Despite being a new show on HBO I am going to go ahead and give this post a Music tag (thanks to Kid Cudi) and a Mayhem tag (thanks to Luis Guzman). After the jump you can check out a semi-live recap of my thoughts as I watched the pilot.
The quick rundown from from HBO.com:
How to Make It in America follows two enterprising twentysomethings as they hustle their way through New York City, determined to achieve their version of the American Dream. Trying to make a name for themselves in the city’s competitive fashion scene, Ben Epstein and his friend and business partner Cam Calderon use their street knowledge and connections to make their way up.
Ok here we go…
- “America” apparently refers to New York. Works for me. Cool opening set to Aloe Blacc – I Need A Dollar
-Hundreds of skateboard decks in Ben’s apt. Did he steal them? Cam’Ron – Oh Boy blasting. Great music so far.
-Ben’s friend Cam comes over, apparently straight from a lesbian’s house he slept with the night before, and has to piss. Ok then.
-Funny kid selling M&Ms on the subway, trying to hustle Ben for his kicks. Ben gives us a stern reminder that “its not about money, its about respect.” I always thought you were supposed to first get the money. Oh well.
-Ben is friends with this chick. She is putting together an art opening and has a stupid haircut.
-Ok it appears Ben works at Barneys. Finch from American Pie recognizes him from high school. Finch has upgraded considerably from Stiffler’s mom now that he “manages a little hedge fund.”
-Cam is back at home, and it turns out his cousin Rene (Luis Guzman!) is freshly out of prison. Luis does not disappoint.
-Cudi Alert! And there he goes.
-Here is Ben’s old girlfriend who he didn’t think was going to be at the art opening. Lets just say that Lake Bell has always confused my penis and leave it at that.
-Cudi Alert! Crushing Jamison out of the bottle. My man.
-”How long are you gonna keep saying ‘fuck the man’ for?” “Until we are the man!” Ugh.
-Update: turns out Finch’s chick from Barneys was an escort. Makes more sense.
-Guzman Alert!
-And we’re done.
THOUGHTS: I’ll keep watching for a few episodes at least. It was a usual fast-moving pilot, trying to introduce us to all the main players. If I wasn’t looking forward to more Cudi or Guze I’m not sure how long I would have made it but the addition of plenty of random cameos (like that one girl from the OC and Entourage) and a top-notch soundtrack (see below) has me at least mildly aroused intrigued.
- Cam’Ron – “Oh Boy”
- Cobra Starship – “Good Girls Go Bad”
- Digable Planets – “Pacifics”
- John Boyd – “DomK”
- Erik Hachikian – “Beach Ball”
- Cam’Ron – “Down and Out”
- Stereo MC’s – “Two Horse Town”
- Hercules & Love Affair – “You Belong”
- Rich Skillz – “Cuz The 80′s Made Me”
- Ceu – “Comadi”
- The Rolling Stones – “Heaven”
- Dinji Brown – “Movin”
- Nancy Wilson – “Ode To Billie Joe”
- Brass Construction – “Movin”
Full Episode soundtrack courtesy of http://howtomakeitinamerica.com/
