In the high-tech gold rush of modern Silicon Valley, the people most qualified to succeed are the least capable of handling success. Mike Judge (Office Space, Beavis & Butt-head, and King of the Hill), brings his irreverent brand of humour to this new HBO Original Comedy Series, SILICON VALLEY.
Partially inspired by Mike Judge’s own experiences as a Silicon Valley engineer in the late ‘80s, the show is a collaboration between Judge and Alec Berg (“Seinfeld,” HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm”), and kicks off its eight-episode season Sunday, April 13 at 9:00 pm on HBO SIGNATURE / HBO SIGNATURE, a week after its US premiere, immediately followed by the new season premiere of VEEP at 9.30 pm.
Richard (Thomas Middleditch) is an introverted computer programmer living in the Hacker Hostel start-up incubator along with his best friend, Big Head (Josh Brener), pompous Gilfoyle (Martin Starr) and dry-witted Dinesh (Kumail Nanjiani). These social misfits live under the watch of Erlich (T.J. Miller), a self-satisfied dotcom millionaire who lets them stay in his house for free – as long as he gets a ten percent stake in their projects.
After a failed pitch to billionaire venture capitalist Peter Gregory (Christopher Evan Welch), Richard seems destined to remain at his job at the tech company Hooli, founded by the megalomaniacal Gavin Belson (Matt Ross). When Monica (Amanda Crew), Gregory’s head of operations, and Jared (Zach Woods), a Hooli executive, realise the value of the site’s compression algorithm, a bidding war erupts between Belson and Gregory, with Richard caught in the middle.
SILICON VALLEY features a talented ensemble of young comic actors. Cast regulars include: Thomas Middleditch (“Search Party,” “The Office”), T.J. Miller (“Mash Up,” “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World”), Zach Woods (“In the Loop,” “The Office”), Kumail Nanjiani (“Franklin & Bash,” “Portlandia”), Martin Starr (“Freaks and Geeks,” “Party Down”), Josh Brener (“Glory Daze,” “The Internship”), Christopher Evan Welch (“The Master,” “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”) and Amanda Crew (“Jobs,” “Charlie St. Cloud”). Matt Ross (“Magic City,” HBO’s “Big Love”) guest stars.
SILICON VALLEY was created by Mike Judge, John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky; executive producers, Mike Judge, Alec Berg, John Altschuler & Dave Krinsky, Michael Rotenberg and Tom Lassally; producers, Jim Kleverweis and Chrisann Verges.
Premieres Sunday, April 13, 9pm
Other playtimes on HBO SIGNATURE: Friday, April 18 (8pm), Saturday, April 19 (11.30pm)
Attending an elaborate launch party, Richard and his computer programmer friends – Big Head, Dinesh and Gilfoyle – dream of making it big. Instead, they’re living in the communal Hacker Hostel owned by former programmer Erlich, who gets to claim ten percent of anything they invent there. When it becomes clear that Richard has developed a powerful compression algorithm for his website, Pied Piper, he finds himself courted by Gavin Belson, his egomaniacal corporate boss, who offers a $10 million buyout by his firm, Hooli. But Richard holds back when well-known investor Peter Gregory makes a counteroffer.
Written by John Altschuler, Dave Krinskey and Mike Judge; directed by Mike Judge.
Episode 102: The Cap Table
Premieres Sunday, April 20, 9pm
Other playtimes on HBO SIGNATURE: Friday, April 25 (8pm), Saturday, April 26 (11pm)
After a celebratory party at the Hacker Hostel, Richard and Erlich learn that Peter Gregory won’t pay up until they deliver a viable business plan that includes a slimmed-downed staff. A desperate Richard hires former Belson underling Jared (Zach Woods), and they set about trying to trim the fat. While Gilfoyle and Dinesh prove essential, Big Head’s place in the company is less certain.
Written by Carson Mell; directed by Mike Judge.
Episode 103: Articles of Incorporation
Premieres Sunday, April 27, 9pm
Other playtimes on HBO SIGNATURE: Friday, May 2 (8pm)
While Gavin Belson begins to hype Nucleus, a competing compression platform, Richard learns that the name Pied Piper is already registered to a sprinkler company, forcing him to negotiate. Meanwhile, Erlich goes on a vision quest for a new company name, and Peter Gregory proves elusive when one of his companies asks for money.
Written by Matteo Borghese and Rob Turbovsk; directed by Tricia Brock.
Episode 104: Fiduciary Duties
Premieres Sunday, May 4, 9pm
Other play times on HBO SIGNATURE: Friday, May 9 (8pm)
At Peter’s toga party, Richard drunkenly promises to make Erlich a board member, which he regrets the next morning. After being unassigned at Hooli, Big Head finds others like him who have made careers out of doing nothing. Richard struggles to put Pied Piper’s vision into words for a presentation without Erlich; later, he discovers an interesting connection between Peter and Gavin Belson.
Written by Rob Weiner; directed by Maggie Carey.
Be sure to catch this brand new HBO Original Comedy Series SILICON VALLEY when it premieres on Sunday, April 13 at 9pm on HBO SIGNATURE / HBO SIGNATURE HD, within a week of its US premiere, followed by the new season premiere of VEEP at 9.30pm.