In 1994, professional basketball was all the rage, largely thanks to the rise of Michael Jordan and the historic run of three back-to-back NBA championships across 1991, 1992, and 1993, as chronicled in "The Last Dance" documentary series. Before his domination of the NBA, Jordan was considered a blue chip player, an athlete regarded as a hot prospect to be drafted into a professional franchise. Jordan gained blue chip status out of high school in the early 1980s, but he'd go on to attend college at University of North Carolina before being drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1984. It wouldn't be until 10 years after Jordan's draft that "The Exorcist" and "The French Connection" director William Friedkin would direct a movie about the corrupt and complicated practice of college recruitment for sports in the perfect basketball movie, "Blue Chips."
"Blue Chips," released in 1994, follows Nick Nolte as Pete Bell, head coach of the fictional Western University Dolphins in Los Angeles.
"Blue Chips," released in 1994, follows Nick Nolte as Pete Bell, head coach of the fictional Western University Dolphins in Los Angeles.
- 8/7/2023
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
A review of this week’s Winning Time, “Who the F**k is Jack McKinney,” coming up just as soon as we kill the duck…
If not for the unfortunate fact of HBO’s longtime pay-cable rival having the same name, Winning Time would have come into this world known as Showtime. That’s the title of the Jeff Pearlman book from which the series is adapted, derived from the nickname that was bestowed upon this entire Lakers era of Magic and Kareem, the Jerrys Buss and West, Pat Riley,...
If not for the unfortunate fact of HBO’s longtime pay-cable rival having the same name, Winning Time would have come into this world known as Showtime. That’s the title of the Jeff Pearlman book from which the series is adapted, derived from the nickname that was bestowed upon this entire Lakers era of Magic and Kareem, the Jerrys Buss and West, Pat Riley,...
- 3/28/2022
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
This article contains spoilers for “Winning Time” Episode 3.
“Truth is terrific, reality is even better, but believability is best of all.” That’s what the screenwriter and author William Goldman once said when describing why it’s sometimes necessary to downplay the details of a true story. Paradoxically, the truth might be too incredible to seem true.
That’s why the wildest anecdote yet to be showcased in HBO’s “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” – the murder of Vic Weiss – is likely to raise some questions.
As writer and executive producer Max Borenstein told TheWrap, “Our rule going in was, for the things that are going to make the audience’s jaws drop and think, ‘Wait, this couldn’t possibly have happened’ – those things had to be true one hundred percent and we followed that rule in the case of Vic Weiss.”
“Because you can’t go...
“Truth is terrific, reality is even better, but believability is best of all.” That’s what the screenwriter and author William Goldman once said when describing why it’s sometimes necessary to downplay the details of a true story. Paradoxically, the truth might be too incredible to seem true.
That’s why the wildest anecdote yet to be showcased in HBO’s “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” – the murder of Vic Weiss – is likely to raise some questions.
As writer and executive producer Max Borenstein told TheWrap, “Our rule going in was, for the things that are going to make the audience’s jaws drop and think, ‘Wait, this couldn’t possibly have happened’ – those things had to be true one hundred percent and we followed that rule in the case of Vic Weiss.”
“Because you can’t go...
- 3/21/2022
- by Harper Lambert and Jolie Lash
- The Wrap
A review of this week’s Winning Time, “The Good Life,” coming up just as soon as we attend the premiere of The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh…
Midway through “The Good Life,” Magic Johnson joins the rest of the Lakers for the world premiere of The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh, a 1979 basketball comedy which features several of his new teammates in small roles. Before we can talk more about this episode, we must first discuss a few things about one of the most infamous sports movies ever made:
1) The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh...
Midway through “The Good Life,” Magic Johnson joins the rest of the Lakers for the world premiere of The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh, a 1979 basketball comedy which features several of his new teammates in small roles. Before we can talk more about this episode, we must first discuss a few things about one of the most infamous sports movies ever made:
1) The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh...
- 3/21/2022
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
Mike Prince had the awkward energy of an overly eager stepfather in the Season 6 premiere of Showtime’s Billions.
But no amount of pained smiles or empty banter could win over Axe Capital’s finest, and in that way, we the viewers were like Wendy, Wags, Ben Kim and Bonnie, who looked at Corey Stoll’s Prince and longed for Bobby. Sure, there were sparks of promise. Every exchange Prince and Scooter shared with Wags, for instance, produced a number of fun verbal volleys, especially when Wags refused to take a slashed-in-half buyout.
More from TVLineBillions Season 6 Trailer: Chuck Goes...
