Ballers - HBO

Agent Coulson

The Rock's new TV show.

Started last night in the US.

ceegee

Enjoyed the first episode, looks like it has potential. Very much an entourage vibe off it at times but hopefully they focus a bit more on the football business

IvaBigWun

That was a pretty strong Pilot and Dwayne Johnson's acting has come on leaps and bounds.

This has great potential.

OU812

ceegee wrote: »

Enjoyed the first episode, looks like it has potential. Very much an entourage vibe off it at times but hopefully they focus a bit more on the football business

Mark Wahlberg is an executive producer (as well as Johnson). It's gonna be huge. There's been a gap for a very testosterone driven male orientated show since Entourage & Rescue Me went off air. This is going to fill that gap really well.

Arghus

I felt that for a half-hour pilot introduction, into a world that I haven't that much of a pressing interest in, it was a promising debut.

It was a pleasant surprise to see The Rock doing some actual acting. He has so much charisma and presence, it was about time he started putting it to real use. He’s completely wasted on screen these days, appearing in schlocky glorified baby oil advertisemnts.

Hopefully the show won’t end up being skin-deep and shallow; it seemed to promise some satirical edge, so hopefully that side of things will remain healthy.

Guy:Incognito

Really liked the pilot. If it continues like that it'll be a keeper.

Skerries

Arghus wrote: »

I felt that for a half-hour pilot introduction, into a world that I haven't that much of a pressing interest in, it was a promising debut.

I was the same about Friday night lights, I have no interest in sport but the story kept me coming back for more

FortuneChip

Wasn't super, but it was a decent pilot.
It's about time someone said "Let's put this man on TV".
The guy is such a good entertainer, even if he hasn't always shown the most talent (as mentioned, it's come a long way), he always gives a committed performance.

I don't know how I feel about this. I might give it a few more episodes, because I really like Dwayne Johnson (is it me, or does the Rock look bigger in absolutely everything he does?), but it wasn't amazing or mindblowing. It does feel like Entourage, which I didn't like.

LaVail

I'm liking this so far. Dwayne Johnson's acting isn't too bad either for a change.

PhiloCypher

The opening credits are baller

Yeh!!! I went there

Atlantic Dawn

It certainly does have an Entourage feel about it.

expectationlost

lead character is denzel washington's son John David

youcancallmeal

I like it, will definitely give it one season anyway considering it is only 10 episodes. The wife calls blantourage as she says it is basically entourage with black people

Boom_Bap

OOooooo, I forgot about this. I'll check it out over le weekend.

IvaBigWun

The second episode wasnt as good as the first. I'll give it another couple of episodes though.

aine1980

So far so good, nice surprise

Boom_Bap

Yeah, have to say I like that and will be checking out more.

3hn2givr7mx1sc

I'm loving this so far. Having said that, I loved Entourage and I do enjoy American football, so it suits me down to the ground!
Joe was brilliant in this week's episode!

Diabhal Beag

Really glad that everybody had a chill time at the party. Was worried.

Atlantic Dawn

It's possibly missing some big cameo roles along the lines of Entourage.

youcancallmeal

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

It's possibly missing some big cameo roles along the lines of Entourage.

Any of the cameos will probably be actual pro footballers and we won't have a clue who they are but we'll be able to tell them by the wooden acting!

JP Liz V1

Renewed

IvaBigWun

HBO seem to renew everything these days.

The most recent episode of Ballers brought in 1,591,000 viewers, which is the lowest audience yet. HBO has already renewed the series for a second season. This is down from last week’s 1.7 million viewers

Credit: bythenumbers

Guy:Incognito

Whats a good/bad figure in HBOland?

Agent Coulson

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Whats a good/bad figure in HBOland?

Game of Thrones averages about 5.5 million viewers per episode and it is the highest rated show on HBO at the moment.

Boom_Bap

It's odd, Le Rock has a huge backing on Instagram and FB (probably Twitter as well) but never does any promo for the show. Maybe there were one or two bits about it.

Mc Love

Boom_Bap wrote: »

It's odd, Le Rock has a huge backing on Instagram and FB (probably Twitter as well) but never does any promo for the show. Maybe there were one or two bits about it.

I've seen him tweeting a good bit about it, and saw some bits on facebook too if I am not mistaken

Boom_Bap

Ah right, maybe I just missed it all

rob316

What does everyone think of it so far?

