As a seasoned gamer with a soft spot for sports-themed narratives and a knack for appreciating comedic excellence, I can confidently say that I’m thrilled about the upcoming debut of Mr. Throwback on Peacock. The unique blend of basketball legend Steph Curry and TV veteran Adam Pally promises an entertaining ride, and I’m particularly intrigued by Curry’s foray into acting, especially given his reputation as a prolific hoops star.
A fresh mockumentary titled “Mr. Throwback” is set to air on TV schedules in 2024, streaming exclusively on Peacock. However, this isn’t your average sitcom – NBA star Steph Curry teams up with Adam Pally, known for his role in “Happy Endings.” To everyone’s delight, Curry demonstrated that he can deliver a stellar performance not just on the basketball court but also on screen. The seasoned sitcom producers, who are also behind this project, shared their experiences working with Curry and expressed great admiration for his acting abilities as he portrays a fictionalized version of himself in the show.
As a die-hard fan, I’m thrilled about Mr. Throwback, a tale centered around me, Danny (Adam Pally), a struggling memorabilia dealer who might just hit the jackpot with the aid of an old middle school teammate. Guess who that is? You got it – none other than basketball legend Steph Curry from the Golden State Warriors! The trailer hints at their past camaraderate as the “Splash Siblings,” and it’s evident that Curry’s foray into comedy is taking his stardom to new heights, even beyond his miniature golf show. So whether you’re a basketball enthusiast (like me) or not, this comedy is a must-see!
In an interview prior to the debut of “Mr. Throwback,” I had a chat with writers, executive producers, and frequent partners David Caspe, Matthew Libman, and Daniel Libman about an intriguing topic: what was their experience collaborating with Steph Curry, who is well-known as a basketball superstar, on this project? Daniel Libman, who has contributed to popular shows like “How I Met Your Father,” “Champaign ILL,” and “Kenan” recently, commented on the subject:
An absolute ideal scenario: The man is not only an exceptional basketball player but also excels as an actor and comedian. Experiencing this was like a dream come true. He was incredibly generous with his time, eager to delve into the material, and a perfect fit for our cast. It was a situation we could hardly have imagined better as showrunners.
It’s not common for a professional athlete to transition into acting, but Mr. Throwback takes Steph Curry in an unexpected route compared to movies like Space Jam featuring LeBron James. Matthew Libman, who collaborates with his brother on their comedic ventures such as The Mick and Solar Opposites, explained:
In essence, it felt as if we were crafting lines for any comedic performer. There was no need to modify or adjust anything specifically for Steph, as his skills were exceptional from the start. In fact, we found ourselves writing as we typically would for a seasoned comic actor. It was exhilarating! When delivering feedback, it often seemed as though he was simply an accomplished actor on our set, rather than a legendary basketball player. He’d absorb the notes and execute them flawlessly, just like a professional actor at their best.
It’s clearly a compliment given that he worked with experienced comedians like Adam Pally from sitcoms and SNL star Ego Nwodim. When I mentioned to the producers that comedy acting might be another skill for Steph Curry, they playfully replied:
- Daniel Libman: “That’s exactly right.”
- Matthew Libman: “It is annoying. It’s just like ‘Enough! Enough already.’”
Audience members can look forward to catching Steph Curry portraying a fictionalized version of himself when the show Mr. Throwback makes its debut on August 8 for Peacock Premium subscribers. However, if the idea of this premise and cast might seem unusual for a TV series, David Caspe, who has collaborated with the Libmans in television projects dating back to Happy Endings, shared the origin story behind the new streaming series: it was David Caspe who conceived the concept.
My spouse, who is an actress, unexpectedly received an invitation to participate in a talk show titled “About Last Night,” which was hosted by basketball star Stephen Curry and his wife Ayesha. This show had a format similar to The Dating Game. Initially reluctant due to my shyness around the camera, I agreed to join her, as I am an ardent fan of Stephen Curry and basketball in general. Consequently, we interacted with Stephen and Ayesha on the show and formed a connection. On another episode, our close friend Adam Pally and his wife Daniella also appeared on the same show, establishing a rapport with Stephen and his family as well.
It’s interesting to note that the character of Mr. Throwback can be traced back to the brief run of the TV game show ‘About Last Night’, which aired for eight episodes during 2022 on Max. A fun trivia: Caspe and Pally weren’t the only ‘Happy Endings’ cast members to feature in this show, as Caspe’s wife is none other than actress and ‘SNL’ veteran Casey Wilson. Caspe later shared how their encounter with the Currys for the game show led to the creation of Mr. Throwback.
Later, Stephen’s production head contacted both me and Adam about developing a show starring Stephen. Excited by the opportunity, we contacted the Libmans (our regular collaborators) and convened on Zoom to brainstorm ideas. Coincidentally, this was during The Last Dance series, and Daniel suggested, ‘Could we create a comedic spin-off of The Last Dance?’ Inspired, we built upon that idea and eventually finalized our project, whether it turned out well or not.
While it’s safe to say that any drama that goes down in the story of Mr. Throwback between Danny and Steph Curry won’t carry over into real life like the feuds after The Last Dance, a comedy version of the popular sports docu-series is worth checking out, particularly as the 2024 Olympics in Paris wind down. Take a look at the trailer below:
On August 8th, which falls on Thursday, you can catch the debut of all six episodes of the show called Mr. Throwback, exclusively on Peacock. The mockumentary style has proven to be a hit, with series like The Office and Parks and Recreation being prime examples. However, despite its similarities, Mr. Throwback carves out its unique niche within this familiar genre, making it a must-see.
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2024-08-08 00:38