But no amount of pained smiles or empty banter could win over Axe Capital’s finest, and in that way, we the viewers were like Wendy, Wags, Ben Kim and Bonnie, who looked at Corey Stoll’s Prince and longed for Bobby. Sure, there were sparks of promise. Every exchange Prince and Scooter shared with Wags, for instance, produced a number of fun verbal volleys, especially when Wags refused to take a slashed-in-half buyout.
More from TVLineBillions Season 6 Trailer: Chuck Goes...
- 1/24/2022
- by Mekeisha Madden Toby
- TVLine.com
Exclusive: Adam McKay’s HBO L.A. Lakers drama series is rounding out its cast. Mike Epps (The Upshaws), Carina Conti (The Last Tycoon), Max E. Williams (Dreamland) and Mariama Diallo (Random Acts of Flyness) will recur in the series based on Jeff Pearlman’s book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s. McKay’s Hyperobject Industries is producing.
Written by Max Borenstein, the fast-break series chronicles the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties — a team that defined its era both on and off the court.
Epps plays Richard Pryor, the prolific and boundary-breaking comedian who lived the Hollywood dream, sometimes in excess.
Conti portrays Paula Abdul. Before she was a decade-defining pop star, Paula Abdul was just a high school student from the San Fernando Valley, moonlighting as the innovative choreographer for the Laker Girls.
Written by Max Borenstein, the fast-break series chronicles the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties — a team that defined its era both on and off the court.
Epps plays Richard Pryor, the prolific and boundary-breaking comedian who lived the Hollywood dream, sometimes in excess.
Conti portrays Paula Abdul. Before she was a decade-defining pop star, Paula Abdul was just a high school student from the San Fernando Valley, moonlighting as the innovative choreographer for the Laker Girls.
- 6/21/2021
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Rory Cochrane, Danny Burstein, Austin Aaron, Ta’Nika Gibson, Edwin Hodge, Terence Davis and Ja’Quan Cole have joined HBO’s upcoming sports drama series about the Los Angeles Lakers. The seven actors join an increasingly high-profile and star-studded series cast. The untitled project, ordered at HBO in December 2019, is based on Jeff Pearlman’s book “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s.”
The show chronicles the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Lakers, one of basketball’s most revered and dominated dynasties — a team that defined its era, both on and off the court.
Cochrane will appear as Jerry Tarkanian, the coach of the Unlv Runnin’ Rebels; Burstein will play Vic Weiss, the manager and childhood best friend of Tarkanian; Aarn plays the hulking, lovable oaf Mark Landsberger; Gibson is Debbie Allen, a bright young star reaching new heights in her career; Hodge plays Ron Boone,...
The show chronicles the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Lakers, one of basketball’s most revered and dominated dynasties — a team that defined its era, both on and off the court.
Cochrane will appear as Jerry Tarkanian, the coach of the Unlv Runnin’ Rebels; Burstein will play Vic Weiss, the manager and childhood best friend of Tarkanian; Aarn plays the hulking, lovable oaf Mark Landsberger; Gibson is Debbie Allen, a bright young star reaching new heights in her career; Hodge plays Ron Boone,...
- 5/26/2021
- by Mónica Marie Zorrilla
- Variety Film + TV
Rory Cochrane (White Boy Rick), Danny Burstein (Evil), Austin Aaron (13 Reasons Why), Ta’Nika Gibson (Iron Fist), Edwin Hodge (Mayans Mc), Terence Davis (Twenties) and Ja’Quan Cole (Wu Tang: An American Saga) have joined the cast of Adam McKay’s Los Angeles Lakers HBO drama series, based on Jeff Pearlman’s book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s. McKay’s Hyperobject Industries is producing.
Written by Max Borenstein, the fast-break series chronicles the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties — a team that defined its era both on and off the court.
Cochrane will play Jerry Tarkanian. The blustery, colorful, infamous coach of the Unlv Runnin’ Rebels, Jerry Tarkanian has a reputation for winning at all costs. Even if it means not necessarily playing by the rules.
Burstein is Vic Weiss, the manager and childhood best friend of Jerry Tarkanian.
Written by Max Borenstein, the fast-break series chronicles the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties — a team that defined its era both on and off the court.
Cochrane will play Jerry Tarkanian. The blustery, colorful, infamous coach of the Unlv Runnin’ Rebels, Jerry Tarkanian has a reputation for winning at all costs. Even if it means not necessarily playing by the rules.
Burstein is Vic Weiss, the manager and childhood best friend of Jerry Tarkanian.
