DIG Deeper

Article originally written for Seat42F.

USA’s DIG has an intriguing premise, the kind we need on television. Created by Gideon Raff (who created the show Homeland was based on) and Tim Kring (Heroes, Touch), DIG is a globe-spanning mystery set mainly in history-teeming Jerusalem and full of biblical prophecy. Our hero has to investigate a murder and a conspiracy despite overwhelming odds against him, while forces are rising in other parts of the world that will soon converge in Israel. It’s a really great concept for a TV show.

Unfortunately, DIG is not as well-executed as it should be. The story plays out in a predictable manner with some really trite dialogue, and an absolutely stupid use of a grainy surveillance photo. There are good things of note in the pilot, but the pacing makes much of the hour boring, and there’s real a lack of depth in several of the lead characters.

It’s known that Jason Isaacs (the Harry Potter films, Awake) is a good actor, and I’m sure he can convincingly carry a show. Just not this one. His character, Peter Connelly, sleeps with a very young woman, Emma Wilson (Alison Sudol, Transparent), who reminds him of his dead daughter, which is icky. He is married, by the way, and also already sleeping with his boss, Lynn Monahan (Anne Heche, Hung, Men in Trees), making him doubly repulsive. He’s bad at his job, pissing off the local cop he works with, Golan Cohen (Ori Pfeffer, World War Z), and inserting himself where he isn’t needed or wanted. He’s unlikeable, without even a bit of charm that normally makes such jerks tolerable.

While Peter is the main protagonist, thankfully there are others. There’s a side story about a red calf, and even better, a secret compound in a New Mexico desert that is keeping an orphan boy (Zen McGrath) hostage. These add actual intrigue to the plot, and provide a reason to keep watching, to see how they may tie into the story and if the mythology of the series will be worth committing to.

I particularly enjoy the compound scenes in the pilot. The place is run by David Costabile’s (Suits, Breaking Bad) Ted Billingham. Costabile is a reliable character actor, and his creepy cult leader is interesting. He is served by evil Faye (Angela Bettis, May), who matches his demeanor. Even better is Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under, Torchwood: Miracle Day) as his truly demented follower, Debbie, who is far too lax with their hostage, probably my favorite performance of the piece. Together, these three are far more compelling than anything going on with Peter, and so I kept finding myself eagerly anticipating their scenes.

I think the fundamental flaw with DIG is that it’s a Tim Kring show. Kring’s Heroes was a series that started out with an excellent premise and cool characters, then lost steam as he didn’t know what to do with them to keep them going. After the failed Daybreak, he then did Touch, which also involved global conspiracies. Again, Touch was a neat series that hooked the viewer, especially the pilot, which gripped a certain type of audience, myself included, in just the right way. But like Heroes, Touch suffered from a lack of direction and vision, and faltered as it wore on.

DIG feels very much like Touch, and that worries me. While there are some definite differences, including a darker tone, the lack of cohesion in the pilot itself makes me think this will go the way of Kring’s other efforts. Creating a poor core arc certainly doesn’t help, but this definitely feels like a one-and-done season because it squanders its ambitions from the start.

Television deserves a show like DIG, but not DIG itself, which falls short of the heights it should be reaching.

DIG airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on USA.

BAD JUDGE On Bad Show

Article first published as BAD JUDGE Review on Seat42F.

It’s not hard to figure out what NBC’s BAD JUDGE is about. Obviously, there’s a judge who is bad. But is she bad at being a judge? Is she bad at professionalism? Does she exhibit bad behavior in her personal life, such as drinking too much and sleeping with too many men? Yes.

The similarities between BAD JUDGE and last year’s Bad Teacher are numerous, and do not stop at the title. Both have a female lead in a profession that takes many years of education and evaluation, but somehow, they hold the position, despite having personalities and behavior that would never be tolerated in such a role in a million years. Both women show a tenderness towards children, but also say things they should not in front of said children. Both wear leopard print bras; both have Ryan Hansen (Veronica Mars) portraying a love interest for the protagonist. Both BAD JUDGE and Bad Teacher are not very good shows that have been, or likely will be if there’s justice in the world, quickly canceled.

