27 replies to this topic

[TWoP Barnes]

Isabelle Carreau at TVSquad.com has read the pilot script, and spoils it somewhat, here. The spoilers are the sort that give a better look at the premise, and Duchovny's character. They won't spoil the pants off of you.

[buzmeg]

Isabelle Carreau at TVSquad.com has read the pilot script, and spoils it somewhat, here. The spoilers are the sort that give a better look at the premise, and Duchovny's character. They won't spoil the pants off of you.

Actually, you don't need no stinkin' spoilers........

Become a Showtime VIP Insider and watch the 1st episode online now before the premiere!


Here: Showtime

[TWoP Barnes]

Heh. I just linked to that in the pilot episode thread.

[Anotherday]

The entire first episode is already available from On Demand in my area also. Watched it a couple of days ago.

[jcpbmg]

I watched the pilot on Netflix last week and I'm pretty ambivalent about it. While I love Duchovney from X-Files and certainly appreciated the shots of just him in his boxer-briefs, I have a feeling the show, and particuarly Hank could get a bit tiresome and hackneyed over time. It's also nice to see Duchovney doing some comedy, he was good in Trust The Man and the sarcastic Mulder scenes were always some of my favorites.

The dream/hallucination scene in the church felt extremely forced and seemed like something out of Saving Grace (where those scenes feel equally forced).

On a side note it was nice to see Evan Handler again after his brief stint on S60.

[Unity Blake]

A lot of it felt very forced to me, from the "titties and swearing, oh my!", to the sardonic treatment of their daughter's burgeoning sexuality. I love dark and audacious humor when it's done well, like Dexter, but this seems like it's trying too hard. I could practically see the flop sweat on the writers brows.

That being said, I think Hank's antics are so over the top that he won't be able to circle the drain much longer and we'll be seeing some character development. I hope so anyway, because I have a soft spot for cheeky, self-destructive charmers and he could be a fun one.

So far I like it enough to forgive some pilot episode overkill and give it a chance. And the fact that it's on after Weeds and I'm that lazy doesn't hurt either.


edited for spellang

Edited by Unity Blake, Aug 8, 2007 @ 12:48 PM.

[Pippytu]

Most of the reviews i've read about the show have been wonderful. I'm so looking forward to the second episode. Even the ones that were not as possitive thought that David was wonderful as Hank.

[BassetHound]

I saw the first episode on Showtime OnDemand and thought it was good. I plan to keep watching.

[LittleLou]

I saw it ONDemand as well, it was ok. I am a huge DD fan, so I will watch. I also felt like alot of the jokes were forced, the nun scene was pretty lame IMHO.

[kailess]

I watched the first ep On Demand and while it was good to see David, the review in USAToday brought up some good points:

That will not prevent him (Hank), however, from having sex with a bookstore pickup — played by an all-grown-up Madeline Zima, the youngest daughter in The Nanny.

Ewwwwww! I grossed out to think in "real life" of the sweet little child from The Nanny sitting nude astride Mulder. (She's 21 and he's 47.) I know this happens, but, ewwwww.

Granted, pay cable exists to give a paying audience what it wants. Still, exposing the breasts of four women in one half-hour does seem to go beyond freedom to exploitation.

I agree, it did seem to have excessive boobage. I know it's cable, so I'm not offended in the sense that I am fairly warned if I am watching ShowTime, I just want the show to be more about a good storyline than nudity.

That said, I enjoyed it and look forward to the series. So glad to see Duchovny's talents put to good use.

[jmz]

The first episode was great. Coupled with Weeds, it's going to be a great hour of TV. DD is just plain outstanding in this role.

Edited by jmz, Aug 13, 2007 @ 1:58 AM.

[Unity Blake]

Yup, I agree with that quote saying it veered into exploitation. By the second "bouncing boobs" insert, it started feeling more like On Demand hotel porn (notthatIknowwhatthatlookslike) than comedy, esp since apparently every young hot gal (and a teenager) in LA can't wait to take her clothes off for a washed up writer pushing 50. Dream on, washed up writers in Hollywood!

Now if DD spends most of the second episode naked and posing seductively, all will be forgiven.

[jcpbmg]

I know it's cable, so I'm not offended in the sense that I am fairly warned if I am watching ShowTime, I just want the show to be more about a good storyline than nudity.

I couldn't agree more, and this seems to be the main problem a lot of people have with the show, that it simply has nudity just because it can.

Sepinwall also gave it a loathing review, again highlighting the age difference between Duchovney and both Zima and the actress that plays his former girlfriend (she's at least a decade younger than him).

