SEPTEMBER 2022:
This critique contains spoilers and detailed episode information , do not read further if you have not watched ‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty’ in its entirety!!!
GET ON THE BUSS, IT’S SHOWTIME!
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty is a 2022 biographical sports drama television series that was created by Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht for HBO. It is based on the book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s written by Jeff Pearlman in 2014. It features an ensemble cast led by John C. Reilly, Jason Clarke, Jason Segel, Gaby Hoffmann, Rob Morgan, and Adrien Brody. The first season was comprised of ten episodes that chronicled the 1980s Showtime era of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, which began in late 1979 and featured notable NBA stars Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The series dramatizes the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers. The series premiered on March 06, 2022, with the pilot episode being directed by Adam McKay. The series was renewed for a second season in April 2022.
A WINNING ROSTER…
Photo Credit: HBO Entertainment. (2022-)
THE MAIN TEAM OF PLAYERS…
John C. Reilly as Jerry Buss
Quincy Isaiah as Earvin “Magic” Johnson
Jason Clarke as Jerry West
Adrien Brody as Pat Riley
Gaby Hoffmann as Claire Rothman
Tracy Letts as Jack McKinney
Jason Segel as Paul Westhead
Julianne Nicholson as Cranny McKinney
Hadley Robinson as Jeanie Buss
DeVaughn Nixon as Norm Nixon
Solomon Hughes as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Tamera Tomakili as Earlitha “Cookie” Kelly
Brett Cullen as Bill Sharman
Stephen Adly Guirgis as Frank Mariani
Spencer Garrett as Chick Hearn
Sarah Ramos as Cheryl Pistono
Molly Gordon as Linda Zafrani
Joseph Brooks as Lon Rosen
Delante Desouza as Michael Cooper
Jimel Atkins as Jamaal Wilkes
Austin Aaron as Mark Landsberger
Jon Young as Brad Hollard
Rob Morgan as Earvin Johnson Sr.
Sally Field as Jessie Buss
THE RECURRING TEAM OF PLAYERS…
Michael Chiklis as Red Auerbach
LisaGay Hamilton as Christine Johnson
Michael O’Keefe as Jack Kent Cooke
Kate Arrington as Joann Mueller
Sean Patrick Small as Larry Bird
Kirk Bovill as Donald Sterling
Rickey Eugene Brown as Quincy Johnson
Darone Okolie as Larry Johnson
Andy Hirsch as David Stern
Rachel Hilson as Cindy Day
Carter Redwood as Brian
Gillian Jacobs as Chris Riley
Rory Cochrane as Jerry Tarkanian
Danny Burstein as Vic Weiss
Newton Mayenge as Jim Chones
Wood Harris as Spencer Haywood
Jynediah Gittens as Kenny Carr
Michael AG Scott as Butch Lee
Mike Epps as Richard Pryor
Carina Conti as Paula Abdul
James Lesure as Julius Erving
CASTING PENALTY…
The cast of the series almost looked a little different, with Michael Shannon originally cast in the role of Dr. Jerry Buss. But due to creative differences over breaking the fourth wall throughout the series, Shannon left the role and John C. Reilly was recast as the lakers team owner. Die-hard Lakers fan, Will Ferrell had actively pursued the role of Buss since it was first announced that McKay would be developing the series, but McKay did not feel that Ferrell was right for the role and instead Reilly was cast without telling Ferrell. I will take a deep dive into that whole casting situation concerning Ferrell and McKay in my review of the series as well as how it resulted in the end of their friendship and longtime business relationship. The roles of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were larger-than-life and required an extensive casting search that eventually cast Quincy Isaiah as Johnson and Solomon Hughes being cast as Jabbar. And DeVaughn Nixon was cast in the role of his father, Lakers basketball player, Norm Nixon. From March to May 2021, the rest of the cast was hired, and principal photography was started in April, which included, Adrien Brody, Sally Field, Michael Chiklis, and Jason Segel.
THE EPISODE PLAY-BY-PLAY…
- Episode Title: “The Swan” Director: Adam McKay Airdate: March 6, 2022
1979. Businessman Jerry Buss stakes his fortune on the purchase of the NBA‘s lackluster Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, the team’s head coach, Jerry West, bristles at the prospect of drafting college phenom Earvin Johnson – who must decide if he’s ready to live up to the mantle of his nickname: Magic.
- Episode Title: “Is That All There Is?” Director: Jonah Hill Airdate: March 13, 2022
After giving Coach West carte blanche with the Lakers roster, Buss attempts to charm fellow franchise owner of the Celtics, Red Auerbach. Meanwhile, Earvin‘s efforts to impress the women in his life fall flat and Claire‘s mandate to get creative brings conflict with Buss‘ daughter, Jeanie.
- Episode Title: “The Best Is Yet To Come” Director: Damian Marcano Airdate: March 20, 2022
As Buss courts new talent, a former Laker ponders a future with the franchise, and Earvin‘s move to LA isn’t quite as magical as he hoped.
