Bookie Season 1 Review

Bookie (2023-)
Season 1 - 8 episodes (2023)

Rent Bookie on Amazon Video (paid link)
Created by: Nick Bakay, Chuck Lorre
Starring: Sebastian Maniscalco, Omar J. Dorsey, Jorge Garcia, Andrea Anders, Toby Huss, Rob Corddry, Bob Clendenin, Wayne Knight
Rated: TV-MA
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Plot
Veteran bookie Danny struggles to survive the impending legalization of sports gambling, unstable clients, family, and co-workers.

Verdict
HBO frequently creates shows that take you behind the scenes of an industry like horse racing in Luck, the mafia in The Sopranos, sports agents in Ballers, and acting in Entourage. I love shows that provide that kind of insight and in this one it's sports betting as Danny fights the rising tide of legalized gambling and squirrely clients that don't have the money to pay him. Each episode feels like a bookie telling stories of his past, and even the tough stories have some degree of comedy. Maniscalco, a comedian turned actor, does a great job in the role.
Watch It.

Review
Surprisingly, this was created  by Chuck Lorre who was dubbed the "king of sitcoms" due to how many he created in the nineties like Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory and Nick Bakay who worked on Sabrina the Teenage Witch and King of Queens.

I love this concept. Danny (Sebastian Maniscalco) is a bookie struggling in a dying market as gambling becomes legalized. His business is becoming irrelevant. We go behind the scenes as we see Danny's daily life. The first scene sets the stage well with no exposition. We see Danny in a fancy car, multiple phones in the console, and a pistol on the passenger seat. Danny takes bets and tries to collect from clients. Often he has to take trades or property to cover losses. His partner Ray (Omar Dorsey) retired from the NFL and provides intimidation as he's adjusting to life without that big NFL paycheck.

Omar Dorsey, Sebastian Maniscalco play Ray, Danny

Dark humor pervades every scene. This show feels like a bookie sharing crazy stories he's experienced. Charlie Sheen guest stars as himself, one of Danny's clients. That does a great job of grounding this show in reality.

At times Danny seems hapless. During his first collection he gets beaten up. Later, when he throws a gun out the window to dispose of it, it barely makes it past the curb. As Ray points out, you can still see it from the street. Grumbling Danny stops and gets out of the car to dispose of it better.

Later in the season Danny is coerced into a big bet, and he realizes he's going to lose and will have to start over. He and Ray discuss their plans; it's funny watching them plan for the end before the game's over.

This show isn't one with a big overarching plot, and it doesn't need one. Despite that, this season feels like it needs one more episode. There's no reason to leave a show with a cliffhanger, even less so with this show's structure. With thirty minute episodes this show never drags, and the comedy makes the subject less dark. Deservedly, this show has been renewed for a second season.