Think about how competitive the Emmy race is: There are so many excellent shows that deserve attention yet fail to make the nomination cut because they’re either not considered one of the frontrunners or they air on a broadcast network. That’s rough.
Now, imagine being a critically acclaimed drama on a premium network/streaming hybrid in a season where the drama race is pretty wide open. You’ve got big stars, high production values and well-known source material. Shoo-in, right?
Not if you’ve been canceled. (Cue sad trombone sound effect.) That’s the unfortunate fate of “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,” the HBO series executive produced by Adam McKay that continued to earn raves in Season 2 for its heightened, not-quite-accurate-but-entertainingly-close-enough take on the 1980s rise of the “Showtime”-era Los Angeles Lakers. “Winning Time” should be in the awards conversation … but wound up getting canceled in September.
Now, imagine being a critically acclaimed drama on a premium network/streaming hybrid in a season where the drama race is pretty wide open. You’ve got big stars, high production values and well-known source material. Shoo-in, right?
Not if you’ve been canceled. (Cue sad trombone sound effect.) That’s the unfortunate fate of “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,” the HBO series executive produced by Adam McKay that continued to earn raves in Season 2 for its heightened, not-quite-accurate-but-entertainingly-close-enough take on the 1980s rise of the “Showtime”-era Los Angeles Lakers. “Winning Time” should be in the awards conversation … but wound up getting canceled in September.
- 5/24/2024
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: The Latino Film Institute has set its lineup for the 23rd Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, which will take place from May 29th through June 2nd at the Tcl Chinese Theatres in Hollywood.
Laliff will open with the critically acclaimed In the Summers, directed by Alessandra Lacorazza and starring René Pérez Joglar a.k.a Residente in his feature film debut, Sasha Calle, Lío Mehiel and Leslie Grace. Accolades include the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and the U.S. Dramatic Directing Award for Lacorazza at the Sundance Film Festival.
The film tells the story of Violeta and Eva who, every summer, visit their loving but reckless father Vicente, who tries to atone for the past by creating a world of wonder for them to experience. But old wounds do not heal easily and despite the fun facade, Vicente’s battle with addiction gradually erodes the magic,...
Laliff will open with the critically acclaimed In the Summers, directed by Alessandra Lacorazza and starring René Pérez Joglar a.k.a Residente in his feature film debut, Sasha Calle, Lío Mehiel and Leslie Grace. Accolades include the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and the U.S. Dramatic Directing Award for Lacorazza at the Sundance Film Festival.
The film tells the story of Violeta and Eva who, every summer, visit their loving but reckless father Vicente, who tries to atone for the past by creating a world of wonder for them to experience. But old wounds do not heal easily and despite the fun facade, Vicente’s battle with addiction gradually erodes the magic,...
- 5/6/2024
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Swagger is a sports drama in the Apple TV+ series created by Reggie Rock Bythewood. Loosely inspired by the real-life experiences of NBA player Kevin Durant, the Apple TV+ series explores the world of youth basketball through the players and their families and all the people involved in making the youngster’s dream come true. Swagger stars Solomon Irama, Tessa Ferrer, Quvenzhané Wallis, Shinelle Azoroh, O’Seah Jackson Jr., Caleel Harris, Tristan Wilds, Isaiah Hill, James Bingham, and Ozie Nzeribe. So, if you loved Swagger and all of its drama and a look into the world of sports here are some similar shows you should check out next.
All American (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – The CW
Inspired by the real-life of pro football player Spencer Paysinger, All American is a sports drama that will show you the story behind the legend just like Swagger did. Created by April Blair,...
All American (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – The CW
Inspired by the real-life of pro football player Spencer Paysinger, All American is a sports drama that will show you the story behind the legend just like Swagger did. Created by April Blair,...
- 3/25/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Chris Brown revealed that he was invited to play on a team during the NBA All-Star Game Weekend, only to be uninvited later.
The singer shared screenshots on social media of emails that welcomed him to the festivities, including a mock-up of the blue uniform he would be wearing while on the celebrity team coached by Lil Wayne.
“I was asked by the NBA to play in the all star game this year! Only for them to call later and say they couldn’t do It because of their sponsors, like Ruffles,” Brown wrote on his Instagram Story. “At this point I’m sick of people bothering me and I’m tired of living in the fucking past.”
He continued, “I Posted The Emails So Yall Could See. The NBA still was tryna get me to come and sit court side… Not Fucking Happening.” He concluded his posts: “I Only Go Where Im Appreciated.
The singer shared screenshots on social media of emails that welcomed him to the festivities, including a mock-up of the blue uniform he would be wearing while on the celebrity team coached by Lil Wayne.
“I was asked by the NBA to play in the all star game this year! Only for them to call later and say they couldn’t do It because of their sponsors, like Ruffles,” Brown wrote on his Instagram Story. “At this point I’m sick of people bothering me and I’m tired of living in the fucking past.”
He continued, “I Posted The Emails So Yall Could See. The NBA still was tryna get me to come and sit court side… Not Fucking Happening.” He concluded his posts: “I Only Go Where Im Appreciated.
- 2/17/2024
- by Christy Piña
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The NBA’s All-Star weekend includes some fantastic events to make the fan experience complete. One of the most beloved parts of the NBA All-Star festivities is its celebrity basketball game; this year, the NBA All-Star Celebrity game will take place on Friday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. Et on ESPN. Watch as your favorite celebs take to the hardwood to show off their skills (or lack thereof!). You can watch ESPN with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. You can also watch with Sling TV, Hulu Live TV, Fubo, or YouTube TV.
How to Watch 2024 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game When: Friday, February 16, 2024 at 7:00 Pm Est TV: ESPN Stream: Watch with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. 5-Day Free Trial$79.99+ / month directv.com/stream
Save $50 Over Your First Two Months of Directv Stream.
About 2024 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
Each celebrity team will feature one WNBA star, as two-time...
How to Watch 2024 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game When: Friday, February 16, 2024 at 7:00 Pm Est TV: ESPN Stream: Watch with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. 5-Day Free Trial$79.99+ / month directv.com/stream
Save $50 Over Your First Two Months of Directv Stream.
About 2024 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
Each celebrity team will feature one WNBA star, as two-time...
- 2/16/2024
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
What’s more romantic than proving you didn’t kill your lover?
A live reading of Justine Triet’s Oscar-nominated crime drama “Anatomy of a Fall” is taking over Valentine’s Day 2024 courtesy of Neon and Film Independent. Emmy-nominated actress Riley Keough portrays Sandra, the aforementioned “Basic Instinct”-esque supposed murderer whom Sandra Hüller plays in the feature.
Hüller is nominated for Best Actress, with the feature up for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing at the 2024 Oscars. The film is additionally in the race for Best International Film at the upcoming Film Independent Spirit Awards.
Writer/director Justine Triet hosts the in-person live reading with the American cast, led by Keough. The live-reading cast is rounded out by Jay Ellis who plays Sandra’s (deceased) husband Samuel, Kate Berlant as their son Daniel (in a gender swap), and Bob Odenkirk as Sandra’s “hot” lawyer Vincent.
A live reading of Justine Triet’s Oscar-nominated crime drama “Anatomy of a Fall” is taking over Valentine’s Day 2024 courtesy of Neon and Film Independent. Emmy-nominated actress Riley Keough portrays Sandra, the aforementioned “Basic Instinct”-esque supposed murderer whom Sandra Hüller plays in the feature.
Hüller is nominated for Best Actress, with the feature up for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing at the 2024 Oscars. The film is additionally in the race for Best International Film at the upcoming Film Independent Spirit Awards.
