Clipped

Being a sports fan and keeping up with pop culture and past times I really like series like these and with "Hulu's" limited series "Clipped" I gave it a shot. And wow talk about crying foul how many times can those involved foul out. The series in a blunt and brash fashion takes a look at the life of ex "L. A. Clippers" owner Donald Sterling(Ed O' Neill from "MWC") and how he was banned for life from the "NBA". The series hams it up and tries to be juicy and tabloid like style as each episode showcased leaked comments that Sterling made to his former mistress V. Stiviano. Also behind the scenes with Sterling is the strained relationship with his wife and business partner Shelly(Jacki Weaver). In a good supporting turn is veteran Laurence Fishburne as Clippers head coach Doc Rivers who deals with the power struggle from within the franchise while trying to coach the team to a championship. The issues are sensitive and tough yet this series is fearless with it as it is entertaining for any sports or "NBA" fan despite the fact that it's not the Lakers or "Winning Time".

I may be biased because I was in college for the Sterling scandal and not yet born for the showtime lakers but clipped is honestly better than season 2 of winning time.

Outside of Kirkland brand Steph Curry and yes, Blake Griffin's head being too small, the casting was excellent. I guess more nitpicky complaints would be that Silver looks a little too old and Modern family guy doesn't quite capture the loathsomeness of Donald Sterling, but otherwise this is a pretty faithful retelling of that iconic media circus.

Sad that Lob City will ultimately be remembered like the Moneyball A's, a lasting legacy but never the championship they deserved.

But if you don't, you're going to be bored/lost. It was clearly trying to be like The people vs OJ - American Crime Story, but it didn't quite nail it. Also, everyone knows the OJ story - not everyone knows the Sterling one. This could have benefited from greater direction/editing, however the acting and production value is spot on.

If you haven't already, I'd recommend listening to the Sterling podcast on 30/30. It's almost a required companion piece to the fx show and will make the entire thing more compelling and entertaining.

If nothing else, Lawrence Fishburne, Ed O'Neill, Cleopatra Coleman and Jacki Weaver and a delight to watch.

So far I'm halfway through the series with the last two episodes pending to appear in the future. What I can say so far is that while the production values are high, the underlying true story is poorly told.

Sterling's egomaniacal failure as a franchise owner would have made for a compelling story. But so far it's shaping up to be a banal referendum on his moral character and his tattletale sugar-baby lady of the night being positioned as an anti-hero by being spiteful.

I hope I'm wrong but I'm afraid that this Hulu special will be of the Netflix ilk of progressive grandstanding as if we haven't been beaten over the head with the social sensitivity agenda a million times over. It's lazy and I'm hoping that the concluding episodes of the series focuses on the personal story that us sports fans might have overlooked instead of another trite sermon about how people should be loving people or whatever.

If you thought this was about how a team wins championships, you'd be wrong. This show is hilarious and legend has it, if you finish watching the series, you're going to get the Clippers curse. You'll get fired from your job, wife will leave you and take half your stuff, and you'll tear an ACL.

None of the actors look like their real life counterpart, but that's ok. The acting is well done, but nothing special to brag about. This is more of a comedy than drama about the worst franchise in the NBA. 0 chips and their fans are a joke.

10/10 would recommend. Just don't finish the last episode to avoid the curse.