# How to Make It in America
**How to Make It in America** is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on HBO from February 2010 to November 2011, following two Brooklyn twenty-somethings, Ben Epstein and Cam Calderon, as they hustle their way into New York City's competitive fashion scene.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1299365/plotsummary/) Created by first-time writer Ian Edelman and executive produced by Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg, and Rob Reiss, the team behind HBO's *[Entourage](https://www.edgepedia.org/entourage-american-tv-series)*, the series ran for two seasons of eight episodes each before being canceled in December 2011.[2](https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2010/02/howt-f22.html) • [3](https://www.thewrap.com/hbo-cancels-hung-america-bored-renews-enlightened-33807/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Network / run | HBO, 2010 to 2011; 2 seasons of 8 episodes, about 28 minutes each, rated TV-MA[4](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/how-to-make-it-in-america) |
| Creator / producers | Created by Ian Edelman; executive produced by Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg, and Rob Reiss, the team behind *Entourage*[2](https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2010/02/howt-f22.html) |
| Leads | Bryan Greenberg as Ben Epstein, Victor Rasuk as Cameron "Cam" Calderon[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1299365/plotsummary/) |
| Premise | Two friends try to build a fashion brand, Crisp NYC, using street knowledge and connections in New York[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1299365/plotsummary/) • [5](https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2010/02/14/tuned-in-how-to-make-it-in-america/stories/201002140260) |
| Ratings | Season 1 averaged a 0.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 646,000 total viewers[6](https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/how-to-make-it-in-america-cancelled-season-three-21646/) |
| Critical scores | Metacritic season 1 Metascore 59 from 24 critics; Rotten Tomatoes 55% for season 1 and 78% for season 2[7](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/how-to-make-it-in-america/season-1/) • [8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/how-to-make-it-in-america) |
| Audience rating | IMDb 7.9/10 from about 17,000 user ratings[9](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1299365/ratings/) |
## Premise and characters
The series follows Ben Epstein ([Bryan Greenberg](https://www.edgepedia.org/bryan-greenberg)) and his friend and business partner Cam Calderon ([Victor Rasuk](https://www.edgepedia.org/victor-rasuk)) as they try to make a name for themselves in New York's fashion industry, using their street knowledge and connections to bring their ambitions to fruition.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1299365/plotsummary/) After striking out with a skateboard-deck business, graphic designer Ben agrees to partner with Cam in producing leather jackets and retro jeans.[10](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/how-to-make-it-in-america/s01) *Vogue* described the pair as two lazy, good-looking young New York men caught between inertia, poverty, and ambition, hoping to make it big in blue jeans with a "seventies" model made of Japanese denim that fell off a truck.[11](https://www.vogue.com/article/vd-tv-how-to-make-it-in-america) Their company is called Crisp NYC, and the two press ahead with it despite discouragement from people with actual business-world knowledge.[5](https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2010/02/14/tuned-in-how-to-make-it-in-america/stories/201002140260)
They are helped by Cam's cousin Rene ([Luis Guzmán](https://www.edgepedia.org/luis-guzman)), who is trying to market his own high-energy drink, and by their well-connected friend Domingo ([Kid Cudi](https://www.edgepedia.org/kid-cudi), the rapper Scott Mescudi).[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1299365/plotsummary/) The supporting cast includes [Lake Bell](https://www.edgepedia.org/lake-bell) as Rachel Chapman, Ben's ex-girlfriend; Eddie Kaye Thomas as David "Kappo" Kaplan, a hedge fund manager who cannot get past the velvet rope on his own; Shannyn Sossamon as Gingy, who runs a struggling art gallery; and Martha Plimpton as the interior designer Edie, Rachel's mentor.[12](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-feb-13-la-et-hbo-america13-2010feb13-story.html) The full credited cast also includes Gina Gershon, James Ransone, Margarita Levieva, Edgar Garcia, and Michael Imperiale, among others.[7](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/how-to-make-it-in-america/season-1/)
## Production and context
Ian Edelman, a first-time television writer, created the series, and it was executive produced by Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg, and Rob Reiss, the creative team behind HBO's *Entourage*.[2](https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2010/02/howt-f22.html) Rasuk had drawn notice for the 2003 film *Raising Victor Vargas*.[2](https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2010/02/howt-f22.html) The pilot opens in Brooklyn's Williamsburg district, with Cam riding on the back of a young Hasidic boy's bicycle through the neighborhood's streets.[2](https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2010/02/howt-f22.html)
Reviewers consistently placed the show next to *Entourage*, which shared executive producers and a network, and some described it as an East Coast *Entourage*.[12](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-feb-13-la-et-hbo-america13-2010feb13-story.html) • [13](https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/TV-review-How-to-Make-It-in-America-3273261.php) Critics at Large noted that Levinson and Wahlberg were also the force behind *In Treatment* and, later, *Boardwalk Empire*, and argued that the pragmatic differences between the two shows made *How to Make It in America* significantly less of a bubblegum series.[14](https://www.criticsatlarge.ca/2012/01/end-of-bored-to-death-and-how-to-make.html) *Common Sense Media* observed that where *Entourage* follows New York transplants living amid Hollywood glamour, this series keeps its characters firmly rooted in Manhattan grit.[15](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/how-to-make-it-in-america)
## Critical reception
Season 1 received mixed-to-positive reviews, scoring 59 on Metacritic based on 24 critic reviews, against a user score of 8.5 from 25 ratings.[7](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/how-to-make-it-in-america/season-1/) The Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus for the first season said that although it tries too hard to be hip, the show is "satisfying, well conceived and superbly penned"; the site lists 55% for season 1 and 78% for season 2.[10](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/how-to-make-it-in-america/s01) • [8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/how-to-make-it-in-america)
