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Feb 16, 2021 · With Dwayne Johnson, Joseph Lee Anderson, Stacey Leilua, Ana Tuisila. As Dwayne Johnson runs for president in 2032, he reflects on his life that's shaped him into the man he is today, from growing up in a resilient family, to navigating rebellious teen years, to playing NCAA football.
- (2.3K)
- Biography, Comedy
- Nahnatchka Khan
- 2021-02-16
Feb 16, 2021 · Watch Working the Gimmick (Season 1, Episode 1) of Young Rock or get episode details on NBC.com.
- Never use the F word.
- Young Rock Gallery
- Verdict
By Matt Fowler
Updated: Nov 3, 2022 8:36 pm
Posted: Feb 17, 2021 4:30 am
Young Rock premieres on Tuesday, February 16 on NBC.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson continues his genial dominance of Hollywood with a light and charming single-camera comedy look at his formative years growing up in the traveling carny world of '80s pro-wrestling, and then later as a defensive lineman for the University of Miami.
Young Rock is a nice, amusing peek into the childhood and college years of one of the nicest entertainers in Tinseltown - even if it's possible that Johnson's overt amiability is part of a persona. Part of working the gimmick. Although, if that's true, there are worse acts to have than "hard-working guy who's super gracious and courteous." Young Rock gently demonstrates Johnson's ability to make fun of himself. It's not a "warts and all" look at his life, but it's self-deprecating enough to create a charming time capsule that coats darker truths with sitcom niceties.
Young Rock's first episode, "Working the Gimmick," refers to wrestling's version of, well, "dress for the job you want." Or, another way to look at it is kind of a "fake it till you make it" spin on manifesting. And it's a great concept to start with since it's very important to who Johnson is as a person. Johnson appears on the show, as himself in 2032, during the campaign trail for a presidential run (hah!), telling his life story to Randall Park (playing himself), who is always a welcome face and can currently be seen on WandaVision (as well as Young Rock creator Nahnatchka Khan's Fresh Off the Boat).
It makes sense for Johnson to bookend these Young Rock episodes, as his anchoring powers are undeniable. But the true stars of the series are the young actors who play Rock during different, pivotal time periods. That's Adrian Groulx as the wide-eyed, 10-year-old Johnson, in awe of his wrestling father (despite dad's parade of broken promises); Bradley Constant as teenage Johnson, making his way through high school, constantly trying to come off as richer and cooler than he is (while his mom, played by Stacey Leilua, tries to bring him down to earth); and Uli Latukefu as college freshman Rocky, determined to make a name for himself after years of working to maintain his father's fame.
Like wrestling itself, which is its own unique form of storytelling, Young Rock is an enjoyable blend of real and fake exaggerated. Like the man it's based on, this premiere episode is polished and endearing, with a handful of lines that will make you cackle. It's never truly irreverent enough to escape being more benign than groundbreaking, but it...
Watch Young Rock Season 1, Episode 1: Working the Gimmick | Peacock. Young Rock - Season 1 Episode 1 - Working the Gimmick. Sign up for Peacock to watch this episode. Get Started. Working the Gimmick. Season 1 Episode 124m. TVPG. Dwayne Johnson reflects on his surreal life that's shaped him into the man he is today. Home. TV Series. Young Rock.
Feb 16, 2021 · Young Rock. Working the Gimmick. Available on Peacock, Prime Video, iTunes, Amazon Freevee. S1 E1: As Dwayne Johnson runs for president in 2032, he reflects on his surreal life that's helped shape him into the man he is today.
Sep 17, 2021 · Working The Gimmick. Available on NOW, iTunes. S1 E1: As Dwayne Johnson runs for president in 2032, he reflects on his life that's shaped him into the man he is today, from growing up in a resilient family surrounded by wrestling icons, to navigating rebellious teen years, to playing NCAA football. Comedy 17 Sept 2021 20 min.
Feb 16, 2021 · As Dwayne Johnson runs for president in 2032, he reflects on his life that's shaped him into the man he is today, from growing up in a resilient famil…
