Billions on Showtime

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This show is a perfect example of how hollywood white washes things for tv.

Giamatti's role IRL is an indian guy and the overarching framework of the show (targeting insider trading buyside fund) was similar to the galleon group case - which was a fund run by Raj Rajaratnam (Sri Lankan).

Then again, Showtime wouldn't pick up this show (already picked it up for two seasons) if the producers cast two swarthy types for leads - now would they?

Ridiculous - this isn't 1950 anymore people - oh and the galleon group case is a fresh case, less than 5 years old.

It's not white-washing. Nobody would want to watch that. Or else Bollywood would be a thing here. It's not.

It is precisely white washing when you lift the show underlying event structure from real life and then proceed to cast roles in a completely fraudulent fashion.

Furthermore, bollywood is a type/style of film - putting swarthy people on screen doesn't automatically make something 'bollywood'.

I could agree with your assertion that 'no one would want to watch that'. but that's a reflection of society's racial sickness and until studios and networks actually try, we won't know will we?

Look I wouldn't have a problem if this was a show about 1970's or 80's USAO SDNY doing a RICO case. Casting that is accurate and period reflective is fine.

I do have an issue in this situation when it is blatant and the events are recent (i.e. within the last decade).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's boring. We get it - they have a lot of money.

also I worked on wall st and no one talks like that. Especially not in meetings.

Did you work on the buyside?

[Anonymous]

I think Damien Lewis benefits most from a full body shot in front of the camera.

Close ups are not his friends. He looks like a clown who has only just wiped off his make-up.

Sorry.

Do think he'd make a great Bond though. Better than Daniel Craig-I'm-so-fxxking-miserable-and-the-world-owes-me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This show is a perfect example of how hollywood white washes things for tv.

Giamatti's role IRL is an indian guy and the overarching framework of the show (targeting insider trading buyside fund) was similar to the galleon group case - which was a fund run by Raj Rajaratnam (Sri Lankan).

Then again, Showtime wouldn't pick up this show (already picked it up for two seasons) if the producers cast two swarthy types for leads - now would they?

Ridiculous - this isn't 1950 anymore people - oh and the galleon group case is a fresh case, less than 5 years old.

I found the Galleon case fascinating but putting an ethnic element into it would be a distraction to most viewers (I'm thinking of Don Cheadle's Marty in House of Lies).

I'm loving the show.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't stop seeing him as Brody.
I like Paul Giamatti's wife, the Axe shrink.
Enjoying this show, although I think the critics don't like it very much. Apparently it's already been renewed for a second season so we can get invested.

Me too, BRODY!!! Poor Brody. I miss him on Homeland.

My husband and I work in that industry, and there are plenty of references to actual hedge fund, SEC and US Attorney jokes, stereotypes, famous stories, etc. Axe I believe is based on Steven Cohen, at least parts of it. Plus all the fleece wearing, Ivy bomb dropping, Spitzer references, Skadden shout out, and bad take out food, it's hilarious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's boring. We get it - they have a lot of money.

also I worked on wall st and no one talks like that. Especially not in meetings.

Did you work on the buyside?

I've worked in the industry for 15 years, and sometimes they do talk like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's boring. We get it - they have a lot of money.

also I worked on wall st and no one talks like that. Especially not in meetings.

Did you work on the buyside?

I've worked in the industry for 15 years, and sometimes they do talk like that.

agreed - not so much sellside, which is what PP probably meant but not on the buyside. Some shops are definitely 'colorful'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This show is a perfect example of how hollywood white washes things for tv.

Giamatti's role IRL is an indian guy and the overarching framework of the show (targeting insider trading buyside fund) was similar to the galleon group case - which was a fund run by Raj Rajaratnam (Sri Lankan).

Then again, Showtime wouldn't pick up this show (already picked it up for two seasons) if the producers cast two swarthy types for leads - now would they?

Ridiculous - this isn't 1950 anymore people - oh and the galleon group case is a fresh case, less than 5 years old.

I found the Galleon case fascinating but putting an ethnic element into it would be a distraction to most viewers (I'm thinking of Don Cheadle's Marty in House of Lies).

I'm loving the show.

Pretty pathetic that you can't see past your own bias. That thinking actually sucks and is disappointing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yeah I love it too.

I know what you mean about Malin Akerman but she's doing a great job

and you have to remember that Damien Lewis is a posh boy from South East London!

No way, I never would have known that!

Very likely he'll be the next Bond.

A ginger bond? fuck off

LOL. I LOVE gingers. My first boyfriend at age 16 had red hair and I've loved it ever since. I don't think Damien Lewis is particularly hot, but I love the show.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's boring. We get it - they have a lot of money.

also I worked on wall st and no one talks like that. Especially not in meetings.