[The Masses]

I saw the first eppy with OnDemand too. Having been born and raised in LA, the child of a film/TV set designer I saw alot of crazy behavior and nihilistic attitudes. Remember this is about the lives of the idle rich in LA. It actually made me a little nostagic. I used to be concerned about the whole gratuitous boob thing but ever since Sally Field answered a question about gratuitous female nudity on The Actor's Studio by lifting her shirt and flashing the audience, I haven't really thought much of it. I didn't laugh out loud yet, but I'll stick around for the next episode.

[puppetmittens]

I love me some David Duchovny but in Californication not so much. The show just seems mean spirited to me and I don't like the way the women are portrayed while Duchovny gets to be the stud in bed. It would be more realistic with his self-esteem issues and his drinking he would be a dud in bed and really if we get almost frontal nudity of women time for Hank to give us a money shot once in awhile. It was really low how he went on this negative riff on the woman that was set up to be his dinner date. No excuse to be an asshole to her because she wasn't that pretty or smart. I'm not giving up yet on the show but I want my sweet Fox Mulder back not this misogynistic prick that Duchovny is playing.

[riley605]

I have a feeling there could be some frontal for DD to come. He's done it before, early in his career, and looks hella good for his age, so I'm totally getting my hopes up!

[The Masses]

oops edited--I see the episode already aired.

Edited by The Masses, Aug 14, 2007 @ 11:13 AM.

[lynxx]

Thanks, guys. I was wondering if the show was worthwhile seeing ( I can't get Showtime).

Love Duchovny, but I think I'll pass on this one.

[Omar G]

I don't know if it's still available, but Netflix had it online under "Watch It Now" and I think you can see it on Showtime's site even if you're not a subscriber (I could be wrong on that).

Edited by Omar G, Aug 19, 2007 @ 4:16 PM.

[karmic380]

CALIFORNICATION: In "If You See Her, Say Hello," episode 1.05, Bill asks Hank to speak about writing during a creative writing class attended by hot teen girls (including Mia) in uniforms. Hank does a radio interview during which he is asked about his writer's block. Becca takes guitar lessons with a 20-year-old man named Dave. He and Karen bond but it's Mia who caught his eyes the most.

Source: BuddyTV SpoilerFix TVj chat session 14/8/07

[Omar G]

"Hot teen girls"? Who wrote that synopsis up, Humbert Humbert?

[karmic380]

From Spoilerfix:

09/01 -Episode 1.04 - Fear & Loathing at the Fundraiser [Airing September 3]: During that episode, it seems that a woman dates Hank to make her husband jealous. Later, Hank tries to escape a man named Sandy. While at a bar, a fat man bumps into Karen causing her drink to spill all over. When the man barely says he's sorry, Karen gets angry. Bill tries to settle things down but it's Hank who makes the most lasting impression on the fat man. Source: SpoilerFix.com

09/01 -Episode 1.05 - If You See Her, Say Hello [Airing September 10]: Bill asks Hank to speak about writing during a creative writing class attended by hot teen girls (including Mia) in uniforms. Hank does a radio interview during which he is asked about his writer's block. Becca takes guitar lessons with a 20-year-old man named Dave. He and Karen bond but it's Mia who caught his eyes the most. Source: SpoilerFix.com

09/01 -Episode 1.06 - Absinthe Makes The Heart Grow Fonder [Airing September 17]: Becca and her band perform. Karen and Hank are in attendance and share a good moment together. Episode 1.07 will be titled "Girls, Interrupted," but I don't have spoilers for it. Source: SpoilerFix.com

09/01 -Episode 1.07 - Girls, Interrupted

[Prospero]

09/07 - Episode 1.08: Hank's father passes. Karen tries to convince Hank to go to the funeral. Source: SpoilerFix.com

[karmic380]

09/10 - Episode 1.09 - Filthy Lucre [Airing October 8]: Hank brings Becca to the store to buy a new guitar. Karen must confess something to Bill. Charlie convinces Hank that it's time he buys a new car. The car saleswoman and Hank bond during the test drive. Source: SpoilerFix.com

[CherSolly]

Episode 1.11 - Mia discusses a book deal with Charlie and Hank's publisher (or editor?). Hank needs to talk with Mia in the middle of their meeting.

Episode 1.12 - The Wedding. I looks as though Bill and Exy do get married. On the way to the wedding, Becca gets her first period (robots bleed?) and Hank gets into a fight at the store over some tampons with a woman (um, can't you just go to another store?).

Edited by CherSolly, Sep 19, 2007 @ 8:50 AM.

[Censored]

I hope whatever she has to confess to Bill doesn't involve Todd Carr. If they hook them up, it would make her look like an absolute tool.