Return to Me

Who knew that when he ordered the special, he d get the dish of his life? David Duchovny (‘the X-Files ) and Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting) ignite sparks in this warm-hearted winner (JeffCraig, ’sixty Second Preview ) about a widower and a waitress who meet and fall in love. Featuring an incredible all-star cast, this hilarious romantic comedy delivers a lot of laughs, tears and joysthat will make your spirits soar. It took a lot of cajoling to get Bob (Duchovny), a recently widowed architect, to go on a blind date at a quirky Irish-Italian eatery. Once there, he’s smitten instantly not with his date but with the sharp-witted waitress, Grace (Driver). With unsolicitedhelp from Grace’s matchmaking grandfather (Carroll O Connor), Bob asks her out. And as their relationship blossoms, everything seems to be going great, until an unbelievable truth is revealed one that could easily break both of their hearts for good.

Reviews from Customers

“I Never Knew A Heart Transplant Could Mean This Much!”
This is perhaps one of the most underrated movies I have ever seen.
David Duchovny and Minnie Driver star as Gracie Briggs and Bob Rueland, two people who are brought together with more than fate, but also a heart. When disaster and devastation hits Bob, he unselfishly donates his wife’s organs. Gracie is in desperate need for a heart after suffering for many years with heart disease. Her heart finally does come, at the most needed moment, and it is a special heart at that.
It takes over a year for Bob to get back in the dating scene, and that’s only with help from Charlie played by David-Alan Grier. When the date lands them in Gracies grandfather’s (Carroll O’Connor) restaurant, Gracie is their waitress, and it’s love at first sight, and their lives will be forever changed.
There is also great classic songs that sprinkle this movie with class and romance. Songs like “At Long Last Love” by Frank Sinatra and “Tenderly” by Jackie Gleason finish the movie off without any hitches only adding more detail. Bonnie Hunt and Don Lake take their first stab at writing, directing, and starring in Return To Me, and I must say it is one movie that reminds me the most of the classic romances of long ago.
Please note that if you like this film, Bonnie and Don are writing and directing a tv show on ABC this fall, called Life With Bonnie. Bonnie stars in this along with many of the stars from Return To Me. If her show is anything like the movie, then ABC will have a hit for sure!

“An Absoulute Gem From Bonnie Hunt”
Director and co-writer Bonnie Hunt delivers the goods in “Return To Me,” a touching story of two deserving people who are afforded a second chance at love and happiness. When we meet Grace (Minnie Driver), she is suffering with heart disease and awaiting a donor for a transplant. Architect-builder Bob Rueland (David Duchovny) is happily married to Elizabeth (Joely Richardson), they are deeply in love, and Hunt quickly establishes just how perfect their lives are together; so perfect, in fact, it becomes somewhat unsettling because you know that tragedy of some kind or other is imminent. When it comes, the transition is handled succinctly and with the skill of a seasoned professional. When Elizabeth dies, Grace receives her heart. A year later, Bob, still mourning the loss of his wife, meets Grace at the Irish-Italian restaurant owned by her grandfather (Carroll O’Connor), where she works as a waitress. Neither are aware of the intimate link they share to the heart that has given Grace her life. In the hands of a less savvy director, the story at this point could easily go astray and become mired in coincidence and cliche. Hunt never comes close to allowing this to happen, however, and instead hits every note squarely on the head so that the plot fairly resonates with precision and timing. A veteran character actress herself (she plays Grace’s closest friend, Meg, here), she seems to know instinctively just when to add the right light touch to offset the drama, then fleshes it all out with an array of great characters,especially Robert Loggia, as Angelo, the “Greatest Italian chef in Chicago,” and James Belushi as Meg’s husband, Joe. There are no wasted moments in this film; the story moves right along and takes you with it. The dialogue is often witty and always real; in a scene between Grace and Meg that takes place in the hospital (prior to their notification that a donor has been located), in which Grace can barely draw a breath, she looks up at Meg and says one word, “Rosebud.” After Elizabeth dies, when Bob finds himself alone at home and finally breaks down, Hunt gives the scene time to build and play out, so that it rings true instead of being glossed over and simply used as a tool to move the story along. When it happens we, as an audience, are also afforded that time to realize the suffering he’s experiencing, and it allows us to feel it as well. The scene in which Grace, Meg and Joe are at home awaiting a dinner guest (a former priest), is beyond hilarious. Highlighting an exceptional cast, David Duchovny and Minnie Driver are unforgettable as Bob and Grace; and the multi-talented Bonnie Hunt rises to a whole new level of artistic merit for giving us a truly memorable and heart-warming movie that is a joy to experience. Written by Hunt and Don Lake, “Return To Me” is a delight from beginning to end, the kind of film one waits for to come along. Hopefully, in the future Hunt will treat us to even more movies of this caliber.

“An Absolute Gem From Bonnie Hunt”
Director and co-writer Bonnie Hunt delivers the goods in “Return To Me,” a touching story of two deserving people who are afforded a second chance at love and happiness. When we meet Grace (Minnie Driver), she is suffering with heart disease and awaiting a donor for a transplant. Architect-builder Bob Rueland (David Duchovny) is happily married to Elizabeth (Joely Richardson), they are deeply in love, and Hunt quickly establishes just how perfect their lives are together; so perfect, in fact, it becomes somewhat unsettling because you know that tragedy of some kind or other is imminent. When it comes, the transition is handled succinctly and with the skill of a seasoned professional. When Elizabeth dies, Grace receives her heart. A year later, Bob, still mourning the loss of his wife, meets Grace at the Irish-Italian restaurant owned by her grandfather (Carroll O’Connor), where she works as a waitress. Neither are aware of the intimate link they share to the heart that has given Grace her life. In the hands of a less savvy director, the story at this point could easily go astray and become mired in coincidence and cliche. Hunt never comes close to allowing this to happen, however, and instead hits every note squarely on the head so that the plot fairly resonates with precision and timing. A veteran character actress herself (she plays Grace’s closest friend, Meg, here), she seems to know instinctively just when to add the right light touch to offset the drama, then fleshes it all out with an array of great characters,especially Robert Loggia, as Angelo, the “Greatest Italian chef in Chicago,” and James Belushi as Meg’s husband, Joe. There are no wasted moments in this film; the story moves right along and takes you with it. The dialogue is often witty and always real; in a scene between Grace and Meg that takes place in the hospital (prior to their notification that a donor has been located), in which Grace can barely draw a breath, she looks up at Meg and says one word, “Rosebud.” After Elizabeth dies, when Bob finds himself alone at home and finally breaks down, Hunt gives the scene time to build and play out, so that it rings true instead of being glossed over and simply used as a tool to move the story along. When it happens we, as an audience, are also afforded that time to realize the suffering he’s experiencing, and it allows us to feel it as well. The scene in which Grace, Meg and Joe are at home awaiting a dinner guest (a former priest), is beyond hilarious. Highlighting an exceptional cast, David Duchovny and Minnie Driver are unforgettable as Bob and Grace; and the multi-talented Bonnie Hunt rises to a whole new level of artistic merit for giving us a truly memorable and heart-warming movie that is a joy to experience. Written by Hunt and Don Lake, “Return To Me” is a delight from beginning to end, the kind of film one waits for to come along. Hopefully, in the future Hunt will treat us to even more movies of this caliber.

