# I Am So Psyched About 'Boardwalk Empire' **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 17, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126 "2010-09-17T20:48:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/1 "2010-09-17T20:48:54Z")
This is gonna be the next great HBO series. It just looks so amazing. Steve Buscemi is gonna rock this thing. Starts Sunday [Link to clips and show description](http://www.hbo.com/boardwalk-empire/index.html#/boardwalk-empire/about/index.html) Anybody else as excited as I am? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/2 "2010-09-17T20:56:15Z")
I’m not. I normally get excited about HBO series, but for some reason this one just isn’t grabbing me. I will give it a shot, though, since HBO has a good track record and this is getting rave reviews. I do like Steve Buschemi, but I think I’m having a hard time seeing him in a leading role like this. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/3 "2010-09-17T21:26:36Z")
I plan on watching it but I’m not that familiar with it. Is it a gangster series or more a 1920s “slice of life” thing? And is it to be a series or just a limited run miniseries? (I could look it up but I’m in a lazy default mode.) ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/4 "2010-09-17T21:35:03Z")
I’ll give it a look, because I’ve liked a lot of things on HBO. (And no more True Blood for a whole year!:mad::mad::mad: And then Mad Men will be over next month). So, I’ll give it a try and HOPE desperately it will be fulfilling, entertaining, and engaging right out of the gate. Because I love to read the TV threads in Cafe Society the next day! I’ve read rave reviews about Boardwalk Empire, that’s promising. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/5 "2010-09-17T21:58:38Z")
I like even bad historical fiction movies and TV shows, and HBO has a good record for their non-surfing TV shows, so I’ll give it a try. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/6 "2010-09-17T23:10:05Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > I like even bad historical fiction movies and TV shows, and HBO has a good record for their non-surfing TV shows, so I’ll give it a try. HBO says 😛 I’m looking forward to it too, but mostly to see what the writers have created for Michael K. Williams (Omar from The Wire). ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/7 "2010-09-17T23:18:21Z")
Not my favorite era for historical fiction, but it seems to have a lot going for it, and there is literally no other show on TV that I’m following right now (apart from some that are on hiatus, e.g. True Blood) so I’ll give it a shot. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/8 "2010-09-18T01:29:38Z")
I’m not because I don’t have HBO. ☹ But everything I’ve seen about it looks super-cool and I love that time period, so I’ll be lurking in the episode threads, green with envy. ---
**Author:** ![gladtobeblazed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/9 "2010-09-18T03:02:04Z")
I was looking forward to this show, but then I saw it stars Michael Pitt. I can’t stand that guy. ---
**Author:** ![Empire\_State](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Empire\_State](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Empire_State)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/10 "2010-09-18T17:49:39Z")
I ordered HBO today specifically for the purpose of watching the first episode tomorrow. Between Martin Scorsese directing the first episode and Steve Buscemi starring, I don’t see how it can go wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/11 "2010-09-18T18:00:38Z")
> [@gladtobeblazed](#): > > I was looking forward to this show, but then I saw it stars Michael Pitt. I can’t stand that guy. Apparently neither can Martin Scorcese. Pitt cut his hand open (enough to draw a lot of blood) while filming a scene involving a breakaway glass bottle- > [@](#): > > But when he revealed the deepness of the wound, Scorsese simply remarked: “That’s great! that’s great!” and asked him to re-shoot the clip 15 times. Pitt says, "Scorsese asked, ‘How bad (is the wound)?’ So I showed him. And he said, ‘That’s pretty bad. Can you do it again?’ " [Story.](http://aceshowbiz.com/news/view/w0006423.html) ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/12 "2010-09-18T19:16:05Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > > [@Simplicio](#): > > > > I like even bad historical fiction movies and TV shows, and HBO has a good record for their non-surfing TV shows, so I’ll give it a try. > > HBO says 😛 > > I’m looking forward to it too, but mostly to see what the writers have created for Michael K. Williams (Omar from The Wire). Wait, Omar’s in this? Holy crap, we’re in! ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/13 "2010-09-18T19:22:59Z")
I can’t wait to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/14 "2010-09-18T19:25:39Z")
I’ve got my hopes up too. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/15 "2010-09-18T19:55:49Z")
[NPR gave it an outstanding review](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129930757&sc=fb&cc=fp), for what that’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![palacheck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a88e57/32.png) [@palacheck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palacheck)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/16 "2010-09-19T11:31:08Z")
I’ll be tuned in mostly to see all the great outfits. I’m a little tired of the crime and gangster shows on HBO but I guess this one could be a bit different. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Spoonful_of_Awesome)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/17 "2010-09-20T02:21:37Z")
I’ve been drooling over this for the past month or so and it’s finally starting. Like… like… right now! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Doin’ the happy dance. I’m doin’ the happy dance ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/18 "2010-09-20T03:22:40Z")
It didn’t grab me (I didn’t watch all of it), but most of the reviewers say it gets better, after the set-ups in the pilot, so I’ll be back next week. Quibble: These characters are acting like they know what the effects of Prohibition will be. Is it likely that Atlantic City’s movers and shakers would openly discuss flouting the law? Seems like they got cocky a bit too soon. Or was Atlantic City already full of corruption? Was gambling legal in AC in 1920? Maybe I should watch the whole pilot before I quibble, but there ya go. ---
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/19 "2010-09-20T03:32:56Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Quibble: These characters are acting like they know what the effects of Prohibition will be. Is it likely that Atlantic City’s movers and shakers would openly discuss flouting the law? Seems like they got cocky a bit too soon. Or was Atlantic City already full of corruption? Was gambling legal in AC in 1920? Legal gambling? Yes Full of corruption? Oh hells yes. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@A\_Spoonful\_of\_Awesome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Spoonful_of_Awesome)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126/20 "2010-09-20T03:49:33Z")
So far I’m… intrigued. I really, really want to love this so it’s going to have work hard to fall out of my favor. And it’s only the pilot so I’m still getting a sense of the individual characters and general interactions but it’s certainly enough to keep me tuned in next week. > [@AuntiePam](#): > > Or was Atlantic City already full of corruption? Was gambling legal in AC in 1920? I think the Feds made mention of ongoing corruption when they were talking to Jimmy (rigged elections, etc). I think prohibition was just a golden opportunity to further the cause. I’m having trouble distinguishing a few of the notables though. Who was the guy who shot the Italian from Chicago at the end? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-psyched-about-boardwalk-empire/554126.md?page=2)