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Who doesn’t love watching a series that tells the true-life (or at least somewhat true-life) stories of real people? That’s what HBO’s hit series “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” provides for NBA fans, Angelenos and TV viewers alike.

“Winning Time” doesn’t feature any of the real-life people that the series depicts, though some of the actors bear striking resemblances to their counterparts.

The show has a massive cast, with Quincy Isaiah (Earvin “Magic” Johnson”), John C. Reilly (Jerry Buss), Adrien Brody (Pat Riley) and others taking center stage as leads. There were also newcomers who stepped onto the court as guest stars for the second season, included Joel Allen as Kurt Rambis, Jay Davis as Byron Scott, Quentin Shropshire as James Worthy, Matthew Barnes as Mitch Kupchak, Darryl Reynolds as Robert Parish, Andrew Stephens as Kevin McHale and Larry C. Fields III as Eddie Jordan.

It’s showtime! Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jerry Buss and the rest of the Lakers squad is back for a second season of “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.”

Viewers got to get a glimpse into executive producer Adam McKay’s portrayal of the Lakers golden era and the drama that came with it. This time around fans will get to see even more of the Lakers legacy. Newcomers are stepping onto the court as guest stars, including Joel Allen as Kurt Rambis, Jay Davis as Byron Scott, Quentin Shropshire as James Worthy, Matthew Barnes as Mitch Kupchak, Darryl Reynolds as Robert Parish, Andrew Stephens as Kevin McHale and Larry C. Fields III as Eddie Jordan.

The show announced on Aug. 24, 2022 that it started production, and it’s making its return on Sunday, Aug. 6 at 9:00 p.m. Et/Pt on HBO and will also be available to stream on Max.

The battle for basketball supremacy is officially on in Season 2 of HBO’s Winning Time.

In a new trailer (which you can watch above), Magic Johnson and the L.A. Lakers are basking in the glow of their recent NBA championship, but Larry Bird and the hated Boston Celtics are determined to take them down. Season 2 dives into the heart of the fierce Lakers-Celtics rivalry in the ’80s, including Magic’s clashes with his head coach Paul Westhead, Pat Riley’s slicked-back hair and Celtics player Kevin McHale’s infamous clothesline of Lakers player Kurt Rambis.

More from TVLineFuturama Returns!

In a competitive situation, Netflix has given a 10-episode straight-to-series order to a half-hour workplace comedy inspired by the front office of the Los Angeles Lakers. The project hails from Mindy Kaling, former star/executive producer of one of the all-time great workplace comedy series, The Office; Modern Family alumna Elaine Ko; Lakers’ President and Governor Jeanie Buss and Warner Bros. TV.

Written by Ko, the untitled series is inspired by the personal and professional dynamic between the family owners and front office team that together run one of the most iconic franchises in all of sports: the Los Angeles Lakers. The workplace comedy follows fictional team governor Eliza Reed as she navigates NBA ownership and family drama with her best friend by her side.

Ko serves as showrunner and executive produces with Kaling, Buss and Linda Rambis of the Lakers, and 3 Arts’ Howard Klein. Jordan Rambis will be a producer.

[[tmz:video id="0_3cu2astn"]] How does James Worthy feel about Kevin Durant saying he'd take his spot on the Showtime Lakers? In a word: "Ludicrous." We got Big Game James at Lax ... and asked him what he thought of Kd's recent comments on "The Bill Simmons Podcast" -- where Durant said he'd take Worthy's starting spot next to Magic Johnson and co. if he could play for any historical team. "I think that’s ludicrous," the Hall of Famer told TMZ Sports.

Derek Fisher's out ... and now Dennis Rodman wants in!  Kim Jong-un's favorite NBA Hall of Famer has officially thrown his boa into the ring to be the next head coach of the NY Knicks -- and he's even posted a message directed at Phil Jackson.  "Hey @PhilJackson11 @nyknicks, I have a pretty decent resume on the court and I can coach; and I'm available. Call me. @nba." Fisher was fired earlier Monday and Kurt Rambis was named interim head coach.

Arsenio Hall's return to late-night television worked out pretty well -- at least on night one.

The debut of "The Arsenio Hall Show" in syndication Monday night (Sept. 9) scored solid ratings with a 1.9 household rating in overnight metered markets. The show also led all the broadcast-network late-night shows -- all of which had new episodes Monday -- among adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.

Hall also finished first among late-night talkers in Los Angeles and second in New York, behind "The Late Show with David Letterman." One night does not a successful late-night franchise make, but it's a good start.

More TV news and notes:

- The CW will have a half-hour comedy on its schedule in 2013-14. The network has picked up a Canadian show called "Seed," which centers on a bartender (Adam Korson) who's also a sperm donor. He's drawn into relationships with three families who have used his donations.

Showtime is developing a one-hour scripted drama set behind the scenes of a pro basketball team and the family that runs it, and the network is working with people in the know to make it happen. Bull Durham and White Men Can’t Jump writer-director Ron Shelton is set to pen, helm and executive produce the project, from Lakers exec Jeanie Buss and Linda Rambis’ Street Reason Entertainment. Phil Jackson, the former Lakers coach who led them to five NBA titles, will also exec produce as will Kurt Rambis, the former Lakers star and now assistant coach. Buss is a longtime exec with the Lakers and the daughter of former owner Jerry Buss, who died in February after a prolific run with the team that included 10 championships. Jeanie Buss and Jackson are engaged after meeting during his tenure with the team, and are expected to bring their real-life experience working...