See all detials of Return to Me

ich gucke kein CALIFORNICATION, die neue serie mit mulder.

ich hab früher aber akte-x geguckt und ich weiss, dass david n lustiger bursche ist, deshalb…

“Ghostbusters: meets “Men in Black”, Hollywood tackles another science-fiction comedy.

A meteor slams into the earth narrowly missing a fire fighter recruit (Seann William Scott). The meteor brings out two college professors (David Duchovny, Orlando Jones) to investigate the impact.

The professors chip away at the meteor and bring back samples to their university. The meteor fragments are like nothing they have ever seen before. Before the two college professors realize there is a problem with the meteor fragments, the “impact” site is covered with government officials. Ted Levine and Julianne Moore are among the scientists called in with the military.

“Evolution” is the perfect summer movie for teens and nostalgia buffs. It’s brand of comedy isn’t as vulgar as a lot of the other comedies released this past year. It embraces director Ivan Reitman’s formula of goofiness with the military and science fiction like he did with his runaway hits of the 80’s classics “Stripes” and “Ghostbusters”.

It is utterly uncanny how many similarities there are in this film and “Ghostbusters”. Duchovny’s movement and charisma reminded me a lot of Bill Murray’s Peter Venkman in “Ghostbusters”. Julianne’s reluctance to Duchovny’s childish advances were a lot like what Murray and co-star Sigourney Weaver’s did in their scenes. The scenes where people shriek and runaway from the ghosts are here as the aliens come upon some unsuspecting suburbanites. Even the slime slowly creeps in but that would be giving too much away.

“Ghostbusters” was a huge hit in 1984 becoming the highest-grossing film of that year. “Ghostbusters” went on to become the highest grossing comedy in history until it was taken down by “Home Alone”.

I always wanted a Ghostbusters 3 but in some ways this film is almost a third one. It would have been incredible if they did bring in the original Ghostbusters cast for this flick. It may have been a lot funnier. I really wanted this film to have more laughs and more creatures.

I really fell in love with the “Ghostbusters” formula and science fiction laughs. On that alone I could have given this film a higher grade but it was the ending and the discovery of how to stop the aliens that really made me angry at the film’s writers.

After all that great lead up and comedy you end it with this? I was so disappointed with the lack of creativity and settling they did on this ending. I hope there is an alternate on the DVD.

The best scenes involve the aliens and man’s reactions. It’s a shame these were all seen in the trailers. The shopping mall scene and the rectal examination were by far the most entertaining scenes.

Originally this film was supposed to be a “horror” film like I would assume “Mimic” or “The Relic” but the studio decided to bring in Reitman to inject some humor. The film was reconceived and its what we have today. Does that story have any ramifications or influence on what made this film become what it is? Let me know your take on this.

3.5 out of 5

So Says the Soothsayer.

Written: July 14, 2001

I’m okay with most of the ridiculousness of the ongoing homage to David Duchovny’s sex addiction as it plays out week after week on the show.  Im good with  him banging every woman within eight feet of him.  I’m fine with the fact that his baby mama who is the most beautiful woman on the show absolutely puts up with it with a cavalier “oh that Hank” attitude and in turn, never sleeps with anyone other than Hank herself.  In this respect, the show objectifies every female character on the show as a sex object, which I am good with.

What I’m not okay with is that every male character on the show, by design to accomodate Duchovny’s massive monument to himself, has to be an over the top caricature of weakness.  His agent is super weak on every level, the man he stole his baby mama from was a wooden old bore, the rock star guy didn’t have Hank’s moral character (?), the professor guy is repulsive, even Rick Springfield was willing to pimp himself out as a joke on the show, to absolutely ensure Duchovny’s alpha status by direct comparison.  In this respect, Duchovny is objectifying men, and that is where I draw the line.

You could at least make it a race!  

Also his daughter is super annoying.

Alan shifted groggily as the first ray of sunlight slipped through the cracks in his blinds, its luminescence clawing at his eyes. A threat to face the day. As with any afternoon like this, he thought he would roll from his left side to his right, his body a sodden, rotting log, curved like an “S” that somehow insinuates cutlery, but when his left arm tried to lead him there and shield him from the sun, it was faced with some resistance. Not much, but still enough to startle his body to a slightly higher form of consciousness than that booze-induced coma he was in. He aware of his flesh, and his flesh now aware of its surroundings, Alan felt something sleek and smooth, cold and curved, held tightly against his body like that terrifying clown he used to cuddle with as a child. What was his mother thinking when she gave that to him, anyway?

The crack of dried saline and gunk compounded with the thudding in his head as he peeled his eyelids up, opened just enough for him to make out the shape of things beside him: an empty handle of Evan Williams bourbon. He’d crammed enough forensics knowledge into his head during that semester that even despite the horrific hangover he was still able to deduce that said hangover was likely due to the presence of said bourbon absent from said bottle and even more likely being processed somewhere between his liver and soul. Content with solving the mystery of the missing bourbon, and discovering the identity of the mysterious shape asleep beside him, Alan felt accomplished enough to complete his turn away from the window and fall back to sleep.

He closed his eyes before his bourbon-slowed mind could fully comprehend the significance—or even the presence—of the used condom sprawled on his hardwood floor like the sad and lonely shreds of the balloon that Jesse Hird popped at his 6^th birthday party. Not that Alan was bitter or anything. The thought of this childhood trauma was finally enough to shake him from his slumber, and Alan sat up more abruptly than he likely should have. Blood rushed to his head with the thud of an angry fist against an oak door. Or maybe a baseball bat.

Once he was able to think again, Alan realized that perhaps the night’s conspiracy reached deeper than he previously thought. Especially since he was still wearing pants. Was he living in an episode of Californication? Alan had always idolized David Duchovny, but more for Fox Mulder than Hank Moody. The X-Files was his inspiration for moving to Washington, D.C., and pursuing a Forensics degree, in hopes of one day becoming an FBI Agent, and discovering for himself if the true was really out there after all. But if life should imitate art, he wondered, then perhaps his life was changing along with the career of the artist whom he imitated.

This threw him into a panic. A crisis of faith. What had he been doing with his life? He had only ever seen the Series Premiere. He would have to catch up on all the seasons on DVD. How many seasons had there been so far? The X-Files had nine! How many more would they have by the time he caught up? And when would he find the time, now that he had to leave George Washington and transfer to some school in California to pursue an English degree. What the hell was he going to do with an English degree?

