Californication on SHO - Page 8

There are 3 great clips over at tv.com from next week's ep

http://www.tv.com/

Yep, as the story expands, Hank's boob viewing count goes down. The only guy who's getting any now is his agent who's now boinking his kinky 22-year old secretary with a discipline fetish.

You can also forget about seeing any more of Mia in the buff. Now that its been revealed she's 16 years old, we come under the piece of US code that states you can't portray a sexual relationship with an under age person, even if the person portraying said under age person is of legal age. (It's something that was done to stop the pr0n industry of portraying under-age kids available for sex).

IANAL, so I don't know and can't quote the relevant sections of the particular code.

As with the other posts above, it is actually a strange case with this show. Australian TV gets away with quite a bit usually and nudity and language has never been an issue with shows after 8:30pm. What then makes Californication so different? That is the reason I brought the subject up here to see if it was isolated.

Perhaps it is the "naughtiest show on TV" advertising they use. Even stranger is that "The Sopranos" is shown at 10:45pm and never gets this sort of attention. I really hope it doesn't affect the network in the end having advertisers walk out - after all, it will be their loss in the end since it is rating so well.

Showtime RENEWS Californication !!!!
by mulderpausee 7 hours ago (Thu Sep 6 2007 23:06:31) Ignore this User | Report Abuse


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From Daily Variety ... Sept. 7, 2007

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...ryId=1417&cs=1

Showtime renews 'Californication'
Duchovny show greenlit for second season

By JOSEF ADALIAN
'Californication'

After a strong debut, David Duchovny starrer 'Californication' will get another season on Showtime.

Showtime is getting ready to engage in some more "Californication."

Cabler has greenlit a second season of the David Duchovny starrer, which has emerged as a frosh hit. Twelve additional episodes of the half-hour comedy have been ordered, with lensing expected to start in April.

After a strong debut last month, "Californication" has impressed Showtime execs by adding viewers. Its last three Monday premiere telecasts have averaged 18% more viewers than the show's Aug. 13 debut, scoring Showtime's best ratings for a new series since 2004.

Most cable shows tend to premiere well and then lose eyeballs, making "Californication's" perf all the more encouraging for Showtime.

When the multiple weekly plays of "Californication" are added up, skein is averaging just shy of 2 million viewers each week and is holding onto roughly 90% of its "Weeds" lead-in. Showtime is seen in about 14 million homes.

"Californication" is the latest in a string of success stories for Showtime and entertainment prexy Robert Greenblatt. Other shows that have performed solidly for the net recently include "Weeds," "Dexter," "The Tudors" and "Brotherhood."

maybe it's the fellating nun, albeit in fantasy only?

or maybe it's not so much the occurrence of boobage but the preponderance of it

of course it's mind boggling that something like this ever aired on commercial TV. if that had happened in the US, SWAT teams would've been called in to storm the control room and destroy the tapes.

I guess that is fairly likely but it still makes you wonder how this would translate to advertisers not wanting to be associated with the show. Things work in strange ways.


Without being on free-to-air, the show would never get the figures it is getting now. As I said earlier, we get away with a LOT over here on FTA and almost all language with few exceptions are shown in a 6pm timeslot for the news (all but the most foul language, depending on context). Nudity is the other thing, America doesn't seem to allow this on their shows (CSI, House, etc.) whereas we often do.

I don't mean to sound rude here but I really hope we don't change too much. The old saying that if you don't like something, don't watch it really does apply. Choice is a great thing to have.

And, unfortunately, she has the body of a 12 year old boy.

Glad this show is getting re-newed. I think it's great, so much better than recent HBO fare, imho.

Bish

I'm thrilled that it's coming back too

Californication was certainly the best new show of the summer. Its writing is very smart and Duchovny could not be better as the self destructive and depressed, but funny and loveable, Hank Moody. As everyone seems to be, I am happy, indeed, to learn of its renewal.

