Welcome to Chippendales (2022–2023) User Reviews

Some biopic pitfalls, but otherwise well made and entertaining

[gobberpooper · 7/10 · 4 December 2022]

First off, the actors all do a phenomenal job and really nail it. I've been a huge fan of Kumail Nanjiani ever since he voiced Prismo in Adventure Time, fans will be happy to know he brings his usual air of charm to this as well.

As a whole, it's really engaging and well made. The pacing of the first episode is a bit rushed, while some shows take 2 hours of content and turn it into 6 episodes, the first episode could've been extended to two. Otherwise the pacing is pretty great and the writing is well done for a biopic.

For a biopic. Unfortunately, it falls into some traps that every biopic does. It does that thing where the main character has a moment of inspiration that you know didn't happen in real life, and various other things for dramatic effect.

Normally that's fine, but the thing is that the way it actually happened in real life was even weirder and probably would've been more entertaining.

On top of that, where I take issue with it is with Paul Snider and Dorothy Stratten. While everything else is harmless, in reality Paul and Dorothy were much more tragic characters. The show makes Paul a more empathetic character, but.... I'd urge people to read their story Paul was more monstrous than the show makes him out to be and I actually think it does the audience a disservice to act like they can't handle it.

Surprisingly entertaining

[supxxpimpin · 7/10 · 12 July 2023]

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this. I already knew I liked actor who plays the main character in other comedies I've seen him in, so that's initially what inspired me to give it a shot. It was surprisingly entertaining! I didn't know a lot of the backstory involved in coming up with the club Chippendales, so I even learned quite a bit after this series! Give it a chance, go in with an open mind, you may even learn something. Quite a few well-known, charismatic actors too! Not hard to get into the story really, and they do a decent job of introducing each character enough that you find yourself genuinely interested in what happens to them next.

So far, so good

[BlackEden · 8/10 · 29 November 2022]

Update: I didn't realize this was a mini series - my bad. That explains the fast pace development. Overall it was enjoyable, but it would have been so much better as a continuing series.

I watched the most recent documentary about Chippendales, which made me interested in checking this show out to see how much it aligned.

There's a bunch of creative liberties, I'm sure, but the writing and acting seem to be on point. The show is pretty fast-paced in terms of how the club progressed compared to how the documentary laid it out, but I think it's because they want more time to develop the characters (so you are be able to see their good sides before you see their bad sides).

I'm super impressed by the accuracy of the costumes, hair/makeup and even the cinematography. They actually try to make it look like a show that was filmed back then with the filters and shooting styles (e.g. Slow pan ins from far away). If you're a film buff, you'll appreciate the subtleties.

I'm excited to see where this goes and hope it stays on track. I'm also hoping they give some time to develop storylines for some of the dancers, since in the documentary they had a lot of stories to tell - plus, it's always interesting to see from a different side of the business.

Not sure its entertaining

[yahaira-729-694701 · 6/10 · 10 December 2022]

I guess one must be a fan of the Chippendale dancers. The rags to riches story seems curious as they deal with fame, fortune and racism. The actors are good but the characters seem qurkier than real life people. I wonder how much of this is fact or fiction. Everyone wants a piece of the pie some of the more ambitious types try to usurp Steve's power others praise him and are fiduciary he laps the adukation goes to his swelling head. I wondervwhen the fedsxwill bust up his entrrprise or his wife hursts his bubble a decent man turns corrupted by power, this may be a disappointing story, but as the adage says absolute power corrupts absolutely.

second review (haha)

[bak5557 · 9/10 · 26 November 2022]

I've only seen two episodes, but I really like this show!

I've always been a Kamal Nanjiani fan. I've seen all of his comedy specials and IMO, he's a riot. - and apparently a very good dramatic actor. The other actors are great as well - including the always reliable Juliette Lewis.

But the kicker is, it's not just about male dancers. It's a really interesting movie about business, creativity and applying yourself until you are successful. I think it's along the lines of Vinyl and Duce (also set in late 70's and early 80's) - but this is more upbeat. I hate that Hulu and Apple TV only give you one show a week - I'm a binge-type girl - but I am really looking forward to the next episode.

I enjoyed it, it's a challenging world behind the man dance

[Irishchatter · 7/10 · 23 January 2023]

I've heard of chippendales when I watched a YouTube clip of SNL doing a skit about it but I never dug deep into it, let alone know who was the person behind the "magic Mike" alike shows. It definitely shows that once you gain fame from a business you own, you can be asking for trouble and you can even be the one who cause the trouble in the first place. It was always the "Steve vs Nick" fight club every time the guys always interact with each other. It's never a sit down and we'll talk about our ideas bit by bit. Nope it was always the pair of them constantly peed off with each other because their creative differences were basically shooed away.

