Winning Time: Rise of the Lakers Dynasty
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Winning Time: Rise of the Lakers Dynasty
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Winning Time: Rise of the Lakers Dynasty is a sports biopic that mixes dark comedy and drama to tell the story of the L.A. Lakers' meteoric rise to NBA success in the 1980s. It also features lots of mature content, including strong sexual content and nudity (breasts and bottoms). Cursing includes "s--t" and "f--k," and there's a lot of drinking, smoking, and drugs. Young basketball fans might be drawn to it because of its focus on basketball and famous NBA players, but it's more about the time than the game.
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What's the Story?
From the creators of Don't Look Up comes WINNING TIME: RISE OF THE LAKERS DYNASTY, a dark dramatic comedy about how the Los Angeles Lakers become the top NBA team in the 1980s. John C. Reilly plays Dr. Jerry Buss, the late chemist-turned real estate broker who bought the team in 1979, along with The Forum and The L.A. Kings hockey team. Determined to make it the most successful team in the fledgling NBA, he drafts Michigan State University sophomore Earvin "Magic" Johnson (played by Quincy Isaiah), much to the chagrin of volatile coach Jerry West (Jason Clarke) and top Lakers players Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Solomon Hughes) and Norm Nixon (played by his real-life son DeVaughn Nixon). While Dr. Buss, with the help of staff like Forum manager Claire Rothman (Gaby Hoffman) and his daughter Jeanie (Hadley Robinson) is determined to shake up the business, Magic Johnson is negotiating his own life as an NBA player, his relationship with girlfriend Earlitha "Cookie" Kelley (Tamera Tomakili), and the ongoing rivalry between him and Boston Celtics rookie Larry Bird (Sean Patrick Small).
Is It Any Good?
Based on a bestselling book by Jeff Pearlman, this fun limited series tells the story of Dr. Buss, Magic Johnson, and the Lakers, with some creative license. It's billed as a sports biopic, but reaches out to a wider audience by making it less about basketball, and more about what Los Angeles culture was like in the 1980s. Yes, it centers on some of the colorful individuals responsible for the success of the NBA team, as well as some of their friends, family, and rivals, many played by top actors like Sally Field and Adam Brody. However, it presents this story as an uneven combination of flashy visuals and fast-paced banter in which characters often break the fourth wall (ie. speak to the audience directly), and mixes it in with dry humor and deeper, more serious moments. As a result, it's easy to forget that the sport is supposed to be at the center of it all. Basketball fans looking for a series that concentrates on the game will be disappointed. However, those simply looking to be entertained will find Winning Time: Rise of the Lakers Dynasty engaging.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the success of the NBA franchise. What changes made to the league in the 1980s made basketball, and basketball players, go from just being good athletes to popular culture icons?
How historically accurate is Winning Time: Rise of the Lakers Dynasty? Should viewers expect to learn anything factual from the series? Or should they just expect to be entertained by the story it's telling?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 6, 2022
- Cast: John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, Gaby Hoffman
- Network: HBO
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts
- Character Strengths: Perseverance, Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: September 4, 2022
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