Clipped (FX) 

By: Rachel Brodeur

In 2014 the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers made national headlines when leaked audio revealed their then owner Donald Sterling engaged in anti-African American racist rants . The FX’s miniseries Clipped is a dramatization based on these real life events, following the lives of Sterling and his wife, played by Ed O’Neill (Married with Children, Modern Family) and Jackie Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook, Yellowstone), Clippers Coach Doc Rivers played by Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix), and the woman who was the catalyst of it all, V. Stiviano played by Cleopatra Coleman (Dopesick, Rebel Moon). The six episodes unfold with all the flash and drama of an NBA playoff run. The details around the audio are salacious; audiences will see what led to the conversations on the tapes, the circumstances of his marriage, and his unique relationship with the young woman who recorded and released the audio.

The show is elevated by the outstanding performance of Ed O’Neill. Known for more likable character roles, O’Neill’s portrayal of Sterling as an out of touch, entitled and overindulged racist is such a complete transformation, that the audience may struggle not to hate him and the elitists that he represents. He provides a perfect foil for the other strong performance of acting powerhouse Laurence Fishburne as Coach Doc Rivers. Rivers, one of the NBA’s more respected coaches, provides the bridge between the players and the administration. He gives the audience someone to root for and highlights how playing for Sterling became a struggle for the young men on the team. The mostly Black and African American players grew up with dreams of being where they are, in the NBA, and now, they have to reconcile the fact that their owner sees them as less-than human property; they feel like they are betraying their race. The show does an excellent job of framing the discussion around race and a favorite moment is a conversation between Rivers and LaVar Burton (playing himself) discussing their roles as Black men in media; it’s a small moment, but its raw truth has a powerful impact. 

Unfortunately, for Clipped, it bears the flaws that plague the genre of television biographical dramas. The filming lacks creativity with basic shots and lighting, and its lead character V, is imperfect as a protagonist, but not quite enough of an antihero. However, it is an interesting story that raises good questions about modern culture and personal responsibility, in addition to revealing a side of the NBA that more people should talk about.

Rachel’s Rating: 6/10  FX’s Clipped is an energetic story based on the real-life events that unfolded around the Los Angeles Clippers’ 2014 playoff run and the leaked audio of their then owner Donald Sterling. The dramatic miniseries reveals the sordid details of Sterling’s private life, but its true strength is in strong performances by veteran actors Ed O’Neill and Laurence Fishburne and highlighting the issues the United States still has with race.