Individual reviews varied. The *Los Angeles Times* found that the show "largely hums with an easy and attractive naturalism" and credited creator Ian Edelman with keeping his characters on the right side of caricature.[12](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-feb-13-la-et-hbo-america13-2010feb13-story.html) *Newsday* gave it a 91, calling it pleasurable and well written though perhaps a little shy on character development.[7](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/how-to-make-it-in-america/season-1/) Alan Sepinwall, writing for the *Newark Star-Ledger*, called it light on plot, characterization, and humor but generous with atmosphere.[7](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/how-to-make-it-in-america/season-1/) The *Washington Post* admired its portrayal of a "dirty, scrappy, multi-ethnic New York culture" while criticizing the characters' black-market dealings as material audiences had already seen with *Entourage*.[16](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/entertainment/2010/02/14/a-plunge-into-the-land-of-hipness-and-pretense/2ff34372-9a10-460b-a611-9ef085d0d05c/) *Vogue* called it meatier than *Sex and the City* or *Entourage* and wrote that it reveals an underlying cruelty beneath its charm.[11](https://www.vogue.com/article/vd-tv-how-to-make-it-in-america)
## Cancellation and afterlife
The show drew small audiences. Its first seven episodes averaged fewer than 1 million viewers on Sunday nights, a small number even for a pay cable channel that does not depend on ratings as commercial networks do.[17](https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/company-town-blog/story/2010-04-05/hbo-on-fence-if-it-wants-to-make-it-in-america-again) The first season finished with a 0.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 646,000 total viewers.[6](https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/how-to-make-it-in-america-cancelled-season-three-21646/) On December 20, 2011, HBO canceled *How to Make It in America* after two seasons, alongside *Hung* and *Bored to Death*, while renewing *Enlightened*, which had just received two Golden Globe nominations.[3](https://www.thewrap.com/hbo-cancels-hung-america-bored-renews-enlightened-33807/) • [18](https://www.tvweek.com/broadcast/2011/12/hbo-renews-one-show-cancels-th/) Headline Planet reported that neither canceled comedy had performed well in the ratings that year or generated sufficient critical acclaim or buzz.[19](https://headlineplanet.com/home/2011/12/20/hbo-cancels-bored-to-death-hung-how-to-make-it-in-america/)
The series has remained available. As of the most recent checks it streams on Netflix and [HBO Max](https://www.edgepedia.org/hbo-max) and can be purchased on Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, and Fandango at Home, with DVD and Blu-ray editions also sold.[4](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/how-to-make-it-in-america) In 2015, *Complex* marked five years since the finale and forced early exit of what it called the cult-loved series about New York's downtown fashion scene.[20](https://www.complex.com/style/a/tyler-w/how-to-make-it-in-america-today)
## References
1. [How to Make It in America (TV Series 2010–2011) - Plot - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1299365/plotsummary/)
2. [How To Make It In America on HBO: "Anything is still possible" - World Socialist Web Site](https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2010/02/howt-f22.html)
3. [HBO Cancels 'Hung,' 'Make It in America,' 'Bored'; Renews 'Enlightened' - TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/hbo-cancels-hung-america-bored-renews-enlightened-33807/)
4. [How to Make It in America - watch online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/how-to-make-it-in-america)
5. [Tuned In: "How to Make It in America" - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette](https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2010/02/14/tuned-in-how-to-make-it-in-america/stories/201002140260)
6. [How to Make It in America: cancelled; no season three - TVSeriesFinale](https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/how-to-make-it-in-america-cancelled-season-three-21646/)
7. [How to Make It in America season 1 Reviews - Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/how-to-make-it-in-america/season-1/)
8. [How to Make It in America | Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/how-to-make-it-in-america)
9. [How to Make It in America (TV Series 2010–2011) - Ratings - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1299365/ratings/)
10. [How to Make It in America: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/how-to-make-it-in-america/s01)
11. [How to Make It in America | Vogue](https://www.vogue.com/article/vd-tv-how-to-make-it-in-america)
12. ['How to Make It in America' - Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-feb-13-la-et-hbo-america13-2010feb13-story.html)
13. [TV review: 'How to Make It in America' - SFGate](https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/TV-review-How-to-Make-It-in-America-3273261.php)
14. [The End of Bored to Death and How to Make It in America - Critics At Large](https://www.criticsatlarge.ca/2012/01/end-of-bored-to-death-and-how-to-make.html)
15. [How to Make It in America - Parents' Guide & TV Review | Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/how-to-make-it-in-america)
16. [A plunge into the land of hipness and pretense - The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/entertainment/2010/02/14/a-plunge-into-the-land-of-hipness-and-pretense/2ff34372-9a10-460b-a611-9ef085d0d05c/)
17. [HBO on fence if it wants to make it in America again - Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/company-town-blog/story/2010-04-05/hbo-on-fence-if-it-wants-to-make-it-in-america-again)
18. [HBO Renews One Show, Cancels Three Others | TVWeek](https://www.tvweek.com/broadcast/2011/12/hbo-renews-one-show-cancels-th/)
19. [HBO Cancels "Bored to Death," "Hung," "How to Make it in America" - Headline Planet](https://headlineplanet.com/home/2011/12/20/hbo-cancels-bored-to-death-hung-how-to-make-it-in-america/)
20. [Could 'How To Make It In America' Make It Today? - Complex](https://www.complex.com/style/a/tyler-w/how-to-make-it-in-america-today)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Drama and prestige series (individual series) › Teen and coming-of-age drama*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license