“Californication” — Pilot
Hello, I’m a completely repellent character!
The best thing that can be said about Showtime’s new “comedy” Californication is that it’s so bad you can’t even fathom tuning in for a second week to see if it rights itself. It’s so bad, I’d sooner listen to that awful Chili Peppers record of the same name. Lucky for me, Mondays aren’t going to be quite as packed with television as I had feared earlier today. For that, Californication, I thank you.
And really, when you’re starting with a title like that, you’re setting the bar pretty low. I’d like to blame the problem on David Duchovny, but he’s really doing as much as he can do with the material. The problems here start at the top. Duchovny’s character Hank Moody (y’know, because he’s depressed) starts as one of the biggest narrative clichés of all time, the blocked, depressed writer, and then finds ways to make us hate him more than we did when the series started (with him getting BJ from a dream-nun). Hank starts out as an ass but rapidly turns into some horrifying combination of Charles Bukowski and all the male cast members of MTV’s The Hills. It’s like the text-book definition of how to turn off an audience. What ever happened to walking us to the edge? The premium cable television viewer is more than capable in watching an anti-hero, but usually we’re eased into it. Californicaiton finds the edge immediately and quickly hurls its viewers over to the rocky waves below.
Still, every show is for someone. If you’re the type of person who loves seeing random, naked women having sex with that asshole Mulder, then Californication is for you. Step right up.
August 16th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
I LOVED the pilot episode of “Californication”. About 1 min into it I tivoed it so I can show my friends who don’t get showtime. I only wish it was an hour long instead of 1/2.
August 17th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
I loved that there were alot of boobs…
September 8th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
You obviously don’t know what you’re talking about. Californication is a great album for one, and now a great tv show. It is funny, and well scripted. I really like Duchovny’s character (eg. he’s funny, he cares about his family), and Duchovny the actor has a great comedic presence (”Evolution” was a hilarious movie). Whether or not there is an abundance of sex/nudity does not change the high caliber of the series.
My suggestion to those out there: watch it for yourself if you’re not offended by some crude humor and nudity. I think many people will really enjoy Californication.
Other shows I enjoy:
Scrubs
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
How I Met Your Mother
Lost
Heroes
September 22nd, 2007 at 12:42 am
I love this show.. I think it is sad that you don’t get it! I was never a fan of David Duchovny’s until this show started! I look forward to this show week after week! Great writing, acting and I love the twists and turns along the way!
September 30th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
This is a great show. You can’t even complain about gratuitus nudity, becase as far as I can remember, there has been no nudity after the third episode. However, the humor is still top notch, as are the scripts. I think all the actors in this show do an awesome job. I would love to copy this for my friends at work that don’t have Showtime.
October 8th, 2007 at 8:14 am
you don’t know what you’re talking about. I think it’s the best show in a long time. and you spelt David’s name wrong!
October 8th, 2007 at 11:10 am
I’m getting killed on this one. Perhaps I’ll give it another shot if I can find some free time…. perhaps.
October 11th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
what is the name of the song at the begining of the show
October 12th, 2007 at 1:33 am
I don’t know the name, but it’s by Tree Adams
October 12th, 2007 at 3:08 am
Jumping on the, “What are you talking about, this show is great,” bandwagon. I don’t understand how having a little Bukowski in any lead role could be a bad thing! I just read Post Office this past week actually. I think Duchoveny does a pretty nice job of being that… What was it? A poor man’s McInerney? I think this show and Weeds are really good offerings for people that live or fantasize about living that hipster-alternative lifestyle. I mean, what the hell are you watching guy? Big Bang Theory? Hulk Hogan’s TV webcam?
I don’t think you should give this one another chance, I think you should go get high and continue spending your Monday nights watching TIVOed clips of Mama’s Family and don’t bother reminding us, Vicki Laurence is just a doll, what a breath of fresh air, we’ve heard it before. We stopped listening long ago. Go see what’s in Howie’s briefcase you pinhead.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to get so antagonistic, I just really like this show. And don’t trash Bukowski if you know what’s good for you.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Love this show- I agree with Kare, I wasn’t much of a Duchovny fan till this show. He plays the character well. Look forward to it every week.
At least it’s a change from all the reality tv…
October 17th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
Californication is a smart n sexy show! My new best friend.
I just LOVE it.
May 14th, 2008 at 2:36 am
Wow, just finished the season and LOVED it… Double “D” is back, and rick, rick, rick… I don’t know what you are watching that is better than this, no really, what are you watching? This is one the funniest shows i’ve seen in a long time… i think your parents forgot a letter “P” from your name.