Aug. 13 - Pilot
Aug. 20 - Hell-A Woman
Aug. 27 - The Whore of Babylon
Sept. 3 - Fear and Loathing at the Fundraiser
Sept. 10 - If You See Her, Say Hello
Sept. 17 - Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
Sept. 24 - Girls, Interrupted
Oct. 1 - California Son
Oct. 8 - Filthy Lucre
Oct. 15 - The Devil's Threesome
Oct. 22 - Turn the Page
Oct. 29 - The Last Waltz

I've been lurking here a long time, but I signed up just so I could say that I love this show. I'll admit I watched the first episode largely due to all of the T&A in the promos, but nobody told me that Californication would have such a heart. David Duchovny has nailed his role to an extent approaching Ian McShane in Deadwood, high praise from this Deadwood fan. Natascha McElhone makes it totally believable that Hank Moody would be in love with her even with all the action he's getting from LA's lovelys. Not to mention that the last scene from the "fundraiser" episode was a beautiful thing of the kind not seen on television (or anywhere else) enough.

Welcome aboard. With the exception of an occasional fundamentalist, most viewers seem to like Californication a lot. I agree that it does have a terrific ensemble cast.

In recent episodes I have particularly enjoyed the performances of the young actress who plays Charlie's secretary. She would seem like a waif, somebody's little girl, were it not for her tattoos, piercings, and penchant for masochism while wearing bondage costumes.

Californication Season 1 DVD
Amazon.com has created a page for it. Nothing much there yet

http://www.amazon.com/Californicatio

Wow, you have 44 posts, 43 of them here and one on FredFA's thread talking about Californication. Are you somehow related to this program? Are you on their payroll?

The Amazon site has it listed but not for sale yet, just a we'll let you know when it will available.

LOL I answered this before. I got something in my google alerts about this fourm. No, i'm just a fan girl of David Duchovny and really just interested in talking about this show. That's why i only post here

For my part, you are certainly welcome here, and I suspect many others probably feel the same. Alas, bad manners and poorly developed social skills seem to abound in technical forums such as this one. That's too bad, but there it is.

I just found a very interesting review/take on the show. With all the flack about it being pornographic i think this reviewer at least understands the character even if he is not thrilled with the type of show it is. The only thing i question is where they have seen frontal nudity in the series

Mark Hadley | 10 September 2007
Californication
Monday, 9.30 pm
Rated: MA15+
Californication is an incendiary program. As I write, the morally outraged are organising picket lines for the broadcasters and protest campaigns for advertisers. There are calls for greater censorship in general and increased oversight of television schedules in particular. Christian voices are not absent; in fact, representatives of religious organizations are leading the charge. But rather than add to the building wave of emotion, I think it would be worth pausing to consider what a more complete Christian response to this situation might be. In the end cooler heads might do more to advance the cause of the Gospel

1. The verdict

Firstly, it has to be acknowledged that Californication is completely inappropriate viewing for any Christian attempting to take the Apostle Paul's advice seriously. Concerned with the developing holiness of the believers at Philippi, Paul encouraged them to meditate on only those things that were noble just pure lovely. (Philippians 4:8). This television series couldn't claim a single one of those descriptors on its best day.

Californication is devoted to the sordid sexual adventures of the aptly named Hank Moody (David Duchovny), a failed writer living in Los Angeles. Hank has lost his long-term partner, his daughter and his ability to write. Each episode chronicles his sad binging on sex, drugs and alcohol as he drifts to the bottom of his life. It regularly includes full-frontal female nudity, explicit sex scenes, serious language and adult conversation that habitually tends towards the perverse. It is simply not food for the soul. Even as a hardened television critic I considered that discretion was the better part of valour. I fully admit that my review is based on only the first three episodes, and even those were watched in the company of my wife who has a excellent radar for just the sort of scenes that are best dealt with by studying my shoelaces ☺ .

Now that I have put my opinion of the program beyond all doubt, I think that a wise Christian response to Californication would do well to consider the following points

2. Context

I think that it is fair to say that any Christian critique of a cultural item that does not first begin by a first-hand consideration of that work is likely to end up misguided. Some of the most violent films to ever reach the big screen also happened to be some of the most ardently anti-war. Saving Private Ryan and The Pianist spring to mind. Imagine if someone rejected The Shawshank Redemption out of hand simply because they had heard it contained men having sex. Now, I rush to say that I am in no way seeking to lift Californication on to the level of some of these cinematic greats. However, the point is clear: you have to first listen if you are going to earn the right to critique someone's position.

