After the impact of “The Last Dance,” HBO planned to make a splash with its “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” series, about the Showtime Lakers of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Based on “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s”, a detailed and precise book by Jeff Pearlman, the adaptation worn by Adam McKay (Don’t Look Up, Vice, The Big Short , Anchorman…) had indeed everything to delight NBA fans, and those of the Lakers in particular, especially in this gloomy season.
Gary Vitti quits filming after two days
Available on OCS in France, the series of 10 episodes raises a lot of questions. We can already wonder why the series is not called “Showtime”? The answer is quite simple: Showtime is HBO’s main competitor and HBO found the name confusing. Adam McKay only directed the first episode, pushing the following directors (including Jonah Hill) to imitate his very particular style, made of irony and monologues facing the camera. with more or less success, obviously.
The NBA has also grumbled that HBO used its logo, and that of the teams, without a license, but the main criticisms come from Los Angeles, where certain artistic choices are difficult to pass.
Mythical physical trainer of the club, between 1984 and 2016, Gary Vitti had thus been invited as an extra, in the form of a wink. Except that he explains that he left the shoot after two days, giving up $15,000. “I explained to them that I did not want to take part in all this”explained the 65-year-old man.
Gary Vitti points out factual errors but is especially annoyed by the portrayal of Jerry West, whimsical and rude in the first episode. “That’s a totally wrong description” he explains to The Athletic. “I’ve known him for 38 years and I’ve never seen him lose his temper. In fact, he tends to internalize everything. “
“The guy who plays Jerry and the Jerry I worked with for 14 years are not the same guy”confirms Mitch Kupchak, current president of basketball operations for the Hornets. “Jerry was an enthusiast, but he never lost his temper and he never threw anything away. Never. I will know it. “
Jerry West’s internal anger misrepresented?
The series also announces the “Logo” with a text: “Jerry West. Was never happy”.
On this point, Gary Vitti is rather in agreement. Jerry West has never hidden being in the grip of deep inner demons, and having faced quite a few moments of depression. The difference is that those who know him explain that the GM lived his moments by withdrawing into himself, when the series shows him by externalizing his anger.
“He was immersed in darkness and depression”continues Gary Vitti. “He wasn’t hitting, yelling and venting on others. It wasn’t him. ”
The creators of “Winning Time” replied that it was not a documentary, and that even if the series is based on real events, certain events had been dramatized, and characters modified. It’s simply the artistic licence, the creators sometimes moving away from the real thing or the original work.
But for Gary Vitti, who knew the protagonists, seeing Jerry West portrayed like this is difficult.
“I watched, and if I didn’t know (the reality), I probably would have enjoyed it. It’s entertaining, really.” But it remains a work of fiction, despite its real basis.
