Can grit and ambition really buy the American dream in New York City?
In short: The HBO series How to Make It in America followed two young entrepreneurs navigating the cutthroat fashion industry. By leveraging street smarts and a network of colorful connections, they sought to turn their vision into reality, capturing the relentless, multicultural hustle that defines the pursuit of success in modern America.
Premiering on February 14, 2010, the comedy-drama centered on Ben Epstein and Cam Calderon, two twenty-year-olds attempting to break into the competitive New York City fashion scene. Their journey was supported by a cast of characters including Cam’s cousin Rene, who was busy marketing an energy drink, and their well-connected friend Domingo. The series aimed to explore the downtown scene, examining the diverse subcultures of New York and the universal drive to secure financial stability, famously underscored by the theme song I Need a Dollar.
The show’s production was led by an executive team including Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Rob Weiss, and Julian Farino, who were also behind the hit series Entourage. Critics frequently drew comparisons between the two shows, though opinions on the quality of How to Make It in America were divided. While some reviewers praised its production design and naturalistic performances, others felt it lacked the depth it aspired to achieve. The first season earned a 60% score on Metacritic, reflecting a mixed critical reception that persisted throughout its run.
Despite a creative push in the second season, which premiered on October 2, 2011, the series struggled to find a broad audience. HBO officially cancelled the show on December 20, 2011, citing a failure to generate sufficient buzz or viewership. Although executive producer Mark Wahlberg expressed hope in January 2012 that the series might find a new home on another network, the project ultimately concluded after two seasons. It remains a snapshot of a specific cultural moment, capturing the grit and ambition of a generation trying to make it big in an unforgiving urban landscape.
The show’s legacy is tied to its attempt to dramatize the intersection of ambition and the reality of the American dream. By utilizing a montage of photography and video in its opening sequence, the creators sought to distill the essence of the city’s multicultural whirl. While it did not achieve the longevity of its predecessors, it remains a notable attempt to document the hustle culture that defines the pursuit of the almighty dollar.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: How to Make It in America
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