I hang up Hung, Defying Gravity defies my axe, but my iris closes on Stargate Universe

There never seemed to be much appetite for Hung reviews around here (seriously, am I the only one watching?), so I've decided to retire the show from weekly review. I'll still tune in every Thursday on More4, but it's not really worth my time putting a review together that nobody appears interested to read. I still quite like the show, but it's perhaps not that conducive to episodic review. Anyway, the time will be used to instead review BBC1's new five-part sci-fi thriller Paradox, which starts tomorrow at 9pm.

"On the bubble" for me is Defying Gravity, which I'm primarily watching because a few commenters insist it gets really good around episode 8. Its timeslot has now moved from 9pm Wednesdays to 11pm Saturdays, which isn't a good sign, but at least the BBC are unlikely to just pull it off-air. Anyway, thanks to the wonders of Virgin+, I tend to watch it on Tuesday.

Not that I ever reviewed it, but I've also stopped watching Stargate Universe now. Six episodes is more than enough time to know if a show's worth sticking with, and SGU just isn't. My patience snapped during the scene where Eli (in someone else's body, using a "communication stone") went back home to see his mother. It just suddenly dawned on me that I have no interest in Eli, his mother, his predicament, or anything else going on aboard Destiny.

It'll be interesting to see if it gets a second season, though. It's received a critical mauling and the venerable fans don't seem impressed. For a show that was supposed to draw in new audiences, it appears to have bored newbies to tears very quickly and simultaneously alienated the existing fan-base. Good move, guys! It is a shame, though, as I could change four things about the show that would make it immeasurably better overnight (1, get rid of those "stones"; 2, take the autopilot off the ship; 3, write some decent female characters; 4, involve more 'gating and aliens.)

HUNG 1.4 - "The Pickle Jar"

[SPOILERS] This episode arrived in the nick of time, as another weak-to-middling instalment would have found me hanging Hung out to dry. As it was, "The Pickle Jar" served up some good reasons for continuing to watch, as Ray (Thomas Jane) encountered a superficial downside to his gigolo venture...

Having got Lenore (Rebecca Creskoff) on-side to spread the word about her new business, Tanya (Jane Adams) now has two new clients lined up for Ray to pleasure, although he's distracted by a desire to install a new roof beam in his burnt-down house using a pickle jar of cash his students have donated. A part of me suspected Ray would be too proud to accept charity, but he's actually keen to buy the timber and begin his repairs, until Tanya reminds him that her clients have paid in advance and could become lucrative regulars.

"The Pickle Jar" dealt with an issue that all startup prostitutes must face: how do you perform when you're not sexually attracted to a client? The first woman on Jane's list was the sweet, rotund Molly (Margo Martindale), a nervous middle-aged first-timer who's far from Ray's expectations of another hot, insatiable babe like Lenore. Ray initially feigns sickness soon after being invited into her hotel room, but eventually has to admit to Tanya that he's just not sure he can go through with bedding someone he doesn't fancy. Is it okay to be a fastidious gigolo, when you have bills to pay?

Of course, Ray's roof concerns eventually pressured him to reschedule his appointment with Molly, and it's here that Hung really managed to delight me. Molly admitted she requires the services of a prostitute because of her unfulfilling sex life with her husband, but can't go through with the deed because of her psychological hangups. Ray's secretly delighted to have an "out" over this uncomfortable situation, but as he's about to leave he suddenly realizes just how much good he could do by sleeping with Molly, and sweet-talks her into going through with their arrangement. Considering Tanya's labeled their business a "Happiness Consultant", it seems that Ray took a signifant step forward in realizing just what that means. It's not all about sexy for money, it can also be a valuable emotional bandage and self-esteem boost for women.

