Clipped Mini-series Review

Clipped (2024)
Mini-series - 6 episode

Watch the trailer
Created by: Gina Welch
Based on: The Sterling Affairs by Ramona Shelburne
Starring: Laurence Fishburne, Jacki Weaver, Cleopatra Coleman, Ed O'Neill, Kelly AuCoin, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Sheldon Bailey, Austin Scott, Charlie McElveen
Rated:TV-MA

Plot
Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling is ousted from his position amid the team's drive to win a championship under coach Doc Rivers.

Verdict
We go behind the scenes of one of the NBA's biggest controversies. It's part soap opera and documentary. It's astounding that Sterling doesn't see anything wrong with what he did, but it's also shocking that V, who was the catalyst, thinks this will make her famous. Sterling acts the way he does because he's rich and gotten away with numerous transgressions. V is naive and deluded into thinking, apparently through social media, stardom is just a few more likes away. Doc Rivers and the team are collateral damage, formidable in spite of how Sterling runs the team, but not immune to the fallout.
Watch It.

Review
This is based on an ESPN 30 for 30 podcast The Sterling Affairs, and it feels like the Laker's series Winning Time helped get this made, though scandalous stories usually do well.

This starts with the irritating how we got here trope. We see a montage of the fallout from Donald Sterling's (Ed O'Neill) recording of a racist rant while his mistress V. Stiviano (Cleopatra Coleman) does a voice over. Then we cut back in time to Doc Rivers (Laurence Fishburne) arriving at the Clippers offices on his first day as head coach. The team 'forgot' to send a car to pick him up and then cheaps out on lunch. That's how this team is run. Doc is ready to lead the team, talking about trades and telling Sterling his plan for the season. One of the execs privately tells Doc that Sterling likes to be called Mr. Sterling. Doc responds, "If he calls me Mr. Rivers, I'll call him Mr. Sterling."

Ed O'Neill plays Donald Sterling

Sterling is established as out of touch, and he quickly gets into an argument with Doc. Doc quits when Sterling claims he's Doc's owner. Sterling's "personal assistant" is V. Sterling buys her cars, clothes, and even a house. She's irritated she doesn't see more of him. She seems to want him for his money, but if that was the case wouldn't she be happy to not see him often? She also records every conversation with Sterling. It's got to be for leverage. These recordings capture that Sterling is a racist, there's no way around it. Sterling's wife Shelly (Jacki Weaver) knows about V and tolerates her.

If this wasn't a true story, I'd think it was a parody. It's ridiculous. The problem starts with Shelly's jealousy of V. That begins a back and forth that culminates with Shelly revoking V's VIP tickets. That's what prompted V to release the tapes to get back at the Sterlings. Sterling is so condescending, whether on tape or not. Ed O'Neill does a great job of playing someone completely unhinged. Sterling has had so many people cater to him for so many years that he has no concept of how he's supposed to respect and act in society.

Cleopatra Coleman plays V. Stiviano

Doc has to lead the team while shielding them from Sterling. Doc soon realizes the insanity of the organization under Sterling, stopping Sterling's frequent locker room visits. The tapes come to light during the playoffs. The team is torn between playing and boycotting. Meanwhile V is happy about her 'fame,' but there are repercussions. The big question is why she never left Sterling despite all of his rants. The show paints V as a victim of wanting to be famous and listening to consultants, but is that true or was she just consumed with being social media famous at any cost? Without Sterling she runs out of money and has to sell the items Sterling bought her. She then buys jewelry claiming she's taking a stand for the working person. She is always divorced from reality. She doesn't work and makes excuses as to why she can't. She's an odd character that embellishes everything. The tragic thing is that I think she believes these things. She truly believes she's on her way to being famous.

Episode four jumps around in the past. Shows often do this to provide context, but it also feels like a distraction as it stops the progression of the plot. This episode does make you wonder about Shelly. Why does she tolerate Sterling? Not only that, she defends him despite knowing about the prostitutes, girlfriends, gifts, and promises. It makes her look guilty by association.

Laurence Fishburne plays Doc Rivers

Once this crests the hill of the big reveal, where does this go? The NBA decides to ban Sterling and force him to sell the team. Can they do that? On the brink of losing it all, Sterling refuses to reflect on why this is happening. He only cares about himself. He doesn't think he did anything wrong. He goes on an apology tour, but that quickly becomes Sterling defending himself while looking completely out of touch. 

What is Sterling's legacy? While he doesn't own a team, he still has the money from the sale. He may be a pariah, but that just means he can't leave his huge mansion without ridicule. He'll have to hire someone to run his errands, which he likely already does. Shelly played the beleaguered wife when necessary, but she's right there with Sterling. She's the same. V is harassed despite being the catalyst for the entire ordeal, but her motives were always selfish. The players and Doc are left wondering what could have been. Should they have boycotted? Would winning have proven a point? What lasting implications does ousting Sterling have?