For a moment, he wished there was still bourbon to drink, but the mere thought of it made his stomach churn and sent him hurtling towards the bathroom. Perhaps Californication would have to wait.

There are innocuous objects which later become emblematic of systemic frustrations, an accidental center of so many Venn diagrams. Simon Spotlight’s movie tie-in God Hates Us All is one such object.

I noticed it on the fiction table at the newly opened Greenlight Bookstore. At first I thought a guerilla marketing team had placed the book. This wasn’t a novelization of a film or TV property in the traditional sense. The book in question is the fake literary phenomenon by Hank Moody, protagonist of Showtime’s “Californication.” I’ve seen the show, which posits David Duchovny as a Chuck Pahlaniuk/Bret Easton Ellis hybrid following his libido into wacky/zany adventures. The show is a pretty transparent “Entourage” knockoff as a male fantasy of wish fulfillment: an edgy New Yorker in Los Angeles, newly minted off of the movie rights from his edgy novel, adapted into an execrable romcom with Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Moody’s talent is never questioned in the show. In fact, his agent and wife both complain about his stalled followup book. The show isn’t concerned, however, as Moody’s enfant terrible stature is merely a handy excuse for a parade of easy and topless women. This makes a lot more sense when you realize it’s also produced by Duchovny, who recently admitted an addiction to sex.

Back to God Hates Us All. What’s so particularly vexing is how this departs from novelizations. Showtime and Simon & Schuster have packaged the fabricated, ghostwritten novel itself as marketing: it’s not an adaptation, but a real novel fashioned out of the world of the TV show.

As an analogy, imagine if a movie studio built a real version of the Xanadu estate from Citizen Kane. Yes, Hearst Castle, its original inspiration, still exists. But its tangential relationship to the film (no one needs to see Xanadu to understand Orson Welles’ film, or vice versa) is similar to God Hates Us All. What is the point of the entire exercise? It’s not just marketing, but something worse: marketing which devalues its medium.

Think about this book in the context of where I first witnessed it: next to Olive Kitteredge, Nick Harkaway’s The Gone-Away World, and a new edition of Pride and Prejudice. Is there an ethical consideration here? If you were a debut novelist with a manuscript on submission at Simon & Schuster, would God Hates Us All give you pause?

I’m genuinely curious. I may just be overreacting, putting literary fiction on too high a pedestal. This may just be a minor casualty of what Henry Jenkins calls convergence culture – you can’t have Girl Talk albums and shot-for-shot Psycho remakes without a few trainwrecks. What’s more, I’ll proselytize for hours on the benefits of ideas operating across media landscapes. I suppose what bothers me most here is the purposeful blurring of the editorial/commercial lines. (Especially as a fan of Less Than Zero.)

: : : : : : : :

Well we all knew it was going to hit the fan on Californication, but I don’t think any of us knew it would happen all at once.  Hank has too many pokers in the fire, and Hank and Karen are talking over Skype when they have a disagreement about Becca spending time with Chelsea and her family.  Karen hangs up on Hank and there is a knock on the door.  It is Jackie and two of her stripper friends and they are wanting to party.  The next morning Hank wakes up along in Becca’s room.  He heads into his bedroom and finds Jackie asleep with the two naked strippers.  She tells Hank that last night they were celebrating her final night as a stripper.  She also begins to tell him that she quit so she could write and be with Hank.  She really wants to have “the talk” with him but they are interrupted by another knock at the door.

This time it is Runkle and Rick Springfield.  They are called back into the room by Jackie who tells them that one of the girls seems to be comatose due to too much ecstasy and booze the night before.  As they are carrying the girl out to the car, Rick Springfield starts to get verbally abusive with Hank.  Luckly for Hank they are interrupted by yet another knock at the door.  Hank ushers them all back into his room and shuts the door.  This time it turns out to be Jill who’s on the other side, and Hank can’t seem to dissuade her from coming inside.  Once inside Jill expresses her love for Hank and tells him that she accepts him for who he is (if she only knew).  At that point she takes off her overcoat to reveal she is naked underneath.  Of course at that point the there is one last knock at the door.  Hank shuffles Jill into Becca’s room where she falls naked on the bed and goes to answer the door.

This time it’s Felicia who happens to be standing there.  She walks in and also professes her undying devotion for Hank and tells him that she’s leaving her husband for him.  She told her husband that she had sex or as she calls it made love with Hank, and now only want sot be with Hank.  Way to go Hank 3 for 3.  At that point in time Runkle walks out without his pants and grabs some butter from the fridge.  Hank follows him back into the bedroom where he sees one stripper still passed out on the floor and Charlie and Rick Springfield both having sex with the other.  He spies Jackie sitting outside reading “Punching and Fucking.”  They share a brief moment that is interrupted by Dean Koontz standing in Hank’s kitchen.  Hank thinking that the dean is going to be pissed walks back inside.  It turns out that he’s not pissed, but really only wants to know how Hank does it with the women.  When he starts to complain about Felicia she come out of her hiding spot and confronts him.

At that point Becca and Chelsea walk in skipping school and very surprised to see all of their parents there.  Becca walks in her room finds, the naked Jill and within a few moments all of Hank’s sexual cards are out on the table, everyone knows who’s sleeping with whom, and none of the women are happy.  Luckly to break the awkwardness, Rick Springfield sets a fire in Hanks room that he has to deal with.  When they are all gone Hank has his first heart to heart with Becca in a long time.  She asks him why he acts they way he does, and why he treats women the way he does.  Hank really can’t give her a great answer.  Karen calls from New York and Hank lies and tells her that Becca is in school.  Maybe they will keep each others secrets.

Thoughts and Observations:

• Rick Springfield shows up to buy Hank’s Porsche.  Maybe Hank really is heading back to NYC.  Is Rick Springfield really i such bad shape that the only Porsche he can afford is Hanks POS?
• How much money do you think you get to play the passed out stripper who lays around naked the entire episode?
• Rick Springfield-”This morning I shit a pint of blood”  Hank Moody- “Why?”
• I’m not surprised that Rick and Hank don’t like each other.  They are both alpha dogs when it comes to women, but with completely different styles.  How can Charlie stand to be around Rick when he knows that he’s had sex with his wife?
• At one point the stripper who isn’t passed out tells Rick Springfield that he slept with her mom and didn’t use protection.  I thought she was going to tell him that he was her father.  When I saw him having sex with her I’m glad she didn’t say that.
• Poor Jill, she really seems to have a problem with men, or at least a problem choosing the wrong men.
• Despite sleeping with almost everything that comes his way, Hank really does love and respect women.  I think he generally cares for Jackie, Jill and Felicia; but he loves Karen.
• I’m going on record as saying that Hank’s not leaving California, and that by the end of the season he will be writing a new book.

