The WORST episodes of How to Make It in America

Every episode of How to Make It in America ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of How to Make It in America!

A group of 20 somethings living in New York City. Ben and Cameron work on starting a fashion company, while enjoying their lives in the greatest city in the world.

Last Updated: 11/1/2024Network: HBOStatus: Ended
Pilot
star
6.67
571 votes

#1 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/14/2010

In the series premiere, Brooklynites Ben and Cam, decide to use their entrepreneurial skills to get a hold of some quick cash to pay back a loan. Also, Ben's ex-girlfriend decides to finally move on from Ben.

Directors: Julian Farino
Writer: Ian Edelman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Paper, Denim + Dollars
star
6.89
308 votes

#2 - Paper, Denim + Dollars

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/28/2010

Rene tries to buy out his marketing partners. Rachel rethinks her future when she sees Ben. Ben and Cam work on finding a tailor for their denim business.

Directors: Julian Farino
Writer: Ian Edelman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Crisp
star
7.05
371 votes

#3 - Crisp

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/21/2010

Ben and Cam find themselves in debt again to Rene and search for investors to get their jean line off and running. Later, Ben meets with Rachel to discuss their latest encounter.

Directors: Julian Farino
Writer: Rob Weiss
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Money, Power, Private School
star
7.32
312 votes

#4 - Money, Power, Private School

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/16/2011

CRISP lands a promising but unpaid gig; Rachel gives Ben a lavish gift; Cam raises money for a river-view apartment; Rene shoots a Rasta Monsta viral video.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
In or Out
star
7.41
390 votes

#5 - In or Out

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/9/2011

Ben and Cam are stuck between two sales reps and a hard place; Rene leans on a client; Rachel lands a new job at Biscuit magazine, and lights up with Domingo.

Directors: Julian Farino
Writer: Joey Soloway
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Unhappy Birthday
star
7.48
336 votes

#6 - Unhappy Birthday

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/7/2010

Edie, Rachel's boss, is throwing her a birthday party, and Ben is upset to learn that Rachel's new boyfriend Darren is going to attend it. Ben tries to occupy his time by hanging out with Kaplan, Cam and Domingo.

Directors: Julian Farino
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mofongo
star
7.51
309 votes

#7 - Mofongo

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/30/2011

Ben and Cam charm two young out-of-towners; Rene tries to make amends with Debbie; Rachel goes from lost to alive in a single day.

Directors: Miguel Arteta
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Friction
star
7.58
364 votes

#8 - The Friction

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/13/2011

Ben and Cam debate CRISP's future; Rene tracks down the origin of the Rasta Monsta tincture; Rachel celebrates a setback.

Directors: Danny Leiner
Writer: Joey Soloway
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Big in Japan
star
7.64
357 votes

#9 - Big in Japan

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/14/2010

After running into a successful designer on the street, Ben and Cam hook up with Hidemi, a top Japanese buyer, but their business takes a surprising detour when they show him their none-too-Crisp jean sample. Meanwhile, Rene runs into unexpected problems locating cash stashed in the basement of a woman who's divorcing his ne'er-do-well cousin Tito. Rachel, hoping to bring fresh energy to her relationship with Darren, is flummoxed by his euphoric reaction to the party drug Ecstasy.

Directors: Josh Marston
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
What's in a Name?
star
7.64
341 votes

#10 - What's in a Name?

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/20/2011

In the second-season finale, Ben wonders how to rescue CRISP and his friendship with Cam. Meanwhile, Domingo and Cam launch a PR blitz to clean up Rasta Monsta's image; Rachel seeks advice from a former mentor; and Kaplan parties one more time before going to jail.

Writer: Ian Edelman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Good Vintage
star
7.75
362 votes

#11 - Good Vintage

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/21/2010

Despite a fresh infusion of cash from Kaplan, Ben and Cam find it hard to meet Hidemi's vintage-tee quota of 300, until Julie, an attractive retail employee, helps bail them out. Rene gets advice on handling an impending schoolyard showdown with Flaco, the contractor he suspects of stealing his (illgotten) money. Rachel's field trip to Connecticut to check on a behind-schedule carpenter ends with Darren taking her to his childhood home - and then popping a commitment question on their drive back to Manhattan.

Directors: Jonathan Levine
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
I'm Sorry, Who's Yosi?
star
7.89
335 votes

#12 - I'm Sorry, Who's Yosi?

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/6/2011

Ben senses a conflict of interest when Nancy sets CRISP up with a manufacturer named Yosi. Determined to bring some spice to Biscuit, Rachel disregards her boss and pursues an edgy lead. The Feds catch up with Kapo, Lulu warns Cam against selling out and Rasta Monsta incites the ire of the East Flatbush Caribbean League.

Writer: Ariel Schrag
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Keep On Truck'n
star
7.97
360 votes

#13 - Keep On Truck'n

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 3/28/2010

While Ben is getting tight with Julie, Rachel is put off by Darren's sudden offer to let her and Edie design a hotel. To pay off an overdue debt to Rene, Cam and Ben agree to hand out Rasta Monsta samples at Union Square, but cut the job short to retrieve their tees from the silk screener. Rene agrees to meet with John Lardner, the Jamaica-based owner of Rasta Monsta, about taking over North American distribution rights to the drink. But Rene's parole officer Norm wants to be part of the meeting.

Directors: Jonathan Levine
Writer: Sarah Treem
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
I'm Good
star
7.97
396 votes

#14 - I'm Good

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/2/2011

Ben and Cam look for a way to market their CRISP attire in New York after a promising debut in Tokyo. Meanwhile, Rene's new Rasta Monsta billboard is a hit with everyone except his girlfriend; and Rachel returns from a soul-searching trip abroad, but she's still not over Ben.

Directors: Julian Farino
Writer: Ian Edelman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
It's Not Even Like That
star
8.08
306 votes

#15 - It's Not Even Like That

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/23/2011

Ben and Rachel's platonic friendship is tested; Cam scores a plum location for CRISP shoot; Renee collects debt.

Directors: Julian Farino
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Never Say Die
star
8.36
362 votes

#16 - Never Say Die

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/4/2010

Cam suspects Rene of having something to do with the theft of the Rasta Monsta truck.

Directors: Julian Farino
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV