David Duchovny in Californication
Showtime’s new comedy does have something people want.
David Duchovny's appeal as an actor did not go away with the X-Files.
So far this season, Showtime has weighed in heavily for its series, “Weeds,” the return of “Dexter,” everybody’s favorite serial killer, and “Californication.” Yes, ladies that is David Duchovny. Both “Weeds” and “Dexter” have history with the network, “Californication” is a wacky new comedy that does not spare T and A at any cost or opportunity. The show has aired a dozen episodes and received favorable reviews.
Executive Producer David Duchovny
Executive producer, Duchovny says that he was immediately drawn to the entire concept. Duchovny’s character (Hank Moody, and he is), is a mentally constipated novelist who hasn’t written a word in five years. He lives in Los Angeles where his ex-girlfriend Karen (Natascha McElhone) lives with their daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin). To make matters worse, his agent commands him to blog or perish. The low point of any writer’s career. He is an unmarried single father, who is still in love with his daughter’s mother. She is now engaged to Bill (Damian Young), and has taken Becca with her. Hank is lost in his own underwear. Then there’s that nagging problem with those pesky hot women, all frothing at the mouth for a taste of our scribe.
Hank has not only published novels, but they’ve made one into a Hollywood movie. Wow! Nevertheless, it is much to Hank’s chagrin. We have been introduced to Hank’s steadfast readers at a book signing. All present agree that the motion picture was a reprehensible portrayal of Hank’s novel. Wow, again! I wish I were Hank.
Madeline Zima in Lolita Role
Along with Hank’s success, is his problem with “drowning in pointless pussy.” In Hank’s case, however, it’s much more than that. He sleeps with Bill’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Mia (classic “Lolita” played here by Madeline Zima). Didn’t Roman Polanski have to leave the country for that? No, she was thirteen. Phew. No matter how low Hank’s character may stoop, few female viewers would toss him out of bed. Preliminary research, on sites such as the IMdB and Showtime.com, have mixed emotions about the show. One thing is consistent, and that is, many viewers are enjoying seeing David Duchovny on TV again. Male and female.
He plays off stooping low very well, by the way. Duchovny’s appeal as an actor did not go away with that show we won’t mention. However, none of the multitudes of L.A. women who come on to Hank has a clue of what he does, or who he is. These countless women don’t seem to particularly care. Either, that is a conscious and possibly correct view by the writers of the wretched atmosphere for women in Tinsel Town, or an excuse for our T and A. The former may be a more correct observation, since the producers feature The Doors, L.A. Woman playing ambiguously in the background as we follow Hank driving home one morning from another tryst.
Enough serious series talk. “Californication” is a very funny show. Simply put, all sex scenes are played for laughs, and those can be multiple also. Duchovny’s wry and deadpan abilities are put to good use here.
What may leave other comic writers with a conundrum is the vomit take in Episode Two, “Hell-A Woman.” That, indeed, is a piece of physical humor done so well, it will be a tough act to follow. Thumbs up.
