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Californication (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Californication is an American comedy-drama
that premiered on Showtime on August 13, 2007. The show was created by Tom Kapinos
. The protagonist, Hank Moody
(David Duchovny
), is a troubled novelist whose move to California, coupled with his writer's block
, complicates his relationships with his longtime girlfriend Karen (Natascha McElhone
) and daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin
). Californications other main characters are Charlie Runkle (Evan Handler
), Marcy Runkle (Pamela Adlon
), and Mia Lewis (Madeline Zima
). The show has been nominated and won several awards, including winning one Emmy Award (nominated for two others) and one Golden Globe Award (nominated for three others). Californication has aired for four complete seasons. Due to strong ratings for the third season premiere, Showtime renewed the show early for a fourth season. Season four began filming in April 2010 and premiered January 9, 2011. Also in January 2011, Showtime announced that it had renewed the show for a fifth season. This was confirmed by Kapinos on March 27, 2011. Season five began filming in April 2011 and is set to premiere on January 8, 2012.
of Los Angeles to the departure of his girlfriend Karen. Hank constantly deals with the consequences of his inability to say "no" to drugs, sex and alcohol, while trying to show his family that he can be a good, responsible, caring father to Becca and a monogamous partner to Karen.
The show was renewed for a second season on September 7, 2007. The season 1 finale, titled "The Last Waltz", originally aired on Showtime on October 29, 2007. Season 2 began filming in April 2008, and was underway as of June 2008. The premiere episode of season 2 aired September 28, 2008. The first season was released on DVD in the US on June 17, 2008. Showtime renewed Californication for a third season, which premiered on Sunday September 27, 2009 at 10 pm.
After picking up a younger woman in a bookstore and eventually having sex with her, Hank finds out that she is actually Bill's 16-year-old daughter, Mia. Hank spends most of his time drinking and not writing. Meanwhile, Mia continues to harass Hank during his visits to his family. She uses the threat of exposing his illegal sex with her as leverage to extort stories from him that she passes off as her own for her high school creative-writing class. The death of Hank's father triggers an alcohol-fueled binge and a sexual encounter with Karen.
After his father's funeral, Hank stays in New York to finish a manuscript
for a new novella
. However, upon returning to L.A., he believes the original copy to be lost when he is carjacked. Mia, however, had previously copied the original and takes credit for it herself. On Karen and Bill's wedding day, Hank chooses to accept the way things are; but, as he leaves the reception with his daughter Becca, Karen runs out and jumps into his car, presumably to re-start their life together.
On June 3, 2008 Showtime released the season one soundtrack Temptation: Music From The Showtime Series Californication
; it features music from the original series. Artists included on the soundtrack are The Rolling Stones
, Peeping Tom
, My Morning Jacket
, The Doors
, Tommy Stinson
, Bob Dylan
, Harvey Danger
, Madeleine Martin
, Gus Black
, Mexican institute of sound
, Warren Zevon
, The Heavy
, Champion
, Steve Earle
, Elton John
, and two original tracks created for the show by Tyler Bates
& Tree Adams
and attends a party invited by Sonja, a woman he had sex with in Season 1. A mistake and a fight with an obnoxious police officer lands Hank in jail, where he meets Lew Ashby, world-famous record producer, who commissions Hank to write his biography.
Charlie loses his job because of masturbating in his office several times and becomes the paternal figure and agent of a porn star named Daisy. Charlie decides to get into the porn industry and spend the majority of his and Marcy's nest egg financing the porn movie Vaginatown, starring Daisy. Marcy goes into rehab for her cocaine
addiction
, and Charlie starts an affair with Daisy. Hank proposes to Karen on the night they discover Hank could be the father of Sonja's child, and Karen says, "No". Karen decides she and Hank can't be together, leading Hank to go back to his old ways and continuing the show's centrality on clandestine sexuality.
Hank moves in with Ashby, who starts a romance with Mia (much to Hank's dismay). Becca finds a boyfriend named Damien. Mia's book becomes a hit; and Ashby holds a party in its honor, where Damien cheats on Becca and Charlie decides to divorce Marcy to get together with Daisy. After the party, Hank sees that Ashby's old girlfriend (The One That Got Away) has finally shown up to see Lew. When Hank goes upstairs to get him, Ashby dies after snorting heroin, which he had mistaken for cocaine.
Hank finishes Ashby's biography. Charlie ends up working in a BMW
dealership in the Valley
, introducing himself as Chuck Runkle. Sonja's baby is born and is biracial, making it clear that Hank cannot be the father. Hank and Karen are slowly starting to get together again. Karen is offered a job in New York; and Hank is happy to go back to New York with her; but, when Damien apologizes to Becca and the two get back together again, Hank decides it would be wrong to take Becca out of Los Angeles. He decides to stay, while Karen starts her job in New York. The season closes with Karen's plane leaving for New York
and Hank and Becca walking on the Venice boardwalk.
The focus of Hank's relationship with Becca moved from friendly to decidedly more moody as she progresses through her teenage years. Hank continued his battle with his inability as a father as he watched his daughter become more like him than he wanted. This was mixed with various relationships with women of differing ages that complicated his relationship with his long-time love Karen.
In the season finale, Hank has recurring nightmares in which he is afloat in a pool, drinking heavily and talking to the women he has recently slept with, who are naked and swimming around him. Karen and Becca are on the side of the pool. In reality, Mia returns to Hank's home and offers the family an invitation to go to the media launch of the paperback version of her book. At the after-party, Hank meets Mia's new boyfriend, who is also her manager. He knows of the history between Mia and Hank and offers Hank a way out by coming clean to the press about the novel and how it came about. However, Hank is unwilling to do so as it will affect Karen and Becca. Upon another meeting, the two men break into a fight, after which Mia's boyfriend threatens to call the police. Hank leaves and goes home to Karen and tells her the truth about sleeping with Mia in season one, and Karen breaks down uncontrollably. The argument breaks out onto the street; and, as Hank attempts to console the still-hysterical Karen, a police car arrives on the scene. Two officers step out of the car; and, when one of them grabs Hank from behind, Hank lashes out and hits him. He is then bundled into the back of the car as Becca runs to try to stop the police. He is taken away, leaving Becca and Karen alone on the street. The final scene shows a dream sequence of Hank in the pool again, drinking out of the bottle. He falls from his seat and drops his drink; and the last shot shows Hank sinking, with the bottle remaining in shot.
as Abby, Hank's lawyer; Zoë Kravitz
as Becca's new friend, who gets her to join her all-girl band, Queens of Dogtown; Addison Timlin
as Sasha Bingham, a movie star, and Rob Lowe
as Eddy Nero, a famous actor who wants to play Hank's character in a movie. Zakk Wylde
, singer and guitarist for Black Label Society
and former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne
, has a cameo as a guitar shop employee in episode 2 entitled "Suicide Solution", title taken from the Ozzy Osbourne song. Michael Ealy
played a new love interest for Karen in four episodes, and Madeline Zima
returned as Mia for four episodes.
Season four picks up 72 hours after Hank is arrested at the end of Season 3 and revolves around Hank's thoroughly destroyed life. His secrets have come to light and the world knows that Hank penned Fucking & Punching, also revealing that he slept with Mia. Karen hates Hank's guts and Becca is disappointed in her father, so Hank goes to live at a hotel. Season 4 focuses mostly on Hank's new legal troubles and the development of a movie adaptation of "Fucking & Punching". Other developing story lines include Charlie learning his vasectomy may have been botched and he may have impregnated Marcy, Becca joining an all female rock band, Karen finding a new boyfriend, and the various troubles Hank causes with film production and with his lawyer's attempts to get Hank acquitted of a statutory rape charge with little to no help on Hank's part.
