradely,” says Richard about his teaching career at the University of California San Diego.
When we asked if he has received feedback or guidance from Stamos while working so closely, he admitted that he has learned helpful tips and tricks that he couldn’t resistant not to bring back to his real-life students. “It’s actually something that I shared with my students… on set we were sort of having trouble with specific blocking. I said, ‘oh, well if I move here is that easier?’ and he said ‘the camera will come to get it. That’s the camera’s job, don’t change your performance so much to feed it up to the camera.’ I thought that was great advice,” he adds.
John and Richard, is the true meaning behind “work hard, play hard,” as they are both notorious for cracking terrible dad jokes on set. “Well, basically John and I get accused of the dad jokes. The young women that play the basketball team and Sophia, who plays his daughter are kind of constantly on me and John about dad jokes. We are reminded often that we are not 20-years-old,” he says laughing while reminiscing.
Don’t call a timeout just yet, The Westbrook School for Girls basketball team is still in training and putting in work to make it a successful season on the court. Lucky for us, it doesn’t seem like there will be any MVPs heading to play ball in college just yet. Leaving us TV goers to speculate a potential second season with the same team!
Don’t miss an episode of “Big Shot” every Friday on Disney+.
