Pilot Season - Californication
With television ratings dropping, local stations have announced that they will seek to start airing US shows as close as they can after their air date in the US. One of the shows cited by Channel 10 was the new David Duchovny series Californication.
After watching the pilot episode, I’m baffled about HOW they can show this on Channel 10. After thirty minutes, I sure did see a whole lot of bosoms.
So, what’s it about?
David Duchovny is Hank, a published author who may be suffering a bout of writers block. Duchovny has clearly aged since his days as Fox Mulder, but after watching this, my man-crush remains quite firm.
Thankfully my beloved Natascha McElhone is also a regular cast member, reminding me of my heterosexual self. McElhone (Ronin, The Truman Show, Laurel Canyon) is featured as Duchovny’s ex-’wife’. The chemistry between the two are great and work perfectly, bouncing quips off one another.
The focus of the series seems to be about the way by which this womanizing author deals with the women in his life. The women being his former partner and the daughter they had together.
Who’s in the darn thing?
Well, man-god Duchovny. Heaven-sent McElhone. And then there are the recurring characters. Evan Handler (Studio 60 on The Sunset Strip, The West Wing, It’s Like You Know) features as Hank’s agent.
There’s a scene where Hank picks up a girl in a book store and takes her home. Whilst involved in the intercourse, She punches Hank in the head a few times, finishes off, then leaves promptly. Keep her naked frame in mind as you come to terms with the fact the actress is Madeline Zima. Grace Sheffield from The Nanny. That’s right, the little girl. Now, don’t you feel like a big creep?
What happens in that crucial first episode?
Well, there is a surprisingly large amount of nudity. I swear this show has more breasts per minute than any other regular series to date. Duchovny doesn’t escape the series wither without baring some flesh. His bare arse is on display just minutes into the show.
The dialogue is pretty frank also, with Hanks daughter finding a naked woman in his bedroom, prompting her to ask whether the lady is okay as she lacks hair on her vagina.
Now, see why it seems strange that Channel 10 will be fine screening the series?
Is it actually any good?
Yes, yes yes!!!!
Californication is wickedly funny. The dialogue isn’t exactly crisp at times, but it is frank and surprising. In many ways, the show has a very similar style to another Showtime production “Weeds”. It’s great to have a sitcom providing actual belly laughs. Californication cannot come recommended highly enough.