The subplot weren't great, but there were signs that Ray's kids are getting their own little stories now. Ray took Damon (Charlie Saxton) and Darby (Sianoa Smit-McPhee) to a drive-in movie, and got a little insight into his daughter's love-life when she noticed her ex-boyfriend Hammer (Michael Blaiklock) hanging out with a slutty new girl and Damon attacked him for dumping his sister so cruelly. I'm pleased to see the Drecker kids getting something to do and feeling like real people, but it still amuses me how neither resemble their screen parents in any way. It's just bizarre casting. Charlie Saxton would make the perfect son for Flight Of The Conchords' Jermaine Clement, but Thomas Jane? No, just no...

Overall, "The Pickle Jar" was a nicely-written and enjoyable episode that made me forget last week's dip and got things back on-track. I still have some concerns about the longterm appeal of this show, and everything that Ray stands to lose if he doesn't make some cash (his house, his kids) doesn't really concern me, but Hung's still quite fun and interesting. I also loved the suggestion that the "love note" Ray left in the peace-offering to neighbour Yael (Alanna Ubach) wasn't intentional after all, but now Yael has completely the wrong idea about Ray's feelings towards her. Plus, there was an amusing moments where Lenore shared a scene with Ray's ex-wife Jessica (Anne Heche) at a beauty parlour... and it seems likely that Jessica will eventually become one of her ex's clients, don't you think?


5 November 2009
More4, 10pm

written by: Colette Burson & Dmitry Lipkin directed by: David Petrarca starring: Thomas Jane (Ray Drecker), Jane Adams (Tanya Skagle), Anne Heche (Jessica Haxon), Charlie Saxton (Damon Drecker), Sianoa Smit-McPhee (Darby Drecker), Eddie Jemison (Ronnie Haxon), Justen Balay (Gary), Michael Blaiklock (Hammer), Rebecca Creskoff (Lenore), Steve Hytner (Floyd Gerber), Margo Martindale (Molly), Jillian Rose Reed (Skinny Girl), Margo Martindale (Molly) & Alanna Ubach (Yael Koontz)

HUNG 1.3 - "Strange Friends, or The Truth Is You're Sexy"

[SPOILERS] After a decent pilot and a good second episode, this third instalment didn't really click with me. Right now I'm concerned that, beyond the enjoyment of seing Ray (Thomas Jane) get it on with "clients" as a fledgling gigolo, there's not too much to entertain me elsewhere...

In "Strange Friends, or The Truth Is You're Sexy", Ray locks horns with his irksome neighbour Howard (Loren Lester) over him peeing in a lake, after he calls the cops about his indecent behaviour. His pimp Tanya (Jane Adams) also starts to doubt her abilities when their first client Lenore (Rebecca Creskoff) refuses to pay and maxes out Ray's credit cards she stole from his wallet. We also visit Ray's ex-wife Jessica (Anne Heche) who buys an arthritic, sickly dog and through her compassion makes a connection with her kids.

I think my issue with Hung right now is that I'm not really sure the premise can go anywhere interesting. It's ready-made to amuse people, but can it really grip? I'm not particularly interested in Ray's estranged family, and the only relationship of interest is between Ray and Tanya as business partners navigating their way through this unusual enterprise. Theirs is a fun dynamic and both actors are great, but there's not much of a strong storyline linking everything together yet. It's all baby steps right now, and I need something a bit more compelling to keep me tuning in every week. It's quirky, it's neatly written, but it hasn't really grabbed me dramatically.

By the episode's end, Lenore has apparently taken pity on mousy Tanya and agrees to spread the word about Ray's services as a "happiness consultant" (claiming she only stole his cash as commission), and Ray appears to be plotting a way to get back at his shit-stirring neighbour, by flirting with his sexy wife Yael (Alanna Ubach) using a provocative message hidden in Tanya's lyric cookies he offers the Koontz's as a peace offering. Good job Howard didn't eat them, eh?

Overall, I'm going to stick with Hung for awhile longer. I really like Jane and Adams as performers and the premise is amusing enough to keep my interest for now, but I need a more definite sense of direction and drama. Quirkiness is fine in a show, but there's only so much I can take before I start looking for solid story and a real sense of purpose to the material. And I keep asking myself: it's certainly amusing, but how compelling can the life of an upstart man-whore be? Hung has yet to show me.