On January 11, 2011 the Californication Season 4 Soundtrack was released The soundtrack features music in Season Four of Californication. Exclusive tracks include Tommy Lee
’s solo version of “Home Sweet Home” and three rock covers from the show’s on-screen band Queens of Dogtown. Other artists on the soundtrack are Shooter Jennings
& Hierophant
, Eagles of Death Metal
, Better Than Ezra
, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult
, Monster Magnet
vs. Adrian Young, Cracker
, The Soundtrack of Our Lives
, Warren Zevon
, and Gregory Alan Isakov. The soundtrack was co-produced by Nora Felder and Budd Carr, the show’s music supervisors.
) will reprise their roles as Hank's daughter and ex-girlfriend, but will start the season aboard an RV
on a road trip with Ben (Michael Ealy
) and his daughter Pearl (Zoë Kravitz
). The romance between Marcy (Pamela Adlon
) and Stu Baggs (Stephen Tobolowsky
) will be further explored, as well as how that relationship is affected by Marcy's pregnancy with Charlie Runkle's (Evan Handler
) baby.
gave Season 1 an "F" rating on The AV Club, calling it "insufferable."
There has been a backlash from conservative groups who oppose the explicit nature of the program. Conservative columnist Andrew Bolt
criticized the program in the Australian newspaper the Herald Sun
for the pilot's opening dream scene, in which a nun performs oral sex on Hank Moody in a church. 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 Sonja smoke marijuana, have sex, and vomit. When Network Ten premiered Season 2, the Christian fundamentalist group Salt Shakers led an e-mail campaign against advertisers, requesting they withdraw their advertisements. This resulted in 49 companies withdrawing their advertising, including the show's main sponsor, Just Car Insurance.
The show and the 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
.
filed a lawsuit on November 19, 2007 against Showtime Networks over the name of the series, which is also the name of the band's 1999 album
and hit single
. They state in the lawsuit that the series "constitutes a false designation of origin, and has caused and continues to cause a likelihood of confusion, mistake, and deception as to source, sponsorship, affiliation, and/or connection in the minds of the public". Pointing to Dani California, a character who appears in both the series and three songs by the Red Hot Chili Peppers (including Californication) as well as confusion when shopping for their album and that of the series soundtrack, the band members are seeking unspecified damages. They are also requesting that a new name be found for the TV show.
Showtime Networks is expected to argue that the band did not in fact create the term Californication. They point out that the term appeared in print in Time
magazine in 1972, in an article called The Great Wild Californicated West. Canadian art-rock band the Rheostatics
released an album called Whale Music
in 1992, with a song called "California Dreamline". In this song, the word Californication appears in the phrase "Californication, spooning in the dry sand".
Kim Walker, head of intellectual property at Pinsent Masons
, states that the band should have registered Californication as a trademark
. Instead, the only application for such was filed in April 2007 in the US, by Showtime. The mark has not yet been registered. Walker has also stated:
In the United States
, character names and titles of works are only subject to trademark protection, not copyright protection. The legal matter remains unresolved.
. However, Season 3 steadily gained viewership, and the show was quickly picked up for a fourth season by Showtime.
, ELEVEN
, showcase
– ORF
– Warner Channel
– Channel One (Russia)
– RTBF
/ 2BE – Warner Channel
/ SBT – HBO / AXN
/ bTV Comedy
– The Movie Network
, Movie Central
– Warner Channel
– HRT
– ČT1
, HBO, HBO HD, AXN
, AXN HD
– TV2 Zulu/TV2 Danmark – TV6
, Sony TV – Nelonen
– M6 – AXN
, RTL2 – Skai TV
– AXN
, HBO – Skjár Einn – FX, Zee Café
– HOT3, HOT3 HD, HOT V.O.D – Italia 1
/ Jimmy – Fox
– TV6
– TV3
, TV6
– Warner Channel
– Comedy Central
– TV3
– TV 2 (Norway)
– TVN
, TVN HD
, HBO, HBO HD, Universal Channel
, Comedy Central
– RTP2, FOX
– HBO Romania – DTV, MTV
, Channel One (Russia)
– FDF – TV Avala
/ B92
– POP TV
– DStv
– TV4 – SRG SSR – ComedyMax
– 1+1
– FIVE.TV – Warner Channel
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
that premiered on Showtime on August 13, 2007. The show was created by Tom Kapinos
Tom Kapinos
Tom Kapinos is a Greek-American television executive producer and screenwriter best known for his creation of the television series Californication....
. The protagonist, Hank Moody
Hank Moody
Henry James "Hank" Moody, portrayed by David Duchovny, is a fictional character who serves as the protagonist of the Showtime television series Californication...
(David Duchovny
David Duchovny
David William Duchovny is an American actor, writer and director. He has won Golden Globe awards for his work as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files and as Hank Moody on Californication.-Early life:...
), is a troubled novelist whose move to California, coupled with his writer's block
Writer's block
Writer's block is a condition, primarily associated with writing as a profession, in which an author loses the ability to produce new work. The condition varies widely in intensity. It can be trivial, a temporary difficulty in dealing with the task at hand. At the other extreme, some "blocked"...
, complicates his relationships with his longtime girlfriend Karen (Natascha McElhone
Natascha McElhone
Natascha McElhone is an English actress of stage, screen and television, best known for her roles in Ronin, The Truman Show and Solaris. McElhone also plays a leading role in the Showtime series Californication....
) and daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin
Madeleine Martin
Madeleine Elizabeth Martin plays the character Rebecca "Becca" Moody on Showtime comedy-drama Californication. She is a student at the School of American Ballet.-Career:...
). Californications other main characters are Charlie Runkle (Evan Handler
Evan Handler
Evan Handler is an American actor who is best known for playing Harry Goldenblatt, Charlotte's divorce attorney and later husband, on Sex and the City, and Charlie Runkle, Hank's comically bumbling friend and agent, on Californication.-Early life:Handler was born in New York City, the son of Enid...
), Marcy Runkle (Pamela Adlon
Pamela Adlon
Pamela Fionna Adlon is a Jewish-American actress, voice actress, and producer. She is sometimes credited as Pamela Segall, Pamela S. Adlon and Pamela Segall Adlon...
), and Mia Lewis (Madeline Zima
Madeline Zima
Madeline Rose Zima is an American actress. She is mostly known for her six years as Grace Sheffield on the TV series The Nanny or more recently as Mia Lewis on the Showtime dramedy Californication and as Gretchen Berg on Heroes.-Early life:Zima was born in New Haven, Connecticut, to Marie and...
). The show has been nominated and won several awards, including winning one Emmy Award (nominated for two others) and one Golden Globe Award (nominated for three others). Californication has aired for four complete seasons. Due to strong ratings for the third season premiere, Showtime renewed the show early for a fourth season. Season four began filming in April 2010 and premiered January 9, 2011. Also in January 2011, Showtime announced that it had renewed the show for a fifth season. This was confirmed by Kapinos on March 27, 2011. Season five began filming in April 2011 and is set to premiere on January 8, 2012.
Series overview
The series revolves around Hank Moody, a novelist plagued by personal demons. He blames his longtime writer's block on a variety of reasons, ranging from the hedonismHedonism
Hedonism is a school of thought which argues that pleasure is the only intrinsic good. In very simple terms, a hedonist strives to maximize net pleasure .-Etymology:The name derives from the Greek word for "delight" ....
of Los Angeles to the departure of his girlfriend Karen. Hank constantly deals with the consequences of his inability to say "no" to drugs, sex and alcohol, while trying to show his family that he can be a good, responsible, caring father to Becca and a monogamous partner to Karen.
