Anybody seen this??? Its hilarious... Duchovny is great on it.
i've heard conflicting reports.
girls tell me it's excessively vulgar and completely ridicuolous. dudes tell me it's alrite.
all i know is i've now seen madeline zima naked.
it's really great. and yeah there's a lot of sex in it, but it's no more vulgar than any other show on hbo/showtime. i don't find it ridiculous at all.
check it out.
This just started here and I was surprised by how good it is. This might sound stupid but it's the only show I've seen recently thats come close to having the edge and honesty of Six Feet Under. This is only based on the first two episodes but I'm excited by Duchovny's character and where the writers take him.
This show also makes me realise that TV is short and that I shouldn't bother with Entourage next season.
k so i watched the whole season and this is a really entertaining show. why there isn't tons of chatter on it, i'll never know. the writing is so fucking sharp and duchovny is great in the role as a washed up genius writer.
i hav yet to see a whole episode, i want to talk about a scene i just caught in the season finale. NO spoilers, it's a fairly standard stand-alone scene:
duchovny is at a convenience store with a girl who needs tampons, he's in a hurry. there is only one pack left and this old broad grabs them. he starts arguing with her and she keeps saying "why the fuck do you want tampons?" then her husband gets involved, he also thinks duchovny is a freak cos he wants tampons. (MEANWHILE THE GIRL IS RIGHT NEXT TO HIM - I MEAN RIGHT THERE) things get heated and then as the husband/broad walk away duchovny steals it from the broad's basket and throws it to his "daughter" who has now moved towards the exit. duchovny is getting beaten up by the husband and FINALLY the girl says they were for her.
the broad is then nice to the girl, who apparently she hadn't noticed until THAT VERY MOMENT, the husband apologises to duchovny for choking him. uh... UHHHHHHHHHH---- hilarious right? NO. fucking STUPID. don't make me have to explain why that scene is completely and utterly devoid of any humour, wit, or anything other than TOTAL SHIT. it's something that a student would write. it's lazy, idiotic, makes absolutely no sense. it's unbelievable. maybe my standards are just too high, or maybe i've got something against bad writing.. this kind of thing makes me too angry to bother with this show anymore.
yeah i know it's just individual scenes, but every time i've tried to watch it's been as poorly written as that. how much slack can you cut a show in its infancy? weeds had some equally bad moments too. at least i acknowledged them when i reviewed it.
no one's watching this and it's still overrated.
Quote from: Pubrick on November 12, 2007, 06:13:18 AM
it's lazy, idiotic, makes absolutely no sense. it's unbelievable. maybe my standards are just too high, or maybe i've got something against bad writing.. this kind of thing makes me too angry to bother with this show anymore.
yeah the scene was stupid. it's surprising b/c the episode was scribed by the creator who has written some real gems over the course of the season. this one wtf scene aside, this show still has some of the best writing you'll currently find on tv, and i would highly recommend you give it another chance.
jenji kohan, the creator of weeds, talked about how even as the creator/head writer/exec producer of a show, you still only have so much control, and she openly admits to certain scenes that she thought did not work. that being said, you really have to watch season 2 (which I still owe you) b/c I think all the issues you had w/ season one are rectified in how it all evolves in season 2 and beyond.
pubrick it took you longer to write all that than what would be to actually watch a full episode and then comment. you cant be so sure of yourself after only watching one stupid scene.
you are right about the scene by the way, but remember this is america and i have seen people so stupid like the woman in the store who want their fucking tampons so bad they cant even see the girl standing next to him.
watch a few episodes and then you'll see...
Quote from: kal on November 12, 2007, 11:22:56 AM
watch a few episodes and then you'll see...
...lots of naked people.
but david duchovny is cool too.
Quote from: kal on November 12, 2007, 11:22:56 AM
pubrick it took you longer to write all that than what would be to actually watch a full episode and then comment.
actually no.
