HBO has already chronicled the rise of a group of guys from Queens with Entourage, so it’s not such a stretch to portray a scrappy, striving duo trying to make it in the Big Apple. Hey, as the song says, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.
Cut to Ben (Bryan Greenberg), a cutie who wants to be some sort of artist or designer but is currently stuck working for The Man selling jeans at Barney’s just to make rent. His buddy, Cam (Victor Rasuk), seems like a perpetual schemer, borrowing money from shady uncle to launch new entrepreneurial projects that go nowhere. Their group is rounded out Gingy (Shannyn Sossamon), daughter of a rich guy who is trying to make it on her own, Ben’s ex Rachel (Lake Bell) and her unsympathetic new boyfriend. There’s also appearances by Kid Cudi and American Pie‘s Eddie Kaye Thomas, who plays Ben’s high school pal David –a guy who’s bank in hedge funds but realizes all the money in the world can’t change the fact that he’s a geek.
Of course we love Ben, who struggles with his idea of success, especially in the face of self-made millionaire David. And who could not love Ben’s romantic troubles and challenges in getting over his ex? After a particularly humiliating failed sexual encounter, Ben stumbles drunk to Rachel’s apartment and yells to her from the street. It might be embarrassing to have a guy yelling at you in the middle of the night, but when has a guy ever done that for you? Oh, Ben (or Bryan), you can come scream outside our window at any time of night.
But what will keep us coming back to HBO’s newest half-hour comedy is Ben and Cam’s new business venture and whether it gets off the ground. They’ve decided to work together to launch a line of high end denim, which we admit sounds like a much better idea than hocking fake leather jackets. What challenges will they face as they work to produce their new project? What girls will they meet along the way? Will Ben finally find a girl worthy of his affections?
Pulling from a familiar style established by Entourage, How To Make It In America has the potential (and the pretty faces) to make us want to keep watching. But the misadventures of Ben and Cam and their crew have to become interesting enough to make us tune in.
What do you think? Did you watch? Did you set a season pass on your DVR or are you only considering tuning in again next week if something better doesn’t come up?
(Photo via the Official Web Site)
