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One of basketball history’s most notorious controversies is coming to light again with Hulu’s new dramatic series,Clipped. Named after the Los Angeles Clippers, the new series will showcase howthe team’s owner,Donald Sterling(Ed O’Neil), fell out of grace following accusations of racism, workplace abuse, and more. Not only does it showcase Sterling’s behavior, it also reveals how the owner’s actions dramatically affected the team and it’s staff in the public eye.
At the center of Sterling’s many scandals are three central characters. These include legendary NBA coachDoc Rivers(Laurence Fishburne), Donald Sterling’s wifeShelly Sterling(Jacki Weaver), and Donald Sterling’s assistant and mistressV. Stiviano(Cleopatra Coleman). To find out how all these characters grapple with an unprecedented scandal, as well as the show’s cast, trailer, release date, and more, here iseverything we know so far aboutClipped.
“Clipped” is set against the backdrop of the Los Angeles Clippers' tumultuous 2013 season under Coach Doc Rivers. The story unravels when team owner Donald Sterling’s racist comments come to light, causing chaos both on and off the court. The series portrays the internal power struggle within the Clippers' organization, focusing on the conflict between Sterling, his wife Shelly, and his assistant V. Stiviano. As Rivers attempts to steer the team towards a championship, he faces the daunting task of maintaining morale and unity amidst the scandal.
When is ‘Clipped’ Coming Out?
The first two episodes ofClippedwill be dribbling onto Hulu on Tuesday, June 4th, 2024. New episodes of the six-episode limited series will be premiering every following Tuesday until July 2nd, 2024.
Where Can You Watch ‘Clipped’?
The only place to watchClippedwhen it officially airs this June is on Hulu.Clippedis headlining a solid lineup for Hulu’s 2024 season, with it including the novel adaptationQueenie, the fashion designer biopicBecoming Karl Lagerfeld, and the third season of theLetterkennyspin-offShoresy. June is also the month when audiences can return tothe hectic restaurant world ofThe Bearin Season 3.
Watch on Hulu
Does ‘Clipped’ Have a Trailer?
The main trailer forClippedwas released by Hulu on April 25th, introducing audiences everywhere to the Clippers organization during the mid-2010s. The trailer begins with a hopeful disposition, with a charismatic Sterling introducing an audience to the new head coach of the Clippers, Doc Rivers - a legendary coach and former player who had previously been coaching the Boston Celtics for almost a decade. What should have been the first step for a new dynasty for the Clippers soon turned into a public relations nightmare when new information comes to light.
Rivers notices almost instantly that Sterling’s assistant, V. Stiviano, seems to have a keen interest in the operations of the team. Even more so, she also appears to have an unusually close relationship, which doesn’t go unnoticed by Sterling’s wife, Shelly. Things take an even more audacious and shocking turn when recorded footage showcases Sterling making some incredibly derogatory and racist remarks toward black people, which does not go over well with either Rivers or the rest of the Lakers team. While many see this as the fall of a fledgling dynasty,others see the fall of Donald Sterling as the chance for new ambitions.
Who Stars in ‘Clipped’?
Laurence Fishburne will be playing NBA legend Doc Rivers, just a few months ahead of the beloved actor’s debut inThe Witcheruniverse as the fan-favorite character Regis. Fishburne is undoubtedly very well-known for his iconic roles in the action movie world, having played Morpheus in the originalMatrixtrilogy and having played The Bowery King in theJohn Wicksaga. Fishburne bears an almost uncanny resemblance to Doc Rivers, and rather unfortunately forEd O’Neil, he also looks rather similar to Donald Sterling. O’Neil’s turn as the repugnant disgraced NBA team owner is a rare flirt in the dramatic for the actor, who is typically at home with beloved sitcoms likeMarried… with ChildrenandModern Family.
Also in the cast ofClippedis two-time Oscar-nominee Jacki Weaver, who will be playing Donald Sterling’s wife Jackie. Weaver received her notable Academy Award nominations via her stand-out performances inAnimal KingdomandSilver Linings Playbook. She’s joined byThe Last Man on EarthandDopesickstar Cleopatra Coleman as Sterling’s mistress and assistant, V. Stiviano.
The rest of the cast ofClippedincludes:
What is ‘Clipped’ About?
The official plot synopsis ofClippedreads as follows:
FX’s Clipped goes behind the scenes of a notorious NBA owner’s racist remarks, captured on a tape heard around the world. The limited series charts the collision between a dysfunctional basketball organization and even less functional marriage, and the precipitating tape’s impact on an ensemble of characters striving to win against the backdrop of the most cursed team in the league.
Who is Making ‘Clipped’?
Clippedis created byGina Welch, who has a fairly extensive history working with FX and Hulu. Welch has previously worked on the anthology drama seriesFeud, theSteven King-inspired horror sagaCastle Rock, and the cult detective seriesUnder the Banner of Heaven.Clippedis based on the ESPN30 for 30segmentbyRamona Shelburne, with co-writers includingRembert Browne,Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm, andTracey Scott Wilson.
Clippedwill also feature:
Where is Donald Sterling Now?
Following the massive and inescapable controversy, Donald Sterling eventually departed the Clippers team completely in 2014. The Sterling family reached an agreement to sell the team for $2 billion to former Microsoft CEOSteve Ballmer. Shelly Sterling, who remains married to Donald Sterling to this day despite the various cheating and racism scandals, was the one who oversaw the team’s sale afterSterling was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
