Why was Winning Time canceled? Reason why TV series about Lakers 80s dynasty ends after 2 seasons
The Los Angeles Lakers clinched five championships during the 1980s. Nevertheless, the HBO series “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” will not achieve a three-peat of its own, as it has been canceled after just two seasons.
HBO has officially confirmed that the show’s second-season finale, which premiered on September 17, will also serve as the series finale, bringing “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” to a close.
The show faced cancellation primarily due to a notable decline in ratings during its seven-episode second season, despite a strong start in its first season. The show debuted in March 2022 and is centered around the Los Angeles Lakers NBA team and their ascent in the early 1980s. The first season primarily highlighted Jerry Buss‘ inaugural year as the team’s owner and Magic Johnson’s rookie season in 1979-80. The second season, on the other hand, is set in the four-year period that followed.
Basically, the second season primarily revolves around the intense rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Even though the show has been canceled, Jeff Pearlman, the author of the book the show is based on, is actively advocating for a third season on social media.
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“Winning Time” generated controversy during its first season
“Winning Time” displayed promise in its initial season but also stirred controversy, as it left several Lakers legends less than pleased.
One of the unhappy figures was former Lakers player, coach, and general manager Jerry West, portrayed by Jason Clarke in the series. West took legal action by sending a letter to Warner Bros. Discovery, HBO, and series producer Adam McKay. In the letter, he requested a retraction, an apology and sought unspecified damages for what he deemed a “false and defamatory portrayal.”
Former Lakers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson also expressed their discontent with the series. Abdul-Jabbar went as far as describing it as a “boring” show and criticized its “crude stick-figure representations” that he felt didn’t accurately resemble real people. While Johnson highlighted that any story about the Lakers must feature the actual players from the team, emphasizing their essential role in the narrative.
Despite facing criticism, HBO stood by the series’ accuracy, claiming that it underwent extensive research. They acknowledged that there is a well-established precedent for fact-based programs being partially fictionalized for the sake of dramatic storytelling.
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