Five Things to Like About Vinyl’s Premiere Episode

Bobby Cannavale as Richie Finestra

Emmy-winning Boardwalk Empire standout Cannavale combines equal parts charisma and sleaze in his portrayal of desperate record executive Richie Fenestra. Reminiscent of Tony Soprano, Fenestra comes off as a guy who is as disgusted by his job as he is skilled at it. Staggering from one crisis to the next, Richie seems on the edge of a breakdown at all times, but still manages to hold his label, American Century Records, together through a combination of fast talk, guts and bravado. Even a building collapsing on his head only serves to spur him on to greater inspiration.