Roadies

Network: Showtime
Episodes: 10 (hour)
Seasons: One

TV show dates: June 26, 2016 — August 28, 2016
Series status: Cancelled

Performers include: Luke Wilson, Carla Gugino, Imogen Poots, Rafe Spall, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Peter Cambor, Colson Baker, and Ron White.

TV show description:      
Created by Cameron Crowe, this comedy TV series gives an insider’s look at the reckless, romantic, funny and often poignant lives of a committed group of “roadies”, the backstage workers who put a rock show on the road. They’re touring the United States with a successful arena-level band. They live for music and become a de facto family.

The tour manager for the Staton-House Band, Bill Hanson (Luke Wilson) is road-weary and sleep deprived, but he absolutely loves music and he loves what he does. He’s a childhood friend of the band’s lead singer, and has spent much of his adult life hanging out with them in one way or another. With a girl in every city, he is definitely living the rock lifestyle.

He nevertheless enjoys a “work marriage” with Shelli Anderson (Carla Gugino) and people regularly mistake her for his actual wife. In truth, she’s married to a roadie who works on a different tour.

Production manager Shelli is a hard working straight shooter and the true brains of the operation. She is always quick to get Bill going, and steer him in the right direction. Her no-nonsense style makes her somewhat feared by the rest of the crew, but she is not completely without a heart.

Always questioning and curious, Kelly Ann (Imogen Poots) had dreams of going to film school, but the music and the camaraderie keep her around. She is an electrician and spends a lot of her time high above the stage rigging lights. Her twin brother Wesley is also on the tour, which she is less than thrilled about.

Wes (Colson Baker) is the official espresso maker for the tour. He’s also the “Manny” for the lead singer’s impossibly ill-behaved son. He is friendlier and more popular than his sister, which makes her resent him like crazy.

Sent from corporate to rein in tour expenses, UK born Reg Whitehead (Rafe Spall) is in the unenviable position of having to question everything and make cuts in the budget. This makes him wildly unpopular with the crew and it doesn’t help that he’s new to the music industry, which makes it even harder for him to fit in. Still, he tries his best to assimilate and make friends in a hostile environment.

A kick-ass sound engineer for the band, Donna Mancini (Keisha Castle-Hughes) is a tough lesbian who doesn’t suffer fools. Constant relationship issues at home keep her on edge, but that doesn’t stop her from choosing and playing the popular Song of the Day as the crew works.

The dedicated and loyal bass guitar tech, Milo (Peter Cambor) revels in his road-worthy, slightly scuzzy charm. He wants desperately to be cool, but he’s ultimately a bit paranoid.

Phil (Ron White) is the most famous road manager in the business and is a grizzled road warrior who has seen it all. He has an aura about him that is irresistible, but it seems he has been coasting for years.

Gooch (Luis Guzman) is the wise tour bus driver who’s also a sage paternal figure to many of the crew. He has been on the road for years and has driven the best bands, about which he takes great pride. He loves music and his job, but that doesn’t stop him from missing his beautiful wife.

As the tour accountant, Harvey (Finesse Mitchell) knows exactly what state the tour is in at all times, so he’s always quick to cover his own ass and tell the powers that be what they need to know. He has a wife and kids at home, but he is thrilled to be part of the Staton-House Band family. (courtesy Showtime)

What do you think? Do you like the Roadies TV show? Do you think it should be cancelled or renewed for another season?