29 October 2009
More4, 10pm

written by: Dmitry Lipkin & Colette Burson directed by: Scott Ellis starring: Thomas Jane (Ray Drecker), Jane Adams (Tanya Skagle), Eddie Jemison (Ronnie Haxon), Charlie Saxton (Damon Drecker), Sianoa Smit-McPhee (Darby Drecker), Anne Heche (Jessica Haxon), Rebecca Creskoff (Lenore), Sonya A. Avakian (Officer Rowan), Steve Hytner (Floyd Gerber), Loren Lester (Howard Koontz) & Alanna Ubach (Yael Koontz)

HUNG 1.2 – "'Great Sausage' or 'Can I Call You Dick?'"

[SPOILERS] There's a risk involved with any sex-related TV show of becoming sleazy, but that's neatly avoided by Hung simply because it focuses its attention on the male of the species. The notion of a gigolo is just funny somehow, probably because it's a reversal of expectation when it comes to prostitution, and Thomas Jane is a wonderful choice for a lead actor; handsome enough to be plausible as a male escort, affable enough for everyone to immediately like, and sympathetic enough for the guys to want to watch.

"'Great Sausage' or 'Can I Call You Dick?'" was a much breezier, funnier episode than the pilot, helped by its new half-hour duration (which is de rigueur for the actual series, thankfully) and its appealing approach to its potentially seedy subject-matter. In some ways this was more Tanya's (Jane Adams) story though, as she got to grips with her role as Ray's pimp by making a vital contact with glamourous personal shopper Lenore (Rebecca Creskoff) -- a plain-spoken man-eater who agrees to help spread the word about "happiness consultant" Tanya's new business, as long as she can test the goods for herself first.

So the tent-pole of the episode was seeing Ray get his first success under his belt, by arriving at Lenore's house for a rampant sex session, during which time he lost his wallet but couldn't rouse the stoned Lenore from her slumber the next morning, making him late for school and spending the day worrying that Lenore stole his wallet and now knows his true identity.

What became clear in this episode is that Hung's not quite as risqué as Californication (the David Duchovny sex-comedy it's essentially HBO's answer to), or as tightly scripted as Breaking Bad (which it shares a basic conceptual structure with, as both involve a downtrodden teacher venturing into illegal activities for the betterment of their families), but Hung is possibly more appealing as a result. And it's certainly not prudish, let's get that clear – there's dirty talk and nudity on the level of what you'd expect from an American subscription channel, so don't worry if you're expecting a totally sanitized viewpoint. I'm not expecting full-frontal nudity here, but the boys get to see breasts and the girls can relish Jane's artfully poised backside.

Overall, this was an entertaining follow-up to a pilot I quite liked, and has definitely persuaded me to stick with the show for awhile longer. Here in the UK, Hung is tucked away on More4 with precious little marketing, so I hope everyone will make the effort to seek it out. It's easy to pick up if you go in knowing the basic premise, so the excuse that you've missed the first two episodes won't wash.


22 October 2009
More4, 10pm

written by: Colette Burson & Dmitry Lipkin directed by: Craig Zisk starring: Thomas Jane (Ray Drecker), Jane Adams (Tanya Skagle), Eddie Jemison (Ronnie Haxon), Charlie Saxton (Damon Drecker), Sianoa Smit-McPhee (Darby Drecker), Anne Heche (Jessica Haxon), Taylor Ashlynn Beckett (Choir Singer), Karen Chmielnicki (Natasha), Jason Collett (Van Olsen), Rebecca Creskoff (Lenore), Joyce Greenleaf (Female Teacher), Gina Hecht (Principal Rhonda Barr), Gregg Henry (Mike), Frank Noel (Dan Libinsky), Jodi Riggins (Driver) & Bach Hoang (Pedicurist)

More4 get Hung

More4 have secured the UK broadcast rights to HBO's comedy-drama Hung, starring Thomas Jane as a Detroit P.E teacher who decides to become a gigolo because of the impressive size of his manhood. The show will start in October, a month after the ten-part season ends in the US. I reviewed the pilot here.