Quote from: kal on November 12, 2007, 11:22:56 AM
you are right about the scene by the way, but remember this is america and i have seen people so stupid like the woman in the store who want their fucking tampons so bad they cant even see the girl standing next to him.
the scene was stupid not only because of that, but because duchovny himself could have saved himself the trouble/beating (and the whole scene) if he had told the woman what was blatantly obvious. if we're sposed to believe that he didn't say anything just to save the girl some embarrassment, then surely the alternative of having a FIGHT in a store and causing a huge scene was much more embarrassing to go through (and to watch).
i guess i did have to explain it after all.
i'll watch more episodes cos i do think cbrad and redlum hav good taste.
ok
thanks!
I seem to have the complete opposite taste of Kal, so I'm not even going to give this piece of shit show a chance.
No offense Kal. You can bash whatever I like and have been hyped for the last few months (Radiohead, CMBB) I won't mind.
I'm done arguing with you or Pubrick or anyone else. Everyone can be happy watching whatever the fuck they like.
haha chill out. No need to get hurt. It's just a joke.
If you want people to watch something, you need to say something like "This show is worthless. The humor just isn't funny to me"
I dont gain anything from you watching it... so why would I care?
The people that request my opinion usually know how valuable it is... if you dont like it or need it, then you dont need to listen.
I dont get hurt. You know, after reading some stuff at the IMDb boards, I love you guys more than ever.
oddly enough, the shows creator was a writer on dawson's creek from which I can recall they had very verbose dialogue for their characters. I don't know how much input he had on that show or on this on. Although, the lead female character's name is Karen Van Der Beek. (played by Natascha McElhone who has gorgeous eyes, who I loved from The Truman Show)
Red Hot Chili Peppers Sue Showtime over 'Californication' Title
Posted by Matthew Belloni; Hollywood Reporter
I knew that title sounded familiar. We got word this morning that LA punk-pop stalwarts Red Hot Chili Peppers are suing Showtime and the producers of "Californication," the David Duchovny dramedy, for unfair competition for using the title of the band's hit 1999 album without permission. The complaint is being filed in Los Angeles Superior Court today but the band's lawyers provided us a press release with the details. The Peppers don't claim Federal trademark infringement. Instead they allege state law claims of unfair competition, dilution of value of the "Californication" mark and unjust enrichment.
"Californication is the signature CD, video and song of the band's career, and for some TV show to come along and steal our identity is not right," band frontman Anthony Kiedis says in the release.
Use of the "Californication" name by Showtime "continues to cause a likelihood of confusion, mistake and deception as to source, sponsorship, affiliation, and/or connection in the minds of the public," the complaint is quoted in the release.
Plaintiffs in the suit are band members Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, John Frusciante and Michael "Flea" Balzary. In addition to Showtime (a subsidiary of CBS), defendants are Twilight Time Films, Inc., Aggressive Mediocrity, Inc., and Tom Kapinos. The suit identifies Kapinos as the creator, writer and executive producer of the "Californication" show
A call to Showtime wasn't immediately returned. Coincidentally, we just ran an article on the use of existing titles in TV shows, click here to check it out.
"Californication," released in 1999, is one of the Peppers' most successful albums, selling 14 million copies worldwide. There's also a hit track on the album called "Californication."
The Peppers are represented in the case by Justin Ehrlich of the Law Offices of Ian Herzog in Santa Monica.
fucking lame.
The word californication has been used many times for decades. Fucking estupidos!
the idea of confusion between a 2007 tv show with David Duchovny and an album/song nobody listens to anymore.. is embarrassing.
i'm just waiting for the nina hagen lawsuit.
So, I just finished the season and it turned out to be a great show, with great humor, drama and, well, tons of sex. It's one of those shows to which I feel attached from the first moment, just because I like those kind of characters. Troubled writers, daughters, former virgins, etc...
Sometimes it's not perfect, like the scene Pubrick mentioned onj the previous page, but it sure is quite entertaining. Also...
