"Californication" Pilot (2007)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Stephen Hopkins

Writer:

Tom Kapinos (written by)

TV Series:

"Californication" (2007)

Original Air Date:

13 August 2007 (Season 1, Episode 1)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Meet Hank Moody, a depressed writer with a writer's block who has a daughter, an ex he wants back and lots of casual sex.

Plot Keywords:

Writer | Sex | Nudity | Undressing | Father Daughter Relationship

Cast

David Duchovny	...	Hank Moody
Natascha McElhone	...	Karen
Madeleine Martin	...	Becca Moody
Madeline Zima	...	Mia Lewis
Evan Handler	...	Charlie Runkle
Pamela Adlon	...	Marcy
Amy Price-Francis	...	Meredith
Michele Nordin	...	Nun / Heather
Camille Langfield	...	Sandy Carr
Philip Shahbaz	...	Man on Cell Phone
Chase Penny	...	Tattooed Millionaire
Miriam T. Green	...	Penny Lyons
Alison Mei Lan	...	Hot Woman
Stephen Sowan	...	Drunk Kid
Michael H. Barnett	...	Gawky Dweeb

Runtime:

33 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

USA:TV-MA

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Aggressive Mediocrity

Trivia:

Seven advertisers, including Burger King, Finish Dishwashing Liquid, CRC, Cadbury, Flight Center, Ferrit, and the Ministry Of Economic Development all pulled their advertising from the show after this pilot aired in New Zealand.

Goofs:

Continuity: After picking up Becca from the party, Hank and Karen have a glass of wine together. The camera shows Karen pouring herself a glass of wine and then Hank's. The camera switches to Hank and then back to Karen, where she is shown pouring her glass of wine again.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Hank Moody: [to Jesus] Hey, big guy, you and me. We've never done this before but desperate times call for desperate measures. My name is Hank.
Nun: Hello, Hank.

Movie Connections:

References Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Soundtrack:

Mojo

A top-notch first episode

From its controversial opening scene to its excellent finale, the first episode of "Californication" sets the tone for the series. Stylishly directed by the always-reliable Stephen Hopkins, the pilot is thoroughly entertaining adult comedy. Watching the first episode reminded me a little of a modern Blake Edwards' production.

The cast are excellent, especially David Duchovny as the seedy Hank Moody, a man whose mid-life crisis is on display for all to see, from his Porsche to his constant bed-hopping.

The script is sharp and the whole show exudes quality.

Recommended.