- 5/26/2021
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Chicago – The road to athletic success is littered with the clichés of “might have been” and “never was,” but rarely does it contain a success story that is despite the person who achieved that success. In the early 1990s, a journeyman broke into the National Basketball Association, the first time in its history that a player that never graduated from high school made it to the big show. That man is Lloyd Daniels, and his story is in the documentary “The Legend of Swee’ Pea,” by filmmaker Benjamin May. The director will appear – with his cinematographer Daniel Levin – on behalf of his film at its Chicago premiere, presented by the Midwest Independent Film Festival on Tuesday, March 7th, 2017 (details below).
Lloyd Daniels Takes a Shot at Life in ‘The Legend of Swee’ Pea’
Photo credit: TheLegendofSweePea.com
Benjamin May hails from Minnesota, and “The Legend of Swee’ Pea” is his first film,...
Lloyd Daniels Takes a Shot at Life in ‘The Legend of Swee’ Pea’
Photo credit: TheLegendofSweePea.com
Benjamin May hails from Minnesota, and “The Legend of Swee’ Pea” is his first film,...
- 3/5/2017
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Being a successful gambler, especially in poker, requires a certain amount of acting skill. Maintaining a calm and rational demeanor no matter if you are on a hot streak or a dry spell (and, of course maintaining a stonewall poker face) is key to making the hobby a lucrative one.
As hard as that is to do in real life, we admire those talented actors that are able to do it in front of a camera and film crew. Below is our list of the best casino, poker, and gambling movie actors.
5) Edward Norton
While Matt Damon has appeared in a few gambling-related movies, and John Malkovich’s role as Teddy Kgb makes Rounders the most quoted gambling movie out there, for us it’s Edward Norton’s role in the 1998 poker drama that carries the film for us.
The cocky and slick Worm introduced the ‘mechanic’s grip’ and...
As hard as that is to do in real life, we admire those talented actors that are able to do it in front of a camera and film crew. Below is our list of the best casino, poker, and gambling movie actors.
5) Edward Norton
While Matt Damon has appeared in a few gambling-related movies, and John Malkovich’s role as Teddy Kgb makes Rounders the most quoted gambling movie out there, for us it’s Edward Norton’s role in the 1998 poker drama that carries the film for us.
The cocky and slick Worm introduced the ‘mechanic’s grip’ and...
- 11/9/2015
- by Kyle Reese
- SoundOnSight
Jerry Tarkanian -- one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time -- has passed away at a Las Vegas hospital after battling a respiratory ailment ... this according to his son. The 84-year-old -- aka "Tark the Shark" -- was first hospitalized Monday ... but his health took a serious turn for the worse and he ultimately passed away Wednesday morning. Jerry's son Danny tweeted the news moments ago, "Coach Tark, my father, the greatest man I have ever known,...
- 2/11/2015
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Denzel Washington and Paulette Washington attending the 10th Annual Harold Pump Foundation Gala in Century City.Photo copyright by Ken McCoy / PR Photos. Michael Spinks attending the 10th Annual Harold Pump Foundation Gala in Century City.Photo copyright by Ken McCoy / PR Photos. Jerry Rice and guest attending the 10th Annual Harold Pump Foundation Gala in Century City.Photo copyright by Ken McCoy / PR Photos. Butch Lewis and guest attending the 10th Annual Harold Pump Foundation Gala in Century City.Photo copyright by Ken McCoy / PR Photos. Greg Mathis attending the 10th Annual Harold Pump Foundation Gala in Century City.Photo copyright by Ken McCoy / PR Photos. 08/12/2010 - Jerry Tarkanian - 10th Annual Harold...
- 8/16/2010
- by James Wray
- Monsters and Critics
“Bill Bellamy’s Who’s got Jokes?” returns to TV One this fall, marking its fourth season on cable Saturday, October 10th. The veteran comedian/actor is joined by cohorts Tommy Mikal Ford and Rodney Perry to serve up fresh jokes from Las Vegas’ Luxor Hotel. Perry assumes the “Man on the Street” role, performing hilarious sketches and interviewing contestants and Las Vegas visitors. As the newly dubbed “Croupier of Comedy,” Ford decides whether contestants should lose points if their comedy routine veers into raunchy territory or exceeds the time limit. The fourth season’s production design evokes a classic Vegas vibe, perfect for Bellamy and company to mine the famous strip’s iconic history for unforgettable laughs. Bellamy keeps the show on track and the comics on their toes with his hilarious brand of in-your-face comedy, while Perry keeps the audience in stitches with skits tied to Vegas entertainment and legends.
- 10/5/2009
- by Desiree Washington
- PopDecay
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