‘Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll’ Review: Denis Leary and FX Get the Band Back Together

Former Nickelodeon star Elizabeth Gillies helps drama overcome music-industry cliches

Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll, Denis Leary as Johnny Rock. (Patrick Harbron/FX)
FX

Denis Leary’s relationship with FX continues with the debut of his new show “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll.” While the show rehashes a lot of familiar tropes about all three titular topics, it also deals with the ideas of reinvention, second chances and living vicariously through your children.

Leary plays Johnny Rock, a former rock star who managed to sabotage the success of his past band The Heathens. Former Heathens lead guitarist Flash (John Corbett) hates Johnny and has had the last laugh by going on to play for Lady Gaga. His other band mates, bassist Rehab (John Ales) and drummer Bam Bam (Robert Kelly) have dealt with their own demons and are working with other people. Johnny is still with longtime girlfriend and backup singer Ava (Elaine Hendrix) but he’s pretty much broke and can’t imagine getting a nine to five job.

When a young woman named Gigi (Elizabeth Gillies) approaches Johnny in an NYC club, Johnny thinks she’s into him but then he learns she’s his daughter, the product of a short-lived relationship he had more than 20 years ago. Armed with cash, Gigi has come to New York to be a singer, and she wants Johnny and Flash to write songs for her debut.  Here’s where the show takes root and becomes interesting. Gigi is angry at Johnny for not being around when she was taken to Ohio by her mother and never bothering to even meet her. Her sense of entitlement doesn’t seem wrong or misguided, merely part of her savvy plan to achieve her dream of becoming a singer. Gillies may remind you of a younger Katey Sagal in her tougher, coarser moments, but Gillies is also good at showing Gigi’s moments of doubt. Gillies is best known from her work on the Nickelodeon shows “Victorious” and “iCarly.” This show is a 180 from those, paving the way for Gillies to become make her name known to adult viewers.

In addition to Gillies, Corbett is a strong foil to Denis Leary, who plays the unreliable, f–ked up rock has-been pretty predictably. Corbett’s Flash is the grown-up. When he realizes Gigi has real talent, he sees the potential to make serious money – that is, enough money to make him decamp from Gaga’s band.

The show is observant about how the music business works today, taking into account social media, viral hits and how to play on Johnny’s image – or what’s left of it — in order to build one for Gigi. There are also strategic cameos by bonafide rock stars like Dave Grohl and Joan Jett. Though Leary’s Johnny is a central character, the show feels more like Gigi’s story than Johnny’s – and that’s a good thing, at least so far.

While some of “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll” feels familiar, the presence of the seriously talented Gillies ups the show’s game considerably. As expected, there are some raunchy and tasteless jokes. What makes the show interesting is watching Johnny realize the key to any comeback he might have lies in the daughter he barely knows but has to respect because of her talent. Gillies more than holds her own with acting vets Leary and Corbett and that makes for some very good scenes, especially when Gigi starts to dictate what will happen with the band.

While “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll” retreads music business clichés, check it out to see Liz Gillies. That girl can sing.

“Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll” premieres July 16 at 10 p.m.

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