Cast of "Weeds"
courtesy of SHOWTIME
David Duchovny in "Californication"
courtesy of SHOWTIME
"Weeds/Californication" (SHOWTIME)

"Weeds" is back for its third season on SHOWTIME. The series about a pot-dealing single mom in an upscale area of suburbia has attracted quite a following over the course of the past two seasons. Of course like most SHOWTIME series this one is full of profanity and nudity which appeals to the voyeurs among us. 

The focus of the series is on Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker) and her best friend Celia Hodes (Elizabeth Perkins). Nancy's husband is dead so she had to come up with a way to maintain a decent standard of living for her and her two sons, Silas and Shane (Hunter Parrish and Alexander Gould). What she came up with was dealing pot.

For the past two seasons the series has focused on Nancy's adventures and misadventures in the drug trade. This season promises to contain more of the same. In addition to the regular supporting cast that includes Kevin Nealon, Justin Kirk, Tonye Patano and Romany Malco; this year will also introduce guest stars such as Matthew Modine, Carrie Fisher and Mary-Kate Olsen.

Your enjoyment of this series will largely depend on your tolerance for amoral, egotistical people who see the world as their personal playground. If you can get past the faults and flaws then there is some humor and heart to be found in most of the individuals portrayed.

"Weeds" premieres on SHOWTIME, Monday, August 10 at 10:00PM.

Following immediately after "Weeds" is a brand new show titled "Californication." This brings "X-Files" star David Duchovny back to series TV. This new series is a look at a man who has it all and has nothing. He lives in lavish LA and tries to get his life back together.

Hank Moody (Duchovny) was once a successful writer but now he has writer's block. And when one thing goes wrong in Hank's life, everything else seems to follow along. His girlfriend Karen (Natasha McElhone) moves out and takes their twelve year old daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin) with her. He wants them back but Karen has found herself a new boyfriend and is engaged.

Because of all this Hank enters into a series of liaisons which don't prove to be satisfying. He ends up hating himself as much as he hates his life. All around him are wine, women and song but true happiness is not on his horizon.

This show too has tons of nudity and much profanity. One of the young women baring it all is played by Madeline Zima. Zima played the youngest daughter tended to by Fran Drescher's "Nanny" character. On this show she plays Karen's future stepdaughter.

"Weeds" and "Californication" appear to be a perfect match. Now instead of watching only one of life's losers, you can see two losers back to back.

"Californication" premieres Monday, August 10 at 10:30 on SHOWTIME.
 

 

 

 

 

©2007 Jackie K. Cooper

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