Quote from: Pubrickthe scene was stupid not only because of that, but because duchovny himself could have saved himself the trouble/beating (and the whole scene) if he had told the woman what was blatantly obvious. if we're sposed to believe that he didn't say anything just to save the girl some embarrassment, then surely the alternative of having a FIGHT in a store and causing a huge scene was much more embarrassing to go through (and to watch).
I agree that the lady not realizing it was for the girl was kind of a lame moment and it basically served for some "humour" (no matter if you think it was good or bad). BUT, it also served for Duchovny's character, because that's just the way he is: a complicated, sometimes irrational man who, in the final scenes of the episode said something about stop being a kid and act like a man and grow the fuck up - he also spends a lot of time waking the inner child he confronts. So, yeah, you have to follow a show to understand what it's all about, or else it's just like saying that Annie Hall is stupid because you only saw a scene with Woody Allen talking to a horse about sex.
Anybody still following this show ? Man, last ep was great, the best of the new season for sure and the best in a while. That dinner was fucked
This is a great show especially for wannabe artists like most Xixaxers
And also, poor Pubrick hey... the worst scene of this whole show (of all TV last year?) was the only one he saw. If you haven't watched it yet don't read P's criticism as valid.
i don't have showtime but i netflixed the first season and watched it a couple of weeks ago. you're right, that Pubrick mentioned scene was pretty much the only bad thing about it. that is, as long as its farfetched concepts don't get to you either - the unbelievable moments mostly involve him landing every hot chick he comes across (cardealer on the testdrive, really?) and the fact that the chicks approach him most of the time. he does have those dame Duchovny lips though.
took me almost a month to put the first disc of it in and glad i finally did cos it's way better than Entourage, its most comparable show and now has me convinced to get showtime. that and cos i got Dexter to watch next which has been sitting here almost as long as Californication (thx, MacGuffin whose got me starting this Strangers movie instead).
'Californication' headed for Season 3
Showtime orders 12 new episodes for late 2009
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Showtime has greenlighted a third season of its comedy series "Californication."
The premium network has ordered 12 episodes scheduled to go into production in the spring for a late 2009 premiere.
The series stars David Duchovny as Hank Moody, a hedonistic novelist/blogger who struggles to raise his Goth-loving teen daughter (Madeleine Martin), while still carrying a torch for his disapproving ex-girlfriend (Natascha McElhone).
Evan Handler also stars in the series, which is created and executive produced by Tom Kapinos. Duchovny, who won a Golden Globe this year for his role, also exec produces.
"This unapologetic show, about a group of characters led by the inimitable David Duchovny, has quickly established itself as one of our signature comedy series," Showtime president of entertainment Robert Greenblatt said. "Beneath its veneer of debauchery, however, is a complex take on love and adult relationships that surprisingly turns poetic and romantic just when you least expect it."
Through the first six episodes of this season, "Californication" is averaging 2.2 million total viewers, according to Live + 7 and on-demand data.
Awesome!
The season finale was great. I love this show. Mothafuckaaa!
Quote from: kal on December 09, 2008, 10:51:29 PM
The season finale was great. I love this show. Mothafuckaaa!
haha yeah that was funny... but more and more my favorite character becomes Charlie. His storylines are a little more engaging because Hank is hardly surprising. You always see his storylines coming a mile away (like the black baby) and Becka is fucking annoying. It's not her fault though, every 12-13-14 year old is untolerable to me.
And also, the move to new york for the wife... wtf, they just couldn't resign her for another season or what ? I hope this is her decision to leave because if the producers kicked her out they're crazy. She was much more interesting than Becka as an anchor for Hank.
Anyway still a good show !
