Actor Bobby Cannavale, known for his long-standing collaboration with filmmaker Martin Scorsese, recently opened up about the sense of disappointment he feels over the cancellation of Vinyl, a project that was close to both of them.
Cannavale’s career has spanned a variety of notable roles, from his early appearances in Sidney Lumet’s Night Falls on Manhattan (1996) to his breakout performance in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire (2012). His partnership with Scorsese began on Boardwalk Empire, where Cannavale portrayed the volatile Gyp Rosetti, a role that helped elevate his profile in Hollywood. The two would later reunite for Vinyl, a short-lived HBO series about the New York music scene in the 1970s.
Premiering on February 14, 2016, Vinyl was co-created by Scorsese, Mick Jagger, Terence Winter, and Rich Cohen. Despite early promise and a season 2 renewal just days after its debut, HBO reversed its decision in June 2016, ultimately canceling the show after one season.
Cannavale’s Regret Over the Cancellation
In a candid interview, Cannavale discussed his feelings about the show’s premature end. He expressed a sense of having let Scorsese down, noting that Vinyl had been a passion project years in the making, with its two-hour pilot reminiscent of a Scorsese film. He pointed to several key factors that he believed contributed to the show’s downfall: a lack of promotion from HBO, poor scheduling choices (including its late-night premiere after Girls), and a failure to fully highlight Scorsese’s involvement in the project.
Despite the high-profile creative team and the show’s strong soundtrack, Vinyl struggled to gain traction with viewers. Cannavale admitted that he was shocked by its lack of success, particularly given the talent behind it. “It felt like we had something special,” he said, adding that when the show was canceled, it felt like a personal blow.
Cannavale also reflected on how the failure affected him professionally, even briefly fearing that it might mark the end of his career. Although Scorsese offered him a role in The Irishman (2019), Cannavale still considered Vinyl to be a stain on Scorsese’s otherwise illustrious career.
The Legacy of Vinyl and Its Untimely End
Cannavale’s comments shed light on the factors that worked against Vinyl, from poor marketing to creative missteps. Despite its talented cast, engaging soundtrack, and Scorsese’s involvement, the show never resonated with audiences and was ultimately canceled too soon. While a reboot or revival seems unlikely, Vinyl remains a notable example of a series that deserved more time to find its audience.
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