Deuce, The (HBO 2017, James Franco, Maggie Gyllenhaal)

Created by the makers of The Wire and boasting a fine ensemble cast, The Deuce chronicles the rise of the porn industry that began in New York City in 1971-72, driven by a politically motivated effort to “clean up” Times Square by driving pimps and prostitutes off the street and forcing them indoors – and the gradual legalization of porn.

Over the course of eight episodes, this gritty series takes an up-close look at a colourful world of sex, crime, high times and sudden violence, as the porn business begins its climb to legitimacy, cultural permanence – and billion-dollar profitability.

Seizing the chance to cash in on the flourishing porn business (and sometimes being consumed by it) are a vivid assortment of characters, including: Vincent Martino (James Franco), a bartender with vision and connections; Frankie Martino (Franco again), Vincent’s identical twin and a dangerously freewheeling counterpart to his entrepreneurial brother; and Candy (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a self-made, on-the-street sex worker eying a new career in porn filmmaking.

Joining them are pimps C.C. and Larry Brown; young prostitutes Darlene and Lori; midtown cop Chris Alston; mob capo Rudy Pipilo; disillusioned college student Abby Parker and more.

cast
James Franco as Frankie Martino / Vincent Martino
Maggie Gyllenhaal as Eileen ‘Candy’ Merrell
Gary Carr as None
Margarita Levieva as Abigail ‘Abby’ Parker
Lawrence Gilliard Jr as Chris Alston
Dominique Fishback as Darlene
Emily Meade as Lori
Gbenga Akinnagbe as Larry Brown
Emmanuel Akoto as Actor
Chris Bauer as Bobby Dwyer
Chris Coy as Paul Hendrickson
John Druzba as Business Man
Kayla Foster as Barbara
Anwan Glover as Leon
Don Harvey as Danny Flanagan
Method Man as Rodney
Natalie Paul as Sandra Washington
Michael Rispoli as Rudy Pipilo
Daniel Sauli as Tommy Longo
Kim Director as Shay
Olivia Luccardi as Melissa

crew details
Creators: George Pelecanos, David Simon
Executive Producers: James Franco, Nina Kostroff-Noble, George Pelecanos, Richard Price, David Simon, Michelle MacLaren
Producers: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Marc Henry Johnson, Dara Schnapper

production details
Country: USA
Network: HBO – Blown Deadline
Duration: 60 minutes
Aired From: 10 September 2017

THE EPISODES
SEASON ONE 10 September 2017 –
1. PILOT (10 Sep 17)
2. SHOW AND PROVE (17 Sep 17)
3. THE PRINCIPLE IS ALL (24 Sep 17)
4. I SEE MONEY (1 Oct 17)
5. WHAT KIND OF BAD? (8 Oct 17)