| They Call Me Magic | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Genre | |
| Directed by | Rick Famuyiwa |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Apple TV+ |
| Release | April 22, 2022 (2022-04-22) |
They Call Me Magic is a four-part American documentary television miniseries about the life and career of basketball playerEarvin "Magic" Johnson. It features interviews with Johnson, his family, and public figures includingMichael Jordan,Shaquille O'Neal,Snoop Dogg,Samuel L. Jackson, and former U.S. PresidentBarack Obama.[1]
The series was directed byRick Famuyiwa and produced byXTR andNew Slate Ventures, in association with Delirio Films, and H.Wood Media forApple TV+.[2]
They Call Me Magic offers an in-depth look atEarvin "Magic" Johnson's life, from his early years in Lansing, Michigan; his rise to NBA stardom with the Los Angeles Lakers; to his HIV diagnosis and how that changed public perceptions; and his later work as a business mogul and community activist. It includes interviews with Johnson, family, peers and various public figures.
They Call Me Magic was directed by Rick Famuyiwa, withJordan Fudge, Jeremy Allen,Bryn Mooser and Christina McLarty serving as executive producers.[3] Johnson stated that the idea for the documentary series was partly inspired by the success of Michael Jordan’sThe Last Dance. While Jordan’s series focused primarily on athletic achievements, Johnson wanted his documentary to place greater emphasis on his family life, personal relationships, and different stages of his career.[4]
| No. | Title | Original release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "June Bug" | April 22, 2022 (2022-04-22) |
| 2 | "Buck" | April 22, 2022 (2022-04-22) |
| 3 | "Earvin" | April 22, 2022 (2022-04-22) |
| 4 | "Magic" | April 22, 2022 (2022-04-22) |
A trailer for the series was released on March 12, 2022, featuring interviews and archival footage set to Sugarhill Gang's Apache and Norah Jones' My Heart Is Full (Silo x Bettina Bergstrom Remix).[5] It had its premiered at theSouth by Southwest festival in the same month,[6] and all four episodes became available onApple TV+ on April 22, 2022.[5]
OnRotten Tomatoes,They Call Me Magic has a 69% approval rating based on 13 critic reviews. The critics consensus states: "They Call Me Magic is too overextended to be truly spellbinding, but Magic Johnson proves a charming narrator of his own life in a docuseries that should be mandatory viewing for basketball fans."[7]
It was nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score), with composer Terence Blanchard credited.[8][9]