‘Bookie’ Review – Take The Points And Bet On Lorre And Maniscalco

Bookie marks the leading television debut for Sebastian Maniscalco, one of the hottest stand-up comedians in the world right now. Debuting on Max on November 30th, this is a workplace comedy where the proprietor finds himself a fish out of water in the socially conscious era and does everything he can not to cancel himself into today’s sensitive times. Considering his ethically ambiguous profession, that’s not something you would think a “bookie” would need to integrate into their everyday life. That makes the new streaming comedy series an exercise in culture clash tailored for Maniscalco which, fortunately, allows the comedian’s natural frenetic charm to take center stage.

Maniscalco plays Danny, who, as we said, works in the world’s second-oldest profession as a bookmaker. He takes calls from his customers. Their monikers are simple numbers; he keeps their bets on a small notepad with a pencil. Danny hears the sob stories, rolls his eyes, and is not empathetic but as understanding as he can be. He even tries to educate one of them on how hard it is to hit an NFL three-play parlay (a very oily and pathetic comedic cameo by a well-known sitcom star). Danny also tries to write off a loss in the collection when he refuses to strong-arm a customer who skipped out on a payment.

Frankly, Danny’s incisive need to change with the times doesn’t seem conducive to a successful business model. Especially when considering the legalization of gambling in California on the horizon. His wife, Sandra (Better Off Ted’s Andrea Anders), complains about the bills because money is tight. Yes, it’s a bit cliche, but who doesn’t have money trouble today?

Danny’s hired muscle, Ray (Snowfall’s Omar Dorsey), is frustrated with his boss. Ray is a former professional football player who has fallen on hard times. Ray has had to move his grandmother (a very funny Arnetia Walker) out of her Brentwood home. She isn’t happy about it and takes passive-aggressive jabs at her grandson whenever possible. Then there’s Danny’s sister, Lorraine (Death Proof’s Vanessa Ferlito), who keeps the books. Lorraine is so strapped for cash that she sells “shrooms” to keep the business afloat.

Bookie is from television mega-producers Chuck Lorre (Two and a Half Men, Big Bang Theory) and Nick Bakay (King of Queens). Originally titled How to Be a Bookie, the pedigree screams instant sitcom hits. However, the series is different from that creator’s sitcom productions for one simple reason: there is no laugh track. That means there is no writing to emphasize a punchline to allow the viewer to hear the filtered and generated audience reactions. This is nothing new for Max, which specializes in single-camera comedies. The result is a bit grittier and darker than expected, especially at the end of the pilot, which is surprising coming from a Lorre or Bakay production.

Unfortunately, only one episode was made available for critics. This is surprising because the first half of Bookie is a tough watch. The writing conveys the Danny character as a product of a different time trying to change his stripes. There is a running gag, no pun intended, but it is repeated so much that you may gag due to its unsavory nature and unnecessary repetition. Many will also question a scene involving a character with an affirmed gender. However, because the brunt of the joke is Chris, Danny ultimately supports the transition.

The series takes an upswing when Lost’s Jorge Garcia shows up as Hector, their lift driver, and gives the series some unexpected edge. This leads to an eye-opening cameo that’s jaw-dropping. (The series cast talks about this casting openly, but embargo rules prevent us from discussing it here.) Trust me, it’s a jaw-dropper. This is where Bookie begins to find its swing. The series starts to feel comfortable in the Max style with dark comic jabs. Even a bit of grit is common in the famed network’s filmography.

Bookie has a long road ahead to prove the season can be a true success. However, Lorre has a proven track record, and Maniscalco shows a reasonable amount of well-rounded depth in his performance that can be funny, poignant, and a bit dark to give Bookie a mild recommendation with an asterisk. Yes, it’s a lot like taking the points on a long-shot bet, but I’d never bet against Lorre and Maniscalco.

Bookie will debut with two episodes on Max on November 30, 2023. The eight-episode series will debut two episodes on subsequent Thursdays leading up to the season finale on December 21.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4iP6XmTxvk]