The show was renewed for a second season on September 7, 2007. The season 1 finale, titled "The Last Waltz", originally aired on Showtime on October 29, 2007. Season 2 began filming in April 2008, and was underway as of June 2008. The premiere episode of season 2 aired September 28, 2008. The first season was released on DVD in the US on June 17, 2008. Showtime renewed Californication for a third season, which premiered on Sunday September 27, 2009 at 10 pm.
Season one
Season 1 (August 13 – October 29, 2007) followed Hank and the other main characters in the months leading up to Karen's planned marriage to Bill, a Los Angeles publisher. Hank is wallowing deep in self-loathing following the release of A Crazy Little Thing Called Love, a drastically altered and watered-down (yet commercially popular) movie adaptation of his most recent novel, God Hates Us All.After picking up a younger woman in a bookstore and eventually having sex with her, Hank finds out that she is actually Bill's 16-year-old daughter, Mia. Hank spends most of his time drinking and not writing. Meanwhile, Mia continues to harass Hank during his visits to his family. She uses the threat of exposing his illegal sex with her as leverage to extort stories from him that she passes off as her own for her high school creative-writing class. The death of Hank's father triggers an alcohol-fueled binge and a sexual encounter with Karen.
After his father's funeral, Hank stays in New York to finish a manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
for a new novella
Novella
A novella is a written, fictional, prose narrative usually longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000...
. However, upon returning to L.A., he believes the original copy to be lost when he is carjacked. Mia, however, had previously copied the original and takes credit for it herself. On Karen and Bill's wedding day, Hank chooses to accept the way things are; but, as he leaves the reception with his daughter Becca, Karen runs out and jumps into his car, presumably to re-start their life together.
On June 3, 2008 Showtime released the season one soundtrack Temptation: Music From The Showtime Series Californication
Temptation: Music From The Showtime Series Californication
Temptation: Music From The Showtime Series Californication was the first album released in association with the popular television series Californication. It contained music that had been featured in the first series of the show,-Track listing:...
; it features music from the original series. Artists included on the soundtrack are The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, Peeping Tom
Peeping Tom
Peeping Tom is a nickname commonly given to voyeurs, particularly males. It originated with the legend of Lady Godiva, when a man named Tom watched her during her nude ride and was struck blind or dead.It may also refer to:In music...
, My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket is an American rock band from Louisville, Kentucky.The band consists of Jim James , Tom 'Two-Tone Tommy' Blankenship , Patrick Hallahan , Carl Broemel , and Bo Koster .-History:My Morning Jacket was...
, The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
, Tommy Stinson
Tommy Stinson
Thomas "Tommy" Eugene Stinson is an American musician best known for his work as the bassist for The Replacements and Guns N' Roses as well as the post-Replacements groups Bash & Pop, where he performed guitar duties, and Perfect...
, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, Harvey Danger
Harvey Danger
Harvey Danger was an American indie rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1993, and rose to prominence in 1998 with the single "Flagpole Sitta." On August 29, 2009, the band played its final show at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle....
, Madeleine Martin
Madeleine Martin
Madeleine Elizabeth Martin plays the character Rebecca "Becca" Moody on Showtime comedy-drama Californication. She is a student at the School of American Ballet.-Career:...
, Gus Black
Gus Black
Gus Black is an American singer-songwriter/producer from Los Angeles. He signed to Almo Sounds, a subsidiary of A&M Records, and released two albums on the label, 1996's Gus and 1999's Word of Mouth Parade. He covered Blue Öyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper" for the Scream soundtrack...
, Mexican institute of sound
Mexican Institute of Sound
Mexican Institute of Sound is an electronic music project created by Mexico City-based DJ and producer Camilo Lara. By day, Lara is the president of EMI Mexico and at night he is mastermind of M.I.S. Along with groups like Nortec Collective and Kinky, M.I.S...
, Warren Zevon
Warren Zevon
Warren William Zevon was an American rock singer-songwriter and musician noted for including his sometimes sardonic opinions of life in his musical lyrics, composing songs that were sometimes humorous and often had political or historical themes.Zevon's work has often been praised by well-known...
, The Heavy
The Heavy (band)
The Heavy are an indie rock band who claim to be from Noid, England, allegedly a small hamlet near Bath. However, no such place appears to exist.-History:...
, Champion
Champion
A champion is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition.There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, and even further divisions at one or more of these levels, as in soccer. Their champions...
, Steve Earle
Steve Earle
Stephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, and two original tracks created for the show by Tyler Bates
Tyler Bates
Tyler Bates is a music producer and composer for films. His most known work includes "The Hangman's Song" and various other tracks from the zombie horror film Dawn of the Dead, and 2008's Day of the Dead...
& Tree Adams
Season two
In Season 2 (September 28 – December 14, 2008), the newly reunited couple of Hank and Karen seems to be working out, their house is on the market, and Becca seems happy again. Hank gets a vasectomyVasectomy
Vasectomy is a surgical procedure for male sterilization and/or permanent birth control. During the procedure, the vasa deferentia of a man are severed, and then tied/sealed in a manner such to prevent sperm from entering into the seminal stream...
and attends a party invited by Sonja, a woman he had sex with in Season 1. A mistake and a fight with an obnoxious police officer lands Hank in jail, where he meets Lew Ashby, world-famous record producer, who commissions Hank to write his biography.
Charlie loses his job because of masturbating in his office several times and becomes the paternal figure and agent of a porn star named Daisy. Charlie decides to get into the porn industry and spend the majority of his and Marcy's nest egg financing the porn movie Vaginatown, starring Daisy. Marcy goes into rehab for her cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
addiction
Substance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
, and Charlie starts an affair with Daisy. Hank proposes to Karen on the night they discover Hank could be the father of Sonja's child, and Karen says, "No". Karen decides she and Hank can't be together, leading Hank to go back to his old ways and continuing the show's centrality on clandestine sexuality.
Hank moves in with Ashby, who starts a romance with Mia (much to Hank's dismay). Becca finds a boyfriend named Damien. Mia's book becomes a hit; and Ashby holds a party in its honor, where Damien cheats on Becca and Charlie decides to divorce Marcy to get together with Daisy. After the party, Hank sees that Ashby's old girlfriend (The One That Got Away) has finally shown up to see Lew. When Hank goes upstairs to get him, Ashby dies after snorting heroin, which he had mistaken for cocaine.
Hank finishes Ashby's biography. Charlie ends up working in a BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
dealership in the Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
, introducing himself as Chuck Runkle. Sonja's baby is born and is biracial, making it clear that Hank cannot be the father. Hank and Karen are slowly starting to get together again. Karen is offered a job in New York; and Hank is happy to go back to New York with her; but, when Damien apologizes to Becca and the two get back together again, Hank decides it would be wrong to take Becca out of Los Angeles. He decides to stay, while Karen starts her job in New York. The season closes with Karen's plane leaving for New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Hank and Becca walking on the Venice boardwalk.
Season three
Season 3 (September 27 – December 13, 2009) began where Season 2 ended, with the key elements including Hank becoming a teacher, his ongoing relationship with his daughter Becca, and the various shenanigans he gets into when he is set loose on a college campus.The focus of Hank's relationship with Becca moved from friendly to decidedly more moody as she progresses through her teenage years. Hank continued his battle with his inability as a father as he watched his daughter become more like him than he wanted. This was mixed with various relationships with women of differing ages that complicated his relationship with his long-time love Karen.