There are some differences. Whereas Bad Teacher’s central figure is incredibly selfish and greedy, the judge here, Rebecca Wright (Kate Walsh, Private Practice, Fargo), is kind and good-hearted. She makes a ton of mistakes, but not out of cruelty. Her mess is her mess, and it doesn’t automatically negatively affect everyone around her, not really causing problems for them.

Rebecca is rude and crude in the courtroom, asking frequent prosecutor Tom Barlow (John Ducey, Jonas) to keep his voice down because she’s hung over and expecting bailiff Tedward (Tone Bell, Whitney) to dispose of her pregnancy test. However, she makes rulings that benefit people. And she takes her responsibilities so seriously that when a child whose parents she put away calls her for help, she runs to his side at a moment’s notice, repeatedly, much to her boss’s (Miguel Sandoval, Medium) chagrin.

Walsh is experienced at playing a character who is both smart and compassionate, while being someone who can’t get own her life together at the same time. She’s probably the right actress for the role, even more so than co-creator Anne Heche, whom I would have expected to want to star in her own vehicle. I don’t think the problems with BAD JUDGE lie in the her.

That being said, the writing is as messy as Rebecca herself. BAD JUDGE can’t decide what it wants to be, flitting around with different scenarios, then discarding them like a woman trying on many dresses for an important date, the material scattered on the floor, still in sight, but not looking the way it’s meant to be seen. The project suffers from this scattershot approach, whereas if one or two ideas were honed in on (a judge who goes out of her way to help criminal’s disadvantaged families, for instance), the series might still not be spectacular, but at least it would be cohesive. With any structure that could work, this should probably be an hour-long dramedy, not a half-hour sitcom.

The other problem is the complete lack of realism. As mentioned in my comparison of BAD JUDGE to Bad Teacher, there is no way anyone like Rebecca exists in the real world. Judges, like other professionals, may have their dirty little secrets, but for someone to flaunt her antics in the workplace the way Rebecca does and stay employed is completely ridiculous, and it would never stand. BAD JUDGE does a huge disservice to the career it portrays and the legal industry in general. Many viewers will be smart enough to tell the difference between reality and fiction, and I do think BAD JUDGE won’t perpetuate false ideas as much as Bad Teacher does, but the underlying principle remains the same.

In short, I recommend skipping BAD JUDGE, not because I dislike Walsh or Hansen or the others, but rather so this unfortunate experiment in bad comedy can be quickly cancelled and forgotten, and the team behind it move on to projects more worthy of them.

BAD JUDGE premieres this Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.

Save Me From SAVE ME

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Hung goes for "The Whole Beefalo"

     HBO's Hung brings season three to a close with an unusually short titled episode, "The Whole Beefalo."  Ray (Thomas Jane) learns that because Charlie (Lennie James) jumped bail, he and Tanya (Jane Adams) will be losing Happiness Consultants. That is, unless they can come up with $40,000. Lydia (Ana Ortiz, Ugly Betty) helps them track down the pimp, and Ray decides stealing Charlie's cattle is the best way to get their money. Impressed by Tanya standing up for herself, Charlie lets them do it.

     Tanya is the growing character. Slowly she has morphed from a timid, scared woman into a confident, brave fighter. Part of this can be attributed to her success in business, and her belief in the concept she is selling. Another part is because of Charlie, who teaches her how to be the best pimp that she can be. Thus, it's hard for him to get angry when she only demonstrates the things he instructs her to do. Tanya doesn't immediately think to confront and fight Charlie to get what is rightfully hers. But when pushed, she doesn't back down either. This is to her credit.

