HBO continues to fetishize NYC with How To Make It In America
Posted on 05. Apr, 2010 by Anupa in Music, Television
Good looking people live in New York City
It’s a fact that almost everyone wants to live in NYC. If you don’t then I’m going to assume you’re either a) soulless or b) boring. Capitalizing on an epoch of NYC-philes (and a grip of hip, upwardly mobile young people), HBO’s new roster includes How To Make It In America, a half-hour dramedy about two quintessentially New York dudes (Jewish/Dominican, generation: hip-hop) trying to catch a break in the fashion industry. Essentially, How To Make It is the East Coast Entourage (with the same producers too) following Ben and Cam as they navigate hustling to “make it”, downtown parties, hot girls, and Cam’s ex-con cousin.
The show is largely underwhelming. Mediocre plotlines, an uninspired cast and a “seen it” premise means the somewhat reasonable success of the show has got to be attributed to its glamourous setting and hot cast members. I’ve patiently sat through this season’s 10 or so episodes (the finale aired last night) mostly because Bryan Greenberg (Ben) is my ideal man and Luis Guzman (Rene) is hilarious as a smalltime honcho. The idea of young people doing their own thing is unquestionably interesting—so it follows that we’d want to see this on television—but the concept seems passe given that everyone and their moms is buying into the get-rich-quick lifestyle and/or “dabbling in fashion.”
But while Ben and Cam take advantage of their network of cool, downtown friends (including rapper Kid Cudi, who doesn’t seem to do anything but show up) and pull themselves out of one situation after another—all to a well-curated soundtrack and amongst the glossiest and grittiest of iconic New York City—the show flounders in its lack of pull. How To Make It In America is all esthetic; from the gorgeous opening sequence to the cultural namedrops to gratutitous shots of Barneys and bodegas.
Take away anything from this show and it should be the cool soundtrack. If you’re familiar with the Stones Throw roster, you’ll know the name Aloe Blacc. He’s been putting out throwback soul tracks and post-neosoul-era gems for a number of years now and here’s hoping he’ll finally get his shine after “I Need A Dollar” was chosen for How To Make It‘s opening sequence. The official video just dropped:
Double U
Apr 5th, 2010
How to make it in America was a good filler until the other hotter HBO shows that are coming out later this summer. I honestly enjoyed the short 8 episodes that was produced, however it seems that every episode had a little hustle from each of the characters in the show. If there is a season 2 I am definitely watching it. GO Crisp!
jessekg
Apr 6th, 2010
I have been listening to Aloe Blacc ever since you posted this, and I just downloaded e. 1 of the show. I know it’s good for him to have his song as this show’s theme, but unfortunately it kills a great song. Didnt the Wire switch up theme songs every season? Hope it’s the same for this.
Anupa
Apr 7th, 2010
Double U: I agree. It definitely has been good filler and I will be watching Season 2, but I think it is only because of the setting and the way the characters relate to my generation; I still don`t think the characters are all that interesting, aside from Rene.
Jesse: I don`t know if this particular show kills the song. The intro visuals are great, and atleast if you take that alone, it does justice to the song. I doubt that the theme will get switched up (did they do that for Entourage?), but it works within the frame of reference for me. I mean, I think they were probably trying to go for some type of authenticity using a track like that, as opposed to something more current-sounding.
jessekg
Apr 7th, 2010
I wish Entourage would switch up its song! Right now it’s U2.
And I agree, I love the intro visuals and the song fits it perfectly, but I’m sure there was also a point in history where “thank you for being a friend” was considered a classic until those horny, widowed cougars, also known as the Golden Girls, ruined it for everyone else (just kidding. They made it better).
Simon
Apr 7th, 2010
I totally just caught up on this show. Once you step back from the glamour and actually look at the show it’s not very well written and the characters are all kind of douchey assholes.
Still, I find it highly entertaining. Probably because, at least for a short phase of my life, I would unapologetically like to be a douchey New York asshole.
One day…. on day.
Anupa
Apr 7th, 2010
Simon: yes, they are very douchey. Smarmy, entitled young kids. I think I have been brainwashed into commiserating with my parents generation because what people term “entrepreneurial” in our generation, I see more as “misguided priorities”. DON`T KNOW THE VALUE OF A HARD-EARNED DOLLAR.