Barry Hopkins

**Barry Hopkins** is a character in the television series *Hoops* portrayed by Rob Riggle. He is Ben Hopkins's father.

## Character

Barry is "a former pro athlete-turned-steakhouse owner, he frequently rips his son and doesn’t respect him, but still wants the best for him." He would like for his son to work at the steakhouse, but Ben isn't interested. Vainglorious and self-serving, he installs a giant statue of himself outside of the Lenwood High School gymnasium after his steakhouse is made a sponsor of the Lenwood Colts. Ben feels that Barry considers him a "constant disappointment, though Barry claims it's own choice to feel that way.

## History

He conceived his son during a one-night stand following a party. The woman came to him approximately nine months later, handing him a baby. She told him he would have to care for it, as she was being sent to prison for three-to-five years for punching a congressman. Her sentence was later upped to life after she shivved a warden, forcing Barry to raise the boy on his own.

## Plot summary

### The Pilot

Barry's son Ben comes to him, begging him for $415 in order to purchase the services of a prostitute to try to get Matty laid so that he will join the Lenwood Colts basketball team. Barry, however, tells him that if he gave him money every time he asked for it, he would be as poor as he is. He offers to pay for graduate school so that he can help out at his steakhouse, but Ben isn't interested. He then tells Ben to leave Shannon alone when he says he's going to go ask her next.

### My Two Dads

Ben is shocked to discover that Shannon is hanging out with Barry, having adopted him as a sort of second dad. He later tries to get revenge by adopting a man named Willy Rothbart whom he believes to be Shannon's father as his own second dad. It turns out, however, that Willy is just the guy who bought Shannon's parents' home. Later, when attending a funeral for Willy, Ben claims that Willy was like a father to him and calls Barry an asshole.

### Ethics

Barry drinks with Shannon and Opal Lowry, but doesn't find it fun like he used to. Later, he introduces "Barry's After Dark" with Opal singing, but it turns out to be a vulgar performance not suited for his clientele. He ends up canceling it, telling Opal that his regulars don't like it.

### The Sponsor

After Ben Hopkins demands a bigger budget for the Colts, Principal Opal signs up a sponsor. At first, Ben is thrilled until he learns that the sponsor is his father's steakhouse. He goes to his father, angry, but Barry tells him that he respects his domain and he's just trying to help. At first Ben buys this, but then he arrives at Lenwood High School and finds a giant statue of Barry outside the gym and the inside being plastered in advertisements for Barry Hopkins Steakhouse. He is further angered when at the game itself, he learns that Barry has agreed to provide free steak dinners for everyone in town if the Colts win. He channels his anger at his father into the players and sees to it that they win the game, forcing Barry to take the hit and give everyone free steaks.

### The Strike

Damian Chapman, the coach of the Bridgeport High Bulls, comes to town for the annual game against the Colts. Barry idolizes Chapman, who has a long-time rivalry with his son. He listens happily as Chapman tells him that he's going to destroy his son's honor. He keeps trying to provide Chapman with a free steak, but is repeatedly rebuffed. Later, when speaking with Shannon, he talks about the teacher's strike initiated by Ben. Shannon is surprised not to have heard about it from Ron and he suggests that he isn't being supportive. Barry later hands out food to the striking teachers and expresses that he wishes that Damian Chapman was his son.

### Death

When Dr. Brooks comes to Lenwood High School to counsel students following the death of Coach Singleton, Barry pays her a visit. He tries to get to sign off on his dog Felix being an emotional support dog. When she refuses, he tells her a story of his past as "Ballin' Barry" and the one-night stand which led to Ben's birth. When she still won't sign his papers, he tells her that she's never getting a steak in his town, unless she goes to a steakhouse that isn't his. After exiting, however, he changes his mind and re-enters, telling her that she'd be welcome at his steakhouse anytime.

### The Scout

Having signed on to be an assistant coach at Henderson Prep, Ben Hopkins leaves town. Before doing so, he pays a visit to his father's steakhouse, where he flips him off, telling him that he is no longer his son.

## Quotes

* *"Let me fire up a steak for you, you beautiful son of a bitch!*" - to Damian Chapman, "The Strike"

## Appearances

Barry Hopkins appears in the following episodes:

## References

1. ↑ *Deadline*: ‘Hoops’: Premiere Date & Teaser For Netflix’s Adult Toon Series; Rob Riggle & Others Join Cast by Erik Pederson. July 20, 2020.