Summary
Clippedepisode 5 moves things inexorably toward the end of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s time in the NBA, andScreen Ranthas a clip from the episode. The series details a real 2014 scandal in which private recordings of Sterling were made public, revealing racist comments made by the owner. The scandal, which saw the owner forced to sell the team and banned for life from the NBA, was dramatized by Gina Welch, who created the hit FX on Hulu mini-series.
Screen Rantis happy to present a clip fromClippedepisode 5, in which Sterling’s team attempts to prepare his wife Shelly for an interview with the press. The clip features keyClippedcastmember Jacki Weaver as Shelly Sterling, who is hilariously ill-equipped to deal with a scandal. Take a look, and get ready to watchClippedepisode 5 on Tuesday, June 25 when it is released on Hulu.
How Clipped Found The Perfect Balance Of Drama & Comedy
WhenScreen Rantinterviewed Jacki Weaver, Ed O’Neill, and Cleopatra Coleman, a topic of conversation was the liberty the actors were allowed to take even as they portrayed real people. This is one of the strengths ofClipped,which was written to bring out the absurdity of many small interactions that came together to create the Sterling scandal and its aftermath. This was even encouraged on set, as revealed by series editor Susana Benaim. Here’s what she had to say:
Susana Benaim: This scene is a perfect example of the balance between the heavy subject matter and the absurdity of the characters that made cutting this show so fun for me. Francesca Gregorini, the director of the episode, encouraged the actors to take chances with ad-libs and got such great reaction moments from each of them. Jacki Weaver, Harriet Sansom Harris, Corbin Bernsen, and Jason Butler Harner made it easy for me with such comical performances.
As much as the actors clearly made the most of the freedom they had to explore their characters, the filmmakers made a point to keep the humor effective yet character-based. This helps keep the audience grounded in the true nature of the story, which is fitting when authenticity is key (Clippedeven stars real NBA players). Benaim said the following on that subject, specifically related to the above scene:
Susana Benaim: I approached this scene with Shelly’s emotional state at the forefront while balancing the comedy of the tight space all the characters were in. For example, in earlier versions of the scene, we added crunching sounds to heighten the physical comedy of Corbin eating the nuts, but we found that playing the scene though Jackie’s reactions was funnier, so we reduced some of the crunching. Once Gina Welch, our showrunner, got to the edit, she only had small adjustments to the length and pacing in the scene. So, it ended up pretty similar to the first version I cut!
Ultimately, the choice to balance comedic moments with drama is a choice that allows for the creation of a fun series that still highlights a real issue—and points to problems that continue to plague American society. The issues presented in the series extend beyond the it on a broader scope thanwhat happened to Donald Sterling afterClipped, and for that, a certain level of gravitas is required. Still, the hilarity present in scenes like the one above makeClippeda fun watch that can make it easier for some viewers to engage with the subject matter.
Clipped
Cast
“Clipped” takes viewers inside the Los Angeles Clippers' organization during one of its most controversial periods. The series follows Coach Doc Rivers, portrayed by Laurence Fishburne, as he navigates the fallout from owner Donald Sterling’s racist remarks. The scandal, captured on tape and broadcast globally, sparks a fierce power struggle involving Sterling, his wife Shelly, and his ambitious assistant V. Stiviano. As Rivers works to keep his team united and focused on winning, the show explores the broader implications of Sterling’s actions and the quest for accountability and change within the sports world.