Mo 11/16: LL Cool J, Mindy Kaling, Ben Harper & Relentless7
Tu 11/17: Woody Harrelson, Joe Theismann
We 11/18: David Duchovny, Lewis Black
Th 11/19: Sandra Bullock, Ben Foster
Fr 11/20: Neil Patrick Harris, David Gray

Californication title card, via Wikipedia

How long will it take Hank to mess things up with Karen? Not very long. Hank’s usual nice disposition doesn’t win him any favorites when he tries to talk his way out of a warning. He just gets arrested.

I enjoyed the whole first series. I enjoyed the second series as well. Even though some critics were against some of the more controversial scenes, I enjoyed them. It paints an interesting picture of the life of Hank Moody and his messed up life. Hank has been a real asshole in the past, but at the end of it all he’s a good man. If you thought that the second season was going to be any less controversial, think again. This time, it’s mouth rape. The third season starts smoothly enough.

Warning: Spoilers ahead and strong language.

* * * * *

Hank is a college teacher. That’s a strong word. He’s just trying to make some money. He’s got trouble at home with Becca. Runkle is still trying to patch things up with his ex, but he comes across the fact that she likes rape fantasies. He tries to do one himself. It doesn’t work out. He’s moved back into his house.

Kathleen Turner looks really bad as his nympho boss. She keeps trying to get into Runkle’s pants. I don’t know which is more disturbing. Runkle messes things up with Marcie by relenting to his boss’ sexual harassment. Moody fantasizes about Jackie and has sex with his TA Jill, while fooling around with Felicia. All in all, a good day for Hank Moody!

* * * * *

Becca is being a difficult teenager. Karen swipes her cell phone away. Karen says that Becca should live with her permanently. Hank supposes that he’s coming with Becca to NYC, but from Karen’s looks, it means that she’s involved with someone else. The next morning, Karen breaks the news to Becca. Becca is livid. Karen says that she slept with Bill. Karen is coming with Hank to class.

Things couldn’t get more awkward. Jill and Jackie are in the class with Karen. The only person that is missing is Felicia. Karen thinks that he slept with Jackie. Karen meets Felicia. Karen doesn’t like her.

At Runkle’s, after being pissed off at the amount of pills Marcy has to take, she is flabbergasted to find Rick Springfield practicing lines with Runkle.

Chelsea is pissed for Becca at her moving away. They drive Chelsea home and find Stacey and Felicia playing tennis. Becca is being a bitch. They leave her at Felicia’s.

They arrive at Runkle’s. Rick Springfield, Runkle, and Sue arrive. They get called away by Becca, who raided the dean’s wine cellar with Chelsea. Marcy and Springfield retire to her bedroom. Springfield is screwing Marcy. Runkle is crying. His whimpering makes Sue leave. She says that sex is supposed to be about joy. She makes a little show for Marcy. It makes Marcy stop.

When they arrive, they find Felicia drunk. The girls opened $3,000 worth of wine. Karen is pissed. She gets angry with Stacey and Felicia. Becca is drunk as well. Becca pukes on the dean.

Karen and Hank are putting Becca to bed. Becca wants Hank to stay. Becca says that Chelsea is the only friend that she has ever had, the only one who has accepted her the way that she is. She makes a compelling point. Hank will have to argue with Karen. Hank tells Karen that they need her here. LA isn’t a place to raise a daughter or a dad.

Karen says that she didn’t sleep with Bill.

* * * * *

Relevant Posts

• Californication S01E01
• Californication S01E02
• Californication S01E12
• Californication S02E01
• Californication S02E12
• Californication S03E01
• Californication S03E02
• Californication S03E03
• Californication S03E04
• Californication S03E05

Californication title card, via Wikipedia

How long will it take Hank to mess things up with Karen? Not very long. Hank’s usual nice disposition doesn’t win him any favorites when he tries to talk his way out of a warning. He just gets arrested.

I enjoyed the whole first series. I enjoyed the second series as well. Even though some critics were against some of the more controversial scenes, I enjoyed them. It paints an interesting picture of the life of Hank Moody and his messed up life. Hank has been a real asshole in the past, but at the end of it all he’s a good man. If you thought that the second season was going to be any less controversial, think again. This time, it’s mouth rape. The third season starts smoothly enough.

Warning: Spoilers ahead and strong language.

* * * * *

Hank is a college teacher. That’s a strong word. He’s just trying to make some money. He’s got trouble at home with Becca. Runkle is still trying to patch things up with his ex, but he comes across the fact that she likes rape fantasies. He tries to do one himself. It doesn’t work out. He’s moved back into his house.

Kathleen Turner looks really bad as his nympho boss. She keeps trying to get into Runkle’s pants. I don’t know which is more disturbing. Runkle messes things up with Marcie by relenting to his boss’ sexual harassment. Moody fantasizes about Jackie and has sex with his TA Jill, while fooling around with Felicia. All in all, a good day for Hank Moody!

* * * * *

Becca doesn’t want to visit her mom in NYC. She says that Chelsea has Lakers tickets. Hank warns Karen about Becca. Hank’s buddy is coming by. Hank picks him up from the airport. Slaz has got 3 kids and lame come on lines. Laz tells Hank that the is through with his wife Kim. After an argument, he hopped on a plane to LA.

Daisy comes by to see Runkle. She’s got a new set of boobs. Daisy says that she’s got a bunch of STDs.

My vagina looks like downtown Baghdad right now.
Daisy

Flaz and Hank go to a party, thanks to Runkle. They meet Sue’s husband, who is in a wheel chair. Marcy wants to screw in Sue’s house. Runkle tells Marcy about the STDs. She knocks him on the kisser. She runs off with his car.

Flaz gets busy with a chick who has a dick. He hits her and makes a scene. Hank decides to go to Faster Pussycat. Jackie is there. Flaz gets thrown out for sucking on a strippers nipple. Hank tries to defend and they start a brawl.

Hank wakes up with Jackie in his bed. There is a midget there as well. Runkle is in bed with two strippers. He asks her to wake up Slaz by lying in his arms. Slaz tells Hank that he’s sick. He needs to take care of himself. That’s why he had a big blowout with Kim the other day. He drops off Slaz at the airport to pick up Becca. She arrives with Karen.

* * * * *

Relevant Posts

• Californication S01E01
• Californication S01E02
• Californication S01E12
• Californication S02E01
• Californication S02E12
• Californication S03E01
• Californication S03E02
• Californication S03E03
• Californication S03E04

How long will it take Hank to mess things up with Karen? Not very long. Hank’s usual nice disposition doesn’t win him any favorites when he tries to talk his way out of a warning. He just gets arrested.

