Well…Hung
No, I have not transitioned this into a pornography review site. [You may have noticed a style revamp, but that is purely coincidental.]
There is no way I was going to pass on the opportunity to play with the title of this new HBO series. And thankfully, when you Google the word hung…actual websites for the show and for American Idol reject William Hung populate the first page. I imagined the search result would be far more graphic.
HBDoh!
Like many, I have been generally disappointed by the original programming that HBO has offered since the end of Deadwood, Six Feet Under and The Sopranos. Currently, I am only a dedicated fan of Entourage and True Blood. Yes, I know – I should also be watching In Treatment (it tops my long list of shows to watch after Lost ends next season).
Well…Hung
Thus far, I have only tuned in to the pilot of Hung. The first episode trudged along, and the pacing could have been better. It was not an instant sell and I am not hooked, but I am intrigued enough by the premise and cast to give it a few more episodes before deciding to either set a Season Pass or stop watching altogether.
In short (not so much), Thomas Jane plays a down-on-his-luck, divorced high school coach who decides to market his best asset in order to improve his life; though we do not get a glimpse of the whip behind his zip, we quickly ascertain that there is potential for both great success and comedy of errors.
I haven’t made up my mind about how I feel about leading man Jane yet. However, I do love his partner-in-pimp Jane Adams; she has been in some of my favorite films (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Wonder Boys) and reminds me of Susan Sarandon in the 80′s. Personal life aside, I enjoy watching Anne Heche on the small screen. It is a shame that the underrated Men in Trees was canceled before the show was able to wrap up her story line.
Separated at birth?
I do love that the children of the good looking Jane and Heche are anything but Stepford. By the way, goth teen Damon is a young doppelganger for Jermaine on Flight of the Conchords.
Rich in quirky
The creative team behind the series gives me hope for its future. Hung is from the mind of Colette Burson and Dmitry Lipkin, who brought us The Riches. The tone and feel of first episode reminded me of an Alexander Payne movie…so I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the pilot was directed by Payne himself (Election, Sideways).
Initial grade: B
I recommend that you give Hung a shot and decide for yourselves. As a longtime viewer, I feel as though I am entitled to hold HBO to higher standards. Given the network’s track record and brilliant programming in years past, I remain cautiously optimistic that Hung will improve with each episode.
In the meantime, however, I am enjoying Showtime’s resurgence and fare far more: Dexter, Nurse Jackie, United States of Tara and Weeds.