The jockey agent is the best!

Two obervations.

Gary Stevens plays an awesome role.

Jerry couldnt play cards to save his life. Next time he gets it in on top will also serve as his first.

This image was on the news tonight when they were talking about a legionnaires outbreak at the hotel.

Is there anything that this idiot even likes? He complains about everything. He is a walking hypocrite.

Tragic.

Luck
 

I listen to him, not for his politics, but because he and I were schoolmates at Jamaica High School and Queens College in New York during the late 50's and early 60's.

I would say he likes, not necessarily in this order, boating around SF Bay, his two dogs, good food and wine, and (especially) himself. Not so much a hypocrite as a narcissist.


Ocala Mike

Michael Weiner (Savage) is an opportunist who will be or say whatever makes the most money/ratings.

Isn't that true for most radio/TV "hosts"?

He's a piece of s.hit.

I still think Luck would have had a much higher ceiling as a show if it would have been set in the late 1800's when the takeout rates were under 5%, when horse bettors made absolute fortunes, when horse bettors dated the best actresses from plays, when the press frequently wrote about them in the papers, and when a few of the more notorious ones did crazy sh!t all the time.

Not that it detracts any from the show -- but you have a guy who lost his last dollar playing poker the night before, he's broke, and he shows up at the track with a napkin that has a $3,240 pick six play on it.

As for the $3,240 play on the napkin... it's 3 by 1 by 4 by 5 by 3 by 9

He singles a horse off of a 2-year layoff that went off at more than 12/1 odds even though his own trainer bet $3,000 to win on him.

Next time there's a big pick six carryover somewhere -- try that -- show up, tell people you don't have any money on you, but give them a 3K + Pick 6 play with a double digit longshot singled.

The guys who made fortunes betting horses in the late 1800's -- that would translate to fortunes worth tens of millions of dollars today -- they did it without any luck. They did it in a time when horse racing was one of the three major sports in New York along with Baseball and Boxing ... and in some big cities outside of New York, horse racing was bigger than any other sport.

Seemed like it would have been such a perfect fit for Milch -- because Deadwood was 1870's in about the same time range as the start of the goldenest of golden eras for the horse bettor. And an era when some real shady, violent, and interesting stuff did happen in horse racing. There will never be another person assosicated with horse racing who is even 1/100th as intersting as Plunger Walton.

All beside the point -- it takes nothing away from Luck. The days of horse bettors having national and even international celebrity are over. The racing is at least more honest and tightly regulated now... but that doesn't suit the time peroid for a drama series.

No, MOST actually believe in the lunacy they spew out.

Chicago Tribune with a review suggesting dubious viewers to stick with it..

For the "newbie" a nice glossary of terms also in the article.

Watched both episodes. MEHHHHHH. Sorry don't like it at all. I was contemplating putting cholula in my eyes when the gamblers were on screen.

And what's with the pro-America nonsense in both episodes? Like there isn't horse racing anywhere else. Boo.

I noticed the "America" stuff too, but I think that is leading more to the idea of the "american dream" than patriotism. The idea that with hard work, perseverance, and a little luck... a person can get rich in this country.
Examples being Turo Escalante- immigrant who goes from selling carrots to top horse trainer. The jockeys, the gamblers, and I imagine Ace are going to be from humble beginnings as well. Think Horatio Alger more than Reagan.

Just watched the pilot. A gritty episode set against the beauty of Santa Anita. My late friend used to say that the track is a Disneyland for adults. I found it fascinating and can't wait for more.

I think this is spot-on, and I would venture that, particularly with the gamblers, the American fantasy of "get rich quick" will be explored. It sure seems from the scenes from upcoming episodes, that for the winners of the Pick-6, things are going to get a lot worse.

Makes me think of the old saying, "Behind every great fortune, there's a great crime."

And I guess the season will end just in time for Game of Thrones, so win all around.

I just watched the 2nd episode and thought is was TERRIFIC. In this kind of format it takes more than a few shows to establish and get to know characters. By the end of the first season and into next year I think this show is going to be a huge hit. Hope so!!

Luck
 

What Vic said; characters are being developed nicely, and I'm sure the plot elements will all start coming together.


Ocala Mike

They need subtitles.

Between Nick Nolte grunting his lines like he permanently constipated, and the Escalante character, it's impossible to understand what the hell is even being said.

I really enjoyed episode two, though my husband, who doesn't follow racing, says he is thoroughly confused.

Speaking of confused, can someone explain to me what is going on with the guy who got beaten up by the two women? Were they pulling a scam together he backed out of? What kind of scam?

