It's 1973 New York. Richie Finestra (Bobby Cannavale) is a drunken, drug-addicted mess. He runs his struggling record label American Century with his friend Zak Yankovich (Ray Romano). They're trying to sell their label to German Polygram. He started out managing jazz singer Lester Grimes ten years before but they parted on bad terms. His marriage to Devon (Olivia Wilde) with two kids is in trouble. Jamie Vine (Juno Temple) is a secretary trying to get into A&R. She finds Kip Stevens and his band Nasty Bits. There are mobsters, the FBI, a killing, sex, drugs, music, and lots of drugs.
There is a bit of correlation between this show and something like "Mad Men". The problem is that it's not quite as good and it's a mess when the show goes big. The best parts of the show is the work with Jamie, Kip, Lester, and the band. It's very familiar but it works well. Even annoying Clark works and I like where his character ended up. Bobby Cannavale really goes for it and at times, is almost a different show. The mobster stuff is dangerous. It threatens to push the show into chaos at any time. Certainly, it could make for a great show but it's also excessive. That goes for the music and especially the impersonators of famous legends. The impersonators can come off as tribute players. There are exceptions. The best one is Elvis where there is something actually interesting. While music is a big part of the show, it can become a bunch of mini music videos. The best music scene is Richie watching Nasty Bits the first time. That scene added drama and works as a story element. As for Devon, it's a mistake to start her in Conneticut. Her story is too separated from the rest of the show already. She needs to be connected more directly with the label. Overall, this show has some great parts but the bad parts make me want to fast forward.
There is a bit of correlation between this show and something like "Mad Men". The problem is that it's not quite as good and it's a mess when the show goes big. The best parts of the show is the work with Jamie, Kip, Lester, and the band. It's very familiar but it works well. Even annoying Clark works and I like where his character ended up. Bobby Cannavale really goes for it and at times, is almost a different show. The mobster stuff is dangerous. It threatens to push the show into chaos at any time. Certainly, it could make for a great show but it's also excessive. That goes for the music and especially the impersonators of famous legends. The impersonators can come off as tribute players. There are exceptions. The best one is Elvis where there is something actually interesting. While music is a big part of the show, it can become a bunch of mini music videos. The best music scene is Richie watching Nasty Bits the first time. That scene added drama and works as a story element. As for Devon, it's a mistake to start her in Conneticut. Her story is too separated from the rest of the show already. She needs to be connected more directly with the label. Overall, this show has some great parts but the bad parts make me want to fast forward.