The actors were really good, story was a little confusing at times with the bickering as well as the large amount of sex scenes but it was pretty interesting. I recommend people who like magic Mike to give this a go!

A+ production, cast, and story few knew

[martytamu27 · 10/10 · 21 December 2022]

The sets, costumes , and feel are 100% authentic. Amazing job Hulu. The casting is dead on perfect as well Murray Bartlett again, as he did in White Lotus, shines the brightest. Glad to see he has been noticed in Hollywood. But the story is one I had no idea of and didn't know how dark it was. Or the twists and turns it took. And I know this isn't 100% accurate. But that's not the point of the show. It's immensely engaging and entertaining. And the direction and pacing also are perfect. This is one of those seires that will end and leave one longing for more. But in this case there won't be. But enjoyable while it lasts.

and a half

[Headturner11 · 7/10 · 23 November 2022]

So far! How can I be the first review?!? I like things set in the 70s and 80s and this being that and a true story I decided to watch( even tho male dancers aren't my thing)! I watched the 2 episodes that have aired and I think it's decent. I like Kumail Nanjiani in some previous things I've seen him in. I get him confused with Nick Mohamed who's very funny. Juliet Lewis looked at first like she just had a small role but looks like she'll be a regular. Her looks change so drastically from thing to thing I didn't recognize her at first. Any ways I think I'm going to like it because its seems well done( so far) and I like that time era!

Riveting watch

[nigelpreece-950-231484 · 9/10 · 18 January 2023]

I was hooked on this from the first minute. I'd watched the documentary a few years previous and could remember it being a fascinating story of betrayal, jealousy and murder, so I was intrigued to see how it played out.

It grabs your attention straight away and shows the rise of the famous chippendales, from sleazy club show, to worldwide domination.

Great performances from everyone involved, especially the lead playing Steve Banerjee.

It's sad to see what could have been everyone's dream come true end in such a dramatic way, but makes for great tv drama.

The "feel" of the show was very similar to Pam & Tommy, but with a much bigger, more serious storyline. Id say if you liked Pam & Tommy, you'll love this.

Entertaining

[gallagherkellie · 7/10 · 1 February 2023]

I enjoyed this show. People are saying it's very different to the true story, and there are some parts that definitely are different. But it's not meant to be an exact match. It annoyed me a little with a few parts, especially the end, but otherwise didn't bother me too much.

The acting was great, especially by the Nick actor and Kumail. Kumail did an excellent job at making me feel sorry for him and hate him and root for him all at once.

I really found the Chippendales dance scenes super fun, and the slight comedic approach to the show was good.

I feel like they brushed over the bigger things, and towards the end it was rushed.

Well-made series with a moral lesson

[julieshotmail · 8/10 · 6 January 2023]

If you remember the grifter in "Nightmare Alley," a movie from 2021 starring Bradley Cooper, you will notice that grifter's life trajectory is pretty similar to Steve Banerjee's. From rags to riches, they both get too greedy for their own good, only causing their demise. It is very sad that some people don't know when to stop and just be grateful. When I start the first episode of "Welcome to Chippendales," I have no idea what it's about and who the actors are. But it is an extremely pleasant surprise that it is starred by four major powerhouses in their own right: my favorite Murray Bartlett who is outstanding in "The White Lotus," Juliette Lewis who is an Oscar nominee at 18 years old, comedian Kumail Nanjiani who apparently has very good dramatic acting chops, and the underrated Annaleigh Ashford. This series hits all of the right notes. It has very good production values, good eye candy, some humor, suspense, and the important moral lesson to be learned from the downward spiral of Steve Banjeree's greedy life, similar to the sad geeker/grifter in "Nightmare Alley."

Interesting...

[arod_85 · 7/10 · 27 May 2023]

Interesting biopic. It was well acted and had a superb cast. Even though it held my interest, I think they could have done a lot more with the dance sequences and the murder sequence. These components should have been the apexes of the series, but were a little anticlimactic in delivery and were a bit glossed over despite being the more interesting elements of the story. I also thought the time jumping forward and back was confusing and I would have much preferred that they depicted the events in chronological sequence and used more detail. Overall, I am a true crime junky and this was worth a watch for the cast alone.