In the season finale, Hank has recurring nightmares in which he is afloat in a pool, drinking heavily and talking to the women he has recently slept with, who are naked and swimming around him. Karen and Becca are on the side of the pool. In reality, Mia returns to Hank's home and offers the family an invitation to go to the media launch of the paperback version of her book. At the after-party, Hank meets Mia's new boyfriend, who is also her manager. He knows of the history between Mia and Hank and offers Hank a way out by coming clean to the press about the novel and how it came about. However, Hank is unwilling to do so as it will affect Karen and Becca. Upon another meeting, the two men break into a fight, after which Mia's boyfriend threatens to call the police. Hank leaves and goes home to Karen and tells her the truth about sleeping with Mia in season one, and Karen breaks down uncontrollably. The argument breaks out onto the street; and, as Hank attempts to console the still-hysterical Karen, a police car arrives on the scene. Two officers step out of the car; and, when one of them grabs Hank from behind, Hank lashes out and hits him. He is then bundled into the back of the car as Becca runs to try to stop the police. He is taken away, leaving Becca and Karen alone on the street. The final scene shows a dream sequence of Hank in the pool again, drinking out of the bottle. He falls from his seat and drops his drink; and the last shot shows Hank sinking, with the bottle remaining in shot.
Season four
Season 4 (January 9, 2011 – March 27, 2011) filming began on April 19, 2010. Guest stars included Carla GuginoCarla Gugino
Carla Gugino is an American actress known for her roles of Sally Jupiter in Watchmen, Dr. Vera Gorski in Sucker Punch, Lucille in Sin City, Amanda Daniels in seasons 3, 5 and 7 of Entourage, Ingrid Cortez in the Spy Kids film trilogy, and as the lead characters of the television series Karen Sisco...
as Abby, Hank's lawyer; Zoë Kravitz
Zoe Kravitz
Zoë Isabella Kravitz is an American actress, singer and model. She is the daughter of musician Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet. She has appeared in the films The Brave One with Jodie Foster, and No Reservations with Catherine Zeta-Jones...
as Becca's new friend, who gets her to join her all-girl band, Queens of Dogtown; Addison Timlin
Addison Timlin
Addison Timlin is an American actress. She appeared as Sasha Bingham in season four of Californication.-Career:...
as Sasha Bingham, a movie star, and Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe
Robert Hepler "Rob" Lowe is an American actor. Lowe came to prominence after appearing in films such as The Outsiders, Oxford Blues, About Last Night..., St. Elmo's Fire, and Wayne's World. On television, Lowe is known for his role as Sam Seaborn on The West Wing and his role as Senator Robert...
as Eddy Nero, a famous actor who wants to play Hank's character in a movie. Zakk Wylde
Zakk Wylde
Zachary Phillip Wylde , best known by the stage name Zakk Wylde, is an American musician, songwriter, and occasional actor who is best known as the former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and founder of the heavy metal band Black Label Society. He was the lead guitarist and vocalist in Pride & Glory,...
, singer and guitarist for Black Label Society
Black Label Society
Black Label Society is a heavy metal band formed by Zakk Wylde, with nine studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, one EP, and three video albums released since formation of the band.-Formation and Sonic Brew :...
and former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
, has a cameo as a guitar shop employee in episode 2 entitled "Suicide Solution", title taken from the Ozzy Osbourne song. Michael Ealy
Michael Ealy
Michael Brown , professionally known as Michael Ealy, is an American actor.-Personal life:Ealy was born in Silver Spring, Maryland. He attended Springbrook High School and the University of Maryland, College Park.-Career:...
played a new love interest for Karen in four episodes, and Madeline Zima
Madeline Zima
Madeline Rose Zima is an American actress. She is mostly known for her six years as Grace Sheffield on the TV series The Nanny or more recently as Mia Lewis on the Showtime dramedy Californication and as Gretchen Berg on Heroes.-Early life:Zima was born in New Haven, Connecticut, to Marie and...
returned as Mia for four episodes.
Season four picks up 72 hours after Hank is arrested at the end of Season 3 and revolves around Hank's thoroughly destroyed life. His secrets have come to light and the world knows that Hank penned Fucking & Punching, also revealing that he slept with Mia. Karen hates Hank's guts and Becca is disappointed in her father, so Hank goes to live at a hotel. Season 4 focuses mostly on Hank's new legal troubles and the development of a movie adaptation of "Fucking & Punching". Other developing story lines include Charlie learning his vasectomy may have been botched and he may have impregnated Marcy, Becca joining an all female rock band, Karen finding a new boyfriend, and the various troubles Hank causes with film production and with his lawyer's attempts to get Hank acquitted of a statutory rape charge with little to no help on Hank's part.
On January 11, 2011 the Californication Season 4 Soundtrack was released The soundtrack features music in Season Four of Californication. Exclusive tracks include Tommy Lee
Tommy Lee
Thomas Lee Bass , best known as Tommy Lee, is an American musician and founding member of glam metal band Mötley Crüe. As well as being the band's long-term drummer, Lee founded rap-metal band Methods of Mayhem, and has pursued solo musical projects...
’s solo version of “Home Sweet Home” and three rock covers from the show’s on-screen band Queens of Dogtown. Other artists on the soundtrack are Shooter Jennings
Shooter Jennings
Waylon Albright "Shooter" Jennings is an American singer-songwriter active in the country music and Southern rock genres as well as making his first foray into psychedelic rock in 2009...
& Hierophant
Hierophant
A hierophant is a person who brings religious congregants into the presence of that which is deemed holy. The word comes from Ancient Greece, where it was constructed from the combination of ta hiera, "the holy," and phainein, "to show." In Attica it was the title of the chief priest at the...
, Eagles of Death Metal
Eagles of Death Metal
Eagles of Death Metal is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, formed in 1998 by Jesse Hughes and Josh Homme. Despite their band name, Eagles of Death Metal are not a death metal band. Hughes stated that a friend was introducing Josh Homme to the death metal genre...
, Better Than Ezra
Better Than Ezra
Better Than Ezra is an American alternative rock trio based in New Orleans, Louisiana.-Formation and early success:Better Than Ezra was formed in 1988 by its four original members - vocalist and guitarist Kevin Griffin; Joel Rundell, the lead guitarist; bassist Tom Drummond; and drummer, Cary...
, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult
My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult
My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult is an American electronic industrial rock band originally based out of Chicago, Illinois.-History:...
, Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet is an American stoner rock band. Hailing from Red Bank, New Jersey, the group was founded by Dave Wyndorf , John McBain and Tim Cronin...
vs. Adrian Young, Cracker
Cracker
Cracker may refer to:* Cracker , a type of biscuit, usually salted or savory edible* Cracker , a mountain peak in Glacier National Park** Cracker , located in the Lewis Range, Glacier National Park in the U.S...
, The Soundtrack of Our Lives
The Soundtrack of Our Lives
The Soundtrack of Our Lives, alternatively known as T.S.O.O.L. or Soundtrack, is a Swedish rock band that formed in 1995 after the dissolution of the punk band Union Carbide Productions....
, Warren Zevon
Warren Zevon
Warren William Zevon was an American rock singer-songwriter and musician noted for including his sometimes sardonic opinions of life in his musical lyrics, composing songs that were sometimes humorous and often had political or historical themes.Zevon's work has often been praised by well-known...
, and Gregory Alan Isakov. The soundtrack was co-produced by Nora Felder and Budd Carr, the show’s music supervisors.