There are no official reports saying that she will not be in Season 3, so maybe its a twist and she will come back. Who knows.
poorly written, dialogue is borderline diablo codyish, situations are absurdly unrealistic, the show is an endless cascade of debauchery with occasional moments of forced emotion.
oh, i love this show. :shock:
Quote from: Hedwig on December 16, 2008, 02:49:49 PM
poorly written, dialogue is borderline diablo codyish, situations are absurdly unrealistic, the show is an endless cascade of debauchery with occasional moments of forced emotion.
oh, i love this show. :shock:
hahahaha I couldn't have said it better
Quote from: Hedwig on December 16, 2008, 02:49:49 PM
poorly written, dialogue is borderline diablo codyish, situations are absurdly unrealistic, the show is an endless cascade of debauchery with occasional moments of forced emotion.
oh, i love this show. :shock:
you think its unrealistic? you have to come to LA for a while and see for youself.
really? so hot young girls hit on middle age men like that?? :ponder:
The way this show is written I have a feeling the writers wish to be hank moody...
About the end season ep. it was ok I guess, I thought the first 15min. was too sitcom-y, like something out of friends only rated R, small gag - guitar break to the next scene - and so on, I'll keep watching next year...
btw, I had a dream that I kissed Madeline Zima, only that in the reality of the dream Madeline was a girl* I had a crush on 6th grade, in my dream I see her years later and I have the balls i didn't back then to confess I had a huge crush on her, she smiled flirtatiously so I kissed her...
* now that I think about it, she kinda looked like her, mainly her eyes.
season 3 is awesome. fucking love it. amazes me none of the regulars talk about this. then again, i guess nobody discusses much TV on here anyhow.
oh and i've gotta call this out now, since i never saw this:
Quote from: Fernando on December 16, 2008, 05:13:59 PM
really? so hot young girls hit on middle age men like that?? :ponder:
The way this show is written I have a feeling the writers wish to be hank moody...
hahahaha.. yeah young hot girls wanting to fuck rich, smooth-talking older men. imagine that!!
love it too, and what the hell happened to k.turner??? is it make up or does she really looks like a monster now?
Over the past 7 or 8 years she really turned into something different...she's still sexy to me but ya...fat sexy. Like Kristie Alley was when she started getting fat in the late 90's.
I watch this show but I shouldn't. The writing is so transparent you can tell that when characters go on rants about something misogynistic/homophobic/etc it's clearly the creator getting something off his chest and that really bothers me. I used to think it was a slightly-better Entourage because Duchovny made it watchable but now I think it might be slightly worse.
yeah at least Entourage has production values, this looks cheap and reallly quickly written/done.
This one is a little smarter than Entourage though, but that's not saying much really.
it's all about hank moody
I really dug the pilot, but the intro and all those "edgy" transitions made it really awkward. If those are gone, I may get into it. I do like David Duchovny and boobs (sadly, probably in that order).
What's wrong with "edgy" transitions?
I love this show, this season especially. Mod I know what you mean about the writing. You do feel the writers getting on their soapbox a bit, and the mannered, over-written dialogue does at times suffer from Dawson's Creek Syndrome where everyone sounds just a little too smart (I guess it's not surprising that creator Tom Kapinos scribed several seasons of Dawson's Creek before this). But I kind of let it slide b/c Hank is a writer and it makes sense that he would speak in such a way. He's also one of the most fun protagonists on TV right now. I'd also like to nominate Kathleen Turner for most profane/hysterical guest star of the year.
And Entourage? Please, there's no comparison. That show just needs to be put out of its misery.
Quote from: ©brad on October 21, 2009, 05:16:13 PM
What's wrong with "edgy" transitions?
They don't do it for me.
yeah i stopped watching Arrested Development after the first episode because they kept fading to white instead of black. how did they expect me to get into the show when they pull shit like that? no thank you!
Quote from: ©brad on October 21, 2009, 05:16:13 PMI love this show, this season especially.
Oh shut up ©brad. What the hell do you know about what you love.
I'm officially flip-flopping on this one (have I always been this schizo?). The last 3 episodes of this show have been deplorable and if things don't improve quick-like I'm done. I'm hardly a prude, but some of the vulgar shit they pull is just disgusting. They no longer bring the funny ("nothing like the sound of a stripper's head hitting the floor huh huh"), each episode is ridden with sitcom tropes, and for the love of christ Hank's "pity," puntastic dialogue is grating as shit and is now causing me to throw things at my TV.
