Hooray for Hollywood

"Hooray for Hollywood" is the first episode of Hollywood. It was released on Netflix on May 1, 2020.

Synopsis
After returning from the war, Jack Castello arrives in Hollywood with hopes to make it in pictures. Jack's wife, Henrietta, receives some unexpected news. A new friend makes Jack an offer that's almost too good to be true.

Plot
Jack Castello is a military veteran who was raised to believe all he had was his looks. However, there is only so much a farm town in Missouri can offer, and Jack was eager to make something of himself. He wanted to prove he was somebody be taken note of. With his wife Henrietta, he went to Los Angeles to make a new life for himself.

Jack struggled in Los Angeles, along with his new friend - Archie Coleman, who wants to be a screenwriter, finds himself also struggling in Hollywood.

Jake needs work and he takes a gamble and goes to Golden Tip Gas, which is secretly a male sex worker service for women who want to go to “Dreamland”. Initially, Jack is against the idea, until Ernie reminds him that he cheated once and discusses the type of woman. He’s then picked up by a woman who wants “Dreamland”.

He spends time with the woman who used to also be in Hollywood in the silent pictures but claims she lost it due to the “talkies” and Hollywood not deeming her beautiful due to being Jewish. Both of them bond and she wonders why Jack wants to be in Hollywood. He states he wants to do something big and prove everyone wrong — that he isn’t just a handsome face.

Before they have sex, Jack asks the woman why she’s using a sex service; she describes how she’s gotten used to being rich and taken care of and her husband won’t touch her. A part of her wants to make her husband jealous and make him know that she’s desired.

When Jack goes back to the gas station, Ernie gives him one more client and it is a man — Cole Porter. When Jack refuses to have sex with a man, Ernie says he should give the national treasure Cole Porter a lending hand. Ernie takes the money off Jack, so he quits.

Jack dresses up as a police officer and heads to a secret gay theater. He sees a couple of men giving each other blowjobs. He points a pretend gun at one of the men and asks him to leave with him.

Jack and this man, Archie Coleman, head to a cafe and he asks the man to explain himself. The man states he came to Hollywood with dreams to be a writer, but the studio won’t take on a black man. When the man realizes Jack isn’t really a policeman, Jack tells him about the gas station. Jack introduces the man to Ernie and they make a deal. Archie gets to work and sleeps with his first man as part of the business.

Archie and Jack sleep with many clients and build up their money. One woman Jack is sleeping with says she works in casting at the studio so the next day he goes to the extras casting outside the gate. The woman puts in a good word and he’s chosen for a film.

Later, when his wife comes home, he makes her a meal and celebrates. Jack tells his wife not to work anymore and shows her the money for a down payment on the house.

Starring

 * David Corenswet as Jack Castello
 * Darren Criss (credit only)
 * Laura Harrier (credit only)
 * Joe Mantello (credit only)
 * Dylan McDermott as Ernie West
 * Jake Picking as Roy Fitzgerald
 * Jeremy Pope as Archie Coleman
 * Holland Taylor (credit only)
 * Samara Weaving (credit only)
 * Jim Parsons (credit only)
 * Patti LuPone as Avis Amberg

Guest starring

 * Maude Apatow as Henrietta Castello
 * Alison Wright as Roswell
 * David Bluvband as Lou

Co-starring

 * Brea Bee as Woman
 * Courtlyn Cannan as Woman (20's)
 * Kelly Chavers as Waitress
 * Matt Devine as Box Office Attendant
 * Bryan Dodds as Driver
 * Bob Glouberman as Dr. Algren
 * Shane Jackson as Actor 5
 * Michele Karpel as Flo
 * Bobby C. King as Older Gentleman
 * Kerry Knuppe as Sally
 * Nadia Lanfranconi as Italian Girl
 * Jesse LeNoir as Maître'd
 * Dailyn Matthews as Wealthy Woman 1
 * Tim McKernan as Bank Representative
 * Franco Nunez as Actor 3
 * Brendan Patrick as Actor 6
 * Dan Pfau as Bartender
 * Jake Regal as Nerdy Busboy
 * Darren Richardson as Cole Porter
 * Brandon Renfroe as Good-Looking Man
 * Marina Romanoff as Driver 4
 * Ryan Taylor as Guy 1
 * Conrad Solaka as Stan
 * Oliver Star as Actor 4
 * Cayden Stone as Actor 1