How to Make It in America: The Complete First Season

The theme song for HBO's half-hour dramedy celebrating entrepreneurial spirit in New York City opens with the plea “I need a dollar,” which could serve as the mantra for the guys at the center of the action here. Struggling to hit the jackpot and attain the American dream, Ben (Bryan Greenburg), an aspiring clothing designer and hipster fashion maven from the hood, and his boyhood buddy, Cam (Victor Rasuk), want to skip over the hard part and jump right into the big time. It's not a matter of laziness—the pair are constantly on the hustle as they try to put together their own hip line of jeans—but rather simply driving ambition. Ben and Cam skate through life on wits, talent, and smooth talk, navigating the margins between art and commerce. Eddie Kaye Thomas is gullible bankroller David, a young broker who gladly invests in return for being part of the hipster New York scene; Lake Bell is Ben's ex-girlfriend, Rachel; and Luis Guzmán is Cam's ex-con cousin, Rene. Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi and Shannyn Sossamon also costar. Unfortunately, despite the show's attempts at street-smart storylines and Big Apple atmosphere—with characters bouncing between living large and going broke—How to Make It in America still feels somewhat lightweight. Compiling all eight episodes of the 2010 debut season, extras include cast and crew episode commentaries, featurettes, and deleted scenes. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)