The truth behind the NYC rag trade

Watching reruns of Sex and the City the other night I was once again struck by just how annoying the characters are and just how glossy New York City looks.
I realise that most of it is filmed in the swanky, leafy areas of the Upper East Side and in the brownstone neighbourhoods of Manhattan. While the show is all about the scene, the culture, the labels, designers and the beautiful, it is really no reflection of the actual wondrous melting pot that is The Big Apple. It doesn’t do the streets, the apartments or the multicultural inhabitants of the jagged pieces of land any justice.
A show that does showcase all that is gigantic and truly beautiful about New York is How to Make it in America. Currently showing on Sky Atlantic, it is about the (and I’m conscious of the word choice) ‘real’ New York.
Set among the hustle and bustle of city living, How to Make it in America is another comedy-drama from the seemingly neverending font of HBO shows. It stars Bryan Greenberg, probably best known for his roles in One Tree Hill and Bride Wars, as Ben Epstein, a designer and wayward soul who is trying to crack the New York fashion scene. Though long on talent, the young man is short on cash and connections, other than a few “friend of a friend” types.
Greenberg’s best friend, Cam Caldern, is played by native New Yorker Victor Rasuk. Though not known for his big roles, Rasuk landed his first film role at 14 and has worked hard at his craft ever since even picking up a couple of awards along the way.
He showed great promise in the skateboarding flick The Lords of Dogtown and his character Caldern draws strongly on his Dominican Republic background.
He is, in other words, Ari to Epstein’s Vince or, for those a little less obsessed with Entourage, he is the wheeler dealer and the business head behind the pair’s partnership. However, he is a little less scrupulous than Epstein and likes to take the business venture a little too close to the edge on occasion.
What is so wonderful about this show, apart from the fact that you can almost smell the sewers through the screen, is its wit. As well as being funny, although a little clichéd in places, it has a quick script, believable characters and realistic dialogue. Of course, there are the overly attractive men and women and the fact that things generally work out for the pair but despite all that, it’s a fun journey.
It’s good to watch the characters banter with the hagglers and cloth dealers,  to see boys who like to sew and create and it’s even nicer to look at the way in which they interact with the amazing backdrop provided by one of the most diverse cities in the world.
Don’t get me wrong, this show is not going to set the world alight but if it’s a choice between this and the new Hawaii 5-0 I know which one I’ll be going for. And it has nothing to do with a lais, hula or a pig on a spit.
The series has already been commissioned for a second run and I think as its audience grows, so will the characters. Check it out Thursday evenings on Sky Atlantic.
Another show that is obviously coming back to our screens is Bedlam.
The thriller that had been scaring the be-jaysus out of me (I am easily scared) every Monday night came to a rather abrupt and unsatisfying end last week.
Disappointed? Yes.
I loved the first couple of episodes but, as time went by, I couldn’t help but think that it was all unfolding rather slowly. In fact, it was, with all respect to snails, crawling along at that pace.
Despite seeing everyone at least once in a sexual embrace it was clear that the only aspect of the series that had any speed was the haste with which the cast removed their clothes.
Annoyingly, none of the really nagging mysteries were dealt with. We never got to the bottom of the missing girl, or where the text messages came from or really anything that was of interest.
Yes, we saw what was behind the closed wall but, really, we could have done with a bit more information. I presume they were worried it wouldn’t be a hit so only making six episodes limited the cost damage but I am not sure I’ll be rushing back if it’s going to move from snail to tortoise pace next year. Sort it out Sky Living…
There are a couple of things worth watching this week. Fringe returned on Wednesday night (Yay!) after a very long break.
Last we saw Olivia had just found out about Peter’s dalliance with Fauxlivia (the alternate version of Olivia) while she (the real one) was locked up and being experimented on in the other reality and things were looking bad for everyone involved. Fun times ahead I feel.
If you only watch one programme this week may I suggest that it be The Wonders of the Universe on BBC Two at 9pm on Sunday. Presented by what seems like the nicest, hippest and most easily understood professor since my own sociology lecturer, Brian Cox. It is a must for all those interested in how we got here, what’s out there and how we can understand where we’re going. This week Brian looks at fossils to show how death has always been the essential key to life on earth. Believe me, it’s fascinating stuff.