HUNG 1.1 - "Pilot"

[SPOILERS] It's frustrating that Thomas Jane has failed to make an impact at the movies (after solid performances in The Punisher, Stander and The Mist), but cinema's loss is television's gain as the actor headlines a new ten-part HBO comedy-drama about a high school coach who becomes a male escort...

Basketball coach Ray Drecker (Jane) is a former jock whose adult life has nosedived after leaving school himself. He split from his wife Jessica (Anne Heche) after she fell in love with a rich dermatologist, lost custody of his two kids after a house fire (the damage from which remains unfixed, so he lives in a tent in the garden), is struggling to make ends meet on a teacher's salary, and has a neighbour who's always griping about his untidy property. After attending an entrepreneurship seminar hosted by business brain Floyd Gerber (Steve Hytner), who asks attendees to discover their "winning tool" and use it to become successful, Ray is reminded by old flame Tanya Skagle (Jane Adams) that his USP is... well, the size of his manhood.

So begins Ray's journey into the world of a self-employed male escort, as he places an ad in the local newspaper under the pseudonym "Big Donnie" and misses an important basketball match to meet his first client...

Hung felt like a frothier version of AMC's Breaking Bad; another series about a sad-sack high school teacher who takes extraordinary steps into a fringe lifestyle. But, whereas Breaking Bad deals with lung cancer and drugs, Hung tackles a far less thorny issue: the emasculation of men. There's certainly potential to stray into dark territory here, but I got the impression Hung will be fairly lighthearted. Female prostitution either results in gritty drama, or fantasies of empowerment (Secret Diary Of A Call Girl), but male prostitution has always been a comical notion. That's probably because a man offering sexual services isn't usually under any threat himself. I'm hoping we're in for a small-screen version of Midnight Cowboy, but would a more serious version of Deuce Bigelow: Male Gigolo be more accurate?

Is it worth sticking around for more? Certainly, the pilot was deftly handled and did a fantastic job setting up the situation and characters, but nothing screamed at me to keep watching. However, if there is a reason to see where Hung is headed, it's Thomas Jane, who shouldered the whole episode very well and made for an identifiable and likeable protagonist. Jane Adams was also very good as eccentric poet Tanya, who puts aside her aspiration to pioneer "Lyric Bread" (a version of Chinese fortune cookies with laminated poetry inside loafs) in favour of becoming Ray's feminist pimp. She'll at least write a catchier advert. Anne Heche was also good as Ray's ex-wife, but I found it rather odd that their screen kids didn't seem to resemble Heche or Jane in any clear way, in appearances and attitudes, but I suppose it's too early to really know for sure.

Overall, there's enough here to keep me watching for now, but I'm more admiring of Hung than loving it after one episode. I like the idea that Ray's never managed to evolve beyond high school (the scene of his adolescent heyday), how a nerd like Ronnie (Eddie Jamison) has managed to steal away a jock's childhood sweetheart in adulthood (the balance of male power tends to flip after school), and how the setting of rundown Detroit underpins Hung's idea that masculine things (a once-thriving car industry, athletic teenagers) come to feel the pinch in later life as the world changes around them.


28 June 2009
HBO, 9pm

written by: Dmitry Lipkin & Colette Burson directed by: Alexander Payne starring: Thomas Jane (Ray Drecker), Jane Adams (Tanya Skagle), Eddie Jamison (Ronnie Haxon), Charlie Saxton (Damon Drecker), Sianoa Smit-McPhee (Darby Drecker), Anne Heche (Jessica Haxon), Mike Ancrile (Bartender), Gregg Henry (Mike), Steve Hytner (Floyd Gerber), Loren Lester (Howard Koontz), Norma Jean Riddick (Party Guest) & Eric Tuchelske (Hotel Guest)