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Season 1 – How to Make It in America

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – How to Make It in America Feb 2010 Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
55% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Despite the best efforts of two 20-something friends from Brooklyn, their chase of the American Dream seems to always end up short of the finish line. After striking out hustling a skateboard-deck business, graphic designer Ben Epstein agrees to partner with his friend, Cam Calderon, in the production of leather jackets and retro jeans. Using street smarts and associates, including Cam's cousin Rene and their well-connected friend Domingo, the enterprising duo will do almost anything to overcome the many obstacles they encounter to make it in America.
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How to Make It in America — Season 1

How to Make It in America — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Although it tries too hard to be hip, How to Make it in America is satisfying, well conceived and superbly penned.

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Critics Reviews

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Brian Tallerico HollywoodChicago.com 06/11/2018
2/5
It never feels genuine, just generic. It's so blatantly cut from the same pattern as Entourage, merely made with inferior fabric. Go to Full Review Daniel Fienberg HitFix 06/11/2018
A loose and affectless (but not devoid-of-charm) half-hour, How to Make It in America is either a mostly laugh-less comedy, or an entirely stakes-free drama. Go to Full Review Kate Abbott Guardian 06/11/2018
It's like Entourage, but with people who haven't made it yet: perfect for anyone young, unemployed and enterprising. Go to Full Review TV Fanatic Staff TV Fanatic 06/11/2018
4/5
All in all How to Make It had us interested. Primarily because we are in love with Bryan [Greenberg] and would watch him do just about anything. Go to Full Review Sandrine Sahakians TV Equals 06/11/2018
The road is not easy to travel... There is a fine line between a realistic show that follows characters throughout their day while still being compelling and the show being boring. Go to Full Review Kari Croop Common Sense Media 06/11/2018
3/5
It takes a while to catch on to each character's motivations, and the no-frills script doesn't do a lot of hand-holding. But by the end of the first episode... you feel certain that America may, in fact, be going somewhere. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Leonardo D @BlueManGroupLivesMatters 01/29/2023 This show stands above many canceled shows that never got their chance to hit their stride. HTMIIA is the most authentic portrayal of the struggles of young, ambitious entrepreneurs trying to make a name for themselves in the competitive world of fashion in New York City. The show featured a diverse cast of characters and tackled themes of friendship, love, and the American Dream in such a cool and funny way that it felt like you were along for the ride with them. HBO made a colossal mistake canceling this show. See more Read all reviews
How to Make It in America — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Bryan Greenberg

Ben Epstein

Victor Rasuk

Cam Calderon

Luis Guzmán

Rene

Lake Bell

Rachel

Scott "Kid Cudi" Mescudi

Domingo

Martha Plimpton

Edie

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Feb 14, 2010 Pilot Ben agrees to fund a leather-jacket hustle proposed by his best friend Cam; Cam's cousin seeks payback on an old loan. Details Episode 2 Aired Feb 20, 2010 Crisp Ben and Cam search for a manufacturer to make their brand of jeans; Ben and Rachel realize that they have not moved on. Details Episode 3 Aired Feb 28, 2010 Paper, Denim and Dollars Ben and Cam track down a tailor; Rachel rethinks her future; Rene makes a buyout offer to his marketing partners. Details Episode 4 Aired Mar 7, 2010 Unhappy Birthday Ben takes Kaplan to a nightclub in an attempt to distract himself from thinking about Rachel and her new boyfriend; Cam gets a bartending job at a gala benefit. Details Episode 5 Aired Mar 14, 2010 Big in Japan Ben and Cam meet with a Japanese buyer; Rene tries to locate a pile of stashed cash; Rachel hopes to bring some fresh energy into her relationship with Darren. Details Episode 6 Aired Mar 21, 2010 Good Vintage Ben and Cam find it hard to meet Hidemi's quota; Rene gets advice on handling a schoolyard showdown with Flaco; Darren takes Rachel to his childhood home. Details Episode 7 Aired Mar 28, 2010 Keep on Truck'n Darren offers to let Rachel and Edie design a hotel; Cam and Ben agree to hand out samples in order to pay off their debt to Rene; Rene agrees to meet with the owner of Rasta Monsta. Details Episode 8 Aired Apr 4, 2010 Never Say Die Cam suspects that Rene had something to do with the truck theft; Rachel makes a decision that impacts the lives of Ben, Edie and Darren. Details

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How to Make It in America — Season 1

How to Make It in America View more photos

Season Info

Executive Producer
Stephen Levinson, Rob Weiss, Ian Edelman, Julian Farino, Jada Miranda, Mark Wahlberg
Network
HBO
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date
Feb 14, 2010