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HBO's 'Vinyl': Why Mary Lucia is all in

A scene from 'Vinyl'
A scene from 'Vinyl'HBO

by Mary Lucia

February 16, 2016

On Sunday night, Vinyl — a new series executive-produced by Mick Jagger and Martin Scorsese — debuted on HBO. Mary Lucia writes about why she loves the show, which is set in the New York record industry circa 1973.

This show had me with the first ten seconds: "New York City 1973."

I'll be the first to say I have over-romanticized this era of music in this specific locale. It's quite a feat to take Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll to a new, fresh level.

Scorsese and Jagger? That's just a license to print money, in my book.

Bobby Cannavale is perhaps one of my favorite actors on the planet. His non-verbal reactions to watching and listening to music are riveting. The acting across the board killed me. This is a character actor's dream come true. It was fun to spot the supporting actors from The Sopranos.

The show is filled with hilarious slime-laden riches. The pilot was breathtaking: hitting all the right notes in your heart (and groin).

Flashbacks can be corny, in my opinion, but Vinyl shifts and shapes flawlessly. The attention to detail is everything. Clothes, mustaches, equipment. Forget about it.

To reveal the seedy underbelly of the industry that we've all read about as urban folklore was simultaneously charming and repellent. Of course, it's not meant to be a Ken Burns documentary: all interesting stories are told with exaggeration to hype the drama and humor.

What a tease! I can't wait to see who portrays my favorite rock idols in upcoming episodes. The portrayal of radio programming politics is unflinchingly hysterical.

Without a doubt, this is my new favorite episodic series. To remember that rock and roll can literally "bring the house down" made me want to put on the New York Dolls and wreck something.

Did you watch the Vinyl premiere? What did you think?