Planet Californication

There is so much shit on TV, that when a quality show comes on, I must try to do what I can to make people watch it. Geico Cavemen, Charlie Sheen, and Dancing with the Stars not withstanding, there hasn’t been anything really on since Six Feet Under was voluntarily buried by Alan Ball two years ago.

I mentioned the Showtime show Californication in this space very early on it the lifecycle of this blog. Not only does the show get better each and every week (with the exception of the episode when all the characters attend a fundraiser, but we’ll give them a mulligan for that one), but the main character becomes more and more like me with each show.

Hank, the main character, a New York writer, has moved to LA after they turned his novel into a movie. Very reluctantly, he takes a job writing a blog. (Editor's note: I started this blog the night before this show aired it's premiere episode, which is just plain kooky). Anyway, he is in bed MEREDITH, a women who he’s on the precipice of getting serious with (which is also with a degree of reluctance).

As they are about to have morning sex, Hank says something funny. She responds with an ‘LOL’:

HANK
What’d you just say? Just now? LOL? Laugh out Loud?
MEREDITH: Yeah, so?
HANK
Is that part of your lexicon? Really? LOL?
MEREDITH: Shouldn’t that be part of yours too? You are writing in Cyberspace now.
HANK
There’s goes my boner. Wave bye bye.
MEREDITH:
What is your issue with L.O.L?
HANK
I don’t have an issue with it unless you count the fact that every time you say it, you’re contributing to death of the English language.
MEREDITH:
So let me get this straight. You’re gonna let the fact that I said LOL get in the way of me giving you the best B.J. of your life?
HANK
Not when you put it that way.

She goes down on him. He smiles in a contrite way.

HANK
I’m not the biggest fan of the team B.J. either.

Let me switch gears for a second and quote myself. I wrote the following when I introduced myself to you and the blogging community. It was in the first entry called “Opening Salvo”, when I actually thought I’d get feedback:

“I won't make rule about it, but let's keep the :)'s and the LOL's, etc, to an absolute minimum. I realize the smiley face is necessary because of its statement softening properties and the LOL really lets everyone know you think something is funny, but do me a favor and save that shit for your IM's to Krissy47."

What’s my point you ask? In quoting myself or paralleling these two things. Not much really. None other than this is my colossal right as blog owner and sole contributor. I guess I’m trying to say that a TV show is easier to like when you identify with the character. This show is just more than that, however. It’s conflict-ridden, smart and funny and Duchovney allows us to feel his character’s vulnerability, even though he’s a gruff, confrontational, man whore. But he’s witty and clever too. This is what makes a good character. Not gimmicks and stupid situations and all the other contrived shit that TV throws at the wall and ultimately on to our screens. It's the characters, stupid. Genuine, smart, vulnerable and ultimately likeable. It’s all on display when he confronts the director of the shitty movie on which his book is based – played by Krazy-Eyez Killah himself, Chris Williams. (opening scene of episode 3)

And just another ridiculous piece of information, straight from Planet Karma: Hank gets a piece of mail from his quasi-estranged father in a great flashback episode. The return address is Levittown, New York. The author of this blog’s address was Levittown, New York for the first 18 years of his life.