“Dream big or go home.”
Trying to make a name for themselves in New York's competitive fashion scene, Ben Epstein and his friend and business partner Cam Calderon use their street knowledge and connections to bring their ambitions to fruition. With the help of Cam's cousin Rene, who is trying to market his own high-energy drink, and their well-connected friend Domingo, the burgeoning entrepreneurs set out to make it big, encountering obstacles along the way that will require all their ingenuity to overcome.
Latest episode: S2 E8 What's in a Name? (Nov 20, 2011)
Twentysomething New Yorkers Ben Epstein and Cam Calderon short-circuit the traditional route to success, deciding to use their street savvy and connections to make names for themselves in the fashion industry.
Following their business trip to Japan, Ben and Cam pound the New York City pavement with tenacious ambition to get noticed, get ahead, and get paid.
I remember the first time I watched How to Make It in America. It was 2010, and I was living in a shoebox apartment in Brooklyn, working a job that paid just enough to keep me in ramen and subway tokens. The show’s opening credits—Ben and Cam weaving through New York’s streets, the bassline of Aloe Blacc’s I Need a Dollar thumping—felt like a mirror.
Not because I was hustling in fashion, but because I, too, was trying to convince myself that the grind was worth it. That if I just kept pushing, something would give.
HBO’s short-lived series (two seasons, 16 episodes) is often called a Entourage for the streetwear set, but that undersells it. Where Entourage was a fantasy of excess, How to Make It in America was a fantasy of access—the idea that if you just knew the right people, said the right things, and showed up at the right parties, you could claw your way into a world that didn’t want you.
It was a lie, of course, but a seductive one. And like all good lies, it was built on a foundation of truth.
The show’s genius was in its specificity. Ben Epstein (Bryan Greenberg) and Cam Calderón (Victor Rasuk) weren’t just generic strivers; they were these strivers, with these dreams and these flaws. Ben, the white Jewish guy from the Upper West Side, was all nervous energy and half-baked ideas, his ambition outpacing his follow-through.
Cam, the Dominican kid from the Bronx, was smoother, street-smart, but just as prone to self-sabotage. Their friendship was the show’s beating heart, a push-and-pull of loyalty and frustration that felt achingly real. Watching them navigate the fashion world’s backrooms and after-parties, I recognized the way they talked over each other, the way they lied to themselves first and everyone else second.
It was the language of people who were one bad break away from having to admit they’d been wrong all along.
And then there was New York itself. The show didn’t just use the city as a backdrop; it made the city a character, one that was equal parts cruel and generous. The camera lingered on the graffiti-tagged walls of Bushwick, the neon glow of Chinatown at night, the way the light hit the Hudson in the late afternoon.
"An underrated dramedy with authentic charm and relatable struggles, though not without its pacing and depth issues."
The series resonates with viewers for its raw portrayal of ambition and friendship in New York’s fashion underground, anchored by likable performances. latestnetflix.com's view is that however, some find the storytelling uneven, with slow patches and underdeveloped side characters detracting from its potential.
HBO’s How to Make It in America (2010) was a love letter to New York’s underground hustle, blending fashion, ambition, and the raw energy of the city’s streets. Starring Bryan Greenberg and Victor Rasuk as two friends chasing their dreams in the urban jungle, the series carved out a niche with its authentic vibe and a soundtrack that pulsed with the same restless energy as its characters. latestnetflix.com's read is that but behind the camera, the show’s journey was just as much about collaboration, creative risks, and the cast’s real-life connections to the story.
Greenberg and Rasuk weren’t just playing aspiring entrepreneurs—they embodied the grind. In interviews, the duo leaned into the parallels between their characters and their own careers. Rasuk, who played the street-smart Cam Calderón, spoke openly about the show’s resonance with his upbringing. “It’s about the struggle, the hustle, the people you meet along the way,” he said in an AOL BUILD interview, hinting at how the role mirrored his own path in Hollywood . Greenberg, who played Ben Epstein, the more polished but equally determined half of the duo, echoed the sentiment in a separate chat, framing the series as a “modern-day Entourage but with more grit” .
The chemistry between the leads wasn’t just acting. Off-screen, Greenberg and Rasuk’s friendship added a layer of authenticity to their on-screen dynamic. In a podcast appearance, they joked about their real-life fashion sense influencing the show’s aesthetic, with Greenberg quipping that their wardrobe choices were “half scripted, half whatever we found in our closets” . The series’ fashion-forward lens—showcasing brands like Supreme and vintage streetwear—wasn’t just set dressing; it was a reflection of the cast’s personal styles and the cultural moment they were capturing.
One of the show’s standout features was its music, which often stole scenes with its infectious energy. The Season 2 premiere famously ended with Avicii’s Levels, a track that became synonymous with the series’ high-stakes, high-reward ethos . The soundtrack wasn’t just background noise; it was a narrative tool, amplifying the tension and triumph of Ben and Cam’s journey. Producers leaned heavily on emerging artists and underground tracks, giving the series a cutting-edge feel that resonated with its millennial audience.
Despite its cult following, How to Make It in America lasted only two seasons before HBO pulled the plug. The cancellation left fans hanging, with no real closure for Ben and Cam’s story. Ratings hovered around a respectable 6.9/10 on SensCritique, but the show’s niche appeal—rooted in its hyper-specific New York setting and fashion-forward lens—may have limited its mainstream reach 
. Still, its influence lingered. The series became a time capsule of early 2010s streetwear culture, and its unapologetic portrayal of ambition resonated with a generation navigating the gig economy.
Rumors about a revival or reboot have circulated over the years, but nothing concrete has materialized. For now, the show remains a snapshot of a moment when HBO was willing to bet on underdog stories—even if they didn’t always pay off.
The show’s production was as much about capturing the city’s energy as it was about the script. Behind-the-scenes footage reveals a tight-knit crew shooting on location in Brooklyn and Manhattan, often improvising to keep up with the city’s unpredictable rhythm . The cast and crew’s camaraderie was palpable, with Greenberg and Rasuk frequently seen joking between takes. In one interview, Greenberg hinted at the challenges of filming in New York’s fast-paced environment, calling it “a character in itself” .
Lake Bell, who played the sharp-tongued Rachel Chapman, brought a different dynamic to the series. Her character’s fashion-world savvy and no-nonsense attitude provided a counterbalance to Ben and Cam’s street-level hustle. While less is documented about her behind-the-scenes experience, her performance added depth to the show’s exploration of ambition and identity.
More than a decade after its debut, How to Make It in America endures as a cult favorite. Its blend of fashion, music, and raw ambition feels timeless, even as the cultural landscape has shifted. The series didn’t just tell a story about making it—it showed the messy, exhilarating process of trying. And in an era where hustle culture is both celebrated and scrutinized, the show’s unfiltered portrayal of the grind remains relevant.
For fans, the series is a reminder that success isn’t just about the destination—it’s about the people you meet, the risks you take, and the city that shapes you. And if the cast’s real-life hustle is any indication, the show’s spirit lives on in the careers of those who brought it to life.
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