A lot of the protests surrounding Californication are being carried out by people who freely admit that they have not watched the program and have no intention of doing so. Consequently their objections are based on second-hand information and more than a few assumptions. Probably the most significant is that Californication is promoting fornication. After all, it has the f-word incorporated into its title, right? And of course there's undeniably all of the inappropriate visuals I've already referenced. However this is not a conclusion that anyone who had seen an episode would be likely to come to.

Hank Moody, the centre of this sexual frenzy, is clearly viewed by all who meet him as a sad, mixed up character. His agent openly criticises his behaviour and wishes he would start behaving like an adult. His former long-term partner has left him, and their daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin) is clearly aware that he is deeply unhappy, despite her awareness of his free-wheeling life-style. Even the people he sleeps with consider him to be nothing more than a short-term connection unworthy of a second call - unless of course they wish to add to his torture. Most importantly, Hank himself is bitter, frustrated and completely dissatisfied with his life despite all of the sexual freedom' he's been able to experience. Becca asks him, Dad are you alright? He responds, No but I'm getting there. The last part is delivered as a bit of a forlorn hope.

Californication is actually quite negative towards the sort of casual sex Hank is immersing himself in:

It is dangerous - Hank has unknowingly slept with a 16 year old, which qualifies as statutory rape in the United States. Worse still, she is a spoilt, contrary young woman who is likely to use this mistake to ruin his life. Hank is looking more than a little like Michael Douglas in Fatal Attraction as he considers the problems associated with a vindictive lover.

It is destructive - Hank desires to get back together with his former defacto Karen (Natascha McElhone) but his own inability to control himself sexually is constantly sabotaging the very relationship he would like to rebuild. Further, Hank is finding it emotionally destructive as well. Hank knows that what he is doing is less than what he would aspire to. It's part of his anti-hero persona that he is aware that his faults are sinking him deeper into his writing depression.

It involves sad, sad people - All of the women Hank casually couples with - without exception - are sad individuals captured by the worst character traits. They are horribly narcissistic, like the woman who needs to know Hanks opinion of her every private feature before she can continue to have sex. Or the sadistic partner who enjoys punching him as she performs. Or the desperately lonely porn-star who would happily ignore her crying daughter if Hank would stay the night. Or, again, the emotionally crushed scientologist who just wants to be taken advantage of so she can in some way rebuild her fragile self-image. It's a point not lost on Hank, who wonders in his first online column why Los Angeles is so hell-bent on destroying its women.

The truth is Hank actually wants the sort of relationship that Christians think he should be pursuing. He clearly only wants one woman, the mother of his child, and everyone else is a pathetic substitute. He would spend the rest of his life with her exclusively, given the chance, and even offers to marry her if that is what she wants - despite this not being his personal preference for a life together. Hank's sexual romp is at best a distraction from his real problems, at worst a process of self-destruction which the audience would happily see him rescued from.

3. Censorship

Context, however, doesn't change the fact that the material now freely available on our television sets is certainly some of the most extreme to ever find its way to free-to-air. So what is a Christian to say to this? Strident calls for censorship have been the initial response. Let's consider that for moment

What many Christians fail to consider is that censorship is a two-edged sword that must be used very carefully. Simply demanding that something be removed because it is offensive could have unintended consequences for the Church. What is viewed as offensive by some is considered to be integral to the Christian faith by others. That is at least the opinion of many who look askance at Christianity's unreasonable belief that sinners go to Hell, or that all religions other than those that lead to Jesus.

Furthermore, picketing television stations demanding censorship is unlikely to have much of an effect. Firstly television stations are businesses and this sort of action is only likely to increase the notoriety of a program, and so its appeal to audiences. Secondly, television stations in Australia are not responsible for setting censorship regulations. A letter to the general manager of Network TEN from an offended minority - one which crucially doesn't reflect the station's core demographic - is unlikely to raise too many eyebrows. There is a group, however, that even the most brazen broadcasters pay a great deal of attention to - the federal government's Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts.