Welcome back. :yabbse-grin:
Riddle me this, xixax friends, as you all are far smarter than I - how is it that an artist (and I'm using that term quite loosely here) can be simultaneously brilliant and hackey in the span of just a single scene? How does her brilliant side not overule the hack side (which of course resides in everyone). How are we so blind to our own fuckups when we see them so clearly in someone else's work?
Because you see, what makes a show like Californication so frustrating to me is that there is some true brilliance amidst the manic, heavy-handed shambles. Case in point- last night's finale had a scene where Hank and Becca go on a father-daughter walk during which Becca admits to having sex for the first time. Now we've seen such a scene many a time, but goddamn was this one near perfect - not over-written, not over-acted, not over-anything. It felt real, genuine, poignant. It just fucking worked. Even the most cynical cynic would be hard-pressed not to feel a twinge of "oh man..." So, how the fuck can Tom Kapinos (writer/creator), the same Tom Kapinos who crafted said brilliant scene write such an embarrassing, heavy-handed dream sequence of Hank drowning in a pool, nevermind preside over a season rife with sitcom cliches and poorly structured character arcs. I know he's smart. I know he can write. I know he possess an intellect far more sophisticated than mine. So how does this shit happen? How does he not know? I can't believe it's just laziness, or the pressure behind producing 12+ episodes of content in such a short amount of time.
I felt the same way about (500) days of summer. That movie pissed me off more than the countless Kate Hudson-starring rom-coms I've suffered through on flights back home (and we all know those are the kind of movies that make you wish for death's cold embrace). I can deal with mediocrity when I need to, but 500 days - what the fuck. That movie had several moments that were balls to the walls awesome, inexplicably intermixed with trite hollywood bullshit. Do artists just blow their wads on great moments, and in doing so render themselves void of any juice left to fill in the gaps?
I wonder if anyone can unriddle what you mention, beats me for sure, but ive wondered that a lot too, almost every writer eventually does shitty scripts or scenes, the rare breed that doesn't is way short and our boy pta and charlie kaufman fall in this breed (so far).
as for the last episode im with you about not only that drowning dream sequence but all of them, to me it seems a cheap way to explain what the character is living, didnt all the past episodes did that??? having said that, that shitty ending made me really sad.
Quote from: Fernando on December 18, 2009, 01:03:54 PM
I wonder if anyone can unriddle what you mention, beats me for sure, but ive wondered that a lot too, almost every writer eventually does shitty scripts or scenes, the rare breed that doesn't is way short and our boy pta and charlie kaufman fall in this breed (so far).
as for the last episode im with you about not only that drowning dream sequence but all of them, to me it seems a cheap way to explain what the character is living, didnt all the past episodes did that??? having said that, that shitty ending made me really sad.
I understand completely what you guys are saying, but this episode in particular didn't bother me at all. The pool scenes made complete sense to me, and that ending really felt like it punched me in the nutts. It was the best of the season finales.
cool season premiere.
Not much to say. Started watching this show because it was on Showtime and I got into season 4 so I backtracked through the first 3 seasons and now I am hooked. I don't think the show is amazing in every department. Lots of the scenes and elements of drama are forced, but I also would consider this show to be better than most out there. When it comes to TV, I'm not looking for polished products all around. It's almost impossible to maintain excellence for very long. I'm looking for moments of inspiration where the quality peaks above what you would expect. There are a lot of perfect little moments in this that a general show or film just doesn't show. Sometimes the moments are packaged in standard plot stories and sometimes the show knows exactly how to make Hank's antics nearly the whole story and just ride his personality. It's pretty amazing.
I also watched it with a friend and they accused me of being a Hank Moody type of personality and recognizing my own kind by saying I liked the show.