Im enjoying but maybe I expected more, it seems to take the whole episode to get plot and then its just cuts to the credits and you have to wait for next week.

Some strong performances especially from Dwayne himself. Bit depressing watching super rich people though

ktulu123

Really enjoying it. Nice easy watch like entourage used to be.

neacy69

ktulu123 wrote: »

Really enjoying it. Nice easy watch like entourage used to be.

Same here....easy watch entertaining characters and the rock is pretty good in it

Ekels

ktulu123 wrote: »

Really enjoying it. Nice easy watch like entourage used to be.

Hit the nail on the head. Sports version of Entourage.

I don't think the Rock is a brilliant actor (he is good though) but it's very hard to dislike him. Plus, his character has a certain warmth (considerate towards friends, clients etc.) which compliments this so he makes a very good main character for me. A lot of characters that are very hard to dislike: Ricky, Charles, Vernon. Some snappy dialogue, some funny storylines.

I'd definitely recommend this to anybody who enjoyed Entourage. A passing interest in sport (maybe more specifically the melodrama that is American sport) is a bonus.

rob316

I never actually watched entourage, if I like this you would recommend yes?

Venom

rob316 wrote: »

I never actually watched entourage, if I like this you would recommend yes?

Yeah big time.

The first couple of seasons are pure TV awesomeness.

Also, Ari Gold

Atlantic Dawn

rob316 wrote: »

I never actually watched entourage, if I like this you would recommend yes?

If you like this you will love Entourage.

Ekels

rob316 wrote: »

I never actually watched entourage, if I like this you would recommend yes?

As the others say, definitely. To be simplistic: Ballers - NFL + Hollywood= Entourage. One episode into Entourage and I think you'll get a very similar feel as Ballers.

youcancallmeal

Its just getting better and better imo, really enjoying it

expectationlost

he did that on purpose right?

Atlantic Dawn

This weeks episode wrapped things up for next season. Was expecting a split from the Anderson organisation for Spencer and Joe.

squonk

Was this the last episode? Good wrap up and nice to see things continuing business as usual next season then. Some of the attraction of the show is the vast amounts of money on view and the antics it leads to!

JP Liz V1

It starts on Sky Atlantic on the 8th of September at 10pm

Boom_Bap

Grand wrap up to the season, I realised last night that there is barely any character building in the show.....I think Anderson is the only name I know in the show and he barely featured.

Sunny Dayz

I watched the first 2 episodes the other night. Enjoyable enough. I haven't seen Entourage to compare. The Rock is good enough in it, you tend to like his character.
It's funny, the first episode, I don't think there was a sign of an American football, a jersey or a football pitch in it!

somesoldiers

Started it myself this morning, agree with the Entourage comparisons. Only thing missing is the Rock's boss is a poor mans Ari Gold...so far anyway

Bounty Hunter

I like this show, like the rock, like his partner in crime, their boss (big west wing fan here), enjoy Charles, Ricky and all the Girls etc but I must admit sometimes I find myself wondering if anything happened in episodes I watched. I mean the finale for example, if I didn't see it and watched the first ep of the next season I don't think I would have missed anything of note.

Boom_Bap

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

I like this show, like the rock, like his partner in crime, their boss (big west wing fan here), enjoy Charles, Ricky and all the Girls etc but I must admit sometimes I find myself wondering if anything happened in episodes I watched. I mean the finale for example, if I didn't see it and watched the first ep of the next season I don't think I would have missed anything of note.

Agreed, the final episode was

celebrating signing the massive contract and being spoiled to stay at the agency.

The previous episode was about

not being able to find the guy signing the contract.....and then he just kind of turns up

I was expecting way more shenanigans and hijinx.

DoYouEvenLift

Not a bad show, it's got that similar 'watch it half arsedly because it's easy viewing' feeling as entourage but like others said, it hasn't got shenanigans like entourage did and definitely doesn't have the jokes/banter entourage had because of drama/Turtle/E. Still, I'll watch future seasons, it's only 10 30 minute episodes

castletownman

Watching this at Sky Atlantic pace and really enjoying it.

My fook that Sammy one texting Charles (as far as episode 4 so far) is the hottest woman I've seen in a long time

Bowlardo

just finished watching it. it is a poor mans entourage.
It be a good one to watch in one go on a hung over sunday.
not much happens in it

neacy69

watched the 2 new episdoes of season 2. Enjoyed it so far!