Writer/director Justine Triet hosts the in-person live reading with the American cast, led by Keough. The live-reading cast is rounded out by Jay Ellis who plays Sandra’s (deceased) husband Samuel, Kate Berlant as their son Daniel (in a gender swap), and Bob Odenkirk as Sandra’s “hot” lawyer Vincent.
- 2/12/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Riley Keough, Bob Odenkirk and Danny Ramirez will star in a live reading of the Oscar-nominated drama “Anatomy of a Fall,” as will Jay Ellis, Kate Berlant, Quincy Isaiah and Olivia Wilde.
Keough (“Daisy Jones & the Six”) takes on the lead role of Sandra, which earned Sandra Hüller an Oscar nomination for best actress at the upcoming Academy Awards.
In addition to the human cast, the movie’s dog Messi will reprise his role as Snoop.
The event, taking place Feb. 14 at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, is presented by Neon and Film Independent. The film’s director Justine Triet will co-direct with Franklin Leonard of The Black List.
“My partner Arthur and I wrote this script while in quarantine together,” Triet said in a statement on Saturday. “What better way to spend Valentine’s Day than with this caliber of talent exploring relationships,...
Keough (“Daisy Jones & the Six”) takes on the lead role of Sandra, which earned Sandra Hüller an Oscar nomination for best actress at the upcoming Academy Awards.
In addition to the human cast, the movie’s dog Messi will reprise his role as Snoop.
The event, taking place Feb. 14 at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, is presented by Neon and Film Independent. The film’s director Justine Triet will co-direct with Franklin Leonard of The Black List.
“My partner Arthur and I wrote this script while in quarantine together,” Triet said in a statement on Saturday. “What better way to spend Valentine’s Day than with this caliber of talent exploring relationships,...
- 2/10/2024
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
Season one of “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” ended on an appropriately triumphant note with the Los Angeles Lakers’ victory over the Boston Celtics in the 1980 NBA Championships. Not only was Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) vindicated after his tumultuous first year as franchise owner, but budding superstar Earvin “Magic” Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) and his seasoned counterpart Kareen Abdul-Jabbar (Solomon Hughes) put aside their differences to unite their teammates both on and off the court. For the acclaimed HBO series, repeating that success — dramatically, much less historically — would prove a more difficult challenge, and not just because in real life the Lakers wouldn’t win a second title for two years, and three more for a third.
After helming two episodes in Season One (including that nail-biting finale), Salli Richardson-Whitfield graduated to executive producer for Season Two. Looking forward not only at the complicated trajectory of the...
After helming two episodes in Season One (including that nail-biting finale), Salli Richardson-Whitfield graduated to executive producer for Season Two. Looking forward not only at the complicated trajectory of the...
- 12/14/2023
- by Todd Gilchrist
- Variety Film + TV
/Film's Ryan Scott is on the ground at Austin Film Festival, and today attended a panel centered on Max Borenstein, co-creator of the recently-canceled HBO series "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty." The series, set in 1979-1980 and adapted from the nonfiction book "Showtime" by Jeff Pearlman, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Los Angeles NBA team and its management during 1980 (when the team was home to legends like Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabar).
While fans may be disappointed about the series being canceled after just two seasons, some of its subjects might feel vindicated. For example, former Lakers coach Jerry West (played by Jason Clarke in "Winning Time") threatened legal action against HBO for his portrayal. The network refused to budge or throw its creators under the bus, citing dramatic license, as "Winning Time" is a dramatization, and providing assurance that the writers had done their homework.
While fans may be disappointed about the series being canceled after just two seasons, some of its subjects might feel vindicated. For example, former Lakers coach Jerry West (played by Jason Clarke in "Winning Time") threatened legal action against HBO for his portrayal. The network refused to budge or throw its creators under the bus, citing dramatic license, as "Winning Time" is a dramatization, and providing assurance that the writers had done their homework.
- 10/28/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Following the conclusion of HBO’s acclaimed sports drama series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, actor Quincy Isaiah has signed with Range Media Partners for representation.
Created for the premium cabler by Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht, the show marking Isaiah’s breakout role had him playing legendary Lakers point guard Magic Johnson. Based on a book by Jeff Pearlman, it chronicled the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties — a team that defined an era, both on and off the court.
Among those Isaiah starred opposite are John C. Reilly, Jason Clarke, Jason Segel, Gaby Hoffmann, Rob Morgan, Adrien Brody, and Solomon Hughes. Exec produced by Adam McKay, who also directed the pilot, Winning Time premiered in March 2022 and wrapped up its two-season run in September. For his performance, capturing the physicality, charisma and confidence of Johnson,...
Created for the premium cabler by Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht, the show marking Isaiah’s breakout role had him playing legendary Lakers point guard Magic Johnson. Based on a book by Jeff Pearlman, it chronicled the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties — a team that defined an era, both on and off the court.
Among those Isaiah starred opposite are John C. Reilly, Jason Clarke, Jason Segel, Gaby Hoffmann, Rob Morgan, Adrien Brody, and Solomon Hughes. Exec produced by Adam McKay, who also directed the pilot, Winning Time premiered in March 2022 and wrapped up its two-season run in September. For his performance, capturing the physicality, charisma and confidence of Johnson,...
- 10/3/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The cancellation of “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” provoked a wide range of responses from fans, ranging from displeasure at the anticlimactic ending to calls for Showtime to revive the series with a more appropriate title. But to Magic Johnson, who was played by Quincy Isaiah in the unauthorized series, the show’s untimely end was a vindication of his public criticisms.
The NBA legend had led a chorus of former Los Angeles Lakers, including his former teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and coach Jerry West, in calling out what they saw as the show’s factual inaccuracies. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Johnson expressed some schadenfreude about the show’s cancellation and reiterated his belief that the story of the 1980s Lakers could not be told without the involvement of the team.
“Well, I never watched it because nobody in this world can tell the Lakers story [like it needed to be told]. The Showtime story?...
The NBA legend had led a chorus of former Los Angeles Lakers, including his former teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and coach Jerry West, in calling out what they saw as the show’s factual inaccuracies. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Johnson expressed some schadenfreude about the show’s cancellation and reiterated his belief that the story of the 1980s Lakers could not be told without the involvement of the team.
“Well, I never watched it because nobody in this world can tell the Lakers story [like it needed to be told]. The Showtime story?...
- 10/1/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
While most of us here at JoBlo are pretty bummed that HBO cancelled Winning Time, their terrific depiction of the Lakers Dynasty, it turns out that many of the players depicted on the show are indifferent about its cancellation. Magic Johnson, the main character on the show (and played by the terrific Quincy Isaiah), says he never watched the show. At a recent event (The Elizabeth Taylor Ball to End AIDS), According to THR, Johnson stated, “Well, I never watched it because nobody in this world can tell the Lakers story [like it needed to be told]. The Showtime story? Nobody! Dr. Buss was way ahead of his time as an owner. Our team? Unbelievable! The Laker Girls with Paula Abdul? Unbelievable! Nobody can tell that story.”
Many former players, particularly the outspoken Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, disliked the show. In a THR op-ed, He took issue with how former Lakers head coach Jerry West was portrayed, which...
Many former players, particularly the outspoken Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, disliked the show. In a THR op-ed, He took issue with how former Lakers head coach Jerry West was portrayed, which...
- 9/26/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
On the heels of Sept. 17’s season two finale of HBO’s Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, fans were shocked to learn that the series had been canceled. Others, like Magic Johnson, were unfazed.
“Well, I never watched it because nobody in this world can tell the Lakers story [like it needed to be told]. The Showtime story? Nobody! Dr. Buss was way ahead of his time as an owner. Our team? Unbelievable! The Laker girls with Paula Abdul? Unbelievable! Nobody can tell that story,” the NBA great told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday night when asked about it on the red carpet at the Elizabeth Taylor Ball to End AIDS. “So, none of us watched it because it was fictional. You just can’t tell that story. But, hey, that’s on them.”