Christians who want to see censorship laws altered would do much better directing their attention to those people who can actually do something about the laws that regulate what can and cannot be shown on television. Consequently it makes more sense to picket a politician than it does a television station. And mature voters are definitely Canberra's demographic. Governments in Australia and world-wide have never been more aware of the voting-bloc potential Christians represent. What's more, this is a protest that has impact without drawing unwanted attention from the media, and so avoids the usual misrepresentation of Christians as a bunch of wowsers.

4. An inconvenient truth

And this brings us to the biggest concern associated with Christian responses. How we choose to respond to television programs like Californication will tell people a lot about what we believe. If we give the impression that it is simply the site of naked bodies on television that offends us, we will undoubtedly convey that Christianity is just another form of moralism, whatever its pedigree. Our goal will be variously interpreted as, negatively, stopping people doing naughty things' or positively, removing all of the destructive things on the planet. To those who believe the former, we will appear as little more than easily shocked social nannies' trying to stop people having a good time. To those who pereive the latter we will have done the incalculable damage of placing in their minds the idea that we are for bringing about heaven on earth. Either way, we reduce Christianity to just another religion.

We do not have the luxury of simply railing at evil because we have the responsibility of convincing people of much more than this. Christianity is a rescue mission to a doomed world. We are on about far more than just making the world a better place. Further, even if we could eliminate every temptation do we really believe that's the same thing as removing sin? No, that is a task only Jesus is capable of completing. Our goal is to convey that we would like to see an end to programs like Californication because we love people, not because we want to limit them. There is something far better than this televisual titillation we can offer, and the satisfaction it offers lasts much longer than a half-hour.

Practically speaking, this means treating Californication in much the same way as we would treat other damaging substances in society, like alcohol or drugs or pornography. We can't stop people from choosing to indulge in these things but we can call for the immature to be protected from their effects. We can call for the ratings system to be re-evaluated in the light of the explicit material currently available, and the later viewing patterns of children under 16. In doing so we move the emphasis on to our concern for others.

Just as importantly, at the personal level we can stop surrendering sex as a conversation topic to the non-Christian world. We can take the opportunity Californication provides to point to the success of long-term, monogamous relationships and the likelihood that they will result in much greater levels of personal fulfilment. And finally, as should be in all really good apologetic responses, we can point our friends to the Creator who designed those relationships as a mirror to reflect that which exists between his Son and his people.



http://your.sydneyanglicans.net/cult...alifornication

http://entertainment1.sympatico.msn....30_duchovny_GD

An open apology to David Duchovny


By Greg David


On a second look, 'Californication' is a decent series



Sorry dude!
Dear Mr. Duchovny,
You don't know me, but I owe you an apology nonetheless.
I'm a TV critic, and I kind of gave you a raw deal on your new show, Californication.
See, when the show debuted a couple of weeks ago, I was largely unimpressed. I didn't think the character you play, Hank, was a likable one. A writer who made it big and is now suffering from writer's block, his girlfriend and daughter have left him, and now he's having sex with a ton of women in hopes of filling the void inside him? Nope, I thought it sucked.
But a drink with a friend made me see things differently. She was so passionate about her enjoyment for Californication that I went home and watched Episode 3. And, 30 minutes later, I was hooked.
I should've heeded my own advice - never judge a new show on the first episode because those are always the worst - and held my tongue.
Well now I'm telling everyone: Californication is a good show, and you are fantastic in it. I'm seeing a side of you - the incredibly funny side - something I really haven't seen from you since The Larry Sanders Show.
Watching Hank attempt a new relationship with a woman, and helping her get her dog back from the married man she's been sleeping with, was hilarious. Hank's interaction with Evan Handler, who plays his agent, was rich and enjoyable.
But your scenes with Natascha McElhone and Madeleine Martin, who play Hank's ex-girlfriend Karen and daughter Becca, respectively, were the most enjoyable. In a world gone crazy, Karen and Becca are Hank's anchors, and he'll do anything for them.
Hank is a deeply flawed character, but he's likable, and I'm rooting for him.
Again, let me apologize for being so quick to write off Californication - it really is a great series.
All the best,
Greg David
P.S. - How's the X-Files movie going?

I'm sure Duchovny could care less what Greg David thinks about his show

I'm sure he doesn't, but it's still nice to read.

This show is so awesome and it's great to hear of a second season. David Duchovny rocks.

Black Jesus - Don't leave me hanging!