I was trying my best to follow what was going on, but the toddler was demanding a dramatic reading of "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?" during that scene, so I missed most of the dialogue.

He backed out of a slip and fall insurance scam with the two hookers. They apparently had a life insurance policy on him, which was either part of their scam, or was to double cross him after they had collected - so when he backed out they tried to kill him to collect on the policy... At least that's what my interpretation of it is...

Confusing to me is that I was still under the impression that they had not cashed the ticket yet - So I'm wondering why they're all still living together in the motel and everyone (except the guy in the wheelchair) is walking around flush with cash.
Doesn't make any since - once the tax situation is worked out and they cash the ticket, why wouldn't they simply go their separate ways? Unless it isn't worked out yet, they still have the ticket - in which case where is they guy getting a dufflebag full of money to play poker?

You're delusional. They've spent a fortune promoting and it is sub-par. I watched it with people who aren't familiar with racing and they didn't like it either.

It's a show with aging stars and an obvious disdain for the average bettor. It's not acceptable.

Luck
 

Has a 7.8 rating at IMDb; not bad for a new show. We'll see if its got legs.


Ocala Mike

You're right about the delusional part.

Blah. I'm with Gus, I like the goat.

Does Golden Missile know you are cheating on him?

I hate to say it but I don't care for Luck. I don't think I'll be watching any more episodes :(

Most of the characters are seedy and I'm not interested in their stories at all. The show is not holding my attention because I don't care about these characters. The only story line I like is Nick Nolte and his horse.

Then we have.......In the first episode we saw a horse break down and in the second episode we found out that the sire of Nick's horse got his legs broken for insurance money. Then we learned how awful the sound is of a horses legs being broken.

Yes, I know horses break down. But the first episode? Geesh.

No thanks. :wf

Everything leading up to the race sequence in Ep. 4 is more or less prequel.

Those unmoved up to that point will be grabbed by the lapels and slapped around but good.

I'm really wondering if the naysayers on here have ever watched this type of show on HBO before. There are plenty of em to review through history, and more often than not, the viewer is rewarded. I just don't watch two shows on HBO, dramas, and abandon after two episodes. It's not like a comedy where either you think it is or isn't funny...just my thought.

I'm sticking with it, but through 2 episodes it's not even close to the same level as preceding HBO productions. The glaring continuity issues aside, (have been discussed ad nauseum) - the whole thing is a mish-mash of uninteresting subplots thus far - The Richard Kind character is over the top; the dynamic between Hoffman and Farina is awkward at best (Farina should be a natural in that role, but he comes off as though he has no idea what Milich is trying to get from him), as I mentioned before, the accent on the Ortiz character is so strong, he's uninterpretable without subtitles.

I think Nick Nolte comes off the best as far as a believable, interesting character and time will tell if this gets tied together -

Hoping for the best but to this point, it's just...weird.

Hey, Joey Rathburn wears his hair like a horse's. Down in front.

I'm rewatching Ep 2 now- the really slovenly handicapper mentioned they didn't agree to any pictures and did everything they could to stay anonymous so they did cash the ticket. And I agree, then why the continued secrecy?

Kind of a nice break in the day,isn't it?

Pat, you make a fair point. I'm a big Deadwood fan. After the first 5 minutes of that show I was hooked. I want to like Luck. I was looking forward to it like everyone else. I dunno, the show makes horse racing look trashy. No?

I thought episode 2 was just ok. Rude your not alone, I had to put on the close captioning cause I couldn't understand every other word. I enjoy all the storylines except the one revolving around Dustin Hoffman (and Farina). Unfortunately that seems like the main one. Obviously I'm going to continue to watch it, but I have to admit that I lost intrest at times during this episode.

I also thought the Pilot was flat, but loved the 2nd episode -

my 2 fav characters so far are the sleazy claiming trainer - "Goose"

and the bug-boy - "Pinhead (Escalante's nickname for)"

can't wait for episode three....

For those of you who dont like Luck try and suffer thru to Epsisode 4 and 5 and I think you will be happy. Yours truly is in Episode 7 and I look forward to all the crap you will be giving me when you hear my lines lol.
In last nites show I got a short glimpse of myself jogging by the gate in the morning gate scene only reason I knew it was me is because I had my purple vest on. :)

^^^ movie star qualities, for sure

(Congrats!!!)

I liked the first and I really enjoyed the second episode. I had no problem following what was going on, but some friends did. Took me like a minute to explain and they got it after that.

If nothing else it gives my friends and family a small glimpse into what so much of my time has been spent doing all of these years. They are so proud. :D