Based on Jeff Pearlman’s book, Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers, Winning Time chronicled the...
“Well, I never watched it because nobody in this world can tell the Lakers story [like it needed to be told]. The Showtime story? Nobody! Dr. Buss was way ahead of his time as an owner. Our team? Unbelievable! The Laker girls with Paula Abdul? Unbelievable! Nobody can tell that story,” the NBA great told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday night when asked about it on the red carpet at the Elizabeth Taylor Ball to End AIDS. “So, none of us watched it because it was fictional. You just can’t tell that story. But, hey, that’s on them.”
Based on Jeff Pearlman’s book, Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers, Winning Time chronicled the...
- 9/25/2023
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The second season of HBO's Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty sped through four seasons of the Los Angeles Lakers' Showtime era in search of a villain. Was it Paul Westhead (Jason Segel), the academically inclined head coach who antagonized his players while subjugating them to his vainglorious "system"? Was it Norm Nixon (DeVaughn Nixon) or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Solomon Hughes), whose petty rivalries with Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) nearly imploded the team's chemistry? Was it Dr. Jerry Buss' (John C. Reilly) new (sort of) wife, Honey (Ari Graynor), whose palimony lawsuit threatened to take down the entire Buss empire?...
- 9/19/2023
- by Joe Reid
- Primetimer
For HBO, the Los Angeles Lakers’ decade-long dynasty never really was. The premium cabler said Sunday that Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty was canceled after two seasons — with just one of the team’s five 1980s NBA titles depicted onscreen.
In an exit interview with Vulture, Winning Time EP Kevin Messick the producers never had a time frame for how long the series might run, saying: “I think we always took it season by season. Before the [WGA] strike happened, we had just started to talk about what would’ve happened in Season 3, but all that was curtailed and cut short.”
Season 2 was intended to end with the Lakers’ churning loss to the archrival Boston Celtics in the 1984 NBA Finals. That version was sent to critics as the season began, but the tweaked version that aired featured Lakers owner Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) and his daughter and...
In an exit interview with Vulture, Winning Time EP Kevin Messick the producers never had a time frame for how long the series might run, saying: “I think we always took it season by season. Before the [WGA] strike happened, we had just started to talk about what would’ve happened in Season 3, but all that was curtailed and cut short.”
Season 2 was intended to end with the Lakers’ churning loss to the archrival Boston Celtics in the 1984 NBA Finals. That version was sent to critics as the season began, but the tweaked version that aired featured Lakers owner Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) and his daughter and...
- 9/19/2023
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The cancellation of HBO’s “Winning Time” after two seasons did not come as a complete surprise to executive producer Kevin Messick. He, along with his fellow creatives, was told back in January to prep a version of the ending in case the show’s season finale became a series finale.
“There were never any guarantees in today’s marketplace of a subsequent season, so the planning for the ‘what if’ scenario — if this was not just a season finale but the series finale — was from the conversation we had back in January while we were still in production,” Messick, who also an executive producer on “Succession,” told Vulture in an interview released following the finale.
“We got a call from HBO. They said, ‘Think about it so that you have the option while you’re still in production to figure out how it might end if, sadly, that was the end of it.
“There were never any guarantees in today’s marketplace of a subsequent season, so the planning for the ‘what if’ scenario — if this was not just a season finale but the series finale — was from the conversation we had back in January while we were still in production,” Messick, who also an executive producer on “Succession,” told Vulture in an interview released following the finale.
“We got a call from HBO. They said, ‘Think about it so that you have the option while you’re still in production to figure out how it might end if, sadly, that was the end of it.
- 9/18/2023
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
The Los Angeles Lakers have a long history and the producers of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty have managed to attract some impressive performers to play legendary people in the NBA team's story. Still, that's no guarantee that HBO will keep renewing the show to see the team's story come to some resolution. Will Winning Time be cancelled or renewed for season three? Stay tuned. *Status Update Below.
A sports comedy-drama series, the Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty TV show is based on a book by Jeff Pearlman. The second season cast includes John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, Adrien Brody, Jason Clarke, Gaby Hoffmann, Jason Segel, Hadley Robinson, DeVaughn Nixon, Solomon Hughes, Tamera Tomakili, Brett Cullen, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Spencer Garrett, Molly Gordon, Joey Brooks, Delante Desouza, Jimel Atkins, Austin Aaron, McCabe Slye, Thomas...
A sports comedy-drama series, the Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty TV show is based on a book by Jeff Pearlman. The second season cast includes John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, Adrien Brody, Jason Clarke, Gaby Hoffmann, Jason Segel, Hadley Robinson, DeVaughn Nixon, Solomon Hughes, Tamera Tomakili, Brett Cullen, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Spencer Garrett, Molly Gordon, Joey Brooks, Delante Desouza, Jimel Atkins, Austin Aaron, McCabe Slye, Thomas...
- 9/18/2023
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
The story of the Lakers Showtime dynasty continues in the second season of the Winning Time TV show on HBO. As we all know, Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether a TV show like Winning Time is cancelled or renewed for season three. Unfortunately, most of us do not live in Nielsen households. Because many viewers feel frustrated when their viewing habits and opinions aren't considered, we invite you to rate all of the second season episodes of Winning Time here. *Status Update Below.
An HBO sports comedy-drama series, the Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty TV show is based on a book by Jeff Pearlman. The second season cast includes John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, Adrien Brody, Jason Clarke, Gaby Hoffmann, Jason Segel, Hadley Robinson, DeVaughn Nixon, Solomon Hughes, Tamera Tomakili, Brett Cullen, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Spencer Garrett,...
An HBO sports comedy-drama series, the Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty TV show is based on a book by Jeff Pearlman. The second season cast includes John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, Adrien Brody, Jason Clarke, Gaby Hoffmann, Jason Segel, Hadley Robinson, DeVaughn Nixon, Solomon Hughes, Tamera Tomakili, Brett Cullen, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Spencer Garrett,...
- 9/18/2023
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Well, this is a bit of a shocker.
HBO has confirmed the demise of the 1980s basketball drama Winning Time.
The series wrapped its sophomore run Sunday night and was canceled the same day as the finale.
Series showrunner Max Borenstein alluded to the cancellation with a message on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Not the ending that we had in mind. But nothing but gratitude and love," he wrote.
Fans commented their thoughts on the shocking decision below the Tweet.
"So sorry Max. I eagerly anticipated each episode and enjoyed the hell out of the series," said one fan, adding:
"Congratulations on making something so creatively successful as Winning Time."
"Everything I anticipated it could be and even better when you told me about it at that lunch way back when," said another fan.
"Disappointed it couldn't at least get to Riley's promise of a repeat, but everything you did do was great.
HBO has confirmed the demise of the 1980s basketball drama Winning Time.
The series wrapped its sophomore run Sunday night and was canceled the same day as the finale.
Series showrunner Max Borenstein alluded to the cancellation with a message on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Not the ending that we had in mind. But nothing but gratitude and love," he wrote.
Fans commented their thoughts on the shocking decision below the Tweet.
"So sorry Max. I eagerly anticipated each episode and enjoyed the hell out of the series," said one fan, adding:
"Congratulations on making something so creatively successful as Winning Time."
"Everything I anticipated it could be and even better when you told me about it at that lunch way back when," said another fan.
"Disappointed it couldn't at least get to Riley's promise of a repeat, but everything you did do was great.
- 9/18/2023
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
Sound the buzzer and clear the path to the locker rooms because Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty ends its run after two seasons. Creator Max Borenstein confirmed the news on the app formally known as Twitter, saying, “Not the ending that we had in mind,” expressing his disappointment in not finishing the story on its own terms. “But nothing but gratitude and love,” he added.
