| Genre: | Sports drama |
| Creator: | Gina Welch |
| Starring: | |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Num Seasons: | 1 |
| Num Episodes: | 6 |
| Network: | FX on Hulu |
Clipped is an American sports drama television miniseries, created by Gina Welch and based on the ESPN 30 for 30 podcast The Sterling Affairs.[1] The series premiered on June 4, 2024, on FX on Hulu.[2] [3] It focuses on the downfall of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, amid the team's drive to win a championship under coach Doc Rivers.[4] The miniseries received generally positive reviews from critics.
In April 2022, FX gave permission to go ahead with a six-episode limited series titled The Sterling Affairs, with Laurence Fishburne and Jacki Weaver being respectively cast as Doc Rivers Shelly Sterling.[10] In January 2023, Harriet Samson Harris, Corbin Bernsen, Yvonna Pearson, Jock McKissic, Darryl Wesley, Rich Sommer, and Clifton Davis joined the cast.[11] The miniseries is executive produced by showrunner and creator Gina Welch, alongside Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Zanne Devine, Ramona Shelburne, and director Kevin Bray.[12]
The trailer of Clipped was released by Hulu on April 25, 2024.[13] The miniseries premied on Hulu on June 4, 2024.[14] The first two episodes were released, while the remaining four episodes were released on a weekly basis.[15] Internationally, the miniseries was made available to stream on Disney+.[16]
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 88% approval rating with an average rating of 7.30/10, based on 33 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Sordid and soapy as befitting the story of Donald Sterling's fall from grace, Clippeds terrific ensemble brings this memorable cast of real-life characters to vivid life."[17] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 72 out of 100 based on 21 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[18]
Alison Herman of Variety draws a comparison to HBO's Winning Time, noting that while both shows explore the world of Los Angeles basketball, Clipped takes a more focused and contained approach. They praised the series for its quick pace and its ability to capture the chaotic, scandalous atmosphere surrounding the incident. Herman also highlighted O'Neill's performance as Sterling, describing it as both loathsome and darkly humorous, and complimented the portrayal of Doc Rivers and the Clippers players as sympathetic figures caught in a moral and professional dilemma. However, Herman pointed out that the show is less successful when it tries to expand beyond the immediate scandal to address broader social issues, sometimes feeling forced or overly didactic.[19] Shawn Laib of Den of Geek gave Clipped a score of four out of five stars, praised O’Neill’s portrayal of Sterling, describing his performance as Emmy-worthy, saying the actor captures Sterling’s unsettling quirks and inappropriate behavior, making his portrayal both disturbing and ironically humorous. Laib said Coleman brings depth to V. Stiviano who, in real life, remained an enigmatic figure. Despite complimenting the artistic expression in the series, recognizing its understanding of the intricate details of the events, Laib questioned the timing of the show, suggesting that the story might be too recent to fully engage viewers, as the events are still fresh in the public’s memory.[20]
Margaret Lyons of The New York Times acknowledged Clipped as an effective retelling of the Sterling scandal, strengthened by strong performances from Fishburne, Coleman, O’Neill, and Weaver. However, Lyons said the series' lack of nuance and originality, pointing out that while it covers the fundamentals well, it often leans on repetition and avoids subtlety. They compared Clipped to other sports docudramas and podcast-to-TV adaptations, but suggested it does not offer any fresh insights or provoke a cultural reassessment, instead simply reaffirming what was already known. Even though it does not get further into its issues, Lyons complimented the miniseries for its clarity and pace despite its shortcomings.[21] Robert Lloyd of Los Angeles Times praised Coleman’s nuanced performance as V. Stiviano, saying she balances ambition and vulnerability, making her the standout. Neill and Fishburne are also noted for their strong performances, with Fishburne’s portrayal of Doc Rivers adding a more grounded, sympathetic element to the series. Despite its clever writing and notable performances,Lloyd found Clipped more diverting than compelling, questioning whether the story’s characters are worth truly caring about.[22]