Vinyl: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 39 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 155 Ratings

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7.0

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7.0	Your Score
7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 155 Ratings

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Vinyl

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Season Details & Credits

HBO | Season Premiere Date: February 14, 2016

Starring: Bobby Cannavale, Ray Romano, Olivia Wilde

Summary: Set in 1970s New York City, record label president Richie Finestra (Bobby Cannavale) tries to save his company and find the next big artist in this series from Martin Scorsese, Mick Jagger and Terence Winter.

Creator: Terence Winter and Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger

Genre(s): Drama, Music

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E10. Alibi
Air Date: April 17, 2016
tbd
S1:E9. Rock and Roll Queen
Air Date: April 10, 2016
tbd
S1:E8. E.A.B.
Air Date: April 3, 2016

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Metascore

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Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Jeff Korbelik

Feb 16, 2016

[Bobby Cannavale's] performance is something to behold. Music, not surprisingly, is the driving force here, used creatively and effectively in scene transitions, as scene setters and in performances. Read full review

Hank Stuever

Feb 10, 2016

If the point is to spare no expense in attempting to make a flawless, fascinating premium cable narrative about a set of people--mostly men with enormous egos--who have extreme and often criminal problems in a glamorous period setting, then this is precisely what HBO has accomplished--again.... Through characters like Devon, Jamie and Lester, Vinyl has very thoughtfully dotted its i’s and crossed its t’s in terms of diversity, but testosterone is still clearly HBO’s most addictive (and preferred) substance. Read full review

Michael Slezak

Apr 6, 2016

Vinyl may hit one or two questionable notes in its first five episodes, but fueled by a beautifully realized sense of place and Cannavale’s certain-to-be-Emmy-nominated performance, it’s definitely worth a spin. Read full review

Robert Rorke

Feb 9, 2016

Vinyl will leave you dancing to the music, but may leave you wondering why you should care. Read full review

Brian Lowry

Feb 9, 2016

It’s plenty interesting stuff, including the various creative forces at play in the era, as well as its seamier aspects. Yet even with the benefit of a two-hour launch, the premiere unfolds in a manner that can feel as scattered and undisciplined as the headlining acts--not just in its bouncing chronology, but the extended, dreamlike sequences that seek to convey. Read full review

Mike Hale

Feb 11, 2016

It would be nice to report that Vinyl sustains the momentum Mr. Scorsese establishes in the pilot, but through five episodes, it tends to bog down.... But the show quickly begins giving less time to the music and more to duller, formulaic plot lines including a marital crisis, a murder investigation and a female secretary’s attempts to break the hemp ceiling of the recording business. You might want to keep “Vinyl” spinning, though, if only for Bobby Cannavale’s smart, sardonic portrayal of Richie Finestra. Read full review

Kristi Turnquist

Feb 11, 2016

Overall, Vinyl suffers from an inflated sense of its own importance, and a dreary lack of humor (though the pilot has a funny drive-by diss of England Dan & John Ford Coley.) Read full review

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User Score

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7.0

User Reviews

lynnar

Mar 2, 2016

I think it depends how old you are. The show captures the era perfectly. Come on. Plato's Retreat? Andy Warhol's Factory? The Brill Building. The clothes. Anyone who grew up during that time can totally relate to this series. It is very authentic. It pulls you in just visually. What canI think it depends how old you are. The show captures the era perfectly. Come on. Plato's Retreat? Andy Warhol's Factory? The Brill Building. The clothes. Anyone who grew up during that time can totally relate to this series. It is very authentic. It pulls you in just visually. What can you expect on the first few episodes? To me, it took you on a very high ride. And takes the audience smack back to 1973. Not sure what one would find boring. It"s a time when people actually communicated with one another, got stoned, had wild sex and did not have to worry about aids. Not walked around with ear phones, looking into a phone and has forgotten how to have a conversation on a one to one...in person.… Expand

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

serebreny

Jun 17, 2016

Funny film. Good music, nice scenario in Scorsese style. I am not a fan of Bobby Cannavale, really, but his character seems nice. If you love movies like Almost Famous, Wolf of Wall Street etc I think you need watch this TV-show.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

weirdcryo

Feb 15, 2016

Great actors, visually it's almost impeccable, the music is diverse and well selected, the story has its ups and down but at the end it's well connected but I have to admit that found that the ending was weird.

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

Bluesmanuk

Feb 27, 2016

A very good show that takes me back to an era that seemed better than it perhaps was in reality, although the reminder of an era of great and prolific music creation is enjoyable. Some of the impersonations of rock and pop icons does at times leave a slightly cringed smile on the face butA very good show that takes me back to an era that seemed better than it perhaps was in reality, although the reminder of an era of great and prolific music creation is enjoyable. Some of the impersonations of rock and pop icons does at times leave a slightly cringed smile on the face but it's good to see that the producers have fully immersed into the music of the time by featuring some of the stars of the day. It's gritty, down to earth and on the whole, very enjoyable, although at times I tend to left with the feeling that some of the acting is a little OTT and slightly unrealistic.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

cbader

Jun 23, 2016

Had high hopes for this show but alas it was a let down. I just finished episode 5 and found the characters unlikable and the story line could not hold my interest. Frankly a little boring. Not surprised its been cancelled.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

LamontRaymond

Feb 14, 2016

I'll update this review, but after the first hour, I'm seriously bored. NOT a great sign for a series with such pulpy and rich source material. Cannavale's character doesn't engender much sympathy or excitement, which is a problem. I was happily surprised that they featured the Dolls'I'll update this review, but after the first hour, I'm seriously bored. NOT a great sign for a series with such pulpy and rich source material. Cannavale's character doesn't engender much sympathy or excitement, which is a problem. I was happily surprised that they featured the Dolls' "Personality Crisis" in the first major set piece. Great freakin' song.… Expand

3 of 11 users found this helpful38

Digitank

Feb 21, 2016

Couldn't event finish the pilot.. Boring, unfocused and especially the music really sucks. Worst show on HBO i saw in years. Although a series about the music business would have so much potential, which was clearly missed here.

4 of 20 users found this helpful416

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Seasons & Episodes

71

Series Overview
Season 1

71
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: February 14, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E10. Alibi
  Air Date: April 17, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E9. Rock and Roll Queen
  Air Date: April 10, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E8. E.A.B.
  Air Date: April 3, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E7. The King and I
  Air Date: March 27, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E6. Cyclone
  Air Date: March 20, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E5. He in Racist Fire
  Air Date: March 13, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E4. The Racket
  Air Date: March 6, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E3. Whispered Secrets
  Air Date: February 28, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E2. Yesterday Once More
  Air Date: February 21, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E1. Pilot
  Air Date: February 14, 2016