Director Salli Richardson joined the chorus on Instagram by saying, “When you give it everything you’ve got, you can have no regrets. I hope you enjoy the last episode of @winningtimehbo I am sure I will do many more hours of TV and hopefully many features in my future, but I can say that at this moment in time I am most proud of the work we did on this masterful show.”
Not the ending that we had in mind.
But nothing but gratitude and love.
Director Salli Richardson joined the chorus on Instagram by saying, “When you give it everything you’ve got, you can have no regrets. I hope you enjoy the last episode of @winningtimehbo I am sure I will do many more hours of TV and hopefully many features in my future, but I can say that at this moment in time I am most proud of the work we did on this masterful show.”
Not the ending that we had in mind.
But nothing but gratitude and love.
- 9/18/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
It was a twist ending fans of “Winning Time” certainly didn’t appreciate.
While it was promoted as the season finale on social media, the HBO series about the Los Angeles Lakers’ ‘80s dynasty ended its run on Sunday night, with a final episode that detailed the Lakers’ crushing loss to the Boston Celtics in the 1984 NBA Finals and then featured an epilogue focused on all the future successes the show won’t dramatize for series television. Shortly after the finale ended, it was revealed HBO had canceled “Winning Time” after two seasons.
The epilogue, which noted that the Lakers defeated their archrival in 1985 and then again in 1987, was preceded by a scene featuring Dr. Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) and his daughter, Jeannie Buss (Hadley Robinson), where the elder Buss consoled the youngster that everything would work out despite the finals defeat because, in part, “we fucking own this.
While it was promoted as the season finale on social media, the HBO series about the Los Angeles Lakers’ ‘80s dynasty ended its run on Sunday night, with a final episode that detailed the Lakers’ crushing loss to the Boston Celtics in the 1984 NBA Finals and then featured an epilogue focused on all the future successes the show won’t dramatize for series television. Shortly after the finale ended, it was revealed HBO had canceled “Winning Time” after two seasons.
The epilogue, which noted that the Lakers defeated their archrival in 1985 and then again in 1987, was preceded by a scene featuring Dr. Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) and his daughter, Jeannie Buss (Hadley Robinson), where the elder Buss consoled the youngster that everything would work out despite the finals defeat because, in part, “we fucking own this.
- 9/18/2023
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
The Winning Time TV series is out. HBO has cancelled the low-rated series but gave producers time to give the show an ending. The season and series finale aired tonight.
A sports comedy-drama series, the Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty TV show is based on a book by Jeff Pearlman. The second season cast includes John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, Adrien Brody, Jason Clarke, Gaby Hoffmann, Jason Segel, Hadley Robinson, DeVaughn Nixon, Solomon Hughes, Tamera Tomakili, Brett Cullen, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Spencer Garrett, Molly Gordon, Joey Brooks, Delante Desouza, Jimel Atkins, Austin Aaron, McCabe Slye, Thomas Mann, and Gillian Jacobs, with Michael Chiklis and Rob Morgan. The show is billed as a fast-break series about the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, one of professional basketball's most revered and dominant dynasties. The...
A sports comedy-drama series, the Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty TV show is based on a book by Jeff Pearlman. The second season cast includes John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, Adrien Brody, Jason Clarke, Gaby Hoffmann, Jason Segel, Hadley Robinson, DeVaughn Nixon, Solomon Hughes, Tamera Tomakili, Brett Cullen, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Spencer Garrett, Molly Gordon, Joey Brooks, Delante Desouza, Jimel Atkins, Austin Aaron, McCabe Slye, Thomas Mann, and Gillian Jacobs, with Michael Chiklis and Rob Morgan. The show is billed as a fast-break series about the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, one of professional basketball's most revered and dominant dynasties. The...
- 9/18/2023
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
This post contains spoilers for the Season Two finale of HBO’s Winning Time, now streaming on Max.
Winning Time, the HBO drama about the Los Angeles Lakers’ Showtime dynasty in the Eighties, has been accused by members of those teams of rewriting history. With what unexpectedly turned out to be a series, and not season, finale, the show had to rewrite its own past, as well as its future.
Early in the summer, critics were given screeners of all seven episodes of this abbreviated second season. The version of...
Winning Time, the HBO drama about the Los Angeles Lakers’ Showtime dynasty in the Eighties, has been accused by members of those teams of rewriting history. With what unexpectedly turned out to be a series, and not season, finale, the show had to rewrite its own past, as well as its future.
Early in the summer, critics were given screeners of all seven episodes of this abbreviated second season. The version of...
- 9/18/2023
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
HBO’s Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty has come to an end.
After the second season finale Sunday, Creator Max Borenstein confirmed the news on X. “Not the ending that we had in mind,” he wrote. “But nothing but gratitude and love.”
Director Salli Richardson followed up on Instagram with “When you give it everything you’ve got, you can have no regrets. I hope you enjoy the last episode of @winningtimehbo I am sure I will do many more hours of TV and hopefully many features in my future, but I can say that at this moment in time I am most proud of the work we did on this masterful show.”
Added co-creator/executive producer Jim Hecht on X, “9.5 years. We made the show of my dreams. That wasn’t the ending we hoped for but very grateful to everyone who watched and for trusting me with his genius book.
After the second season finale Sunday, Creator Max Borenstein confirmed the news on X. “Not the ending that we had in mind,” he wrote. “But nothing but gratitude and love.”
Director Salli Richardson followed up on Instagram with “When you give it everything you’ve got, you can have no regrets. I hope you enjoy the last episode of @winningtimehbo I am sure I will do many more hours of TV and hopefully many features in my future, but I can say that at this moment in time I am most proud of the work we did on this masterful show.”
Added co-creator/executive producer Jim Hecht on X, “9.5 years. We made the show of my dreams. That wasn’t the ending we hoped for but very grateful to everyone who watched and for trusting me with his genius book.
- 9/18/2023
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
Season 2 of “Winning Time” concluded Sunday evening with the Lakers’ devastating loss to the Celtics during the 1984 NBA finals, and as it turns out the episode serves as the series finale for the HBO series — the network announced Sunday night that it would not be moving forward with more seasons.
But that’s not to say future seasons weren’t already in mind for the show’s creators.
“In real life, the Lakers come back and beat the Celtics the next year. So that would absolutely be at the heart of any Season 3,” executive producer Kevin Messick told TheWrap during an interview conducted before the show’s fate had been determined. “In terms of the longevity of the show, there’s a lot more Laker stories to tell, a lot more characters, larger than life, as big and bigger than Magic [Johnson] and Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] that have yet to enter onto the stage.
But that’s not to say future seasons weren’t already in mind for the show’s creators.
“In real life, the Lakers come back and beat the Celtics the next year. So that would absolutely be at the heart of any Season 3,” executive producer Kevin Messick told TheWrap during an interview conducted before the show’s fate had been determined. “In terms of the longevity of the show, there’s a lot more Laker stories to tell, a lot more characters, larger than life, as big and bigger than Magic [Johnson] and Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] that have yet to enter onto the stage.
- 9/18/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
[This story contains spoilers from the finale of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty season two.]
The name says it all when it comes to the title of episode one of season two of the HBO sports drama Winning Time: “One Ring Don’t Make a Dynasty.”
How the second season started — the Lakers celebrating their win over the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA World Championship — isn’t how it ended: In the finale, the Celtics beat out the Lakers in the 1984 NBA Finals. But it’s the moments in between those defining games that give audiences a clearer picture of what the central players in the Lakers franchise were up against on and off the court.
Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) and his relationship with then-on-again-off-again girlfriend Earlitha “Cookie” Kelly (Tamera Tomakili) was a focal point throughout season two, which began with the 6 foot, 9 inch pro baller finding out he’d fathered a child, his first son Andre Johnson,...