I enjoyed the whole first series. I enjoyed the second series as well. Even though some critics were against some of the more controversial scenes, I enjoyed them. It paints an interesting picture of the life of Hank Moody and his messed up life. Hank has been a real asshole in the past, but at the end of it all he’s a good man. If you thought that the second season was going to be any less controversial, think again. This time, it’s mouth rape. The third season starts smoothly enough.

Warning: Spoilers ahead and strong language.

* * * * *

Hank is a college teacher. That’s a strong word. He’s just trying to make some money. He’s got trouble at home with Becca. Runkle is still trying to patch things up with his ex, but he comes across the fact that she likes rape fantasies. He tries to do one himself. It doesn’t work out. He’s moved back into his house.

Kathleen Turner looks really bad as his nympho boss. She keeps trying to get into Runkle’s pants. I don’t know which is more disturbing. Runkle messes things up with Marcie by relenting to his boss’ sexual harassment. Moody fantasizes about Jackie and has sex with his TA Jill, while fooling around with Felicia. All in all, a good day for Hank Moody!

* * * * *

Felicia checks in on Hank. He’s having a nap. She says that she was in love with Stacy before he cheated on her with a student. She kisses him again. Jill interrupts them. She also wants to talk. They start fooling around. She says that she hadn’t had sex in a while before last night. Now, it’s kind of like he awoke the tiger in her.

Sue wants to pimp out Moody to some high-powered older women to make him attractive to Hollywood again. Hank takes Becca shopping. Hank doesn’t want to buy her $200 jeans. Felicia drops Chelsea off. They take Becca shopping.

Moody and Runkle drop by Faster Pussycat. Jackie dropped his class. She gives Moody a lapdance. Runkle comes in his pants. Marcie calls him. Someone is coming by to make an offer for their house. Marcie’s tampon doesn’t flush and the visitors see this and flee.

Hank tries to defend Jackie’s honor, but gets his ass kicked. She takes him home and they start kissing. Jackie weakens his resolve and they screw.

Runkle makes another play for Marcie, and she capitulates.

Hank calls Karen. It’s apparent that they are drifting apart. Very far apart. Almost too far for it to work out anymore.

Hank comes to class. Jill, Felicia, and Jill are all in his class. It’s going to be interesting. Jill already told him that she isn’t wearing any underwear. He writes FUCK on the whiteboard.

* * * * *

Relevant Posts

• Californication S01E01
• Californication S01E02
• Californication S01E12
• Californication S02E01
• Californication S02E12
• Californication S03E01
• Californication S03E02
• Californication S03E03

TV ratings baffle me. While a clever show like 30 Rock struggles in the ratings, CBS’s line-up of generic crap dominates the ratings. I fear the day is coming soon when CBS introduces CSI: Boise and it enters the top of the ratings.  Do Americans not realize what they are missing? Just in case, I’m providing my list of “5 Shows You Should Be Watching (But Probably Aren’t)”.

1.) Friday Night Lights – If you think that Friday Night Lights is just a show about football, you are mistaken. No other movie or TV shows has captured Texas life like FNL, but it transcends the borders, and paints a portrait of small town America rarely seen. Most television shows focus on life in urban and/or suburban environments, where people live in monolithic communities, never interacting with people outside their own demographics. FNL presents a diverse community, where folks are forced to confront their differences and work together for the community. High school football just happens to be one mechanism they use to unite the community together.For some reason, this show continues to struggle in the ratings. Currently, Season 4 is running on The 101, available only on DirectTV, but will also begin a run on NBC in the Spring.

2.)  Bored to Death – Bored to Death premiered this Fall on HBO and just concluded Season 1 last week. It stars indie favorite Jason Schwartzman as Jonathan Ames, a Brooklyn based writer struggling to churn out his next novel. In the pilot episode, his girlfriend (played by Olivia Thirlby) leaves him,  hurling his life into further chaos. He picks up a classic Noir mystery novel and gets the idea to start a private detective service  as a way to cope with his recent loss. Zach Galifanakis plays Ray Hueston, Ames best friend, and a constant source of support and classic Galifanakis comedy. No review of Bored to Death would be complete without mentioning Ted Danson’s performance as George Christopher, the editor of a magazine for which Ames writes. Cerebral writing, smart humor and great acting combine to make this my choice for top new show in 2009. HBO just announced that it will be picking up Bored to Death for a second season.

3.) Californication - I’ll admit that I was late coming around on Californication. It’s another story about a writer, but one completely different from Jonathan Ames. While Ames struggles with self confidence, Californication’s protagonist, Hank Moody (David Duchovny), exudes it. For Duchovny, the role is a bit of “art of imitating life,” as Moody simply can’t get enough of the “fairer sex,” but Moody and the other characters in the show learn from the mistakes of their sexual promiscuity. Season 3 of Californication currently runs on Showtime at 8 P.M.  (CST) on Sunday nights.

4.) Secret Diary of a Call Girl – Diary gives a fascinating peek into the world of a high priced call girl, Belle, played by Billie Piper. Originally produced for British TV, Showtime picked up the American broadcast rights. Through Piper’s portrayal of Belle, we see a woman trying to come terms with her role in society, trying to keep her business life separated from her personal life and dealing with the constant threat of social ostracism. Through it all, Belle emerges as a fiercely independent, strong, successful woman capable of handling all the bumps along the road she has chosen to travel. Part comedy, part drama, part tragedy, one of the most complete shows on television today.  Production just began on Season 3, so look for a late spring 2010 start to the new season.

5.) Mad Men – For those of you who have lived under a rock for the past three years, Mad Men examines life in 1960’s American through the lives of several New York City advertising men (and women). We see nation experiencing growing pains, as she evolves into her modern-day incarnation–a world where minorities and women slowly begin the painful progress of emerging from the depths of oppression and begin the steep ascent towards equality. More than that we see tragically flawed characters struggling to combat their inner demons. It’s amazing to think that HBO passed on this show, allowing AMC to pick it up. Without a doubt, the best written drama currently on TV. For those of you wanting to catch up on the show, you have time. Last week was the Season 3 finale, so you have month’s to watch prior seasons on DVD and get prepared for Season Four.

Let’s start by refreshing your memory with one caveat, turn down the sound when you watch the opening credits the first time:

It is appropriate that the Youtube video is a crappy recording of the title playing on a TV. You know, the titles stayed in this form from Season 1 until Season 8, when Duchovny left. At that point they changed it because they had to change it. That’s right, they liked that opening title sequence. It was “perfect” for the show. To examine this belief let’s run through the sequence:

Main Titles: Looks good so far. Pretty ominous. The contrast between the black and the out of focus white slash leaves you feeling uneasy.

