Dirty Old Men

Showtime’s new breakout series is a 'dramedy' called Californication, starring David Duchovny as Hank Moody, a middle-aged Hollywood Lothario who medicates his possibly career-ending writer’s block with sex and drugs, amidst the wreckage of his relationship with the mother of his devoted teenage daughter. Moody's lone novel, God Hates Us All, was turned into an allegedly lame, but quite successful big screen romcom called A Crazy Little Thing Called Love, much to the deep chagrin of our 'hero', who fancies himself a "one hit-wonder" too busy skirt-chasing and espousing rivers of sarcasm to sit down and confront the muse. Previews for the show were enticing and the first episode easily lived up to our expectations. Duchovny does a great job playing Moody, who despite the potential for one-dimensional characterization has been written with many layers and facets in mind. But what really surprised and shocked us was finding out that one of Duchovny’s onscreen lovers, the very yummy Madeline Zima, was once…the youngest child on The Nanny! Noooo! (Not to mention the little daughter in The Hand That Rocks The Cradle.) Man, do we feel old. And dirty. (She’s 22 now, by the way.) In any event, Californication follows the award-winning Weeds on Monday nights and looks to be a welcome addition to the Showtime lineup. You could do much worse.