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Season 1 – Vinyl

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Vinyl 2016 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
74% Tomatometer 73 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
The music scene in 1970s New York is still awash in sex and drugs, but rock 'n' roll is giving way to an era of punk, disco and hip-hop. Desperately trying to navigate the changing landscape is American Century Records founder and president Richie Finestra, whose passion for music and discovering talent has gone by the wayside. With American Century on the verge of being sold, a life-altering event rekindles Finestra's professional fire, but it may leave his personal life in ruins. Martin Scorsese, Mick Jagger and Terence Winter are among the creators of the hourlong drama series, which stars Bobby Cannavale (HBO's "Boardwalk Empire") as Finestra.
Vinyl — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Vinyl doesn't always keep the beat, dramatically speaking, but overall, it capably honors the rock pioneers of the '70s with absorbing stories, a spot-on soundtrack, and rich period detail.

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Critics Reviews

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Michael Idato Sydney Morning Herald It takes time for the sharp corners to smooth but it's worth the investment. Cannavale in full flight is a sight to behold. Sep 26, 2016 Full Review Barbara Ellen Guardian The makers of Vinyl need to realise that a decent soundtrack is not a panacea for dud scenes and bad dialogue. Apr 11, 2016 Full Review Euan Ferguson Guardian Fine. So be it. I'm happily inured, as should you be, to Fear of Missing Out, especially 43 years on. Feb 22, 2016 Full Review Randy Dankievitch TV Over Mind Vinyl is full of stilted characters and a quickly-forming identity crisis (is this show about music, or money?), hardly what appears to be the opening salvos of television's first new prestige drama of 2016. Rated: 2/5 Feb 11, 2020 Full Review Chris McCoy Memphis Flyer Drug-crazed macho preening is not Vinyl's biggest problem. It's characters seem to lack motivation (beyond "he's drug crazed") for almost anything they do. Jan 13, 2020 Full Review James Walton The Spectator Yet, not even Scorsese at full-throttle was quite loud enough to drown out a sense that underneath all the ferocity were some stories so old-fashioned as to verge on the corny. Sep 8, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Brilliant in every way. The entire cast is brilliant, the directing is brilliant, the story is brilliant!. Bobby Canavalle put his heart and soul into this role. It's a shame that it wasn't picked up for more seasons! I haven't seen anything this full of vitality in a long time. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member These are amazing series if you love the atmosphere and style of the 70s. Great complicated characters, intriguing plot and, again - splendid atmosphere. Relationships between characters are elaborate and pleasant to watch. And all that things are happening in the context of music industry and main character's personal crisis. Soundtracks are picked carefully and give a lot to many moments. Performance is great. Must watch! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member This was just disappointed Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member I don't know what series all these Scorsese and Mick Jagger fan-boys were watching, but I turned it off after the first ½ hour of the pilot. Not knowing anything about this show, simply watched to be entertained or learn something. I was neither. I was bored to tears. In fact, the only reason I stuck with it so long was to see what they would do with Olivia Wilde. What did they do with her? A record executive's wife who takes care of two kids. No thank you. For those of you who didn't know that the music business in the 70's was full of illegal drugs, bribes & kickbacks and sleazy underhanded people, then you might find this interesting. But for the rest of the world, I'm left scratching my head, wondering what ever happened to telling a story? Everything was cliches. The most intriguing shot in the entire ½ hour was a close-up of a Zippo lighter igniting. Yeah, that's how lame this pilot was. So where did all the money go? $100 million for a season? It definitely didn't go to the screenwriters. My guess is it went to the all the sleazy record executives who own all the rights to all the original music that they used. Talk about irony. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member This is an incredible show that was poorly marketed. It is a drama set in one of the side businesses of organized crime. This is Goodfellas in Trumplandia. It should never have been left behind. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member I loved the first season. Too bad they cancelled the 2nd one Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Vinyl — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Terence Winter

Creator

Bobby Cannavale

Richie Finestra

Olivia Wilde

Devon Finestra

Ray Romano

Zak Yankovich

Ato Essandoh

Lester Grimes

Max Casella

Julius "Julie" Silver

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Feb 14, 2016 Pilot Richie Finestra considers selling his struggling record company; Richie takes a detour to an unplanned reunion with Lester Grimes; Richie orders his A&R department to find new acts; Richie jeopardizes his relationships with his wife and children. Details Episode 2 Aired Feb 21, 2016 Yesterday Once More Richie delivers a bombshell that shocks prospective buyers and his partners; Devon ponders her relationship; Zak considers changing his alibi for a recent injury; Richie decides to visit his estranged mentor. Details Episode 3 Aired Feb 28, 2016 Whispered Secrets Richie is embarrassed at a record producers' banquet; a junior A&R rep courts Alice Cooper; Devon tries to raise funds to renovate a Greenwich barn; Richie approaches Lester about releasing some of his old blues demos. Details Episode 4 Aired Mar 6, 2016 The Racket Richie attends marriage counseling with Devon; Richie courts a funk superstar; Zak and Scott consider their futures in the aftermath of the lost deal with German Polygram; Kip and the Nasty Bits enlist a new manager. Details Episode 5 Aired Mar 13, 2016 He in Racist Fire Richie visits a relative; Devon plays the vixen at dinner with Richie, Hannibal and Cece; Kip faces a dilemma; Clark gets a new job; Richie is inspired to name his new label. Details Episode 6 Aired Mar 20, 2016 Cyclone Devon seeks refuge with old friends at the Chelsea Hotel; Richie falls into a deeper well of drugs and depravity; Kip tries to recruit a new lead guitarist for the Nasty Bits; Zak allows his emotions to surface. Details Episode 7 Aired Mar 27, 2016 The King and I Richie looks to raise cash for his label; Richie and Zak travel to Las Vegas in hopes of persuading Elvis Presley to change labels; Zak has an encounter in which his fantasies come true. Details Episode 8 Aired Apr 3, 2016 E.A.B. Richie grows desperate and approaches Maury about doing a deal with Galasso; Devon impresses a photographer with her ability to charm a celebrity; Kip and the Nasty Bits get a crash course in the blues from Lester; Andrea fires a longtime employee. Details Episode 9 Aired Apr 10, 2016 Rock and Roll Queen After an unsettling visit with Devon and his children, Richie begins to weigh his options; the Nasty Bits finish their record and do a photo shoot; Maury pitches a '50s compilation LP; Zak tries to fund a band for his wedding singer. Details Episode 10 Aired Apr 17, 2016 Alibi Zak constructs a dangerous plan to bring down Richie; Kip's excesses threaten an important Nasty Bits gig. Details

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Vinyl — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Martin Scorsese
Creator
Terence Winter
Executive Producer
Martin Scorsese, Mick Jagger, Terence Winter, Rick Yorn, Victoria Pearman, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, John P. Melfi, Allen Coulter, George Mastras
Network
HBO
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Feb 14, 2016