Now we have a grainy shot of a UFO and we zoom in real close. What does this tell us? This show is about aliens? We have crappy production values? Get ready for us to talk a lot about a big conspiracy, but only deliver shitty explanations akin to this hoax-ass looking video?

Next we have a star chart(?) with a dark hand moving across this. Is this supposed to get me in the mood for mystery because I don’t know what the fuck the chart is of or what that hand is doing? Are aliens navigating? Is a human navigating an alien ship? How does this relate to the grainy hoax-ass video I saw just a few seconds ago?! This looks like an ad on public access for some hackneyed psychic. I lub you (this is an inside joke, if you don’t get it that is okay, but if you do get it consider us friends).

Now we have one of those static balls that makes your hair stand on end. Oh WOW! IS MY HAIR GOING TO STAND ON END BECAUSE YOUR SHOW IS SCARY AND BLOWING MY MIND ALL THE TIME?!?!?! Yes, 1993 was a long time ago, but how was this static ball mysterious to anyone?

Someone getting his face stretched in a fun house mirror. Is this a director cameo? ARE ALIENS DOING IT!?

Now we have two seeds mirroring each other and growing quickly. Time lapse photography = “Paranormal Activity.” Holy God! The plants are growing too quickly, we need to breed some kind of alien human hybrid and we are going to abduct American citizens to do it!

Close up of Duchovny’s FBI badge. Back on firmer ground. The FBI is involved! We can definitely get behind that kind of show.

“Government denies knowledge” of some kind of after image on a grainy video camera. Is this show going to be some kind of fake documentary, all wobbly camera angles and screaming shadows? DID THE ALIENS TAKE THE AFTER IMAGE MAN AND THE GOVERNMENT ISN’T TELLING US ABOUT IT!!!!!!?????!!!!!

Again with the badges, but this time it is Gillian Anderson’s. I want to take a brief aside here to say that she is as hot as you remember, but not until season 3. Although within the first couple episodes of the series they have her in her underwear and I swear she took a bath at least once an episode in season 1. In season 4 she gets a tattoo on her lower back and the tattoo sequence is actually a butt sex scene. Tattoo as metaphor for Agent Scully’s first experience with butt play.

Shot from season 1. You might be a little confused because the Youtube video is recorded on a TV, but the shot in the credits also looks like Chris Carter just set up a video camera in front of a TV playing an X-Files episode and then used the video tape to make the credits.

Falling silhouette into blue hand with red proximal phalanx (yeah I looked it up, so fucking what?). This looks like someone trying to make a cave drawing using a computer.

Eyeball. What an innovative way to depict the mysterious!

Dark mountains, fast clouds, “The Truth is out there.” This is the part of the title that really stuck with people and became the show’s slogan. This is because everyone was so relieved to finally be done with this crappy montage of unrelated images. These credits look like they were put together by an earnest high school freshman in his first month of video editing. Well, third month of video editing, some of those pictures dissolve into each other pretty smoothly. In any case, I’m rewatching the X-Files right now and I’m loving it, except for the titles. Usually I skip over them, but the other night I watched them and was left, once again, with a sense of wonder at just how terrible they are. I saw more interesting photo montages on my college ex-girlfriend’s idle computer screen.

Now watch the credits again with the volume on. Thank God for the music. The music hits the mood and atmosphere of the show perfectly. That music can make any image mysterious. You could put pictures of kittens or babies (no cheating and using those creepy babies dressed as fruit or vegetable pictures though) to that music and I would feel a little uneasy about what I had just seen. If I had the editing software I would take the kittens dressed as puppies sequence from Conan and put it to the X-Files theme and when I was done watching it I would feel like the kitten puppies were part of some deep rooted interstellar conspiracy. Thank God for that music.

Good afternoon!

Thus far, today has been exponentially better than yesterday’s emotional roller coaster of chaos. First off, I had one of my favorite, easy-to-make breakfasts:

Vans Frozen Flax Waffles, Peanut Butter, 1/2 Sliced Naner, Preserves and Hard-Boiled Eggs

Then, at work, Ryo (the oldest boy of the three kids I watch) made his Mother and me laugh hysterically while we were getting the three kids ready for school (I think he’s Robin Williams trapped inside an 8-year-old’s body, as opposed to the 8-year-old that is trapped inside of Robin Williams). I dropped the kids off at their respective schools, enjoyed a 1.5 mile walk, during which, I came across a SPECIALTY CHOCOLATE STORE!!!!!! (Camera wasn’t on me, so sorry! No pictures, the link has some great ones though.) I can’t believe something this nice came from THe Food Emporium, the very grocery store I was griping about the other day. Thank God it’s pay-day, because I dropped $25.00 on a stash of gourmet, dark chocolate within 15 min. I also had a nice chat with the lady who was helping me, and she let me sample a unpictured sea salt topped dark chocolate caramel truffle. She mentioned to me, “you can take it with you and try it later, if it’s too early for you.” I thought that was cute of her to say, because she clearly didn’t know who she was dealing with. Chocolate is not like alcohol to me, I’m happy to consume cocoa before noon. I did, however, take this tiny Laderach chunk (with sugar-coated hazelnuts) home to eat before my gym excursion:

Also, here’s what I scored from the chocolate shop. I feel you Homer Simpson, chocolate is amaaaazing:

Gah.

Spluh.

Whaaa?

Despite running on the treadmill (something I hate, but it’s nasty outside today and I didn’t feel like braving the weather for a run), it was a rather successful run for the following reasons:

1)  I ran 3.5 miles in 35 minutes (That’s pretty amazing for my level, and there was a two-minute walking break.)

2) I probably did so well, because David Duchovny was literally in front of me for half of my run doing strength training with his PT, and I felt like impressing him, you know, because I’m certain that he was completely focused on me throughout his workout, rigggggggggghhhht.

3) Groundhog Day was playing on one of the TVs. Score.

4) I was listening to The Rolling Stones, “Let it Bleed” for the vast duration of my run. Mick Jagger gets my feet going!

After all that treadmill fun, I did a quick, 2 sets, 10 reps of Lunges, Squats, Bicep Curls (I moved up to 12.5 LB dumbbells), Tricep Lifts, Overhead Shoulder Presses. Plus, a good full body stretch afterward.

Lunch was outstanding and Greek-Inspired. For the salad, I combined mixed greens, tabouli salad (picked some up from Citarella), Yves Good Burger, Hummus, and hot sauce. Amazing:

Plus, a small cup of leftover lentil & butternut squash stew:

Check out that steam action. Nice!

Great Post-Run fuel.

Yay, food. Until my next chew!

November 13, 2029—Michael Phelps’ upcoming autobiography contains a shocking admission that he never actually used illegal drugs during his storied career in competitive swimming.

