“Ballers” is an interesting curio if you’re not quite paying attention. It’s not a prestige, Peak TV show, it’s never part of the awards conversation, but apparently, everyone involved is happy. And it’s an oddity, on the surface anyhow, because Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is one of the biggest movie stars in the world, but he has no issue with juggling the “Ballers” duties and shooting schedule with his film career. Nor the fact that the series isn’t critically-acclaimed and now in its fifth season isn’t exactly a buzzed-about show either.
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Obviously, HBO is happy that Johnson doesn’t appear to be going anywhere—there have been no hints that the series is ending anytime soon—but what I’m getting at is that it’s somewhat strange that an A-list star—named the highest-paid actor in the history of Forbes’ Celebrity 100 list—is content to be on what feels like a largely forgotten about show that’s not really part of any discourse.
But here’s the reality: Johnson is a producer on the show, feels a great personal investment in it and despite its lack of buzz for media types and consumers of such hype, its HBO’s #1 highest rated 30min show and has been for several years. It’s essentially meat and potatoes: not flashy or going to generate think pieces, but it has a super heavy and loyal following.
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Here’s the generic synopsis of the show if you’ve been living under a rock (sorry, that was unintentional).
Success hits hard. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stars in this series as a retired football superstar trying to reinvent himself as a financial manager for current players in sun-soaked Miami.
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Heading into Season 5, “Ballers” will presumably pick up where things left off last year when financial manager Spencer Strasmore (Johnson) was facing a collision with the NCAA. Spencer had sued the college football’s governing body in a play designed to force the organization or its institutions to pay its student-athletes. The NCAA filed a countersuit, but in a sincere interview that went viral on social media, Spencer dedicated the lawsuit to his late brother and that changed the entire game optics.
Basically, Spencer’s been taking a lot of risks and it could all blow up in face in Season 5, we shall see. “Ballers” co-stars Rob Corddry, Russell Brand, Omar Benson Miller, Donovan Carter, Troy Garity, and Eli Goree, with lots of recurring actors who come and go from season to season.
“BlackKKlansman” and “Tenet” star John David Washington is apparently still on Season 5, but according to an Instagram video The Rock posted earlier this year, the in-demand star has ended his run on the show. After a teaser released last week, watch the full official season five trailer below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjnZJ-6Dw4U&feature=em-uploademail
