If you’ve watched any HBO at all this summer, then you’ve probably seen the trailer for the upcoming series Boardwalk Empire, starring Steve Buscemi which will finally make its debut in a few weeks. They show the preview 19 times between every movie/show, so it’s kind of hard to miss, but with the big names attached to it, I think this may actually live up to the hype. The show looks excellent and the first episode was directed by Martin Scorsese (who will also be contributing creatively throughout the 12 episode season) and written by Terence Winter (Award winning writer for The Sopranos). How could this go wrong?

So why are you reading about this on the KegWorks blog? Well, HBO paid us off of course! Actually no, that’s not it at all. For those that haven’t read the Nelson Johnson book that the series is based on (guilty!), you probably can’t tell exactly what the show is about by the trailer – it just looks like a lot of crime, drinking and gambling. Well, it’s set in Atlantic City in the 1920′s for starters. Anyone that paid attention in history class will probably remember a little something called ‘Prohibition’, which lasted through the 20′s into the early 30′s. Sale, manufacturing and transportation of any alcohol back then was banned nationally as mandated by the 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. During that time, a man named Enoch "Nucky" Johnson (Buscemi) led a corrupt alliance of politicians and racketeers running illegal brothels, bars, gambling rooms and more controlling Atlantic City then, and for many years to come.

Boardwalk Empire, the book, takes the reader on a walk from that point up to the current Donald Trump days of Atlantic City. The series is going to stick to the 20′s and the story of those men who were untouchable by law. Definitely look out for it as part of the Sunday night HBO lineup starting Sept 19th…and since we’re on the subject, don’t forget to watch Eastbound & Down season two starting the following week.

TAGS [ PROHIBITION | HBO | BOARDWALK EMPIRE ]