According to an excerpt of the autobiography, “Wet,” published today in Googlenews.com, the 14-time Olympic gold medalist says he actually leaked a fake photo to a British tabloid in 2009 showing him using a bong to smoke marijuana (then a controlled substance).  USA Swimming subsequently suspended him from swimming for three months.

“I thought I could eventually sell more copies of my memoirs if I had a blemish on my image that I could talk about in detail,” Phelps confesses. “I figured people would want to read about how ashamed and humiliated I was.”

He said he later sent a letter to USA Swimming admitting that he faked the photo for money-making purposes, but that the organization ignored his confession because it wanted to convince the public that it was cracking down on illegal drug use in the sport.

Retired tennis pro Andre Agassi, who wrote a 2009 autobiography in which he admitted to illegal drug use during his career, issued a statement sharply criticizing Phelps.

“I think Michael has learned that over the years that celebrities who admit to past drug use—myself, LeBron James, Bill Clinton—are a dime a dozen,” Agassi said. “So he’s decided to cash in by claiming to have faked bad behavior instead of actually having engaged in it. To me he’s right up there with [actor] David Duchovny.”

Agassi was referring to longstanding rumors that Duchovny lied about being a recovering sex addict back in 2008 in order to boost ratings for his TV show, “Californication,” in which he played a sex addict.

Hello all!

Right now, I’m summoning up all my resistance to prevent myself from screaming at the top of my lungs at the NEVER ENDING construction noise that is and has been taking place in the apartment above me since I moved in to my studio in March. It’s beyond ridiculous at this point, because the person who is renovating the apartment above bought 5 APARTMENTS TO CONVERT INTO ONE. I don’t like that guy, I’ll admit, thanks to the unending noise his grandiose real estate purchase has procured.  If you’re going to have fun with your excessive wealth, go for it, but please…have some consideration for your neighbors who already hate you despite the fact that you haven’t moved in yet. The. hammers. have. to. stop.

If it isn’t already apparent in my post, I’m feeling a little bit punchy today. The city has been wearing on me for the past year lately. I think I need to plan an out of town weekend excursion before I start to lose it. Vermont, anyone? While listening to The Rolling Stones, “Let it Loose” on the bus this morning, I started getting randomly cathartic. All of a sudden, I was struck with an enormous wave of home-sickness and I almost started crying on the bus. I miss my family and the sunshine of California so very much. Yeah, it’s been a good 4 years here on the East Coast, but I’m anxious to get back to my home town next summer and get going towards Med School.

Anyway, despite feeling a little all over the place emotionally, I did have a breakfast that cheered me up:

Peanut and Pumpkin Butter Oats

For Today’s Oats:

1/2 Cup Quaker Old Fashioned Oats

3/4 Cup Water

1/2 Cup Silk Vanilla Soymilk

1 Banana

Sprinkle of Raisins, Cinnamon

Dollop of Peanut Butter

Dollop of Pumpkin Butter (uhhh, where has this stuff been all my life?)

Teeny Drizzle of Maple Syrup

My bus catharsis carried over into a 1.5 mile walk home, during which I purchased a pound ot Tanzian Peaberry coffee from Oren’s Daily Roasts (can’t have a catharsis without caffeine to fuel your thoughts, right?) One thing I will always cherish about living in New York are the long, pensive walks through the city madness. I love walking through all the unfamiliar faces with only my iPod serving as the soundtrack to my life’s movie.

When I got home, hunger called, so I enjoyed this mid-morning snack:

Gala Apple Slices and Glob of Pumpkin Butter

It was sweet and tasty.

Now I’m off to possibly go to the gym, or just stay home and be lazy. David Duchovny, sorry, but I think I may just take a rain check today. Please forgive me, Mulder.

Until my next chew!

Do you still live in the town you grew up in? If not, what inspired you to venture out and live in a new environment?

Californication - Series 3

Well, we are three-quarters of the way though the latest series of Hank Moody’s (David Duchovny) fornicating ways around L.A. and to be honest I’m a little disappointed.

Series 1 & 2 were quite frankly excellent viewing, despite the low figures received in the US. The guy doesn’t give a toss and takes each day as it comes. His sexual exploits were frequent and amusing, his struggle with his passion, writing, gave an accurate portrayal of the difficulties when creativity has to provide your bread and butter, plus his love for his on/off partner Karen (Natascha McElhone) was at times cringe worthy and endearing.

It certainly reeled me in even more during series 2, when Hank ended up writing an auto biography for record producer Lew Ashby (Callum Keith Rennie). A lot of the show was filmed in ‘The Mansion’, a house based in Laurel Canyon, L.A. which gave birth to the 1991 Red Hot Chili Peppers album ‘Blood Sugar Sex Magik’, both of which, band and album, I am extremely fond of. The accompanying documentary ‘Funky Monks’ shows just what the mansion looked like 18 years ago.
Rick Rubin is the owner and one cannot help but think that the ‘anything-I-touch-turns-to-gold’ character of Lew Ashby may be slightly based upon the large bearded record guru.

Sadly I think the shows drinking, fornicating, drug taking wiles have passed; Hank has become a little too cocky with his women, Karen has been gone for the majority of the series, Charlie and Marcy’s relationship issues are getting tedious and Hank’s struggle with Becca seems forced and a little plastic. Jackie is the new Mia, Sue Collini is just far too obnoxious to watch and bringing in celebrities to boost ratings just isn’t cricket.

We will have to see how the series ends, I really hope it picks up, however, as great as the show has been in the past, it may be time to sort Hank’s life out once and for all.

Imagine a world where comedians worked clean, and where awkward pauses and hecklers were removed.

There would be no George Carlin’s “seven words,” Red Foxx’s smutty oeuvre would be severely truncated, and Bob Saget would have to find other ways to slowly shed his wholesome Danny Tanner image.

The world would be poorer, certainly, but we would still have all six seasons of Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist, the innovative Squigglevision cartoon which ran on Comedy Central from 1995-1999.

While the Simpsons were reaching the zenith of animated comedy, Dr. Katz was quietly diagnosing the funniest men and women of a generation.

The premise of the show was simple: comedian Jonathan Katz played a professional therapist, and each episode featured two or three comedic “patients.”  To provide some semblance of plot, enter the regulars: Katz’s unemployed 25-year-old son Ben (pictured right, H. Jon Benjamin) and snarky receptionist Laura (Laura Silverman). Katz’s bar buddies would intersperse some nuggets of wisdom.

Why am I writing about Dr. Katz now? Because my iPod classic is full of dozens of episodes, forever at my disposal. Whenever I’m stuck in line somewhere, I never frown or yawn. Instead, I am apt to start giggling loudly (much to the consternation of my fellow line-mates). And because of the show’s non-linear elements, I can cycle through each of the six seasons without ever growing tired of the good doctor.

