From: acquiredfm
The story of Uber, leading up to its IPO and the subsequent “implosion,” is the subject of a Showtime series titled “Super Pumped,” which premiered on February 27th [00:01:08]. This story, described as “insane,” has become a part of entertainment and pop culture [00:01:15].
The Story of Uber: Themes and Depictions
The show “Super Pumped” explores Uber as an example of a broader trend where the primary focus is “profits above all” and “shareholder value up before everything” [00:14:01]. This mentality emphasizes “growth growth growth” without regard for impact or consequences [00:14:13]. Silicon Valley is depicted as excelling in this approach [00:14:19].
The series aims to raise questions about the cost of disruption [00:15:17]. It asks whether the benefits of new utility and changing infrastructure, such as convenience, are worth the consequences on the other side of the ledger [00:15:24]. Another key question posed is whether revolutionaries, in their effort to unseat established systems, can avoid becoming destructive themselves [00:15:42].
The show’s creators believe that the Uber story is crucial for telling a significant narrative about America at this time [00:12:01]. It highlights the fascinating, albeit sometimes problematic, nature of the individuals involved [00:16:32].
Key Figures in Uber’s Narrative
Travis Kalanick (TK)
Travis Kalanick, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt in “Super Pumped,” is portrayed as a figure driven by an “animal instinct” to take what he wants without regard for others [00:13:10]. The show depicts the consequences he faced for indulging this urge [00:13:26]. While the series does not shy away from his questionable decisions and arguably unethical behavior, it also aims to show him as a whole human being [00:20:40]. Many people who worked with Travis Kalanick found him inspiring, compelling, and full of energy [00:21:04].
Bill Gurley
Bill Gurley, a prominent venture capitalist, is a primary character in “Super Pumped” [00:17:05]. The show explores the challenging moral questions he faced, particularly regarding his role in removing Travis Kalanick [00:17:11]. The question is posed: which is the worst cost—leaving a situation that might imperil the entire endeavor, or engineering the removal of a person, thereby cementing one’s own reputation in a way that harms the overall project [00:17:11]?
Garrett Camp
Garrett Camp is identified as a more “artist-like” figure within the Uber story [00:31:04]. His previous venture, StumbleUpon, is described as an “art project” that was “not a business” but provided a “total adventure on the internet” [00:31:13]. Garrett’s initial inspiration for Uber reportedly came from a scene in Casino Royale where James Bond summons a car with his phone [00:31:48].
Production of “Super Pumped”
The series is based on Mike Isaac’s book, and Isaac was actively involved in the production, serving as a co-executive producer and frequently present in the writer’s room [00:38:19]. He provided notes and sometimes brought in sources directly to share their experiences [00:39:06]. The show’s creators intentionally did not interview the real-life individuals portrayed in the series, instead relying solely on Mike Isaac’s book for source material [00:19:02].
Most of the filming was done in Los Angeles, primarily on the Paramount lot in sound stages, with only a few days of exterior shots in San Francisco [00:39:31]. The series employs non-mainstream filmmaking techniques and takes bold risks with storytelling conventions, such as showing Travis Kalanick’s apocryphal memories before revealing what “really happened” [00:33:04]. This approach leverages the theme of disruption within the story itself [00:34:10].
[00:56:24] Other companies mentioned in the transcript include Lyft, YouTube, Apple, and TSMC.