Season five
Season five was picked up by Showtime in January 2011. Creator Tom Kapinos said that the show will need to take on a new direction to stay fresh. The narrative will take place soon after Hank's bio-pic Fucking and Punching has been released and his fame and fortune has reached new heights. Becca (Madeleine Martin) and Karen (Natascha McElhoneNatascha McElhone
Natascha McElhone is an English actress of stage, screen and television, best known for her roles in Ronin, The Truman Show and Solaris. McElhone also plays a leading role in the Showtime series Californication....
) will reprise their roles as Hank's daughter and ex-girlfriend, but will start the season aboard an RV
Recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
on a road trip with Ben (Michael Ealy
Michael Ealy
Michael Brown , professionally known as Michael Ealy, is an American actor.-Personal life:Ealy was born in Silver Spring, Maryland. He attended Springbrook High School and the University of Maryland, College Park.-Career:...
) and his daughter Pearl (Zoë Kravitz
Zoe Kravitz
Zoë Isabella Kravitz is an American actress, singer and model. She is the daughter of musician Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet. She has appeared in the films The Brave One with Jodie Foster, and No Reservations with Catherine Zeta-Jones...
). The romance between Marcy (Pamela Adlon
Pamela Adlon
Pamela Fionna Adlon is a Jewish-American actress, voice actress, and producer. She is sometimes credited as Pamela Segall, Pamela S. Adlon and Pamela Segall Adlon...
) and Stu Baggs (Stephen Tobolowsky
Stephen Tobolowsky
Stephen Harold Tobolowsky is an American actor. He is well known for his role as Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day, as well as portraying Commissioner Hugo Jarry in Deadwood for nine episodes and Bob Bishop in Heroes for eleven episodes over the second and third seasons...
) will be further explored, as well as how that relationship is affected by Marcy's pregnancy with Charlie Runkle's (Evan Handler
Evan Handler
Evan Handler is an American actor who is best known for playing Harry Goldenblatt, Charlotte's divorce attorney and later husband, on Sex and the City, and Charlie Runkle, Hank's comically bumbling friend and agent, on Californication.-Early life:Handler was born in New York City, the son of Enid...
) baby.
Main characters
- Henry James "Hank" MoodyHank MoodyHenry James "Hank" Moody, portrayed by David Duchovny, is a fictional character who serves as the protagonist of the Showtime television series Californication...
(David DuchovnyDavid DuchovnyDavid William Duchovny is an American actor, writer and director. He has won Golden Globe awards for his work as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files and as Hank Moody on Californication.-Early life:...
) is an erratic but esteemed writer who frequently becomes embroiled in bizarre and in some cases scandalous situations. Also based on Charles BukowskiCharles BukowskiHenry Charles Bukowski was an American poet, novelist and short story writer. His writing was influenced by the social, cultural and economic ambience of his home city of Los Angeles...
, the famous addict writer. - Karen van der Beek (Natascha McElhoneNatascha McElhoneNatascha McElhone is an English actress of stage, screen and television, best known for her roles in Ronin, The Truman Show and Solaris. McElhone also plays a leading role in the Showtime series Californication....
) is Hank's long-term on-and-off girlfriend and mother of his daughter. She is an architect. - Rebecca "Becca" Moody (Madeleine MartinMadeleine MartinMadeleine Elizabeth Martin plays the character Rebecca "Becca" Moody on Showtime comedy-drama Californication. She is a student at the School of American Ballet.-Career:...
) is Hank and Karen's daughter. - Charlie Runkle (Evan HandlerEvan HandlerEvan Handler is an American actor who is best known for playing Harry Goldenblatt, Charlotte's divorce attorney and later husband, on Sex and the City, and Charlie Runkle, Hank's comically bumbling friend and agent, on Californication.-Early life:Handler was born in New York City, the son of Enid...
) is Hank's agent and best friend. - Marcy Runkle (Pamela AdlonPamela AdlonPamela Fionna Adlon is a Jewish-American actress, voice actress, and producer. She is sometimes credited as Pamela Segall, Pamela S. Adlon and Pamela Segall Adlon...
) is Charlie's wife. (recurring Season 1, regular Season 2-present) - Mia Lewis (pen name Mia Cross) (Madeline ZimaMadeline ZimaMadeline Rose Zima is an American actress. She is mostly known for her six years as Grace Sheffield on the TV series The Nanny or more recently as Mia Lewis on the Showtime dramedy Californication and as Gretchen Berg on Heroes.-Early life:Zima was born in New Haven, Connecticut, to Marie and...
) is the teenage daughter of Bill Lewis. She had a one-night stand with Hank in the show's pilot. (regular Season 1–2, recurring Season 3-present)
Recurring characters
- Bill Lewis (Damian Young) is Karen van der Beek's ex-fiance and Hank's nemesis; he is also Mia Lewis' father. (Season 1, also appears in Season 4).
- Todd Carr (Chris WilliamsChris Williams (actor)-Career:Williams, a graduate of Georgetown University, has made appearances on numerous television shows such as CSI, JAG, The Shield, Weeds, Reno 911!, Californication, and popularly as fictional rap artist Krazee-Eyez Killa on Curb Your Enthusiasm...
) is the director of the movie adaptation of Hank's book (Season 1, also appears in Season 4). - Sonja (Paula MarshallPaula MarshallPaula Marshall is an American actress.-Career:In 1992, Marshall had a three-episode guest role on The Wonder Years and later guest-starred on shows such as Seinfeld, Nash Bridges, Grapevine and Diagnosis: Murder. In 1994, she got her first sitcom role on Wild Oats...
) is Karen's friend and Hank's one-night stand; she had a child at the end of Season 2, of whom Hank is initially believed to be the father. - Dani (Rachel MinerRachel MinerRachel Miner is a Broadway, film and television actress, born in New York City.-Personal life:A third generation Miner in show business, she is the daughter of director and teacher Peter Miner and the granddaughter of director/producer Worthington Miner and actress Frances Fuller...
) is an ambitious agent who was formerly Charlie Runkle's assistant. - Lew Ashby (Callum Keith RennieCallum Keith RennieCallum Keith Rennie is a British-born Canadian television and film actor. He started his career in Canadian film and television projects, where his portrayal of Stanley Raymond Kowalski in the TV series Due South was his first international success...
) is a record producer and the topic of one of Hank's books; based on real life producer Rick RubinRick RubinFrederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and the co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin was the co-founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings...
(The scenes of Ashby's house were actually filmed in Rick Rubin's house.) - Janie Jones (Mädchen AmickMädchen AmickMädchen Amick is an American actress best known for playing Shelly Johnson on the cult television series Twin Peaks and its 1992 prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.-Early life:...
) is the long lost love of Lew Ashby. - Daisy (Carla GalloCarla GalloCarla Gallo is an American actress notable for roles in the television series Undeclared, Carnivàle, and Bones, and in the indie film Spanking the Monkey.-Filmography:-External links:...
) is Charlie Runkle's porn star client and later his extramarital lover. - Michelle (Surfer Girl) (Michelle LombardoMichelle LombardoMichelle Helen Lombardo is an American model and actress.-Biography:Lombardo, who is of Italian and Irish descent, is originally from Glastonbury, Connecticut...
) is Hank's friend and lover on at least two occasions. - Eddy Nero (Rob LoweRob LoweRobert Hepler "Rob" Lowe is an American actor. Lowe came to prominence after appearing in films such as The Outsiders, Oxford Blues, About Last Night..., St. Elmo's Fire, and Wayne's World. On television, Lowe is known for his role as Sam Seaborn on The West Wing and his role as Senator Robert...
) Actor set to portray Hank in his upcoming movie. - Beatrice (Trixie) (Judy GreerJudy GreerJudy Greer is an American actress, known for portraying a string of supporting female characters, including Kitty Sanchez on the Fox series Arrested Development and Cheryl on the animated comedy series Archer...
