Summary
The six-part FX limited seriesClippedtakes many shots but hardly scores. Featuring astrong ensemble led by Laurence Fishburne, Jacki Weaver, and Ed O’Neill,Clippedhad a talented roster that, similar to the2013-2014 Los Angeles Clippersteam chronicled in the series, had more potential than its final result would imply. While the star of the show is a completely transformedO’Neill as the abhorrent Donald Sterling, whose leaked racist comments resulted in a lifetime ban from the NBA, his mysterious personal assistant andself-proclaimed “silly rabbit” V. Stivianosteals the spotlight in bizarre yet true ways.
Cast
With the controversy still relatively fresh,Clippedis an interesting choice for a “period piece,” although its deeply American themes of celebrity and race are even more relevant today. O’Neill’s Sterling is clearly meant to be hated, whileStiviano and former Clippers co-owner Shelly Sterling are portrayed with more moral ambiguitydespite both being direct victims of Sterling’s borderline delusional authoritarian treachery. Fishburne’s rendition of Doc Rivers – who is still chasing his second NBA Championship – is affirmed by calm confidence, while the obvious actors in NBA jerseys are far less convincing.
Clipped Is A Dull Dramatization Of A Stranger Than Fiction Story
The story would have been better told as a docuseries or movie
Clippedis more of a basketball-themed series than it is a true sports show. Compared to HBO’stragically canceledWinning Time,Clippedlacks a convincing sense of basketball awareness and fandom, which is evident from some of its laughable casting choices. For a series whose title is a pun of an NBA organization, it hardly seems interested in the personnel of the Clippers' management and operations teams, let alone its star players. Apart from Kelly AuCoin’s Andy annoyingly falling on Donald’s sword and a few filler lines fromMad Menalum Rich Sommer, the Clippers' front office feels like an afterthought.
Apart from Kelly AuCoin’s Andy annoyingly falling on Donald’s sword and a few filler lines fromMad Menalum Rich Sommer, the Clippers' front office feels like an afterthought.
The events ofClippedhappened ten years ago, which doesn’t feel like enough time to justify a thinly spread docudrama. Rivers is still coaching, many of the players are still in the league, and the NBA has completely moved on from the controversy under Adam Silver, who remains commissioner. Newly appointed Lakers coach JJ Reddick spoke about the series on his podcast"The Old Man and the Three", saying he stopped watching after one episode because he “couldn’t get emotionally invested.“The mischaracterization of the NBA players inClippedundermines its integrity, despite keeping its facts straight from the headlines.
Clipped Cast & Real-Life Character Guide
The cast of Clipped is led by the incredible talents of Laurence Fishburne as NBA coach Doc Rivers & Ed O’Neill as the controversial Donald Sterling.
Clipped Regurgitates Shocking Headlines Without Offering Much Development
The selective blend of fact and fiction makes the murky scandal even murkier
The plot ofClippedis guided mostly by headlines propelled by the bizarre and brief celebrity of V. Stiviano. Much like the tabloids that caused a frenzy over her attention-seeking antics in 2014,Clippedinflates Stiviano’s significance and nearly casts her as a social justice hero. It makes parts of her murky true story murkier, showing Stiviano recording Sterling’s racist comments in secret,which is against the law in California, although her real-life lawyers claimed that Donald was fully aware he was being recorded. The series also hesitates to paint clarity on Shelly’s dilemma, using her as Donald’s victim and accomplice depending on the circumstances.
While Clipped gets a pass for blending reality and fiction, what’s the point of revisiting a narrative without updating, clarifying, or taking advantage of a decade’s worth of hindsight?
Clippedregurgitates shocking headlines but fails to recreate their initial impact. Most of the odd stunts pulled by Stiviano are factual, including the visor, the rollerblades, and even the turtle. She was also assaulted in a hate crime that was dramatized inClipped’sfinal episode, which would’ve been completely random if it weren’t true. This, however, ends up being the Achilles heel of the series,checking off every major headline without adding anything. While the dramatization gets a pass for blending reality and fiction, what’s the point of revisiting a narrative without updating, clarifying, or taking advantage of a decade’s worth of hindsight?
Clippedworks best through the eyes of Fishburne’s Riversas he grapples with his role as the face of an organization with deeply systemic issues. His connection to his players proves to be integral and paramount, while his conversations on race and legacy with icons such as LeVar Burton and NBA legend Elgin Baylor are the best evidence of the series' exigence.
As a true story, the Donald Sterling scandal offers a crucial and relevant discourse on privilege, oppression, wealth, and power in America. As a narrative series,Clippedis misguided by loose direction and adherence to headlines over story hooks, resulting in a mostly flat product lacking in palpable stakes and tension.
Clipped
“Clipped” takes viewers inside the Los Angeles Clippers' organization during one of its most controversial periods. The series follows Coach Doc Rivers, portrayed by Laurence Fishburne, as he navigates the fallout from owner Donald Sterling’s racist remarks. The scandal, captured on tape and broadcast globally, sparks a fierce power struggle involving Sterling, his wife Shelly, and his ambitious assistant V. Stiviano. As Rivers works to keep his team united and focused on winning, the show explores the broader implications of Sterling’s actions and the quest for accountability and change within the sports world.
