The Inside Story
By Martin Brown,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Unnecessary doc celebrates shallow side of sports showbiz.
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The Inside Story
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What's the Story?
THE INSIDE STORY goes backstage at Inside the NBA to tell the story of how the talk show came to be and why it works so well. When Inside the NBA debuted in 1989, it barely resembled what it looks like now. But the chemistry between hosts Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson has turned what once was simple post-game analysis into an iconic brand. Each episode of The Inside Story focuses on one of its four stars, revealing how they came to the show and what unique energy they add to the mix.
Is It Any Good?
Sports media has become dominated by its loudest voices, not its smartest, sincerest, or its funniest; sadly the aspects of Inside the NBA this docu focuses on are its loudest, its most obnoxious. There are moments where sincerity creeps in to The Inside Story, like in its discussion of Ernie Johnson's battle with cancer, or in the brief moments they bring the guys typically behind the camera out front. But mostly, The Inside Story is clips of Shaq and Charles Barkley talking smack, and then having other people talk about how great they are. The way Shaq and Barkley talk to current NBA athletes is often condescending and demeaning, but The Inside Story spends a lot of its run time carrying water for them, justifying their old-man-yells-at-cloud crotchetiness. Self-aggrandizement is standard for this type of documentary, but here they're celebrating aspects of the media that probably shouldn't be lauded, and not in a smart or funny way.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Inside the NBA. Do you watch the show? What do you like about it? Do you have a favorite cast member?
What makes Inside the NBA unique? Why is it important? What other shows were influenced by it?
What did you learn about the history of Inside the NBA? How did it succeed?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 4, 2021
- Cast: Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith
- Networks: Max, TNT
- Genre: Variety Show
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: March 2, 2022
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