) is a prostitute who has sex with Hank. - Ronny Praeger (Hal OzsanHal OzsanHalil Özşan, better known as Hal Ozsan , is a British actor and singer-songwriter of Turkish Cypriot descent. He is best known for his roles as Michael Cassidy in the hit ABC Family series Kyle XY, Todd Carr in the WB's Dawson's Creek, and Miles Cannon in 90210.-Life:Ozsan was born to Turkish...
) is a porn director and Charlie Runkle's business partner in the 'Vaginatown' movie (Four episodes of Season 2). - Julian (Angus MacFadyenAngus MacfadyenAngus Macfadyen is a Scottish actor.Angus Macfadyen was born in Glasgow and was brought up partly in Africa, France, the Philippines and Singapore. His father was a doctor in the World Health Organisation. He was once engaged to actress Catherine Zeta-Jones.Angus attended the University of...
) is Hank's Season 2 nemesis; Sonja's spiritual guru and love-interest (Six episodes of Season 2). - Damien Patterson (Ezra MillerEzra Miller- Early life :Miller was born in New Jersey. His mother, Marta, is a modern dancer. His father, Robert S. Miller, was senior vice president and managing director of Walt Disney Company's adult book publishing division, Hyperion Books. He has two older sisters, Saiya and Caitlin.Miller was trained...
) is Becca's boyfriend and the son of her English teacher, Mrs. Patterson (Five episodes). - Mrs. Patterson (Justine BatemanJustine BatemanJustine Tanya Bateman is an American actress, writer, and producer. She is best known for her regular role as Mallory Keaton on the sitcom Family Ties...
) is Damien's mother and Becca's English teacher. - Dean Stacey Koons (Peter GallagherPeter GallagherPeter Killian Gallagher is an American actor, musician and writer. Since 1980, Gallagher has played many roles in numerous Hollywood films. He starred as Sandy Cohen in the television drama series The O.C. from 2003 to 2007...
) is the Dean of the college where Hank teaches (Season 3). - Felicia Koons (Embeth DavidtzEmbeth DavidtzEmbeth Jean Davidtz is an American-born actress who spent much of her early life in South Africa.-Early life:Davidtz was born in Lafayette, Indiana, while her father was studying chemical engineering at Purdue University. Her parents, John and Jean, later moved to Trenton, New Jersey, and then...
) is the wife of Dean Koons and a teacher at the college (Season 3). - Chelsea Koons (Ellen Woglom) is Becca's best friend and the daughter of Hank's bosses, Felicia and Stacey Koons (Season 3).
- Jill Robinson (Diane FarrDiane FarrDiane Farr is an American actress. She is known for her roles as FBI agent Megan Reeves in the CBS television series Numb3rs and Laura Miles on Rescue Me.-Life and career:...
) is Hank's Teaching Assistant and one of his conquests (Season 3). - Jackie (Eva AmurriEva AmurriEva Maria Livia Amurri is an American actress.- Early life :Amurri was born in New York City, New York, to Italian director Franco Amurri and American actress Susan Sarandon. Her grandfather was television writer Antonio Amurri, and her aunt is television writer Valentina Amurri...
) is Hank's student and love interest who moonlights as a stripper (Season 3). - Sue Collini (Kathleen TurnerKathleen TurnerMary Kathleen Turner is an American actress. She came to fame during the 1980s, after roles in the Hollywood films Body Heat, Peggy Sue Got Married, Romancing the Stone, The War of the Roses, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Prizzi's Honor...
) is Charlie Runkle's boss (Season 3). - '70s and '80s teen idol Rick SpringfieldRick SpringfieldRick Springfield is an Australian-born singer-songwriter, musician, and actor. He was a member of pop rock group Zoot from 1969 to 1971 and then started his solo career with his début single "Speak to the Sky" reaching the top 10 in Australia. In mid-1972, he relocated to the United States...
, plays a depraved version of himself (Season 3). - Paul Rider (James FrainJames FrainJames Dominic Frain is an English stage and screen actor. He is possibly best known for his role in the Showtime series The Tudors in which he appeared as Thomas Cromwell from 2007 to 2009, and for his role as vampire Franklin Mott in season three of the HBO drama True Blood, as well as his role...
) is Mia's manager/boyfriend and Hank's arch-nemesis in the Season 3 finale. - Abby Rhodes (Carla GuginoCarla GuginoCarla Gugino is an American actress known for her roles of Sally Jupiter in Watchmen, Dr. Vera Gorski in Sucker Punch, Lucille in Sin City, Amanda Daniels in seasons 3, 5 and 7 of Entourage, Ingrid Cortez in the Spy Kids film trilogy, and as the lead characters of the television series Karen Sisco...
) is Hank's lawyer in Season 4. - Ben (Michael EalyMichael EalyMichael Brown , professionally known as Michael Ealy, is an American actor.-Personal life:Ealy was born in Silver Spring, Maryland. He attended Springbrook High School and the University of Maryland, College Park.-Career:...
) is Karen's new love interest. - Stu Beggs (Stephen TobolowskyStephen TobolowskyStephen Harold Tobolowsky is an American actor. He is well known for his role as Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day, as well as portraying Commissioner Hugo Jarry in Deadwood for nine episodes and Bob Bishop in Heroes for eleven episodes over the second and third seasons...
) movie producer and Marcy's boyfriend (Season 4).
Critical reaction
The critical reaction for Californication has been generally favorable, with a rating of 70 on Metacritic. American critic Nathan RabinNathan Rabin
Nathan Rabin is an American film and music critic. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Rabin was the first head writer for The A.V. Club, a position he continues to hold today....
gave Season 1 an "F" rating on The AV Club, calling it "insufferable."
There has been a backlash from conservative groups who oppose the explicit nature of the program. Conservative columnist Andrew Bolt
Andrew Bolt
Andrew Bolt is an Australian newspaper columnist, radio commentator, blogger and television host. Bolt is a columnist and associate editor of the Melbourne-based Herald Sun. He has appeared on the Nine Network, Melbourne Talk Radio, ABC Television, Network Ten and local radio...
criticized the program in the Australian newspaper the Herald Sun
Herald Sun
The Herald Sun is a morning tabloid newspaper based in Melbourne, Australia. It is published by The Herald and Weekly Times, a subsidiary of News Limited, itself a subsidiary of News Corporation. It is available for purchase throughout Melbourne, Regional Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital...
for the pilot's opening dream scene, in which a nun performs oral sex on Hank Moody in a church. The Australian Christian Lobby
Australian Christian Lobby
The Australian Christian Lobby is a Christian political lobby group having a head office in Canberra and branches in six Australian states and territories. Its motto is "Voice for values". Its managing director is Jim Wallace AM....
’s managing director Jim Wallace also called for a boycott, not only of Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
, but all advertisers who advertise during the show, in response to a scene in which Hank and Sonja smoke marijuana, have sex, and vomit. When Network Ten premiered Season 2, the Christian fundamentalist group Salt Shakers led an e-mail campaign against advertisers, requesting they withdraw their advertisements. This resulted in 49 companies withdrawing their advertising, including the show's main sponsor, Just Car Insurance.
The show and the 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
Extras (TV series)
Extras is a British sitcom about extras working on TV and film sets and in theatre. The series was co-produced by the BBC and HBO, and is created, written, and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, both of whom also star in it...
.