Showtime could be taking it to the courts with their next drama. The Hollywood Reporter has learned that the cable network is developing a one-hour drama focused on a professional basketball team. Set to write, executive produce and, should it go to pilot, direct is Ron Shelton. The sports-centric filmmaker's most notable movies include Bull Durham, Tin Cup and White Men Can’t Jump. Serving as executive producers alongside him on the project are several members of the L.A. Lakers family, including assistant coach Kurt Rambis, retired coach Phil Jackson and team execs Jeanie Buss and Linda Rambis --

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Paula Abdul has been in the spotlight for decades and doesn't show any signs of slowing down. The 50-year-old singer, songwriter, choreographer, dancer and television personality talks to HuffPost La about being discovered by The Jacksons, having a head for business and the best piece of advice she's ever been given.

We have decided that you are the ultimate Angeleno: you went to Cal State Northridge, started off as a Laker Girl and then were discovered by The Jacksons at a game. What was it like being a Laker Girl at that time?

I’ll always be an Angeleno. I love Los Angeles. And I will always love the Lakers! I have deep roots at The Forum…it’s where I started my career. It was such an exciting time to be a Laker Girl. Just being in the company of incredible, mega-superstar athletes like Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Kurt Rambis,...

More than 20 years after Magic Johnson held a press conference to announce he was HIV-positive, Espn is revisiting that significant moment in a documentary, The Announcement, scheduled to air March 11 on the sports channel. The film, directed by Nelson George, and presented by Espn Films and NBA Entertainment, explores how the basketball legend continues to cope with the disease. It features narration by Johnson himself and interviews with confidantes including family (wife Cookie, son Andre) and former NBA colleagues Larry Bird, Karl Malone, James Worthy and Kurt Rambis. Hollywood pals Chris Rock and Arsenio Hall also join

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An Associated Press reporter is being sued by an NBA referee over a tweet the ref claims defamed him. The reporter, Jon Krawczynski, posted the aforementioned tweet on Twitter during a Jan. 24 Minnesota Timberwolves game. After the ref, Bill Spooner, called a foul on one of the Timberwolves, Minnesota's coach, Kurt Rambis, argued the call. Spooner then promised to review the play at halftime. Krawczynski's tweet explains what happened next: Ref Bill Spooner told Rambis he'd "get it back" after a bad call. Then he made an even worse call on Rockets. That's...

Actor Colin Hanks has become a voluntary advocate for laser eye surgery after undergoing the procedure to perfect his eyesight.

The son of Hollywood legend Tom Hanks decided to have the operation this summer after years of relying on thick-lenses to see clearly.

And the 32 year old is so impressed by the effects of Lasik, he's advising his friends and family about the benefits of the corrective surgery.

He says, "They shot a laser into my eyeball and I want you to know, it works, it really works. I looked like (retired basketball player) Kurt Rambis or an angry Buddy Holly before but now that isn't the case."...

Dino had one of the most exciting and exhilarating birthday gifts before his time. During his recent visit to La where this sports lover had gone to enjoy an NBA match between La Lakers vs Sacremento Kings, he got to meet his favorite basketball players Kobe Byrant and Kurt Rambis. "I am an absolute basketball freak so I love watching the game. In fact, I even played a few games with Kurt and Kobe during their practice session and that was so cool. We had a lot of fun."...

"Hey, baby. Walk nasty for me". This low-voiced, seductive lead-in is the gateway to endless jokes about an extremely long penis in this serviceable showcase for stand-up comic Craig Shoemaker, a winner at this year's American Comedy Awards.

Directed by first-timer Michael Goldberg (co-writer with partner Tommy Swerdlow of "Cool Runnings" and "Little Giants"), "The LoveMaster" is distributed by Rocket Releasing and boasts small roles and cameos played by Farrah Fawcett, Kurt Rambis, Karen Witter and Courtney Thorne-Smith. Its theatrical life should be brief, but Shoemaker's fans will discover "LoveMaster" in the video rental market, where it should do brisk business.

There's a nominal plot about comedian and impersonator Craig Shoemaker) trying to work out his personality problems with a therapist (George Wendt), including amusing flashbacks with the lead as a young boy (Kyle Thomas) and teen (Andrew Starnes). But the real attraction is Shoemaker's onstage talents and R-rated material, captured in a 1995 concert at the Improv in Tempe, Ariz.

With a gift for facial contortions to go along with his perfect vocal mimicry, Shoemaker knows how to work a crowd into hysterics with a combination of Baby Boomer nostalgia and raunchy sex jokes. His Don-Knotts-as-Barney-Fife shtick is inspired, while caricatures of his pot-smoking grandmother and an effusive gay man are engagingly exaggerated.

Shoemaker has fun with young audience members who may not get all his 1950s- and '60s pop culture references. He's most exciting when he changes personality mid-joke, but too often he returns to the titular LoveMaster. It's a very funny bit but limited to variations on how one can use a member comparable to an elephant's trunk to impress the ladies.

THE LOVEMASTER

Rocket Releasing

Rocket Pictures presents

A Coleman/Breen production

A Michael Goldberg film

Director Michael Goldberg

Producer Tom Coleman

Executive producers Alan David, Mark Breen

Directors of photography Phil Parmet,

Jeff Zimmerman

Production designer Gary Randail

Editors Richard Currie, Jeremy Kasten

Music Michael Skloff, Giorgio Bertucelli

Costume designer Maud Kersnowski

Color/stereo

Cast:

Craig Craig Shoemaker

Therapist George Wendt

Young Craig Kyle Thomas

Teen Craig Andrew Starnes

Running time -- 84 minutes

MPAA rating: R...