It’s Not About the Copious Fake Sex. Really. By Joe Rhodes at
The New York Times (which may require free registration). Excerpt:
"It reminded me of movies that I love from the '70s like 'Shampoo' or 'Blume in Love,' where they are adult sex comedies," [Duchovny] said in his trailer between scenes, decongestants and tissues at the ready. "I hate to say that because I'm already going to combat that kind of very easy tag people will have for the show. I'm sure there's going to be people calling it 'Sex Files' and 'Triple X Files' and all that."
I Like to Watch: Showtime's "Californication," Bravo's "Flipping Out" and CBS' "Big Brother 8" demonstrate why hedonism and self-indulgence are no shortcut to happiness" by Heather Havrilesky at
Salon (Salon.com is pay to play, or you can view an ad to get access to its content). Please note the article discusses
Flipping Out and
Big Brother 8, as well. Excerpt:
Mind of the unmarried man
This tension between responsibility and hedonistic self-indulgence strikes at the tumultuous heart of Showtime's "Californication" (premieres at 10:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 13, after the return of "Weeds"). The half-hour comedy stars David Duchovny as novelist Hank Moody, a horny middle-aged guy who handles writer's block by cruising for hot younger chicks. He's having a reasonably exciting time, albeit in a drunken, self-deprecating, wishy-washy sort of way, but his escapades feel increasingly unsavory as his own daughter approaches her teen years.
New Showtime series rocks California-style, by Tamara Conniff at
The Hollywood Reporter (whose editors are among the 65% of people who no longer give a hoot about the traditional usage rules for "comprise" -- which is why this country is going to hell, but I digress). Excerpt:
The series, which premieres at 10:30 p.m. Aug. 13, stars David Duchovny as a novelist who is struggling to raise his 13-year-old daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin) while still carrying a torch for his ex, Karen (Natascha McElhone). In the episode in question, Becca is sent to a School of Rock, where her parents watch her perform the Warren Zevon song "Don't Let Us Get Sick" at a battle of the bands.
Showtime offers one-two comedy punch, by Bruce R. Miller at The Sioux City Journal. Excerpt (mild spoilers for
Weeds):
Sex and drugs.
That's the one-two punch of Showtime's two comedies, "Californication" and "Weeds."
The former, starring "X-Files" lead David Duchovny, teems with sex. The latter, now entering its third season, has the drugs angle nailed.
See David Duchovny's Ass! by Marc Malkin at E! online's Planet Gossip. This article also discusses
Weeds.