We’ve all been annoyed by a telemarketing call – at this point, it’s part of the human experience. But ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes? Probably not, but still, HBO is delivering answers in the intriguing three-part docuseries Telemarketers.
The series takes a close look into the Civic Development Group (CDG), a New Jersey call center which falsely acted “on behalf of local police and fire departments” to scam people into making monetary donations.
Directed by Adam Bhala Lough and Sam Lipman-Stern, the latter of whom is a former CDG employee, the series premiered Sunday, August 13 on HBO to high reception.
Decider’s Joel Keller wrote in his review, “Telemarketers made us laugh just as much as it made us outraged. We were eager to see just where Lipman-Stern and [Pat] Pespas go with their mission to expose all charity fundraising companies.”
The show’s creative team continues with filmmaking duo Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie, who executive produce alongside Dani Bernfeld, Danny McBride, David Gordon Green, and Jody Hill.
Want to tune-in to the second episode of the series? Here’s everything you need to know about watching the episode on HBO and Max.
The second episode of the docuseries premieres Sunday, August 20, 2023.
Telemarketers Episode 2 airs from 10:00 – 10:54 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on Max.
HBO teases that Telemarketers Episode 2 follows Sam and Pat as they continue to investigate into the Civic Development Group following the lawsuit in 2009.
The synopsis reads: “In the wake of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shutting down CDG in 2009, other copy-cat telemarketing companies pop up and evade regulation by taking advantage of loopholes. Undeterred, Sam and Pat continue down a wild and twisted path. Through industry sources and obsessive muckraking, they learn that the industry’s corrupt ways run much deeper than just CDG. Just as they are gaining ground in their investigation, Pat unexpectedly disappears bringing their mission to a screeching halt.”
You can watch Telemarketers on HBO or Max. The streaming platform offers subscriptions starting at $9.99/month. An ad-free plan is also available for $15.99/month.
Yup! You can add Max to your Hulu or Prime Video accounts for an additional $15.99/month. Both streaming platforms offer free trials for new subscribers.