Clipped (miniseries)

Clipped
Company type	Television miniseries
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	June 4, 2024; 2 years ago
Headquarters	United States
Products	Sports drama television series
Parent	FX on Hulu

Clipped is a U.S. sports drama television miniseries developed by Gina Welch, inspired by the ESPN 30 for 30 podcast The Sterling Affairs. The show debuted on June 4, 2024, via FX on Hulu. It portrays the collapse of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling amid the team's championship bid under coach Doc Rivers. The cast includes Laurence Fishburne, Ed O'Neill, Jacki Weaver, Cleopatra Coleman, and Kelly AuCoin. Produced by Color Force, Indistinct Chatter, and FX Productions, the executive production team features Gina Welch, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Zanne Devine, Ramona Shelburne, and Kevin Bray. Critical reception for Clipped has been largely favorable.

Primary

Supporting

J. Alphonse Nicholson as Chris Paul
Rich Sommer as Seth Burton
Corbin Bernsen as Pierce O'Donnell
Clifton Davis as Elgin Baylor
Harriet Sansom Harris as Justine
Petri Hawkins-Byrd as Alvin Gentry
LeVar Burton portraying himself
Jock McKissic as Glen "Big Baby" Davis
Sheldon Bailey as DeAndre Jordan
Austin Scott as Blake Griffin
Charlie McElveen as JJ Redick
Sarunas J. Jackson as Matt Barnes
Darryl Wesley as Jamal Crawford

Production

In April 2022, FX greenlit a six-episode limited series titled The Sterling Affairs, casting Laurence Fishburne and Jacki Weaver in the roles of Doc Rivers and Shelly Sterling respectively. By January 2023, additional cast members including Harriet Sansom Harris, Corbin Bernsen, Yvonna Pearson, Jock McKissic, Darryl Wesley, Rich Sommer, and Clifton Davis were announced. The miniseries is executive produced by creator and showrunner Gina Welch along with Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Zanne Devine, Ramona Shelburne, and director Kevin Bray.

Release

The official trailer for Clipped was unveiled by Hulu on April 25, 2024. The series premiered on Hulu on June 4, 2024, launching with the first two episodes simultaneously followed by weekly releases of the remaining four episodes. Outside the United States, it streams on Disney+.

Audience Metrics

According to data from Whip Media, which monitors viewership from over 25 million users of its TV Time app, Clipped was ranked the fourth most eagerly awaited new series for June 2024. On July 2, it appeared at No. 14 on Hulu’s daily "Top 15 Today" chart. Parrot Analytics reported a notable surge in U.S. demand during December 2024; Clipped achieved audience interest levels eight times above average series demand, placing it within the top 8.6% of all shows. The series also garnered strong viewership internationally in regions such as Israel, Canada, and parts of Europe.

Critical Acclaim

Rotten Tomatoes indicates an 88% approval rating with an average critic score of 7.3/10 based on 33 reviews, summarizing that Clipped's cast effectively brings real-life figures to vivid life. On Metacritic, it holds a score of 72 out of 100 from 21 critics signifying "generally favorable reviews."

Alison Herman from Variety likened Clipped to HBO's Winning Time, emphasizing its concentrated depiction of the Los Angeles basketball controversy. She commended the brisk storytelling pace and Ed O'Neill’s portrayal of Sterling as simultaneously repugnant and darkly comedic while acknowledging empathetic portrayals of Doc Rivers and Clippers players. Nevertheless, she found some efforts to explore broader societal themes occasionally felt contrived.

Shawn Laib of Den of Geek rated the series four out of five stars, praising O'Neill’s Emmy-caliber performance capturing Sterling’s multifaceted personality and Coleman's nuanced depiction of V. Stiviano. Laib valued the intricate narrative but questioned if the recency of events might impact audience engagement.

Margaret Lyons from The New York Times regarded Clipped as a compelling dramatization bolstered by strong performances from Fishburne, Coleman, O'Neill, and Weaver. She noted its lack of subtlety and originality but observed it confirms known facts without delivering new cultural perspectives. Despite this critique, Lyons appreciated the clarity and rhythm of the miniseries.

Robert Lloyd at Los Angeles Times highlighted Coleman's layered portrayal of V. Stiviano as a highlight and praised Neill and Fishburne’s solid performances—particularly Fishburne’s grounded interpretation of Doc Rivers. While recognizing clever writing and notable acting contributions, Lloyd described the series as more entertaining than deeply engaging and questioned how invested viewers might become in its characters.

Honors

Laurence Fishburne earned a nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie) at the 56th NAACP Image Awards. Additionally, the series received recognition through a Peabody Award nomination.

External links