Brenda Song attended an L.A. Lakers game the other night. Except that she didn’t just attend it: She hung out in the bowels of the Crypto.com Arena with the team’s famed owner and CEO, Jeannie Buss, and other top executives. "I was just sitting there fan-girling and was like ‘What is my life?'" Song says, noting that she’s a super-fan of the team who watches all 82 games each season. "I love getting all the insights. So I’m truly living my own personal dream."
Call it a perk of playing a ball-buster in the popular basketball comedy, Running Point. Based on Buss’ own unorthodox life, the Netflix series follows new president of the fictional L.A. Waves Isla Gordon (Kate Hudson) as she navigates both her team politics and family drama within the organization. Song shines as Ali Lee, the no-nonsense chief of staff who happens to be Isla’s best friend. But for Season 2 (premiering April 23), the pair’s tight bond becomes a bit untethered. "Ally is so outspoken and has no issues talking to anyone — except when it comes to Isla," she says. "So their friendship does get tested. They’re going to have to make some big decisions."
And while Song calls Hudson a "best girlfriend-slash-big-sister-and-mentor" who leads by example on the set, Song herself is a TV veteran. In fact, it’s been more than 30 years since she earned her first screen credit (at the age of 7, no less!).
She’s also a longtime Disney Channel fan favorite thanks to her role as spoiled heiress London Tipton in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (2005-08) and The Suite Life on Deck (2008-11). Song has since moved on to the likes of New Girl, Superstore, Dollface and Shifting Gears.
Still, Song admits that she and her husband, fellow ex-child star Macauley Culkin, aren’t big TV watchers. Except, of course, for live sports. "My kids will never understand what it’s like to rush home, jump on the couch, grab the remote and watch your show right when it’s on," she says. "If you missed it, you missed it!" Good thing Song refused to miss out on her chance to give her My Seven Shows list to The Television Academy.
Three’s Company (1977-84, ABC)
I grew up watching this on Nick at Nite, and it’s still one of my favorite shows of all time. I’ve seen every episode. I loved Jack Tripper [John Ritter] and his physical comedy. I loved Mr. Roper [Norma Fell] and Mrs. Roper [Audra Lindley]. Mr. Furley [Don Knotts] was amazing. I feel like Chrissy [Suzanne Somers] was such an inspiration for London Tipton because she did ditsy and naivety so well. I think this show really fueled my love for comedy. One of my first big jobs was a sitcom, and it felt so natural to me because I grew up watching this every single night.
The Office (2005-13, NBC)
Steve Carell as Michael Scott in The Office 
This is a comfort show. I put it on whenever I'm feeling sad or if I just want to put something on in the background. The writing is so incredibly smart. The comedy is timeless. The actors are so brilliant. I've never seen such effortless comedy. For Steve Carell to make Michael Scott so outrageous yet relatable and lovable is genius. And really, every single person on that show is incredible. I get so starstruck around the actors that my friend and I actually have an Office “bingo card” — whenever we meet people from The Office, we call each other. Like, "You wouldn't believe who I met or who I saw!"
Breaking Bad (2008-13, AMC)
I came in after the first season. My family started watching, and they're like, “Oh, you have to watch the show.” I binged the first season and then watched the rest religiously. Everyone top-to-bottom was brilliant, but Bryan Cranston was driving that show. I think Walter White is one of the most fascinating characters ever with one of the most fascinating character arcs. Really the character of a lifetime! I loved to hate him so much that it confused me. Like, why am I rooting for him? “Fly” is my favorite episode — Mac [Culkin] and I bonded over how much we both loved it. I do love a bottle episode.
The Great British Bake Off (2010-16, BBC; 2017-, Channel 4)
This is the only reality TV that I ever watch, and I absolutely love it. There's nothing malicious about it. No one is trying to make anyone look bad. There's no fake drama. It's just about great baking, and they just want to make it a happy show. When I’m falling asleep and don't know what to watch, I turn it on. I remember when we couldn't get it in the U.S., and I had to, like, find it on YouTube. Now that it's on Netflix, it makes me very happy. I also love to bake, so it’s fun for me to see British baking because these confections are incredible.
Game of Thrones (2011-19, HBO)
This show consumed my life for years. Every week I was like “Oh my god!” I was actually filming in Toronto when either Season 5 or Season 6 of Game of Thrones was airing. We couldn't get it in Canada, so me and a castmate drove to the border so we could watch it from our laptops. That’s how obsessed we were!
I love a family drama. I love fantasy, like Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Those are some of my favorite books. I started reading Game of Thrones because a friend recommended them to me. I loved them so much that I was scared to watch the show. But this was one of the very few times where I feel like I preferred the show over the books. I mean, there was a whole book where Daenerys [Emilia Clarke] was just in the desert, so it was nice that lasted just a couple episodes.
Peaky Blinders (2013-22, BBC)
First of all, Cillian Murphy and Tom Hardy are two of my favorite actors of all time. I remember when this show came out, I was like, “Oh, I love a Steven Knight show. Let me turn that on.” I became addicted. Every time I had to wait two years for a new season, it was painful. The actors are so incredible. Cillian Murphy makes me feel stressed with just a look — so few actors can draw you in like he can. And like Game of Thrones, I absolutely love a family drama. But they just do it on such a different level. Like, I was a Peaky Blinder for three Halloweens in a row. I haven't watched the movie yet because I need to make the time for it.
Squid Games (2021-25, Netflix)
I had read that David Fincher was going to adapt an American version with Cate Blanchett. I love Cate Blanchett. So me and Mac were like, “let's watch Squid Games.” I had no idea what it was about. I could not stop binge-ing it — I needed to see what happened next. This show shook me to my core. I just loved how unexpected it was; I'd never seen anything like it before. I've never been so stressed out, so shocked, so confused. The concept was so original. In Game of Thrones, you never knew who was going to die — Squid Games took that concept to another level!
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