Guests on the show are a veritable who’s who of today’s comedy stars. There are late night talk show hosts (Jon Stewart and Conan O’Brien), sitcom stars (Ray Romano, Dave Attell, David Cross), zany HBO/Comedy Central stars (Dave Chappelle and Sarah Silverman), panelists from The View (Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar, but no Babs). Katz had them all. Even Ben Stiller, Wynona Ryder, Carrie Fisher, and David Duchovny showed up at one point or other.

But the real stars of the show are the lesser known but truly great standup comedians: Dom Irrera, Paul F. Tomkins, Brian Regan, Louis C.K., and Kevin Meaney, to name but a few.

A quick search of YouTube reveals a small sample of the show’s hilarious moments.

The always funny Patton Oswalt skewers Star Wars:

Al Lubel does a spot-on Jimmy Stewart:

Mitch Hedberg on bananas (and whatever else):

X-Files – Voglio crederci è un film del 2008, diretto e cosceneggiato da Chris Carter, in collaborazione con Frank Spotnitz.

Leggi altre notizie su: | Chris Carter | David Duchovny | Gillian Anderson | Amanda Peet

David Duchovny siempre será el agente Fox Mulder. Le guste o no. Seguramente no le gusta. A ningún actor le hace gracia encasillarse. Encasillarse implica recibir siempre el mismo tipo de papeles, que te paren por la calle y te llamen por el nombre del personaje, incluso cuando ya lo has dejado… David Duchovny pasará a la Historia como el tío raro del FBI que investigaba sucesos paranormales con la cada vez menos escéptica Dana Scully como compañera. Esto es un hecho. Son gajes del oficio, la contrapartida a formar parte de una serie de culto que cambió muchas cosas en la pequeña pantalla.

A David Duchovny no le habrán resultado fáciles los cinco años que pasaron desde el final de Expediente X hasta el arranque de Californication. Cinco años plagados de proyectos menores, de buscar un sitio más allá del despacho más polvoriento y olvidado de los federales. Duchovny siempre será Mulder… pero ahora, por lo menos, puede respirar tranquilo: ha encontrado un nuevo hogar. Su nombre, ya se ha dicho, es Californication.

¿Qué nos venden? La historia de Hank Moody, un escritor con tres obras publicadas, la última adaptada al cine, que escucha los cantos de sirena de Hollywood y cambia Nueva York por Los Ángeles, ciudad que odia con todas sus fuerzas. Claro que tampoco le ayuda haberlo dejado con su compañera, con la que comparte una hija, y sufrir un bloqueo de cinco años (qué coincidencia…) que le impide sacar otro libro al mercado. Como escribir, lo que se dice escribir, no escribe demasiado, el bueno de Hank invierte su tiempo en volvar loca a su ex y, sobre todo, en liarse con todas las mujeres que se ponen a tiro, casi todas ellas, con un patrón claro: jóvenes (alguna menor), guapas y con cuerpos esculturales.

Volvamos a preguntar: ¿qué nos venden? Sexo. Desnudos. Tetas. Culos. Carne, mucha carne. Ahí no escatima Californication (de ahí el título), en la línea de pretéritos productos como Sigue soñando. David Duchovny tiene más escenas calientes en medio capítulo de esta serie que en las nueve temporadas de Expediente X. Nuestro amigo ha pasado de no tocarle un pelo a la fría Scully a llegar a donde haga falta con la mitad de la población de la Costa Oeste. Este es uno de los ganchos de Californication. El otro, supuestamente, el propio Duchovny. Con lo que todo esto conlleva. En honor a la verdad, ya no estamos ante el envarado sujeto de rasgos imperturbables cuyo mayor alarde era comer una pipa de girasol tras otra. Ahora Duchovny gesticula, ríe, hace muecas.

Los personajes poco o nada tienen que ver. En Californication compone a un escritor bloqueado y desencantado con la vida, un crápula, un adicto al sexo, un tipo inmaduro que sólo sabe correr detrás de faldas y meterse en líos, un provocador, un vividor, un mal ejemplo para su hija y un dolor de cabeza para su ex. Ese es Hank Moody. Es de sospechar que hay actores más dotados que Duchovny para interpretarlo, pero el hombre no lo hace mal. Una prueba: un Globo de Oro por la primera temporada y una nominación por la segunda (ahora mismo se emite en Estados Unidos la tercera).

Sexo y diálogos ácidos en capítulos de 25 minutos: es el cóctel que ofrece Californication. Una serie que se deja ver. Duchovny está un pelín solo, mal secundado por la sosa, sosísima, por muy mona que sea, Natasha McElhorne. Aunque no importa demasiado: Californication es Hank Moody, es decir, Duchovny. Casi todos los planos son suyos. Cuando comparte plano es, por lo general, porque comparte cama y en el encuadre hay una rubia con o sin ropa. Al menos, en la primera temporada, que no es cuestión de reventar la serie.

En definitiva: Duchovny ya tiene proyecto estable y debemos alegrarnos por ello. No es el mejor actor del mundo… pero el hombre que encarnó a Fox Mulder merece nuestro respeto.

We’ve hit that time of year. You know what I’m talking about. The time of year when you drive to work in the morning in the dark and the sun drops from the sky without warning in the afternoon. This is the time of year that I stop caring about things. I abandon MSNBC for HBO and Showtime. I avoid conversation by plugging into my iPod. I put the kids to bed early and hit the sack by 9:00. Oh motivation, you mischievous badger, why must you hibernate through the winter when I need you most?

I don’t watch a lot of network TV. I pretty much just watch The Daily Show and The Colbert Report and then move outside basic cable for the good stuff. With Nurse Jackie and Weeds on hiatus, I’ve been turning to a couple of other old standbys—Californication and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

With the exception of the introduction of Sue Colini, this season of Californication has been a disappointment. I get it. David Duchovny has a sex addiction problem. I thought this was about Hank Moody? What happened to the story?

Curb Your Enthusiasm this season has been great with the addition of the cast of Seinfeld. Hollee thinks I am Larry David incarnate. I don’t know that I necessarily agree with that. But her point is duly noted.

This season also brought a new show to HBO, Bored to Death. This season has already come to an end and I really loved it. Hollee didn’t care much for this show. For some reason, I just really like Jason Schwartzman. I think the timing of his dry humor is perfect. Teamed up with Ted Danson in the role of his career makes it that much better.

Well, folks, there you have it. My take on my favorite television shows currently on the air. Maybe tomorrow I’ll thrill you with a breakdown of my top five favorite foods. Or maybe my all time favorite quotes. Oh oh oh, or maybe I’ll breakdown the elements of a great ballad (which must include a killer guitar solo and a tear).

But more than likely I’ll just be writing about how idiotic conservatives are who criticize Obama for showing respect to other cultures. In the meantime, check out these shows. They are way better than How I Met your Mother or House.

Until next time, peace out playas!

[Photo Credit]