     Ray, on the other hand, is understandably angry that Tanya would risk their business for a guy. But he's also sympathetic to the pain she is feeling after Charlie runs out on her. So instead of lecturing and yelling, or at least not much, he steps up to help her solve the problem. At times, it feels like Happiness Consultants is really Tanya's business and Ray is just an employee, since her motivation and ideas fuel the practice. Whoever, in "The Whole Beefalo," Ray does his share as partner, and takes a vested interest in the company. It's nice to see, and the chemistry between these two leads is finally settling in nicely.

     The threat hanging over Hung since episode one is that Jessica (Anne Heche) will discover Ray's "side job." She does, in the episode before "The Whole Beefalo," and with little fanfare. It may help that she figures things out herself, in her own time, instead of being told and forced to deal with it. However it goes down, though, she takes it in stride. Is she proud of him for doing something so unexpectedly bold? Or is she over him so much that she no longer cares how many women he sleeps with? This is now the major question concerning Jessica going forward, and her confrontation with Matt could be fueled by frustration or inspired by Ray's braveness. It's hard to tell.

     Jason (Stephen Amell) makes a very important choice, deciding to go back to Lenore (Rebecca Creskoff), rather than staying with crazy Sandee (Analeigh Tipton). This might be a mistake, especially because Jason dumps her while her grief over losing her grandmother is fresh. It's terrible timing, and Sandee is already pretty unstable prior to this development. As such, she goes to Lenore's with a gun, looking for revenge. Hung allows the gun to go off, but doesn't show if anyone is shot or hurt. It's a tantalizing cliffhanger that must be resolved, and means that HBO has to renew Hung now!

     One question remains from season three of Hung. Why is Lenore working a suicide prevention hotline? Is this a hint of humanity, and a sign that her character is not destined to be the continuous villain?

    Hung airs on HBO.

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Hung - "What's Going on Downstairs? or Don't Eat Prince Eric!"

     HBO's Hung continues its unstable year with "What's Going on Downstairs? or Don't Eat Prince Eric!" Ray (Thomas Jane) feels insecure when Jason (Stephen Amell) pulls more clients than he does, so he very reluctantly agrees to take the transsexual Kyla (Jamie Clayton, an actual transsexual) to her high school reunion. Ray is extremely uncomfortable, until Kyla's former classmates get judgmental, and then he springs to her defense. Meanwhile, Charlie (Lennie James) helps Tanya (Jane Adams) puts Jason and Sandee (Analeigh Tipton) in their place, then takes the money and runs. And Lenore (Rebecca Creskoff) sends Jessica (Anne Heche) to Tanya's business in revenge for Tanya poaching Jason.

     Lenore is always going to be the villain on Hung. No matter what arrangements Tanya and Ray may work out with her, the series is just more interesting when Lenore is at odds with the pair. That's why her partnership with them couldn't work, and she feels betrayed, once more. Yet, they only cut her out when she becomes intolerable to work with. And amazingly, in this season Tanya and Ray finally seem to be getting the upper hand. Lenore attempts to run them out of business by hiring Jason, but he soon goes to work for them because they pay him more fairly.

    While Lenore outing Ray and Tanya's business to Jessica is an extreme measure, it's a little surprising she hasn't done so before now. Perhaps it's because she never felt threatened enough to need to. Don't back an animal into a corner, or they turn on you, which is what Lenore has done. Hung has flirted with Jessica finding out a couple of times, so it's about time she actually learn Ray's secret at this point. Hopefully, the series will not wimp out of the reveal again.

     What would Jessica finding out really do? Might she be so disgusted that she tries to get sole custody of her and Ray's children? That's about the only consequence she could mete out, given that she and Ray are divorced. Sure, it almost seems like a reconciliation will be possible between them, and finding out what Ray does would set them back a whole lot. But it probably wouldn't permanently separate them. It will be just one more obstacle to overcome.

     Charlie doesn't choose to stick around and work on obstacles. He is growing more and more frustrated that Tanya never listens to his advice. Her horror at his actions towards Jason and Sandee probably do not endear her to him anymore. Not only does he leave Tanya, though, and puts her on the hook for his bail, but also steals her money, leaving her with no financial means to cover him. This is a very bad thing for Tanya, putting her in a deep legal and economic hole.