The name says it all when it comes to the title of episode one of season two of the HBO sports drama Winning Time: “One Ring Don’t Make a Dynasty.”
How the second season started — the Lakers celebrating their win over the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA World Championship — isn’t how it ended: In the finale, the Celtics beat out the Lakers in the 1984 NBA Finals. But it’s the moments in between those defining games that give audiences a clearer picture of what the central players in the Lakers franchise were up against on and off the court.
Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) and his relationship with then-on-again-off-again girlfriend Earlitha “Cookie” Kelly (Tamera Tomakili) was a focal point throughout season two, which began with the 6 foot, 9 inch pro baller finding out he’d fathered a child, his first son Andre Johnson,...
- 9/18/2023
- by Brande Victorian
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
After ordering a pilot tentatively titled “Showtime” in 2019, HBO announced in late 2021 that its Los Angeles Lakers-inspired series would be known as “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” and debut in March of the following year. (It dropped the “Showtime” name due to a certain competing premium cable network.) Unfortunately for fans, Sunday’s Season 2 finale also serves as the series finale — HBO has announced that the show has been canceled.
The show, a dramatized retelling of the rise of the 1980s “Showtime” era of the Lakers, was renewed for a second season a month after its debut. The show is based on Jeff Pearlman’s book “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s.”
Just last month, Pearlman expressed his worry that a Season 3 wouldn’t happen for the series, citing the ongoing Hollywood strikes as a major reason why as actors...
The show, a dramatized retelling of the rise of the 1980s “Showtime” era of the Lakers, was renewed for a second season a month after its debut. The show is based on Jeff Pearlman’s book “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s.”
Just last month, Pearlman expressed his worry that a Season 3 wouldn’t happen for the series, citing the ongoing Hollywood strikes as a major reason why as actors...
- 9/18/2023
- by Stephanie Kaloi
- The Wrap
Spoiler Alert: This article includes details about the Season 2 finale of “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,” now streaming on Max.
The show may have been called “Winning Time,” but it’s ending with a historic loss. HBO has confirmed to Variety that Sunday’s Season 2 finale is the last episode of the basketball series.
After a seven-game duel between the Lakers and the Celtics, Larry Bird (Sean Patrick Small) and his Boston ballers sink a dagger into their West Coast rivals, claiming victory as the NBA champions of 1984. It’s an ugly defeat for Los Angeles, who are immediately greeted with a stampede of Celtics fans rushing the floor before they can sulk off the court. Boston uncorks the Champagne while Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) collapses in the locker room showers, his spirits cratering to a new low as Led Zeppelin’s “What Is and What Should...
The show may have been called “Winning Time,” but it’s ending with a historic loss. HBO has confirmed to Variety that Sunday’s Season 2 finale is the last episode of the basketball series.
After a seven-game duel between the Lakers and the Celtics, Larry Bird (Sean Patrick Small) and his Boston ballers sink a dagger into their West Coast rivals, claiming victory as the NBA champions of 1984. It’s an ugly defeat for Los Angeles, who are immediately greeted with a stampede of Celtics fans rushing the floor before they can sulk off the court. Boston uncorks the Champagne while Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) collapses in the locker room showers, his spirits cratering to a new low as Led Zeppelin’s “What Is and What Should...
- 9/18/2023
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
The season finale of “Winning Time” Season 2 will see the rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird comes to a head at the 1984 NBA Finals.
In an exclusive clip shared with TheWrap, the Lakers are celebrating their win for Game 1 of the championship. But as they are getting ready to leave, their bus is immediately ambushed by angry Celtics fans.
In addition to the game, the episode follows Lakers owner Jerry Buss as he fends off a potentially life-altering lawsuit. Meanwhile, Claire Rothman faces the possibility of yet another bankruptcy and Jeanie Buss questions her place in professional sports.
“Winning Time” stars Quincy Isaiah, Adrien Brody, Jason Clarke, John. C Reilly, Hadley Robinson, Gaby Hoffmann, Jason Segel, Sean Patrick Small, Michael Chiklis, DeVaughn Nixon, Solomon Hughes, Tamera Tomakili, Brett Cullen, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Spencer Garrett, Molly Gordon, Joey Brooks, Delante Desouza, Jimel Atkins, Austin Aaron, McCabe Slye, Thomas Mann, Gillian Jacobs and Rob Morgan.
In an exclusive clip shared with TheWrap, the Lakers are celebrating their win for Game 1 of the championship. But as they are getting ready to leave, their bus is immediately ambushed by angry Celtics fans.
In addition to the game, the episode follows Lakers owner Jerry Buss as he fends off a potentially life-altering lawsuit. Meanwhile, Claire Rothman faces the possibility of yet another bankruptcy and Jeanie Buss questions her place in professional sports.
“Winning Time” stars Quincy Isaiah, Adrien Brody, Jason Clarke, John. C Reilly, Hadley Robinson, Gaby Hoffmann, Jason Segel, Sean Patrick Small, Michael Chiklis, DeVaughn Nixon, Solomon Hughes, Tamera Tomakili, Brett Cullen, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Spencer Garrett, Molly Gordon, Joey Brooks, Delante Desouza, Jimel Atkins, Austin Aaron, McCabe Slye, Thomas Mann, Gillian Jacobs and Rob Morgan.
- 9/14/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Who doesn’t love watching a series that tells the true-life (or at least somewhat true-life) stories of real people? That’s what HBO’s hit series “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” provides for NBA fans, Angelenos and TV viewers alike.
“Winning Time” doesn’t feature any of the real-life people that the series depicts, though some of the actors bear striking resemblances to their counterparts.
The show has a massive cast, with Quincy Isaiah (Earvin “Magic” Johnson”), John C. Reilly (Jerry Buss), Adrien Brody (Pat Riley) and others taking center stage as leads. There were also newcomers who stepped onto the court as guest stars for the second season, included Joel Allen as Kurt Rambis, Jay Davis as Byron Scott, Quentin Shropshire as James Worthy, Matthew Barnes as Mitch Kupchak, Darryl Reynolds as Robert Parish, Andrew Stephens as Kevin McHale and Larry C. Fields III as Eddie Jordan.
“Winning Time” doesn’t feature any of the real-life people that the series depicts, though some of the actors bear striking resemblances to their counterparts.
The show has a massive cast, with Quincy Isaiah (Earvin “Magic” Johnson”), John C. Reilly (Jerry Buss), Adrien Brody (Pat Riley) and others taking center stage as leads. There were also newcomers who stepped onto the court as guest stars for the second season, included Joel Allen as Kurt Rambis, Jay Davis as Byron Scott, Quentin Shropshire as James Worthy, Matthew Barnes as Mitch Kupchak, Darryl Reynolds as Robert Parish, Andrew Stephens as Kevin McHale and Larry C. Fields III as Eddie Jordan.
- 9/9/2023
- by Raquel 'Rocky' Harris
- The Wrap
Note: This interview was conducted prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike and contains spoilers for Winning Time Season 2, Episode 5
In Sunday’s episode of HBO’s “Winning Time,” Kareem Abdul-Jabarr (Solomon Hughes) confronts Lakers owner Jerry Buss in a roller rink, accusing him of taking advantage of Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah).
To prepare for the confrontation, Hughes told TheWrap that he would sneak onto set with the show’s basketball assistant director Derek Dibiagio to learn how to roller skate.
“He generously brought his skates to work just about every day and we would sneak onto the set and roller skate on the court and it was like a month of learning,” Hughes recalled. “I learned early on, ‘you’re gonna get this scene with John C. Reilly and by the way, you’re gonna be on roller skates’ and I’m like ‘Oh, ok. All right.’ So that was fun...
