Arliss (1996)
Plot.
Where to Watch.
Currently Arliss is available for streaming online, rent, buy or watch for free on: Max Amazon Channel, Max
Streaming in:🇺🇸 United States
Cast & Crew.
Robert Wuhl
Arliss Michaels / Director / Writer
Sandra Oh
Rita Wu
Jim Turner
Kirby Carlisle
Michael Boatman
Stanley Babson
Brian Robbins
Producer
Richard Minchenberg
Bernie Orenstein
Chrisanne Eastwood
Rosie Capelli
Phil Lodwick
Engineer
Matt Winston
Jeremy Brenner
Michael Grossman
Director
Melanie Mayron
Director
Rodman Flender
Director
John Murray
Director
Peter Baldwin
Director
Nick Marck
Director
John Fortenberry
Director
Andy Wolk
Director
Perry Lang
Director
Michael Tollin
Director
Ellen S. Pressman
Director
Jace Alexander
Director
Lev L. Spiro
Director
Robert Berlinger
Director
Eugene Corr
Director
Tucker Gates
Director
Mary Kay Place
Director
Kevin Falls
Writer
Scott Kaufer
Writer
Bruce Kirschbaum
Writer
Sam Kass
Writer
Bobby Bonilla
Bobby Bonilla
Amanda Bynes
Crystal Dupree
John Franco
John Franco
Andre Rison
Andre Rison
Brent Barry
Brent Barry
Elizabeth Manley
Elizabeth Manley
Jsu Garcia
Robo
Mitch Richmond
Mitch Redmond
Carl Lewis
Carl Lewis
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Danny Tartabull
Danny Tartabull
Bob Costas
Bob Costas
Brandon Tartikoff
Brandon Tartikoff
Chris Myers
Himself
Gary Carter
Self
Barbara Keegan
Product Rep
Mailon Rivera
Latrelle Shabazz
Patricia Manterola
Carman Caballo
Kathleen McClellan
Susie
Jerry Jones
Jerry Jones
Dyan Cannon
Dyan Cannon
Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGrady
Hannah Storm
Hannah Storm
Rosalind Chao
Karen
Gerry Del Sol
Stage Manager
William Frankfather
Client Rep
Judy Gold
Client Rep
Ann Meyers
Ann Meyers
Bob Starr
Football Announcer
Kim Tavares
Rita
Jim Yorke
Sebastian
Michael Fairman
Buddy Reingold
Fran Bennett
Amelia Halimon
George Wallace
Deacon Delbert Henry
Ron Sierra
Shaler Hamilon
Chris Ellis
Henneman
Al Rodrigo
Obless Obliche
Tony La Russa
Tony La Russa
Jason Gedrick
Keith David
Kurt Rambis
Marliece Andrada
John Lynch
Robin Atkin Downes
Gary Payton
Derek Fisher
Bob Arum
Carolyn Hennesy
Gregory Itzin
Andrew Jackson
Joyce Guy
Lisa Leslie
Ken Norton Jr.
Warren Moon
Kristoff St. John
Andrea Bowen
Gregory White
David Justice
Susan Egan
Lesley Visser
Juwan Howard
Tanjareen Martin
Ann Walker
George Steinbrenner
Norm Crosby
Glen Rice
Shannon Elizabeth
Fred Williamson
Richard Garrison
Rob Mars
Stunts
Krista Allen
Freda Foh Shen
Tony Hawk
Steven Williams
Bill Walsh
Ted Turner
John Madden
Matt Battaglia
Wings Hauser
Mike Lieberthal
Ozzie Smith
Michael Paul Chan
Oscar de la Hoya
Alex Karras
Magic Johnson
Tommy Lasorda
Michael Clarke Duncan
Scott Patterson
Joe Piscopo
David Garrison
Jillian Warry Barberie
John Rhys-Davies
Lindsay Crouse
Jonathan Silverman
Tara Lipinski
Travis Tritt
Jim Lampley
Katarina Witt
Curt Schilling
Roy Firestone
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Dave Winfield
Daunte Culpepper
Michael Trucco
Brett Favre
Michael Irvin
James Coburn
Armen Keteyian
Beverly Johnson
Grant Show
Diego Serrano
Marshall Faulk
Michael Milhoan
Bonnie Burroughs
Tracy Austin
Dennis Miller
Lacie Harmon
Conan O'Brien
Roy Jones Jr.
Chris Berman
Pete Sampras
Kathryn Joosten
Quentin Richardson
Shemar Moore
Brad William Henke
Johnnie Cochran
Leslie Jordan
Terrell Davis
David Chandler
Cammi Granato-Ferraro
Media.
Details.
Release DateAugust 10, 1996
StatusEnded
Seasons7
Episodes80
Running Time30m
Content RatingTV-MA
Genres
Last updated:
This TV Show Is About.
Wiki.
Arliss (rendered in its logo as Arli$$) is an American dark comedy series, created by and starring Robert Wuhl (who was also the series' showrunner), about the glitzy, big-money world of professional sports, with Wuhl playing the eternally optimistic and endlessly resourceful L.A. sports agent Arliss Michaels, whose Achilles' heel is his inability to say "no" to clients and employees. Arliss ran for seven seasons and 80 episodes on HBO, from August 10, 1996, to September 8, 2002. After almost two decades off the air, the entire catalog of Arliss episodes returned to Max in a streaming format in 2022.
The New York Times called the show "One of the freshest shows to come along in a while." It was well-known for taking on very controversial (at the time) topics, including point shaving, political corruption, personal seat license fees, relocation of professional sports teams, sports in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, right to work law states, domestic abuse, steroid use, Alzheimer's disease, gay and transgender athletes, alcoholism, and unwanted athlete pregnancies.
The idea behind Arliss was to show the hype, greed, and hypocrisy of powerful sports agents like Arliss Michaels, and what really happens "behind the scenes" in professional sports. In a 2018 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Wuhl said the idea for Arliss was based on the book The Art of the Deal by Donald Trump and journalist Tony Schwartz:
I had read The Art of the Deal and I thought, "This is total, 100 percent bullshit. He's saying stuff that I don't believe a fuckin' word of it. He's telling you what happened, but I want to see what really happened." We can use this, as Arliss the sports agent, telling you what happens and then prove he's full of shit and show what really happened.
Over 400 celebrities had cameo appearances on Arliss, including Les Moonves, George Wallace, Bobcat Goldthwait, Shannon Elizabeth, Fred Williamson, Al Michaels, John Elway, Derek Jeter, Dan Marino, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Warren Moon, Alonzo Mourning, Bob Costas, Jimmy Johnson, Jerry Jones, Picabo Street, Katarina Witt, and Barry Bonds.