- Episode Title: “Who the F**k is Jack McKinney?” Director: Damian Marcano Airdate: March 27, 2022
As the Lakers head to Palm Springs or the start of Training Camp, Buss finds himself in over his head financially, and the team’s new coaches struggle to prove their vision for a groundbreaking method of play. Meanwhile, Jeanie works to bring her father’s flair to The Forum.
- Episode Title: “Pieces of a Man” Director: Tanya Hamilton Airdate: April 3, 2022
As the Lakers prepare for their season opener against the Clippers, an increasingly frustrated Kareem begins to doubt his place on the team – allowing Coach McKinney to stoke his growing rivalry with Earvin. Jeanie courts star talent for the newly minted cheer squad, the Laker Girls, including a promising young dancer, Paula Adbul.
- Episode Title: “Memento Mori” Director: Tanya Hamilton Airdate: April 10, 2022
Assistant coach Paul Westhead adds to the Lakers‘ growing list of problems when he finds himself dealing with a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions. Increasingly courted by corporate sponsors, Earvin consults a newfound financial advisor.
- Episode Title: “Invisible Man” Director: Payman Benz Airdate: April 17, 2022
As the Lakers hit the road, Dr. Buss makes a dangerous bid with Coach Westhead, and Earvin‘s rivalry with Larry Bird is put to the test.
- Episode Title: “California Dreaming” Director: Payman Benz Airdate: April 24, 2022
McKinney‘s potential return threatens Paul and Pat‘s increasingly successful status quo, while Earvin and Buss each face shocking truths.
- Episode Title: “Acceptable Loss” Director: Salli Richardson-Whitfield Airdate: May 1, 2022
As the Lakers prepare to enter the playoffs, Buss struggles with the team’s tenuous coaching situation and his mother’s failing health. Later, Haywood receives an ultimatum from Kareem.
- Episode Title: “Promised Land” Director: Salli Richardson-Whitfield Airdate: May 8, 2022
Down two men and with the 1980 NBA Championship on the line, the outnumbered Lakers look to an unlikely source for inspiration. In Philly, Earvin faces off against his role-model-turned-rival Dr. J, while in LA, Haywood grapples with his own worst enemy: himself.
BUILDING THE TEAM….
Winning Time started development on April 20, 2014, when screenwriter Jim Hecht flew across the country to pitch an adaption of the best-seller Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty to the home of sportswriter and author Jeff Pearlman. Hecht’s idea for the adaption was similar to the television show Friday Night Lights. With no money and according to an interview Hecht gave The Hollywood Reporter, only a bottle of nonalcoholic wine, a block of chocolate, and a tomato as an offering to sell Hecht the rights to his book, Pearlman agreed to allow Hecht to shop his book around town for a year. And sure enough, in 2015, Hecht found a producer, Kevin Messick, who convinced Adam McKay to direct the pilot and produce the series.
GETTING THE WINNING SHOW OF A TIME ON THE ROAD…
The series found a production and distribution company in April 2019, when HBO ordered a pilot of the series, the series was originally shopped around with the working title, Showtime, after Pearlman’s book that inspired the idea for the series. It was ultimately decided that the title was problematic for marketing reasons and would have caused confusion given one of their streaming platform competitors is also named Showtime. The series was greenlit that December with the title, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, Lakers basketball fans had already associated the phrase “Winning Time” with Magic Johnson.
REACTIONARY PLAY….
The series received criticism from both Johnson and Jabbar, claiming it depicted the Showtime era inaccurately and was deliberately dishonest to the historical accuracy of the era. Jerry West demanded a retraction from HBO within two weeks of the show airing, arguing Clarke’s depiction of him in the series.
A statement was released by HBO a week later, saying:
“HBO has a long history of producing compelling content drawn from actual facts and events that are fictionalized in part for dramatic purposes. Winning Time is not a documentary and has not been presented as such. However, the series and its depictions are based on extensive factual research and reliable sourcing, and HBO stands resolutely behind our talented creators and cast who have brought dramatization of this epic chapter in basketball history to the screen.”
– HBO to The Hollywood Reporter
West then responded with an intention to pursue legal action against HBO for defamation even if he has to “take this all the way to the Supreme Court.” A legal case of defamation has yet to be filed against HBO on West’s behalf.
MY COURT SIDE CRITIQUE…
Regardless of the way it was perceived by the ex-lakers star players and ex-coach and General Manager, the series has been renewed and viewership for the series increased weekly right up until the season finale and has been received well by viewers as well cast, well done, and well written. The criticism only garnered the series more attention and gained the series more viewers in the end. No date has been set for the second season premiere but the series has begun production on the second season. But it sure does sound like this series is a winner.
All ten episodes of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty are now available to stream on HBOMAX.