In Sunday’s episode of HBO’s “Winning Time,” Kareem Abdul-Jabarr (Solomon Hughes) confronts Lakers owner Jerry Buss in a roller rink, accusing him of taking advantage of Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah).
To prepare for the confrontation, Hughes told TheWrap that he would sneak onto set with the show’s basketball assistant director Derek Dibiagio to learn how to roller skate.
“He generously brought his skates to work just about every day and we would sneak onto the set and roller skate on the court and it was like a month of learning,” Hughes recalled. “I learned early on, ‘you’re gonna get this scene with John C. Reilly and by the way, you’re gonna be on roller skates’ and I’m like ‘Oh, ok. All right.’ So that was fun...
- 9/5/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Note: This story contains spoilers from “Winning Time” Season 2, Episode 5.
In Sunday’s episode of “Winning Time,” Paul Westhead (Jason Segel) is fired as head coach of the Lakers. The actor said the twist was one of his “most fun days” on set.
“I did that scene over and over again with John C. Reilly,” he told TheWrap in an interview before the SAG-AFTRA strike. “That was a day of using all the different skills because there’s comedy in it. It’s pathetic, it’s dramatic. It just required a little bit of everything. And I got to dance with John C. Riley in that scene which is special thing.”
While Westhead is an important figure in Lakers history, Segel said he was also “lesser known,” giving him “a lot of freedom to explore what we’re trying to say with the character.”
“I hope he would appreciate,...
In Sunday’s episode of “Winning Time,” Paul Westhead (Jason Segel) is fired as head coach of the Lakers. The actor said the twist was one of his “most fun days” on set.
“I did that scene over and over again with John C. Reilly,” he told TheWrap in an interview before the SAG-AFTRA strike. “That was a day of using all the different skills because there’s comedy in it. It’s pathetic, it’s dramatic. It just required a little bit of everything. And I got to dance with John C. Riley in that scene which is special thing.”
While Westhead is an important figure in Lakers history, Segel said he was also “lesser known,” giving him “a lot of freedom to explore what we’re trying to say with the character.”
“I hope he would appreciate,...
- 9/4/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Paul Westhead is feeling the pressure of his feud with Magic Johnson in an exclusive sneak peak of Sunday’s new episode of HBO’s “Winning Time.”
In the episode, titled “The Hamburger Hamlet”, a final clash between Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) and the Lakers head coach (played by Jason Segel) causes Lakers owner Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) to task Jerry West (Jason Clarke) with picking up the pieces. Meanwhile, as Honey (Ari Graynor) attempts a heart-to-heart with Jeanie (Hadley Robninson), Buss faces pushback from the press and his captain. Later, Pat Riley (Adrien Brody) faces his demons and takes control of his team.
The clip sees Westhead pay a visit to Buss’ office, where the former is told that the latter is in a meeting.
“With who?,” Westhead asks, to which Buss’ secretary replies, “I’m not at liberty to say.”
As Westhead turns to leave, another door swings open where Jerry West,...
In the episode, titled “The Hamburger Hamlet”, a final clash between Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) and the Lakers head coach (played by Jason Segel) causes Lakers owner Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) to task Jerry West (Jason Clarke) with picking up the pieces. Meanwhile, as Honey (Ari Graynor) attempts a heart-to-heart with Jeanie (Hadley Robninson), Buss faces pushback from the press and his captain. Later, Pat Riley (Adrien Brody) faces his demons and takes control of his team.
The clip sees Westhead pay a visit to Buss’ office, where the former is told that the latter is in a meeting.
“With who?,” Westhead asks, to which Buss’ secretary replies, “I’m not at liberty to say.”
As Westhead turns to leave, another door swings open where Jerry West,...
- 8/31/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
In the first episode of “Winning Time” Season 2, audiences see Lakers owner Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) flipping through a scrapbook of his love interests just moments after a heated exchange with his kids — in which they call him out for ditching them for “p–y and fun.” He’s later seen wooing an old flame named Honey with a lavish date in Episode 2, and she’s even invited to the family’s game night in Sunday’s latest episode.
Buss, who is often seen in the HBO drama series with a drink and cigarette in his hand, was known for hosting extravagant parties at the Pickfair mansion, which he purchased in 1980 and is showcased throughout “Winning Time.”
Actor John C. Reilly, who plays Buss on “Winning Time,” said his “appetites” were the most surprising thing he learned while preparing for the role.
“If I had the kind of partying weekend that Jerry Buss had,...
Buss, who is often seen in the HBO drama series with a drink and cigarette in his hand, was known for hosting extravagant parties at the Pickfair mansion, which he purchased in 1980 and is showcased throughout “Winning Time.”
Actor John C. Reilly, who plays Buss on “Winning Time,” said his “appetites” were the most surprising thing he learned while preparing for the role.
“If I had the kind of partying weekend that Jerry Buss had,...
- 8/21/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
For Sean Patrick Small, playing Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird in the HBO drama series “Winning Time” was a “dream come true.”
“I get to act, play basketball and get paid to do so, while being one of, if not the, greatest [basketball players] of all time,” he told TheWrap in an interview conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike.
Small’s preparation for the role unknowingly started in 2014, as he worked on a miniseries focused on Bird’s life from his senior year of high school to his senior year of college.
“His whole back story really surprised me because he was at Indiana University for a short amount of time, dropped out, didn’t ever think he was going to go back to college. Was working for the county, picking garbage up weekly and painting park benches and loving it with his friends… and his father tragically passing, all this type...
“I get to act, play basketball and get paid to do so, while being one of, if not the, greatest [basketball players] of all time,” he told TheWrap in an interview conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike.
Small’s preparation for the role unknowingly started in 2014, as he worked on a miniseries focused on Bird’s life from his senior year of high school to his senior year of college.
“His whole back story really surprised me because he was at Indiana University for a short amount of time, dropped out, didn’t ever think he was going to go back to college. Was working for the county, picking garbage up weekly and painting park benches and loving it with his friends… and his father tragically passing, all this type...
- 8/21/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
[This story contains spoilers from the third episode of season two of Winning Time, “The Second Coming.”]
Stepping into dictating the overall creative vision for the latest episode in season two of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty was “a natural progression” of the work Todd Banhazl has done on the sports drama about the emergence of the basketball franchise. So says the filmmaker who received an Emmy nomination for best cinematography for a single-camera series for his work on the HBO show in 2022. Yet when it comes to being the one who directed Sunday’s pivotal episode — which sets the stage for the decades-long rivalry between Lakers leading man Magic Johnson (played by Quincy Isaiah) and Boston Celtics’ Larry Bird (played by Sean Patrick Small) — Banhazl, says casually, “I think I got really lucky.”
“I think this whole season is building up towards this battle, right?” Banhazl tells The Hollywood Reporter in the chat below. “It’s like this Lord of the Rings...
Stepping into dictating the overall creative vision for the latest episode in season two of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty was “a natural progression” of the work Todd Banhazl has done on the sports drama about the emergence of the basketball franchise. So says the filmmaker who received an Emmy nomination for best cinematography for a single-camera series for his work on the HBO show in 2022. Yet when it comes to being the one who directed Sunday’s pivotal episode — which sets the stage for the decades-long rivalry between Lakers leading man Magic Johnson (played by Quincy Isaiah) and Boston Celtics’ Larry Bird (played by Sean Patrick Small) — Banhazl, says casually, “I think I got really lucky.”
“I think this whole season is building up towards this battle, right?” Banhazl tells The Hollywood Reporter in the chat below. “It’s like this Lord of the Rings...
- 8/21/2023
- by Brande Victorian
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
HBO’s Los Angeles Lakers series “Winning Time” is back for a second season, and the true-life basketball story is covering more ground in Season 2. “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” premiered in 2022 as a dramatized look at how Jerry Buss’ purchase of the NBA team in 1979 kicked off a series of events that would transform the organization into one of the best teams in the league.