Chippendales Fairytale

[nomad01 · 5/10 · 17 January 2023]

If I hadn't watched the documentary I'd probably have enjoyed it more. I don't get why so many characters had to be fictionalised. It's a fascinating story without adding fake people into the mix... and then making them so crucial to the plot. It's just stupid and lazy. And they left interesting characters out!

The last couple of episodes were short and feel tacked on. Again they're 75% fantasy.

Such a waste of genuine talent and good performances. Nanjani really gets to show off his dramatic chops here. Ashford plays his wife very well. Murray Bartlett makes a great Nick. It's just a pity they were t given a better script.

What an obnoxious main character!

[rklemm05 · 7/10 · 16 February 2023]

The show is fun to watch, except for the fact that this Steve Banerjee guy is a major turnoff.

An uptight MF with a massive chip on his shoulder, no talent, no skill, a charmless ugly moron. Every single thing he's supposedly built has been by others around him. He's ungrateful, annoying, temperamental, fickle. And his glasses, his hairdo, the broomstick up his a... Please someone slap him in the face!

Murray Bartlett, on the other hand, has become a household name these last few years, the man has such a wide range in terms of acting, he's the reason I watched the show. He's building an incredible career, totally deserved.

Television as good as it gets

[rmmcdonald1 · 10/10 · 27 January 2023]

As a the child of the 80s and 90s of course I knew the brand, but I never knew the backstory. Just absolutely superb casting, superb performances, excellent development of the narrative to keep you hooked in from start to finish. Storytelling as it's meant to be done. Aside from the blissful nostalgia of the set design, soundtrack, and props - the real power of the show is the just excellent acting done by ALL the leads and supporting cast. Cannot believe this show is not getting more attention, I feel like if it had the viewership it would be all anyone was talking about. Really enjoyed every minute of it.

I absolutely am LOVING this series so far

[glendy-40833 · 9/10 · 25 December 2022]

I absolutely am LOVING this series so far, after binge watching eps 1-6.

Kamal Nanjani is such a good actor - he virtually carries the show. I can't remember seeing him in anything else but will check out other work he's done. The way he portrays his emotions and reactions to the story is just a joy to behold and I couldn't get enough of him.

This is a first class production with great story-telling and of course I agree with other people's comments that Juliette Lewis is wonderful, as usual. Top performances by the other actors as well.

Can't wait until next episode and hope Hulu produces a Season 2.

Fun and Fresh, if not Exceedingly Factual

[icanbeaghost · 8/10 · 8 January 2023]

I was drawn to Welcome to Chippendales right out of the gate. The first half of the season had all the energy and fervor of an actual Chippendales spectacle. Even though I'm much too young to have ever experienced the troupe live in their heyday, you can chalk it up to my fascination with vintage YouTube videos, documentaries and podcasts. Having said that, there is a lot of nonsense to unpack. Creative license is a necessary thing and I don't hate on the writers for taking liberties, I just think they could have done a better job with accurately representing more of the facts. For example, and with no spoilers, the final episode was so sloppily executed that it almost felt like an entirely different and disconnected story. There are many films and shows that do amazing things with true crime sagas and there are some that struggle. Though Welcome to Chippendales did carry itself well in the beginning, I feel like it fell flat. It's no fault of literally the entire cast, as they all delivered sound performances, most notably Murray Bartlett as De Noia and Kumail Nanjiani as Banerjee. There are quite simply some juicy morsels that should have been brought to the table and some unsavory ones that should have been left behind. Still a solid 8/10 though and definitely a fun watch. If you're craving more now that it's over, I encourage you to seek out the true, sordid tale in its entirety. It's sure to satiate.

They say the craziest stories are the true ones

[atleverton · 10/10 · 5 February 2023]

When I first started watching this series, I admit my expectations were thwarted. I was expecting a story of an immigrant overcoming the odds and being successful in an untraditional field. And while that is part of the story, I was not expecting the True Crime aspects of it. I won't go into details about the crimes that happen in this series, although they did happen, so it's not exactly like a spoiler to tell you about factual events. But I will assume, that you, like me, do not know anything about the story of Chippendale's. The acting, especially that of Kamail Nanjani, is brilliant. And the story starts off with us being introduced to two colourful characters, who in any other story would be the heart of the series, being brutally murdered. So if you are in the mood for a dark series that plums the depths of human depravity, this is it.

I shouldn't have seen the documentary

[moniquerich · 3/10 · 4 January 2023]

That was my mistake. I watched the documentary on Hulu after seeing episode 7 of this series. There are a lot of inaccurate events, and some that were made up. Well, a lot that was made up.

