Roadies (Cameron Crowe's new series on Showtime) *

Finally. Episode 8 was brilliant, just what this series needed. The Ronnie Van Zant/Lynyrd Skynyrd story was powerful and moving. I just hope it's enough to get a renewal from Showtime.

 

I agree, and I'm not even a Lynard Skynard (or Phil) fan. It wouldn't surprise me if Cameron Crowe set up the whole series just to write this episode.

 

It's ridiculous that critics are allowed to rate a whole season based on one episode (Rotten Tomatoes).

Well, the audience really likes the show (77%).


Here's an excerpt from a positive new review (FORBES). This critic actually watched 8 episodes:


"I like “Roadies.” There, I said it. I like it a lot. It’s grown on me, and is more enjoyable with each episode that is released. I hope Showtime renews it."

“Roadies” has not received the attention it deserves, in part, because critics found the pilot and opening episodes easy to dismiss.

What I’ve come to enjoy about “Roadies” and what I look forward to each episode are those moments when a character, often Luke Wilson, launches into a rap about some arcane moment of rock history, such as Graham Parsons influence in bringing country into rock, or Led Zeppelin’s early beginnings as a blues band. The most recent episode was basically a long monologue by Road Warrior Phil about his history with and love for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Beyond that each episode features good music from performers from Lyndsey Buckingham, John Mellencamp, Halsey, Kingsreich, andthe Heart and the Hunter. Crowe continues to have impeccable musical taste and it shows throughout the show. Be it the song of the day, or some fragment of song, hummed, sung or karaoke’d by the crew or on the bus. In this and other ways, pleasures abound on “Roadies.”

Wilson and Carla Gugino lead a cohesive and completely credible cast of misfit production techs including Keisha Castle-Hughes, Pete Cambor, Ron White, Luis Guzman, Colson Baker and Finesse Mitchell."


Link: Shining a Light on Showtime's 'Roadies' Series »

 

Crowe had a girlfriend who was part of the Lynyrd Skynyrd crew, the episode was written from his personal experience and I thought it was fabulous.

At the time if the plane crashed I was holding orchestra seats to see the band at Madison Square Garden, it would have been my first time seeing them in concert. I will never forget how awful it felt as a young fan experiencing that loss. For just a few minutes last night they were here again, connecting with us fans in the most human and emotional of ways, that's the power of a well done drama. No concert footage great though it may be can reach us at that same personal, emotional level. Kudos to all involved!

 

Roadies Episode 8 – Song List:

Spoiler: E8

Episode 8 – The All Night Bus Ride:

• “And Roger” – Derek Poulsen
• “California” – Tyler Lyle
• “Gotta Wanna” – Gun Outfit
• “There is a Storm Comin’” – The Standells
• “The Nitty Gritty” – Shirley Ellis
• “Gimme Three Steps” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
• “Six Days on the Road” – Flying Burrito Brothers
• “T For Texas (Blue Yodel No. 1)” (Live at the Fox Theatre 1976) – Lynyrd Skynyrd
• “Comin’ Home” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
• “Free Bird” (Knebworth Festival Live 1976) – Lynyrd Skynyrd
• “Iceblink Luck” – Cocteau Twins
• “Ghost in You” – Robyn Hitchcock
• “Sweet Home Alabama (Live at the Fox Theatre 1976) – Lynyrd Skynyrd
• “Pawn” (Score) – Mike McCready
• “Just Can’t Get You Out of My Mind” – The Spinners & Dionne Warwick
• “Saturday Night Special” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
• “Phil’s Shoes” (Score) – Jordan Cook
• “All You Can Do is Write About It” (Acoustic) – Lynyrd Skynyrd
• “Simple Man” – Machine Gun Kelly, Peter Cambor & Roadies Cast

 

Another good episode last night. All the stuff at the corporate gig was fun. So my guess is that with Christopher House quitting the band, the other 4/5th's go on without him, Reg spills the beans getting himself fired from the company he works for, but stays on with the Staton-???? band who book a club/theater tour to try and build back up their name.