John C. Reilly leads the ensemble as Buss, while real-life greats like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are portrayed by up-and-coming actors Quincy Isaiah and Sean Patrick Small, respectively.
The 10-episode first season concluded with a trip to the 1980 NBA Championship, and “Winning Time” Season 2 picks up where we left off. For those eager to see how things play out, we’ve got everything you need to know below.
When Did “Winning Time” Season 2 Premiere?
The first episode of “Winning Time...
John C. Reilly leads the ensemble as Buss, while real-life greats like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are portrayed by up-and-coming actors Quincy Isaiah and Sean Patrick Small, respectively.
The 10-episode first season concluded with a trip to the 1980 NBA Championship, and “Winning Time” Season 2 picks up where we left off. For those eager to see how things play out, we’ve got everything you need to know below.
When Did “Winning Time” Season 2 Premiere?
The first episode of “Winning Time...
- 8/20/2023
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Jeff Pearlman, the author of “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s” — which “Winning Time” is based on — is calling on audiences to help the HBO drama series get renewed for a third season.
“I’m telling you — the future of ‘Winning Time’ hangs in the balance. We need viewers. The strikes are crippling. Please help spread the word. Season 2 is amazing. But … HBO is big on #s,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, this week. “And, to be blunt, I’m worried there won’t be a season three. And it’s not about me. I’m fine. It’s about a cast of amazing young actors who live this. So, seriously, tell your friends to support “Winning Time” and show @hbo you want it to continue. Peace. #winningtime.”
And, to be blunt, I'm worried there won't be a season three. And it's not about me.
“I’m telling you — the future of ‘Winning Time’ hangs in the balance. We need viewers. The strikes are crippling. Please help spread the word. Season 2 is amazing. But … HBO is big on #s,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, this week. “And, to be blunt, I’m worried there won’t be a season three. And it’s not about me. I’m fine. It’s about a cast of amazing young actors who live this. So, seriously, tell your friends to support “Winning Time” and show @hbo you want it to continue. Peace. #winningtime.”
And, to be blunt, I'm worried there won't be a season three. And it's not about me.
- 8/18/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
In Episode 2 of HBO’s hit series “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,” Johnson returned to the court, but the team seemed to have found their own new tricks without the use of Magic.
It was a rocky return for Johnson, who struggled with getting back into his groove after his knee injury. And by the time he came back, the team had an entirely new synergy that Johnson seemingly couldn’t fit into. But that didn’t stop Johnson from making suggestions about the team’s roster, including saying it would be a good idea to trade Norm Nixon in for Nuggets star David “Skywalker” Thompson.
Between Johnson and Pat Riley’s secret practice sessions and Nixon talking crap about his teammates to the press, the second episode of “Winning Time” is just as drama-filled as its first.
Were the Lakers really out of sync once Earvin “Magic” Johnson made his return?...
It was a rocky return for Johnson, who struggled with getting back into his groove after his knee injury. And by the time he came back, the team had an entirely new synergy that Johnson seemingly couldn’t fit into. But that didn’t stop Johnson from making suggestions about the team’s roster, including saying it would be a good idea to trade Norm Nixon in for Nuggets star David “Skywalker” Thompson.
Between Johnson and Pat Riley’s secret practice sessions and Nixon talking crap about his teammates to the press, the second episode of “Winning Time” is just as drama-filled as its first.
Were the Lakers really out of sync once Earvin “Magic” Johnson made his return?...
- 8/15/2023
- by Raquel 'Rocky' Harris
- The Wrap
Vulture Watch
The Lakers' first championship was far from the end of the story. Has the Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty TV show been cancelled or renewed for a third season on HBO? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Winning Time, season three. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?
What's This TV Show About?
A sports comedy-drama series airing on the HBO cable network, the Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty TV show is based on a book by Jeff Pearlman. The second season cast includes John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, Adrien Brody, Jason Clarke, Gaby Hoffmann, Jason Segel, Hadley Robinson, DeVaughn Nixon, Solomon Hughes, Tamera Tomakili, Brett Cullen,...
The Lakers' first championship was far from the end of the story. Has the Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty TV show been cancelled or renewed for a third season on HBO? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Winning Time, season three. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?
What's This TV Show About?
A sports comedy-drama series airing on the HBO cable network, the Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty TV show is based on a book by Jeff Pearlman. The second season cast includes John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, Adrien Brody, Jason Clarke, Gaby Hoffmann, Jason Segel, Hadley Robinson, DeVaughn Nixon, Solomon Hughes, Tamera Tomakili, Brett Cullen,...
- 8/14/2023
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Note: This interview was conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike.
In HBO’s “Winning Time,” Quincy Isaiah took on the “large task” of portraying Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr. — often regarded as one of the greatest point guards of all time after helping the Lakers win five NBA championships across 13 seasons.
“I think being able to make it smaller, in terms of playing this person who just won a championship and who’s just dealing with life issues, I think that’s the way that I have to frame it… really taking this giant of a person and making him relatable to everyday people,” Isaiah told TheWrap. “The way that we are able to do that is with a great script and a great cast, but also just leaning into the humanity of these emotions that you see in Season 2.”
Johnson faces several challenges during the season, including a knee injury...
In HBO’s “Winning Time,” Quincy Isaiah took on the “large task” of portraying Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr. — often regarded as one of the greatest point guards of all time after helping the Lakers win five NBA championships across 13 seasons.
“I think being able to make it smaller, in terms of playing this person who just won a championship and who’s just dealing with life issues, I think that’s the way that I have to frame it… really taking this giant of a person and making him relatable to everyday people,” Isaiah told TheWrap. “The way that we are able to do that is with a great script and a great cast, but also just leaning into the humanity of these emotions that you see in Season 2.”
Johnson faces several challenges during the season, including a knee injury...
- 8/14/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty returned to HBO on Sunday with 629,000 total viewers tuning in for the Season 2 premiere across Max and linear telecasts.
That’s a bit of a fall from grace, considering the 901,000 people who tuned in for the Season 1 debut in March 2022. By May of that year, Season 1 managed to amass 1.6M same-day viewers for the finale.
HBO generally banks on the growth potential from delayed viewing, as the network previously reported that new episodes of a series tend to only draw 10%-20% of their total viewership on Sunday nights.
Season 1 episodes of Winning Time went on to average about 1.2M viewers per episode on premiere nights, which grew to 6M viewers per episode over time.
That’s a bit of a fall from grace, considering the 901,000 people who tuned in for the Season 1 debut in March 2022. By May of that year, Season 1 managed to amass 1.6M same-day viewers for the finale.
HBO generally banks on the growth potential from delayed viewing, as the network previously reported that new episodes of a series tend to only draw 10%-20% of their total viewership on Sunday nights.
Season 1 episodes of Winning Time went on to average about 1.2M viewers per episode on premiere nights, which grew to 6M viewers per episode over time.
- 8/8/2023
- by Katie Campione
- Deadline Film + TV
Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for the Season 2 premiere of “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,” now streaming on Max.
The Los Angeles Lakers are on top of the world at the start of “Winning Time” Season 2. It doesn’t take long before they find themselves back on their asses.
After taking down the Philadelphia 76ers to win the 1980 NBA Finals, it’s no surprise that a championship would inflate some egos in Inglewood. Basking in the glow of a city’s adoration, Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) finds himself a media darling, fielding fawning reporters that regularly overrun the Lakers locker room. It’s enough hot air to irk Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Solomon Hughes) — who also hasn’t shaken the awkward disappointment of suffering a sprained ankle during the Finals. The team’s de facto leader watched from home as Johnson took over his position at center to clinch the championship.
