Californication (TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = Californication


caption =
genre = Comedy-drama
creator = Tom Kapinos
camera =
picture_format =
location = California
runtime = Approximately 28 minutes per episode
developer =
executive_producer = David Duchovny Tom Kapinos Stephen Hopkins
starring = David Duchovny Natascha McElhone Madeleine Martin Madeline Zima Evan Handler Pamela Adlon
narrated =
opentheme =
endtheme =
country = USA
network = Showtime
first_aired = August 13, 2007
last_aired = present
num_seasons = 2
num_episodes = 14
list_episodes = List of Californication episodes
website = http://www.sho.com/site/californication/home.do
imdb_id = 0904208
tv_com_id = 68749

"Californication" is a Showtime TV series production created by Tom Kapinos and starring David Duchovny as Hank Moody, a troubled novelist whose move to Los Angeles and problems with his job complicate the relationships with his ex-girlfriend Karen (Natascha McElhone) and daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin).

The show was renewed for a second season on September 7 2007. [cite news | url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i1f2de64a1d24bd559578d80d0ac42fd4 | title='Californication's' next chapter | date=2007-09-07 | publisher=Hollywood Reporter | author=Nordyke, Kimberly | accessdate=2007-09-12 ] The season 1 finale, titled "The Last Waltz", originally aired on Showtime on October 29, 2007. Season 2 began filming in April, 2008, [cite news | url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117971522.html?categoryid=1238&cs=1 | title=Showtime renews 'Californication' | publisher=Variety (magazine) | accessdate=2007-12-17 | last=Adalian|first= Josef | date=2007-09-06] and was underway as of June 2008. [cite news | url=http://californicationblog.sho.com/ | title=Californication Official Blog | publisher=Sho.com(Official website) | accessdate=2008-06-28 | date=2008-06-24] The premiere episode of season 2 aired September 28, 2008. The first season was released on DVD in the US on June 17, 2008.

Air times worldwide

List of episodes

Characters

Main characters

*Hank Moody (David Duchovny)
*Karen van der Beek (Natascha McElhone) - Hank's ex-girlfriend
*Rebecca "Becca" Moody (Madeleine Martin) - Hank & Karen's 12 year old daughter
*Charlie Runkle (Evan Handler) - Hank's agent
*Marcy Runkle (Pamela Adlon) - Charlie's wife
*Mia Lewis (Madeline Zima) - Bill's 16 year old daughter

Recurring characters

*Dani California (Rachel Miner) - Charlie's secretary
*Bill Lewis (Damian Young) - Karen's fiancé

Critical Reaction

The critical reaction for "Californication" has been generally favorable, with a rating of 70 on Metacritic. [cite web | url=http://www.metacritic.com/tv/shows/californication | title="Californication" | publisher=Metacritic | accessdate=2007-08-22 ] However there has been a backlash from conservative groups who oppose the explicit nature of the program. "Californication" has been criticized by conservative columnist Andrew Bolt in the Australian newspaper the "Herald Sun", specifically the first episode's opening dream scene in which a nun performs oral sex on Hank Moody. [cite news | url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22324138-5000117,00.html | title=Just how low can you go with Californication? | date=2007-08-29 | publisher=Herald Sun | author=Bolt, Andrew | accessdate=2007-08-30 ] The Australian Christian Lobby’s managing director Jim Wallace also called for a boycott, not only of Network Ten, but all advertisers who advertise during the show, in response to a scene in which Hank and a woman (played by Paula Marshall) smoke marijuana, have sex and subsequently both vomit. [cite news | url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,22360980-10388,00.html | title=Drugs, sex and vomit prompt Californication boycott call | date=2007-09-04 | publisher=News.com.au | author=Schliebs, Mark | accessdate=2007-09-04 ]

The show premiered on Thursday, November 8, 2007 in New Zealand amidst controversy due to issues raised by the conservative lobby group Family First, who objected to the content of the show. The group called for families to boycott any company advertising during the episode which it described as "drug, sex and vomit-laden." [cite web | url=http://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?l=1&t=0&id=8990 | title=Boycott drug, sex and vomit-laden programme, says Family First | accessdate=2007-11-09 | format= | work= ] [cite web | url=http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/index.cfm/action_alert/tv3_californication.html | title=Family First Call For Boycott | accessdate=2007-11-09 | format= | work= ] [cite web | url=http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/index.cfm/californication.html | title=Family First Press Release outlining their objections to the show | accessdate=2007-11-09 | format= | work= ]

The show and lead actor David Duchovny were both nominated for Golden Globes in 2007; Duchovny won the lead actor award, but the award for best TV series in this category went to "Extras". [ [http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/ HFPA - Nominations and Winners ] ]

DVD release

Season One of "Californication" was released on DVD in the UK on June 16 2008. The bonus features in the UK release included an audio commentary of the pilot episode, as well as interviews with the cast and director. The Season One DVD set was also released in the US on June 17 2008, Australia on June 19 2008 (the box set in Australia also included a black g-string with "Californication" printed on the front), and France earlier than other countries on July 10 2008.

Lawsuit

The Red Hot Chili Peppers filed a lawsuit on November 19th 2007 [ [http://www.aolcdn.com/tmz_documents/1119_rhcp_lawsuit_wm.pdf] ] against Showtime Networks over the name of the series, which is also the name of the band's 1999 album and hit single.

References

External links

* [http://www.sho.com/site/californication/ Official site]
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