Great episode

Another great ep tonight and it didn't even have any T and A After watching Tell Me That You Love me, i thank god for a smart show like Californication.........OMG! that show was like watching a porno.

I am very underwhelmed by the show. I like David D, but his ex is boring and unattractive. I find myself fast forwarding through her scenes. I do like the other members of the cast, the daughter, the agent and the wife are all fun to watch.

Wow, I'm a woman and i find his ex to be beautiful. I also think they have great chemistry. She does not have much to work with yet in MHO.

I am definitely not a woman and I think that Hank's ex is beautiful, too, luminously beautiful, in fact. The only negative is that weird bracelet shaped tattoo on her right wrist. I can only hope that it's not real.

If there is a smarter show on television than Californication, I don't know what it is. The characters are all interesting and -- in stark contrast to the mostly dreary Weeds bunch -- sympathetic. For example, I love Charlie's wife. She knows that something is wrong with her marriage and is trying to fix it but doesn't quite know how. It's both funny and a little sad.

Californication is a sophisticated but sweet and, mostly, upbeat show. I like it more all the time. The best line from last night's show, I thought, came in the restaurant when Hank's current girlfriend said to him, You love women but you hate yourself. Poor Hank! He is a good guy, it's a shame that he is his own worst enemy.

Talking to JayZ overthere... LOL

Episode Recap: "If You See Her, Say Hello"

Two big developments tonight, one sad and one happy: The tough-but-tender Meredith stupidly dumped Hank, and Charlie's even tougher wife Marcy made another splash of an appearance. I'm a big fan of both these ladies, so I hope (and strongly suspect) that Meredith will reenter our lives someday soon, and I'm glad Marcy is with us to stay.

What I don't hope to see again is another opening dream sequence involving churches, references to oral sex, and nuns especially if said reference includes such a tame and lame fondling between the sexless Bill and the stiff Karen. I'm growing increasingly baffled by Hank's ardent adoration of Karen; she's a cool ex-rocker chick, yes, but is she really worthy of all this pining? She seems dull and sparkless to me, and her weird hairstyle is as stiff as her delivery. Karen definitely needs to use less hairspray.

Marcy, however, is terrific. I'm not surprised to learn that the source of Charlie and Marcy's marital troubles is Charlie rather than Marcy. I wonder what's going on with him, because it sounds like the troubles at home predate his recent assistant shenanigans. And Marcy's symbolic pinkie/martini gesture in the restaurant? Brilliance itself.

As for Meredith breaking up with Hank, it was pretty out of character that she would choose to do it in public in front of friends, and on false, trumped-up charges to boot. Still, the next day when the real breakup came, Hank handled it with serene, gentlemanly aplomb, after which the two new exes messed around on the kitchen floor. More goodbyes should be delivered in that manner, don't you find?

It looks like Mia is still hell-bent on getting into as much trouble as possible, either by hooking up with her gross-to-the-nth-degree writing teacher or by betraying Becca by dating Becca's cutie-pie guitar teacher. Poor Becca seems to be the odd man out in a bizarre burgeoning love quadrangle between herself, Mia, Dave the adorable guitar man and perhaps her own mother. Would Karen really go that route, or is she just casually tempted? I would say no, but heck, if it did happen, it would make our man Hank look like father of the year by comparison. Which, ya know, would be kinda fitting.

Incidentally, how pleased was I to realize that tonight was the first episode of the season in which Hank didn't get into a fistfight? Oh, very. The show is getting realer and realer, better and better.

I offer as proof of that claim:

Marcy's "I know. Pretend I'm paralyzed."
When Hank called Bill "my nig nog"
Sleazy teacher's "My fleshy T.A. can't hear you."
Hank's "You gotta be gentle with the brown eye. Mr Brown Eye's a sensitive man."
Hank's "I still get my mail there" after Karen confessed to finding herself in a past life for a minute
Hank's "I love women. I have all their albums."

Need more? Indulge in some Californication clips in our Online Video Guide.

http://community.tvguide.com:80/blog...sDate=12345678

+1

Btw, how old is the actress that plays Mia? Probably not 16.
(If I had a 16 y/o daughter that looked and behaved like that she would be grounded until she was 20 )