Before seeing the documentary, I liked the show. Even though I was a child when I first heard of Chippendales, it was nice to see how it started. I had no idea who started it, partly because I was a kid and not really interested in it.

I think the "story" was well told, with sprinkles of truth here and there. I honestly think they could've told it the way it happened because watching episode 8 was hard. I know what truly happened and it's not easy to watch, well, flat out lies.

Just watch the documentary. The truth is way better than this lie.

Good until it begins lying for "reasons"

[rmmil · 3/10 · 7 January 2023]

This series was pretty decent up until episode 7 / 8. I liked the origin story and the early years of it, and the story itself was fairly accurate for a while.

Unfortunately for "dramatic purposes", around episode 7 the series takes a big left turn into fantasy, because in the entertainment industry it's demanded that "bad guys" get a "bad guy" ending.

In reality, although true that the founder of Chippendales committed suicide, his wife never left him. Never. Not during the accusations, the trial, etc. She was always loyal to him until his death. I think the entertainment industry wants bad guys to just be "black and white" cookie cutter "bad", but this missed a huge opportunity to showcase someone who was more complicated than that.

A murderer? Yes. But also loved by his family, who still speak positively of him today.

As a side note, I think the crucial role of the henchmen who sold out the founder was an actor who was the weakest link in a otherwise very strong cast. Major miss there, the scene with him in the hotel room in episode 8 was very anticlimactic because of this.

Watch the documentary on Hulu about Chippendales if you want a more accurate story.

Awful production and pacing.

[CriticsVoiceVideo · 1/10 · 7 January 2023]

Casting is way off, too many liberties taken, made up characters, bad pacing, bad writing, and bad direction. The strippers and their routines were pointless, too short, and low budget. There is so much filler, even with the last two episodes struggling to make the 30min mark with commercials. There was no need for this to be eight episodes. This easily could have been a two hour movie. The creative team were out of their depth with this one. It's obvious they were struggling to find content and did a poor job executing it. They should have done more research. Skip this and watch a documentary.

Should have embraced the comedy to make it a compelling drama

[popojala · 5/10 · 17 January 2023]

Trying to make Banerjee the tragic hero fails. Nanjianis portrayal of Banerjee as buttoned up, serious, semi-autistic straight man doesn't fit with the characters actions and decisions. The character doesn't feel human, interesting or alive. Making him more of a buffoon would have made him more relatable and sympathetic and real. It felt like the series was trying to hide the real Banerjee, like it was trying to hide Nanjiani's superhero physique.

Generally this suffered from not embracing the comedic, eccentric and ridiculous aspects of the story and characters. Trying to make them normal, serious and relatable made them less relatable.

Completely made up!

[Duncanmuller1 · 1/10 · 3 February 2023]

Very dissatisfying with made up characters. Shame that they spoilt a really fascinating story! Nick wasn't at the club at the same time as Paul!

The miss out the biggest start of the group Michael Rapp and replace him with a made up character to make it PC for everyone! You can't change history. Steve was famous for only wanting white dancers!

Why do these people change history when doing a show it's so annoying and the story doesn't need it there is so much drama without having to twist things!

I've not seen the documentary on Amazon yet but heard it's better and tells the truth! Suggest people avoid this!

Tepid but Engaging

[mike_NY · 5/10 · 27 November 2022]

Sincere, likable, but oddly low energy reimagining of an extremely high energy moment in time. The ensemble cast is game but the entire enterprise is underproduced, low budget (I kept expecting to see the boom mic make an unscheduled appearance) and lacking versimilitude.

The series is lacking volume, scope, and velocity. There are not nearly enough extras in the big, set piece scenes and the club looks like it was filmed in somebody's basement. The cast never quite gels together yet they're appealing one on one. Nanjiani and Bartlett are very good, but it's not enough to sustain a season.

Ultimately, I wanted Boogie Nights but I got That 70s Show.

Who Gives a....

[nafps · 1/10 · 24 December 2022]

Useless waste of tape. Really, who gives a flying...

Who cares about this except those wanting to an excuse to stare and gawk and drool...

It's just as lame an excuse as a biography about the Victoria Secrets founder or the Penthouse founder.

Yes, there are bios about Hefner and Larry Flynt. The difference is, the two had an effect upon American culture. Hefner helped make artists, writers, and musicians famous, and many models went onto become film stars. Both fought censorship battles.

This guy? He made money and women had fun at the shows. Not worth a bio.

Just be honest and buy yourself a softcore video.

ETA: I'm glad of the strong reactions to my review, both the downvotes and the higher than I expected number of up votes. Good to know some others feel the same.