Californication is back

Words cannot express how much I have enjoyed "Californication" for the past four seasons. If that were truly the case why I'd be attempting to write a blog entry about it is beyond me.

I just watched the promo for the first time and from what I saw it appears that Hank Moody (David Duchovny) is back with a fucking vengeance. If you're a fan of the show you know all about how season 4 came to a close. I will spare the major details for those of you who have seen them and those who'd like to, but basically Hank got a probationary slap on the wrist after a statutory rape conviction. To explain that as quickly as possible; Hank is in a book store, he meets a girl played by Madeline Zima of "The Nanny" fame and sleeps with her as he so often does, turned out she was 17, yadda yadda yadda Hank got arrested, yadda yadda yadda there's a movie about it being made written by Hank with characters playing both Hank and Madeline (Mia on the show).

Season 5 episode 1 is entitled "JFK to LAX" and the promo conveys that Hank has spent his probation in New York and is returning to LA to resume being the coolest guy on the planet. There are a number of reasons that Hank Moody gives me a semi, he's an awesome writer who plays by his own rules, he smokes constantly, he's a babe magnet, and he rocks the shit out of black t-shirt in every episode.

Now a short list of things I don't like about "Califnorication" because being excessively positive makes my teeth sting:

1. Natascha McElhone the actress who plays Karen, Hank Moody's on again off again wife and mother to his daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin). I find her unsettling and I don't like the idea that Hank has a permanent place in his heart for her. Karen's portion of the story is rarely exciting and I feel this resonates throughout the entire show. Scenes she's in drag and her eyes are creepy and large like a Western Screech Owl. (I googled that)

2. Madeleine Martin the actress who plays Becca, Hank and Karen's daughter. In my opinion she was poorly cast, she never elevates any scenes, she's unnecessarily quirky, and everything she says and does feels forced. She's the type of person that would judge you based on your ipod play list while wearing a tattered Ramones t-shirt and pontificating about the days when music was good (before she was conceived).

3. Hank drives around for 3 seasons (I think its 3) with a broken headlight on his Porsche. I really don't understand why he wouldn't just get it fixed.

All in all "Californication" has solidified itself in my top 5 shows currently on television and it will stay there no matter what happens this season. I wish the show was 3 hours long and each season was 39 episodes. If you haven't checked it out you should certainly do so when it airs this Sunday night on Showtime at 10:30.

Here is my top five shows currently on television (to put it in order would stress me out)

1. Californication

2. Breaking Bad

3. Dexter

4. Curb Your Enthusiasm

5. Mad Men (very late to the party but already a huge fan, thanks Netflix)

ANK