The Los Angeles Lakers are on top of the world at the start of “Winning Time” Season 2. It doesn’t take long before they find themselves back on their asses.
After taking down the Philadelphia 76ers to win the 1980 NBA Finals, it’s no surprise that a championship would inflate some egos in Inglewood. Basking in the glow of a city’s adoration, Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) finds himself a media darling, fielding fawning reporters that regularly overrun the Lakers locker room. It’s enough hot air to irk Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Solomon Hughes) — who also hasn’t shaken the awkward disappointment of suffering a sprained ankle during the Finals. The team’s de facto leader watched from home as Johnson took over his position at center to clinch the championship.
- 8/7/2023
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Note: This interview was conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike.
After ending its first season with the Lakers’ climactic victory at the 1980 NBA championships, HBO’s “Winning Time” is back for more, with cocreator Max Borenstein teasing that the team is in for more challenges in Season 2.
“Coming out of the first season, the Lakers are now no longer the underdogs. They won, they had a Cinderella story and now they’re the champions. The moment you’ve had that kind of success, repeating it is the hardest thing in the world,” Borenstein told TheWrap. “Everything comes up against them this year: injuries, internal struggles, egos… and knowing that ultimately they have to face their greatest rival and somehow find a way to come together this time, not just to win a championship but to take down the reigning dynasty of the Celtics. So the stakes are higher this year in that way.
After ending its first season with the Lakers’ climactic victory at the 1980 NBA championships, HBO’s “Winning Time” is back for more, with cocreator Max Borenstein teasing that the team is in for more challenges in Season 2.
“Coming out of the first season, the Lakers are now no longer the underdogs. They won, they had a Cinderella story and now they’re the champions. The moment you’ve had that kind of success, repeating it is the hardest thing in the world,” Borenstein told TheWrap. “Everything comes up against them this year: injuries, internal struggles, egos… and knowing that ultimately they have to face their greatest rival and somehow find a way to come together this time, not just to win a championship but to take down the reigning dynasty of the Celtics. So the stakes are higher this year in that way.
- 8/6/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Throughout the Season Two premiere of HBO’s basketball drama Winning Time, various characters, from Lakers assistant coach Pat Riley (Adrien Brody) to Boston Celtics general manager Red Auerbach (Michael Chiklis) talk about how difficult it is to repeat as champions. The real Riley would eventually refer to this as “the disease of more,” where players who were willing to sacrifice for the good of the team in pursuit of a title now want more playing time, more of a role in the offense, and/or more money.
In Winning Time,...
In Winning Time,...
- 8/6/2023
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
The purple and gold are returning to Max on Sunday, Aug. 6 at 9 p.m. Et when a new season of “Winning Time: Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” premieres on the service. The show rewinds to the period in the late ’70s and through the ’80s that saw the Los Angeles Lakers become one of the league’s most dominant teams, building a dynasty that few in the ranks of professional sports have reached. You can watch Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty: Season 2 with a 7-Day Free Trial of Max.
How to Watch ‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty’ Season 2 Premiere When: Sunday, August 6, 2023 at 9:00 Pm Edt Where: Max Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Max. 7-Day Free Trial$9.99+ / month Max via amazon.com
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About ‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty’ Season...
How to Watch ‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty’ Season 2 Premiere When: Sunday, August 6, 2023 at 9:00 Pm Edt Where: Max Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Max. 7-Day Free Trial$9.99+ / month Max via amazon.com
Get 20% Off Your Next Year of Max When Pre-Paid Annually
About ‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty’ Season...
- 8/6/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
It’s showtime! Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jerry Buss and the rest of the Lakers squad is back for a second season of “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.”
Viewers got to get a glimpse into executive producer Adam McKay’s portrayal of the Lakers golden era and the drama that came with it. This time around fans will get to see even more of the Lakers legacy. Newcomers are stepping onto the court as guest stars, including Joel Allen as Kurt Rambis, Jay Davis as Byron Scott, Quentin Shropshire as James Worthy, Matthew Barnes as Mitch Kupchak, Darryl Reynolds as Robert Parish, Andrew Stephens as Kevin McHale and Larry C. Fields III as Eddie Jordan.
The show announced on Aug. 24, 2022 that it started production, and it’s making its return on Sunday, Aug. 6 at 9:00 p.m. Et/Pt on HBO and will also be available to stream on Max.
Viewers got to get a glimpse into executive producer Adam McKay’s portrayal of the Lakers golden era and the drama that came with it. This time around fans will get to see even more of the Lakers legacy. Newcomers are stepping onto the court as guest stars, including Joel Allen as Kurt Rambis, Jay Davis as Byron Scott, Quentin Shropshire as James Worthy, Matthew Barnes as Mitch Kupchak, Darryl Reynolds as Robert Parish, Andrew Stephens as Kevin McHale and Larry C. Fields III as Eddie Jordan.
The show announced on Aug. 24, 2022 that it started production, and it’s making its return on Sunday, Aug. 6 at 9:00 p.m. Et/Pt on HBO and will also be available to stream on Max.
- 8/5/2023
- by Raquel "Rocky" Harris
- The Wrap
The Los Angeles Lakers’ heated rivalry with the hated Boston Celtics moves to center court in Season 2 of the pulpy series about the birth of purple-and-gold dynasty (premiering August 6 on HBO). Colorful playboy owner Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) and his superstars — brash young buck Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) and crusty captain Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Solomon Hughes) — have established their fast-paced, high-flying brand of basketball, dubbed Showtime, transforming the beleaguered franchise from drab to glam and the NBA from an afterthought into a pop culture phenomenon. Now, can the Lakers defend their title and establish a new dynasty? The answer was no slam dunk. “Failure is difficult to deal with, but success in some ways is even harder,” says Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakes Dynasty cocreator Max Borenstein. “Are you going to be a flash in the pan? The challenges of truly becoming a dynasty are manifold.” Magic’s...
- 8/4/2023
- TV Insider
HBO’s “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” is back for Season 2, and it’s still electric and a damn good time. The first season, mostly spanning the 1979-1980 NBA calendar, unpacked the origins of Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss (a crass but delightful John C. Reilly) and exhaustively detailed the origins of the dynasty that he would build behind teen megastar Earvin “Magic” Johnson (Quincy Isaiah). A more rapidly paced second season addresses the following years, leading up to the highly-anticipated 1984 NBA Finals that positioned the Lakers against long-time rivals the Boston Celtics, led by Larry Bird (Sean Patrick Small).
Season 2 opens with the first game of that landmark championship series. It’s May 27, 1984, and a full-fledged mob scene is under way. Magic, the Lakers and their Armani-clad coach, Pat Riley (an exquisite Adrian Brody) — having just won Game 1 — race off the basketball court, through...
Season 2 opens with the first game of that landmark championship series. It’s May 27, 1984, and a full-fledged mob scene is under way. Magic, the Lakers and their Armani-clad coach, Pat Riley (an exquisite Adrian Brody) — having just won Game 1 — race off the basketball court, through...
- 8/4/2023
- by Aramide Tinubu
- Variety Film + TV
Co-creators Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht’s “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” was a delight for basketball fans in Season 1, a rare look at a specific sports era that’s not part of a “30 for 30” ESPN documentary nor in a two-hour movie. And because the series was about as precious with historical details as it was keeping a consistent visual style—that is, not so much—we got to have fun imaging how legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Solomon Hughes) and Earvin “Magic” Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) would have butt heads in the locker room.
Continue reading ‘Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty’ Review: HBO’s Throwback Series Is Charismatic But Not As Slick In Season 2 at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty’ Review: HBO’s Throwback Series Is Charismatic But Not As Slick In Season 2 at The Playlist.
- 7/31/2023
- by Nick Allen
- The Playlist
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