Digest

This episode of "Let's Talk Cliped" focuses on the final episode of the show, "Cliped." The episode's co-writers, Gina Welsh and Rembert Brown, discuss the challenges of wrapping up the storylines, particularly for Doc and the Clippers, who had less story available compared to the Sterling family. They also discuss the decision to hold the Sterling family's story out of view, reflecting the real-world experience of the 15 minutes of fame fading away. The episode's ending, with Doc and Elgin, emphasizes the importance of Elgin's presence in understanding Doc and the other black players' struggles. The writers also discuss the powerful scene between Doc and Levar, where they share stories about the reminders of racism in their homes. Levar's story about the chains he wore while filming "Roots" is a real story, and the scene highlights the importance of allowing black people to talk to each other about their experiences. The episode also features a confrontation between Doc and Shelley, where Doc expresses his frustration with the financial benefits she received despite the scandal. The writers discuss the importance of giving Doc a moment of justice in this scene. The episode ends with a discussion about the show's overall message, with Gina Welsh emphasizing the importance of standing up against power and injustice, even if it means facing consequences. Rembert Brown highlights the show's relevance to the real-world events of 2014, particularly the Ferguson protests and the NBA's confrontation with racism. The episode concludes with a reflection on the show's impact and the hope that it will spark conversations about race, power, and justice.

Outlines

00:00:00

The End of the Road

This Chapter discusses the challenges of wrapping up the storylines in the final episode of "Cliped." The writers discuss the decision to hold the Sterling family's story out of view, reflecting the real-world experience of the 15 minutes of fame fading away. They also discuss the importance of Elgin's presence in understanding Doc and the other black players' struggles.

00:04:38

The Power of Rage

This Chapter focuses on the powerful scene between Doc and Levar, where they share stories about the reminders of racism in their homes. The writers discuss the importance of allowing black people to talk to each other about their experiences and the decision to show Levar's rage in the scene. They also discuss the confrontation between Doc and Shelley, where Doc expresses his frustration with the financial benefits she received despite the scandal.

00:28:18

A Glimpse into the Future

This Chapter reflects on the show's overall message, with Gina Welsh emphasizing the importance of standing up against power and injustice, even if it means facing consequences. Rembert Brown highlights the show's relevance to the real-world events of 2014, particularly the Ferguson protests and the NBA's confrontation with racism. The episode concludes with a reflection on the show's impact and the hope that it will spark conversations about race, power, and justice.

Keywords

Q&A

• What were the challenges of wrapping up the storylines in the final episode of "Cliped"?

  The writers faced the challenge of having a lot of story for the Sterling family, but less story available for Doc and the Clippers. They had to manipulate the timelines a bit to make it work. They also decided to hold the Sterling family's story out of view, reflecting the real-world experience of the 15 minutes of fame fading away.

• Why was it important to show Levar Burton's rage in the scene with Doc?

  Levar told the writers he would only do the show if he could talk about his rage. The writers felt it was important to show Levar's rage because it was something he had never been able to express publicly before. They also felt it was important to allow black people to talk to each other about their experiences with racism.

• What was the overall message of "Cliped"?

  The show explores the importance of standing up against power and injustice, even if it means facing consequences. It also highlights the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America and the impact of the Sterling scandal on the player empowerment era in the NBA.

• How does "Cliped" reflect the real-world events of 2014?

  The show uses the Ferguson protests as a backdrop to explore the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America. It also captures the mood of the country in 2014, which was a time of great social and political upheaval.

• What is the significance of the scene where Doc confronts Shelley about her financial benefits?

  The scene is important because it gives Doc a moment of justice after he has been through so much. It also highlights the hypocrisy of the Sterling family, who are shown to be more concerned with their own financial interests than with the well-being of their players.

• What is the player empowerment era?

  The player empowerment era is a period in NBA history that began in the early 2010s, characterized by a growing sense of player agency and a shift in power dynamics between players and owners. The show explores the impact of the Sterling scandal on the player empowerment era and the role of players in challenging racial injustice.

• What is the significance of the scene where Levar and Doc share stories about the reminders of racism in their homes?

  The scene is important because it highlights the pervasive nature of racism in American society and its impact on individuals and institutions. It also shows how racism can manifest itself in subtle and often-overlooked ways.

• What is the significance of the scene where Donald Sterling is shown sunbathing naked while reading about the Ferguson protests?

  The scene is a powerful commentary on Donald Sterling's view of the world. It shows that he is completely detached from the realities of racial injustice and that he is more concerned with his own comfort and pleasure than with the suffering of others.

• What is the significance of the scene where V Stiviano is stopped as she is coming into court?

  The scene is important because it highlights the transformation that V has undergone throughout the series. In the beginning, she is shown to be looking for attention, but by the end, she has become more confident and self-assured. The scene also shows how V is still a victim of Donald Sterling's racism, even though she is now trying to reclaim her own power.

• What is the significance of the scene where Donald Sterling makes racist remarks about V Stiviano in court?

  The scene is important because it shows the extent of Donald Sterling's racism and his willingness to use his power to harm others. It also highlights the hypocrisy of the Sterling family, who are shown to be more concerned with their own financial interests than with the well-being of others.

Show Notes