Did you work on the buyside?

I've worked in the industry for 15 years, and sometimes they do talk like that.

agreed - not so much sellside, which is what PP probably meant but not on the buyside. Some shops are definitely 'colorful'

Interesting point. I was sellside. People were relatively polite. I heard some crass comments but never sat in a meeting where people made the kind of remarks in this tv show.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's boring. We get it - they have a lot of money.

also I worked on wall st and no one talks like that. Especially not in meetings.

Did you work on the buyside?

I've worked in the industry for 15 years, and sometimes they do talk like that.

agreed - not so much sellside, which is what PP probably meant but not on the buyside. Some shops are definitely 'colorful'

Interesting point. I was sellside. People were relatively polite. I heard some crass comments but never sat in a meeting where people made the kind of remarks in this tv show.

too much nagging nancys and tattlers in the sellside publicly traded megabanks which makes the cultures very PC.

buyside shops are flatter, smaller, less annoying hr women, closed shops where you can be less pc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This show is a perfect example of how hollywood white washes things for tv.

Giamatti's role IRL is an indian guy and the overarching framework of the show (targeting insider trading buyside fund) was similar to the galleon group case - which was a fund run by Raj Rajaratnam (Sri Lankan).

Then again, Showtime wouldn't pick up this show (already picked it up for two seasons) if the producers cast two swarthy types for leads - now would they?

Ridiculous - this isn't 1950 anymore people - oh and the galleon group case is a fresh case, less than 5 years old.

I found the Galleon case fascinating but putting an ethnic element into it would be a distraction to most viewers (I'm thinking of Don Cheadle's Marty in House of Lies).

I'm loving the show.

Pretty pathetic that you can't see past your own bias. That thinking actually sucks and is disappointing.

another pp - agreed, pretty sad stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This show is a perfect example of how hollywood white washes things for tv.

Giamatti's role IRL is an indian guy and the overarching framework of the show (targeting insider trading buyside fund) was similar to the galleon group case - which was a fund run by Raj Rajaratnam (Sri Lankan).

Then again, Showtime wouldn't pick up this show (already picked it up for two seasons) if the producers cast two swarthy types for leads - now would they?

Ridiculous - this isn't 1950 anymore people - oh and the galleon group case is a fresh case, less than 5 years old.

I'm confused. This is a fictional show that is not explicitly based on any real-life events, no? I'm sure that there have been many state's attorneys who have launched investigations into corporate big wigs and traders, right? Why do you think this is about anything in particular? Did I miss something.

IF you want to say that in general there are not enough minorities on the show, that is fine. But to say that any particular part should be cast by a particular ethnicity seems off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This show is a perfect example of how hollywood white washes things for tv.

Giamatti's role IRL is an indian guy and the overarching framework of the show (targeting insider trading buyside fund) was similar to the galleon group case - which was a fund run by Raj Rajaratnam (Sri Lankan).

Then again, Showtime wouldn't pick up this show (already picked it up for two seasons) if the producers cast two swarthy types for leads - now would they?

Ridiculous - this isn't 1950 anymore people - oh and the galleon group case is a fresh case, less than 5 years old.

I found the Galleon case fascinating but putting an ethnic element into it would be a distraction to most viewers (I'm thinking of Don Cheadle's Marty in House of Lies).

I'm loving the show.

Pretty pathetic that you can't see past your own bias. That thinking actually sucks and is disappointing.

another pp - agreed, pretty sad stuff.

SO SAD. Cheadle is AMAZING in that role. Are you saying that he is a distraction because he's black?! WTF?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This show is a perfect example of how hollywood white washes things for tv.

Giamatti's role IRL is an indian guy and the overarching framework of the show (targeting insider trading buyside fund) was similar to the galleon group case - which was a fund run by Raj Rajaratnam (Sri Lankan).

Then again, Showtime wouldn't pick up this show (already picked it up for two seasons) if the producers cast two swarthy types for leads - now would they?

Ridiculous - this isn't 1950 anymore people - oh and the galleon group case is a fresh case, less than 5 years old.

I'm confused. This is a fictional show that is not explicitly based on any real-life events, no? I'm sure that there have been many state's attorneys who have launched investigations into corporate big wigs and traders, right? Why do you think this is about anything in particular? Did I miss something.

IF you want to say that in general there are not enough minorities on the show, that is fine. But to say that any particular part should be cast by a particular ethnicity seems off.

Many of the plots, subplots, jokes, characters, etc have very big similarities to real people and events, similar to how the show Entourage was done.