Dustin Hoffman, Nick Nolte join 'Luck' cast

[MaTH716]

I watched it too last night. I thought it was pretty enjoyable, although I could do without the Dustin Hoffman character. I know that's going to develop into something big down the road. But I liked all the on-track storylines.
Unfortunately while the show is probably going to be entertaining, I'm not sure how good for the sport it's going to be.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

I watched it too last night. I thought it was pretty enjoyable, although I could do without the Dustin Hoffman character. I know that's going to develop into something big down the road. But I liked all the on-track storylines.
Unfortunately while the show is probably going to be entertaining, I'm not sure how good for the sport it's going to be.

People need to calm down about it being good for the sport. I read somewhere yesterday that there will be plenty of goodness attached to this thing as far as characters are concerned.

I absolutely think it will get people to the track, especially Santa Anita, but we'll see how many of those actually turn into bettors, which is always the tough thing to do.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by Scav

People need to calm down about it being good for the sport. I read somewhere yesterday that there will be plenty of goodness attached to this thing as far as characters are concerned.

I absolutely think it will get people to the track, especially Santa Anita, but we'll see how many of those actually turn into bettors, which is always the tough thing to do.

That's good to hear. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for a totally skewed (in a good way) version of the sport. But I just worry about certain sterotypes that surround the sport being re-enforced x 100.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

That's good to hear. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for a totally skewed (in a good way) version of the sport. But I just worry about certain sterotypes that surround the sport being re-enforced x 100.

Watched it last night. Maybe its me but I can not for the life of me how a show showing a horse breakdown, beyond degenerate gamblers at a track with maybe 20 other fans, a mumbling Juan Carlos Guerreo wannabe putting one over and mobbed up owner is going to attract any fans to the sport. Let's just hope we don't lose any.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by jms62

Watched it last night. Maybe its me but I can not for the life of me how a show showing a horse breakdown, beyond degenerate gamblers at a track with maybe 20 other fans, a mumbling Juan Carlos Guerreo wannabe putting one over and mobbed up owner is going to attract any fans to the sport. Let's just hope we don't lose any.

Was the Sopranos really about he Mafia.. You think real made guys didnt laugh at the dialog. It's all just a back drop for a soap opera that takes you away from reality for 50 minutes.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Was the Sopranos really about he Mafia.. You think real made guys didnt laugh at the dialog. It's all just a back drop for a soap opera that takes you away from reality for 50 minutes.

Come on Freddy, you can't be serious about comparing the mafia and horse racing. The mafia didn't care about the perception, everyone knows that they weren't chiorboys. They also didn't own/run a sport that is struggling to survive. Many people already have a negative vison of the sport and even though it's just entertainment, I believe some people can't seperate that from the real truth (Oh wait some of that stuff on the show is spot on accurate).

Does anyone remember a show on ESPN called playmakers? It was a series about a fictional football team playing in a pro league. It pretty much covered everything, from behind the scenes at practices, in the GM's office, to drugs on and off the field. Apparently the NFL wasn't to keen on the show, the rumors were that ESPN cancelled it because if they didn't, ESPN would lose all chance from showing NFL games on the network. But the point is, that show was entertainment as well, but it certainly made you think twice about what really goes on behind the scenes.

Obviously the NFL is a bit stronger that racing , but I really think that anything negative in the show impact the sport in a negative way.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Come on Freddy, you can't be serious about comparing the mafia and horse racing. The mafia didn't care about the perception, everyone knows that they weren't chiorboys. They also didn't own/run a sport that is struggling to survive. Many people already have a negative vison of the sport and even though it's just entertainment, I believe some people can't seperate that from the real truth (Oh wait some of that stuff on the show is spot on accurate).

Does anyone remember a show on ESPN called playmakers? It was a series about a fictional football team playing in a pro league. It pretty much covered everything, from behind the scenes at practices, in the GM's office, to drugs on and off the field. Apparently the NFL wasn't to keen on the show, the rumors were that ESPN cancelled it because if they didn't, ESPN would lose all chance from showing NFL games on the network. But the point is, that show was entertainment as well, but it certainly made you think twice about what really goes on behind the scenes.

Obviously the NFL is a bit stronger that racing , but I really think that anything negative in the show impact the sport in a negative way.

It will have zero effect on real racing regardless if it the geatest hit in HBO history or the worst flop ever. You think my girlfriend gives a darn about betting on a horse race? She has been to the Derby 4 times BC 3 and a few Belmonts. She could care less about racing unless I tell her we are going and then its all about what shoes she needs to buy with whatever new hat and dress. Not to mention were we are staying and what places are we going to dinner. You think the public doesnt know horses breakdown. geez math they unfortunately have seen the best on the biggest days breakdown for years now?

[Dahoss]

So would showing sappy unrealistic nonsense help the industry out? How many people could even sit through Secretariat without thinking there has to be a better way to spend 90 minutes? Did Racing Stripes really point the industry in the right direction?

Freddy is his own way has it right. It's a character driven drama with the backdrop at the track. The Sopranos made the mafia seem cool. Maybe this show can do the same thing. If not, no one goes anyway.

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Was the Sopranos really about he Mafia.. You think real made guys didnt laugh at the dialog. It's all just a back drop for a soap opera that takes you away from reality for 50 minutes.

There is no mafia.

[Dahoss]

Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, what was portrayed in the show is kind of an accurate depiction of the racetrack and racetrack people.

Degenerate gamblers using their checks to play races is a reality. Anyone who has ever stepped foot in an OTB knows this truth. Horses break down. It's unfortunate, but it happens. Trainers put over horses almost daily.

We all know this happens, so why are we so bothered when this is shown? If the people that talk to horses facebook pages were turned off...who cares? They were already turned off anyway, so it was only a matter of time. They can have Racing Stripes and the people living in reality can have this show.

The show needs to prepare the viewer for how many times they're going to have to pay before they can get to their seats at a CDI track.

[mclem0822]

Last night on dvr as well. I thought Milch's writing fine, it was just an introduction to the characters and storylines. My wife and I found it very intriguing to see where he takes these characters. The previews were very good, and who doesn't love a series with multiple characters. Milch's track record is genius, he will layer these characters and I think it will be very good.