Region 1
| DVD name | Release date | Ep # | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Californication – The 1st Season | June 17, 2008 | 12 | This two-disc box set includes all 12 episodes of Season 1. Bonus features include commentaries on the pilot, biographies of the 5 main actors and 16 photos from the show. Showtime has also provided four downloadable episodes, two from Dexter Season 2 and two from The Tudors Season 2. |
| Californication – The 2nd Season | August 25, 2009 | 12 | This two-disc box set includes all 12 episodes of Season 2. Bonus features include interviews with cast members and Marcie's Waxing Salon. Showtime has also provided four downloadable episodes, one from The United States of Tara Season 1 and three from The Tudors Season 3. |
| Californication – The 3rd Season | November 9, 2010 | 12 | This two-disc box set includes all 12 episodes of Season 3. |
| Californication – The 4th Season | November 1, 2011 | 12 | This two-disc box set includes all 12 episodes of Season 4. |
Region 2
| DVD name | Release date | Ep # | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Californication – The 1st Season | June 16, 2008 | 12 | This two-disc box set includes all 12 episodes of Season 1. The bonus features in the UK release included an audio commentary Audio commentary On disc-based video formats, an audio commentary is an additional audio track consisting of a lecture or comments by one or more speakers, that plays in real time with video... of the pilot episode, as well as interview Interview An interview is a conversation between two people where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.- Interview as a Method for Qualitative Research:"Definition" -... s with the cast and director. |
| Californication – The 2nd Season | August 10, 2009 | 12 | This three-disc box set includes all 12 episodes of Season 2. Bonus features include interviews with the cast and the show’s writer Tom Kapinos and a never-before-seen featurette. |
| Californication – The 3rd Season | February 7, 2011 | 12 | This three-disc box set includes all 12 episodes of Season 3. Bonus features include various featurettes and Pamela Adlon's Video Diary. |
| Californication – The 4th Season | February 13, 2012 | 12 | This two-disc box set includes all 12 episodes of Season 4. |
Lawsuit
The Red Hot Chili PeppersRed Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
filed a lawsuit on November 19, 2007 against Showtime Networks over the name of the series, which is also the name of the band's 1999 album
Californication (album)
Californication is the seventh studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on June 8, 1999 on Warner Bros. Records. Produced by Rick Rubin, Californication marked the return of John Frusciante, who had previously appeared on Mother's Milk and Blood Sugar Sex Magik, to replace...
and hit single
Californication (song)
"Californication" is the Red Hot Chili Peppers' fourth single and sixth track from their seventh studio album, Californication. Released in 2000, the song reached #69 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA, and #16 on the UK charts, and hit #1 on both US Mainstream Rock Tracks and US Modern Rock Tracks...
. They state in the lawsuit that the series "constitutes a false designation of origin, and has caused and continues to cause a likelihood of confusion, mistake, and deception as to source, sponsorship, affiliation, and/or connection in the minds of the public". Pointing to Dani California, a character who appears in both the series and three songs by the Red Hot Chili Peppers (including Californication) as well as confusion when shopping for their album and that of the series soundtrack, the band members are seeking unspecified damages. They are also requesting that a new name be found for the TV show.
Showtime Networks is expected to argue that the band did not in fact create the term Californication. They point out that the term appeared in print in Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine in 1972, in an article called The Great Wild Californicated West. Canadian art-rock band the Rheostatics
Rheostatics
Rheostatics was a Genie Award-winning Canadian indie rock band, active from 1980 to 2007.Although they had only one Top 40 hit, "Claire" in 1995, they were simultaneously one of Canada's most influential and unconventional rock bands, a band whose eclectic take on pop and rock music has been...
released an album called Whale Music
Whale Music (album)
Whale Music is a 1992 album by Canadian rock band Rheostatics. It should not be confused with the soundtrack to the film Whale Music, which was also composed by the band and released in 1994....
in 1992, with a song called "California Dreamline". In this song, the word Californication appears in the phrase "Californication, spooning in the dry sand".
Kim Walker, head of intellectual property at Pinsent Masons
Pinsent Masons
Pinsent Masons LLP is a full-service commercial law firm. The firm ranks amongst the top 20 law firms in the United Kingdom.Pinsent Masons LLP has over 300 partners, a total legal team of around 1000 and more than 1,500 staff...
, states that the band should have registered Californication as a trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
. Instead, the only application for such was filed in April 2007 in the US, by Showtime. The mark has not yet been registered. Walker has also stated:
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, character names and titles of works are only subject to trademark protection, not copyright protection. The legal matter remains unresolved.
Viewership
The Season 2 finale drew 615,000 viewers, with a combined total of 937,000 for the evening, retaining less than 50% of its lead-in from the season finale of DexterDexter (TV series)
Dexter is an American television drama series, which debuted on Showtime on October 1, 2006. The sixth season premiered on October 2, 2011. The series centers on Dexter Morgan , a bloodstain pattern analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department who moonlights as a serial killer...
. However, Season 3 steadily gained viewership, and the show was quickly picked up for a fourth season by Showtime.
International distribution
– Network TenNetwork Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
, ELEVEN
Eleven (TV channel)
Eleven is an Australian free-to-air standard definition digital television channel, which was launched by ElevenCo, on 11 January 2011.-Joint venture:...
, showcase
Showcase (Australian TV channel)
Showcase is an Australian premium cable and satellite television channel. It is owned and operated by the Premium Movie Partnership and is a sister network to the Showtime networks. Showcase is managed by Showtime's Chief Executive Officer Peter Rose...
– ORF
ORF
ORF may refer to:* ORF , the Austrian public service broadcaster.* Open reading frame, a portion of the genome.* The IATA airport code for Norfolk International Airport in Norfolk, Virginia.* ORF format , Olympus raw image file format....
– Warner Channel
Warner Channel
Warner Channel is a Latin American and Asian cable television channel owned by Time Warner's HBO Asia/HBO Latin America Group Warner Channel (commonly shortened to WBTV, but not to be confused with the WB Television Network or Charlotte, North Carolina station WBTV, and currently referred to in...
– Channel One (Russia)
Channel One (Russia)
Channel One is the first television channel to broadcast in the Soviet Union. The channel was renamed Ostankino Channel 1 in 1991, after the Soviet Union broke up and the Russian SFSR became the Russian Federation. According to a recent government publication, the Russian government controls 51%...
– RTBF
RTBF
Radio Télévision Belge Francophone is the public broadcasting organization of the French Community of Belgium, the southern, French-speaking part of Belgium...
/ 2BE – Warner Channel
Warner Channel
Warner Channel is a Latin American and Asian cable television channel owned by Time Warner's HBO Asia/HBO Latin America Group Warner Channel (commonly shortened to WBTV, but not to be confused with the WB Television Network or Charlotte, North Carolina station WBTV, and currently referred to in...
/ SBT – HBO / AXN
AXN
AXN is a Pay television, cable and satellite television channel owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, which was first launched on May 22, 1997. The network is now spread across several regions in the world, including Japan, Europe, other parts of Asia and Latin America...
/ bTV Comedy
BTV Comedy
bTV Comedy is a Bulgarian family-based television channel,airing mostly comedy series. It is part of bTV Media Group, owned by Central European Media Enterprises...
– The Movie Network
The Movie Network
The Movie Network is a Canadian English language Category A premium television service, owned by Astral Media. The service is licensed to operate east of the Ontario-Manitoba border, excluding the territories...
, Movie Central
Movie Central
Movie Central is a Canadian English language Category A premium television service. Movie Central is designated to operate west of the Ontario-Manitoba border, including the territories...
– Warner Channel
Warner Channel
Warner Channel is a Latin American and Asian cable television channel owned by Time Warner's HBO Asia/HBO Latin America Group Warner Channel (commonly shortened to WBTV, but not to be confused with the WB Television Network or Charlotte, North Carolina station WBTV, and currently referred to in...
