FX’s latest venture into captivating true narratives comes in the form of the forthcoming limited series, “Clipped.” This six-part installment delves into the tumultuous history of the NBA team, the LA Clippers, spotlighting one of their most infamous moments.
The recently unveiled trailer introduces Laurence Fishburne as Head Coach Doc Rivers, depicting the controversy surrounding owner Donald Sterling’s racism in 2013, with Ed O’Neill portraying Sterling. A detailed press release offers insight into the series’ context.
“Clipped,” based on the acclaimed ESPN 30 for 30 podcast ‘The Sterling Affairs,’ takes audiences behind the scenes of a pivotal moment when a recording of a notorious NBA owner’s racist remarks reverberated globally.
The series unravels the collision between a dysfunctional basketball franchise and an even more dysfunctional marriage, exploring the reverberations of the incendiary tape on a cast of characters striving for success amidst the backdrop of a cursed team.
As teased in the trailer, “Clipped” unfolds with various narrative threads. Rivers, driven by the ambition to transform the league’s worst team into champions, finds himself ensnared in Sterling’s messy personal life.
Sterling’s pursuit of a relationship with his personal assistant, V, played by Cleopatra Coleman, complicates matters, leading to the recording where he prohibits her from bringing Black people to games—a scandal of seismic proportions.
The trailer also delves into the broader implications of race relations within basketball. Sterling’s long-standing racist behavior is highlighted, along with his tendency to treat players as commodities, a notion Rivers vehemently opposes.
The players’ perspectives on Sterling’s racism are showcased, with one expressing the anguish of explaining to his children how he can work for such a reprehensible figure. Rivers, too, faces Sterling’s attempts to exert control, defiantly asserting, “You’re not my owner!”
These narratives strike a chord due to their enduring relevance. Despite the events unfolding over a decade ago, the themes of race, power, and accountability remain pertinent. FX’s penchant for crafting stories rooted in pop culture’s past finds resonance in “Clipped,” formerly known as The Sterling Affairs, which is set to premiere on Hulu on June 4th.
