The moment Chuck Lorre fans have been waiting for is finally here! A trailer for The Big Bang Theory creator’s new Max series reunites Lorre with Two and a Half Men actor Charlie Sheen for a comedy series starring stand-up comedian Sebastian Maniscalco and Queen Sugar alum Omar J. Dorsey. The Bookie trailer mixes comedy and action as Danny (Maniscalco), a Los Angeles bookie who struggles to keep his business in check, and Ray (Dorsey), a former NFL player and Danny’s enforcer, attempt to collect a series of bets from increasingly shady characters.
Bookie revolves around a seasoned bookie (Maniscalco) struggling to survive the impending legalization of sports gambling. Hello Sports Interaction, Fan Duel, and Betway! While coping with apps designed to make intermediaries extinct, the bookie encounters unstable clients, family, co-workers, and a crumbling lifestyle while living in Los Angeles. Jorge Garcia (Lost, The Wedding Ringer), Andrea Anders (Spirited, Ted Lasso), Vanessa Ferlito (Death Proof, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps), and Maxim Swinton (Raymond & Ray, Fleishman Is in Trouble) also star.
Bookie is co-written by Lorre and Nick Bakay, with Lorre directing the first episode. Lorre also executive produces through his Chuck Lorre Productions, thanks to his overall deal with WBTV. Bakay, Maniscalco, Judi Marmel, and Andy Tennant also executive produce, with Tennant directing a handful of episodes.
“I’ve always been intrigued with the idea of doing a show about people who were off the grid and living and working in a gray zone,” Lorre told Variety. “This lined up with what I was thinking of doing, which was a character who is certainly not playing by the rules. He’s not paying taxes. He’s not somebody that has got a nine to five job.”
In Max’s Bookie trailer, Maniscalco and Dorsey visit Charlie Sheen to collect money he’s lost on sports gambling. While negotiating with the anxious duo, Sheen offers them a prized item from his extensive collection: Babe Ruth’s autopsy report! As the promo continues, Danny and Ray run afoul of one low-life after the next, attempting to collect outstanding debts before California legalizes sports betting, rendering them obsolete. After a flurry of harsh words, shattered glass, and broken bones, the bookies find themselves in more trouble than anticipated.
What do you think about Max’s Bookie trailer? Can Chuck Lorre lightning strike again for this mature-rated comedy series? Let us know in the comments section below.
Bookie premieres Thursday, November 30, on Max with two episodes; the streamer will continue to premiere two episodes weekly through December 21 (with eight episodes total).
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