– HRT
Croatian Radiotelevision
Croatian Radiotelevision is a Croatian public broadcasting company. It operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmitter network as well as satellite...
– ČT1
CT1
CT1 stands for Cordless telephone generation 1 and is an analog cordless telephone standard that was standardized by the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations in 1984 and deployed in eleven European countries...
, HBO, HBO HD, AXN
AXN
AXN is a Pay television, cable and satellite television channel owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, which was first launched on May 22, 1997. The network is now spread across several regions in the world, including Japan, Europe, other parts of Asia and Latin America...
, AXN HD
AXN HD
SPE Networks and MEASAT Satellite Systems agreed to distribute the high definition version of AXN across Asia Pacific. On April 6, 2009, AXN began simulcasting in High Definition in Portugal. It's available on ZON, Meo, Cabovisão, Vodafone Casa TV and Optimus Clix. On July 12, 2010, the channel...
– TV2 Zulu/TV2 Danmark – TV6
TV6 (Estonia)
TV6 Estonia is an entertainment television channel broadcasting to Estonia featuring series, music, fashion and sports. It was launched on 24 March 2008, as all of the current channels are obliged to have digital sister channels at the end of March 2008. On 9 January 2010 TV6 Estonia left...
, Sony TV – Nelonen
Nelonen
Nelonen is a Finnish commercial TV channel. It started out as Helsinki's local television channel PTV in 1989 on the HTV cable network, which name was changed first to PTV4 and then to Nelonen. It started on June 1, 1997. Nelonen, in Finnish, means the glyph of the number four. The channel is...
– M6 – AXN
AXN
AXN is a Pay television, cable and satellite television channel owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, which was first launched on May 22, 1997. The network is now spread across several regions in the world, including Japan, Europe, other parts of Asia and Latin America...
, RTL2 – Skai TV
Skai TV
Skai TV is a Greek TV station, based in Pireus, Athens. It is part of the Skai Group one of the largest media groups in Greece. It was relaunched in its present form on April 1, 2006 in Athens and gradually managed to spread its coverage nationwide. Besides analog over-the-air transmission, it is...
– AXN
AXN
AXN is a Pay television, cable and satellite television channel owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, which was first launched on May 22, 1997. The network is now spread across several regions in the world, including Japan, Europe, other parts of Asia and Latin America...
, HBO – Skjár Einn – FX, Zee Café
Zee Cafe
Zee Café is an Indian cable and satellite television channel owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises. It was launched on 15 March 2000 as Zee English and known for general entertainment channel...
– HOT3, HOT3 HD, HOT V.O.D – Italia 1
Italia 1
Italia 1 is an Italian commercial television channel on the Mediaset network. It is oriented especially at young people.Italia 1 was launched in January 1982 and, originally, was owned by Rusconi; after a few months, however, due to the aggressive dumping practices of Silvio Berlusconi's rival...
/ Jimmy – Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
– TV6
TV6 (Latvia)
TV6 Latvia is an entertainment television channel broadcasting to Latvia featuring series, music, fashion and sports. It was launched on April 22, 2007...
– TV3
TV3 Lithuania
TV3 is a television channel owned by Modern Times Group and targeted at a Lithuanian-speaking audience. It was founded on May 7, 1992 and launched on April 11, 1993 as "Tele-3" before being renamed "TV3" in 1996....
, TV6
TV6 (Lithuania)
TV6 is a Lithuanian terrestrial, satellite and cable television channel owned by the Nordic television company Viasat. It was launched on March 31, 2002. In September 2008, it changed its name from Tango TV to TV6....
– Warner Channel
Warner Channel
Warner Channel is a Latin American and Asian cable television channel owned by Time Warner's HBO Asia/HBO Latin America Group Warner Channel (commonly shortened to WBTV, but not to be confused with the WB Television Network or Charlotte, North Carolina station WBTV, and currently referred to in...
– Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
– TV3
TV3 (New Zealand)
TV3 is a New Zealand commercial television network, owned by MediaWorks New Zealand. Launched on 26 November 1989, the first private television network in New Zealand...
– TV 2 (Norway)
TV 2 (Norway)
TV 2 is the largest commercial television station in Norway. Over 30% of the time Norwegians spend watching TV is spent watching TV 2. The station has 65% of the market for TV commercials in Norway....
– TVN
TVN (Poland)
TVN is a major Polish commercial television network. The broadcaster was co-founded by Polish businessmen Mariusz Walter and Jan Wejchert. The network launched on October 3, 1997. TVN belongs to the TVN S.A...
, TVN HD
TVN HD
TVN HD was launched on August 28, 2007 it became available on digital platform n which also belongs to ITI Group The channel broadcasts TVN's programmes in 1080i and 16/9...
, HBO, HBO HD, Universal Channel
Universal Channel
Universal Channel is a television channel specializing in movies and television series in the thriller, drama, comedy, horror, crime and investigation genres, owned by Universal Networks International, a division of NBCUniversal and available on satellite and cable platforms...
, Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
– RTP2, FOX
FOX (Portugal)
FOX Portugal is a Portuguese TV channel. It broadcasts series such as House, Bones, The Walking Dead, The Simpsons and much more. It is owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation...
– HBO Romania – DTV, MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, Channel One (Russia)
Channel One (Russia)
Channel One is the first television channel to broadcast in the Soviet Union. The channel was renamed Ostankino Channel 1 in 1991, after the Soviet Union broke up and the Russian SFSR became the Russian Federation. According to a recent government publication, the Russian government controls 51%...
– FDF – TV Avala
TV Avala
TV Avala is a Serbian television network with national frequency. Registered as a limited liabilty company, the station was given a national TV frequency in Serbia in April 2006....
/ B92
B92
B92 is a radio and television broadcaster with national coverage headquartered in Belgrade, Serbia. The network's key demographic is chiefly urban and young audience. Its programs, including the news cover topics with fairly liberal political painted attitudes...
– POP TV
POP TV
POP TV is a Slovenian commercial television station operated by the multi-media company PRO PLUS d.o.o.It is a TV channel with the highest ratings in Slovenia , and at the same time the most popular and trustworthy...
– DStv
DStv
DStv is MultiChoice's multi-channel digital satellite TV service in Africa, launched in 1995. It operates from two satellites over Africa, broadcasting on Ku band via Eutelsat W7 and Intelsat 7 , which only requires a small satellite dish...
– TV4 – SRG SSR – ComedyMax
ComedyMax
ComedyMax is a television channel in Turkey, which broadcasts worldwide hit TV series as Turkish subtitled. It is exclusively available for Digiturk satellite package subscribers.-Shows:Some of the shows on ComedyMax:...
– 1+1
1+1
- History :TV channel "1+1" was founded in August 1995, headed by its original President Alexander Rodnyansky who also was its general director from 1996 to 2002...
– FIVE.TV – Warner Channel
Warner Channel
Warner Channel is a Latin American and Asian cable television channel owned by Time Warner's HBO Asia/HBO Latin America Group Warner Channel (commonly shortened to WBTV, but not to be confused with the WB Television Network or Charlotte, North Carolina station WBTV, and currently referred to in...
External links
- Official site
- Official Californication Wiki at Sho.com
- Californication Wiki at WikiaWikiaWikia is a free web hosting service for wikis . It is normally free of charge for readers and editors, deriving most of its income from advertising, and publishes all user-provided text under copyleft licenses. Wikia hosts several hundred thousand wikis using the open-source wiki software MediaWiki...