 

Roadies Episode 9 – Song List:

Spoiler: E9

Episode 9 – The Corporate Gig:

• “Reach Us” – Derek Poulsen
• “Vacation” – Florist
• “Absolute Loser” – Fruit Bats
• “Little Cloud” – Desert Stars
• “Half a Native” – Buxton
• “Hurt Me” – Låpsley
• “Talking to You (Is Like Talking To Myself)” – Daryl Hall
• “Lost in the Zoo” – Goddamn Electric Bill
• “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore” – Phantogram (Song of the Day)
• “Stella” – Here We Go Magic
• “Make Ya Feel Good” – Craig Paul Hardy & Theo Chinara
• “On Fleek” (Full Mix) – Warner/Chappell Productions
• “Lost Verses” – Sun Kil Moon
• “Ready for Yr Closeup” – Là-Bas
• “Soup For One” – Chic
• “Always Be” – TVÅ
• “Let’s Go Forward” – Sananda Maitreya
• “Look at Miss Ohio” (Gillian Welch Cover) – Peter Cambor & Jen Tullock
• “Advanced Falconry” – Mutual Benefit
• “Cergy-Pontoise” – The Magnetic North
• “Willin'” – Jackson Browne and Lucius

 

"Roadies ‏@SHO_Roadies
The #SHORoadies season finale is sure to rock w/ special performances by @PearlJam's Eddie Vedder, @JimJames & more!"

 

Terrific episode, can't wait for the finale!

"It DID happen."

 

"...well then we could swim...drunkenly...in the nude..."

 

I enjoyed the finale and they closed enough off for it to be the series finale but left enough open for another season if that happens. I certainly thought it was better than the other attempts at rock 'n' roll shows I've seen, and I'd watch again. Glad I didn't bail after a couple of episodes, it got better as it went on.

 

It was a good season finale that could operate as a series finale. I hope that's not the case and that we get another season. The one thing I didn't like about the episode was Sean turning out to be a jerk, which totally let Shelli off the hook. He comes there to surprise her and seems completely committed to her and wants to take her off on a vacation and wants to start a family, but when she says no, he already has plans with some other woman? That was cheap. Its not that I think she needs to be punished for her affair, per se, but they really let her off with no consequence whatsoever and I thought that was pretty lame.

 

No word on whether or not it's been renewed?

 

I wrote Showtime and they replied:

Thanks for contacting us with your concerns about the continuation of Roadies! We understand your concern and would like to let you know that no official announcements about the cancellation or continuation of Roadies have been made yet.

 

Thank you.

 

What's their email address?

 

I used the Contact Us link on their web site.

Showtime »

 

Not really. I watched the first couple of episodes and was ready to give up. I'm glad I stuck in but if I had to write a review after the first 3 episodes I would have panned it too.

I especially liked Jackson Browne playing Warren Zevon and Lowell George songs in the last episode.

 

I think that might be the point of his post. Even if you watched 3 episodes, is someone qualified to judge a new show if they've only seen 30% of it? It looks like you had changed your mind sticking with it. Could someone listen to three songs on an album and declare it crap? Sure. But would they be judging it fairly?

 

When did they judge it? If 3 episodes have been released and they are not good what is a critic to say? This wasn't released all at once.

 

Yeah, those were my favorite parts too. I would have liked to hear a full performance of "Willin'" with Jackson Browne and Lucius.

 

Roadies Episode 10 – Song List:

Spoiler: E10

Episode 10 – The Load Out:

• “Ring Them Bells” – Bob Dylan
• “Advice on Bears” – Boats
• “Trailer”– Mudcrutch
• “Man of the Hour” – Eddie Vedder
• “Sayonara Judge” – Robyn Hitchcock
• “Abandoned Love” – Bob Dylan
• “He Was a Friend of Mine” – Jim James
• “Mohammed’s Radio” – Jackson Browne ft. Greg Liesz & Luke Wilson
• “Church” – Gary Clark Jr.
• “A Little Crazy” – Nicole Atkins
• “Willin'” – Jackson Browne & Lucius ft. Greg Leisz
• “The Load-Out” – Jackson Browne (Song of the Day)
• “Better Man” – Leon Bridges
• “I’ll Be Good to You” – The Brothers Johnson
• “Find a Way” – Austin Basham
• “Ballad of Mad Dogs and Englishmen” – Leon Russell
• “Once I Was? – Tim Buckley
• “Take It Slow”- Rogue Wave
• “All We Ever Knew” – Jon Russell (The Head and the Heart)

 

I ended up going through all 10 episodes in the space of two weeks lately and I have to admit, that I did like it as well. Your moderinized extension of Almost famous comment rings true for me as I really caught that vibe as well. Maybe I'm just starved for something contemporary to watch that is actually centered on music and halfway decent but yeah....I found it worth my while, unlike Vinyl, where I managed to get through 3 episodes and never returned.