     The story between Kyla and Ray is predictable, though sweet. The entire high school reunion plot is straight out of a rom-com, and things play out exactly as one would expect. The only major difference here is that it is a transsexual who goes through the pain, and must be comforted. Perhaps Hung could be applauded for bringing some needed diversity to the worn-out story, and finding someone to play the role that can realistically connect to it. But then again, the premise is pretty worn out by this point.

    Hung still has three episodes left in the third season. Watch it Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on HBO.

     For Hung streaming episodes and DVDs, please click here.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

Hung - "Don't Give Up on Detroit or Hung Like a Horse"

     HBO's Hung returned for a third season last night with "Don't Give Up on Detroit or Hung Like a Horse." Ray (Thomas Jane) and Tanya (Jane Adams) now have a successful Happiness Consultants store. In flashback, viewers get to see how the pair convince a couple of bank employees to give them the loan. With the new income, Ray is able to fix up the house, though he doesn't admit to Jessica (Anne Heche) just how he is doing so well. Jessica resists moving in with Ray, citing that she signed a lease, which is not yet up.

     If Jessica really wants to be with Ray, a lease will not stop her. After all, with the amount of income that Ray is bringing in, she can afford to pay off any broken lease penalties. More likely, she is just not ready to commit to him. Which is a pattern for her, considering how she leaves Ray for Ronnie (Eddie Jemison), and then goes back to Ray. Jessica needs some major reflection before she fully dives into another relationship, considering how the last couple end.

     Another consideration, although Ray doesn't mention it, is that if Jessica moves in with Ray and forges a real romantic reunion with him, Ray will have to give up his major income. Sure, he can still work with Tanya, but take away his biggest "asset" (his penis) from the mix, and his contribution will be much smaller. Plus, another guy will have to be hired to take his place, and it will spread out the money coming in between three people instead of two. This means he could very quickly end up poor again, especially since he is only substitute teaching about two days per week, a very small addition to his bank account.

     It is really, truly nice to see Ray and Tanya making it. They struggle for so long, and have their ups and downs with their business. But now they have got it together. Ray has everything fixed, and he's buying expensive cars and furniture. Tanya seems satisfied and fulfilled with her career, something more important to her than wealth. How long this will last is anyone's guess, but surely not long.
     That's because Lenore (Rebecca Creskoff), permanent pain in their side, is not pleased with their success. Only moments after Lenora sees an ad for their business, she beds a waiter named Jason (Stephen Arnell, Heartland) and begins the process of recruiting him for a rival venture. Tanya and Ray are not ripping Lenore off, but she has contributed to their business before, and feels like they have. She has been cut out, but only because of her own actions. She has no one but herself to blame. Unfortunately, she usually bests the pair, at least temporarily, so they are likely in for a rocky road.

     Finally, the scene where Ray gets the bank employees, Judy (Michaela Watkins, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Saturday Night Live) and Joanie (Arden Myrin, MADtv, Working), into a consultation, where they show more interest in each other than him, is hilarious! It's an interesting and bold choice to use two comedic women, rather than hot models. They are definitely more than attractive enough to pull this off, but it's not often you see comedians willing to take off their shirts and make out. Kudos to Hung for such a great score, Without the talent of the actresses, if their only contribution were looks, it would not work half as well as it does. The way it is executed manages to be well acted and hot!

     Don't miss Hung, Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on HBO.

     For Hung streaming episodes and DVDs, please click here.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

Hung up on Hung

     HBO's Hung is about a single father slash high school basketball coach who goes into prostitution to pay for the rebuilding of his house after it pretty much burns down.  Ray (Thomas Jane) is an interesting character, balancing family life, romance, and being a male whore.  He fell in love with a client last season, and clearly pines for his ex-wife, Jessica (Anne Heche, Men in Trees), who isn't exactly happy with her second husband, Ronnie (Eddie Jemison, Ocean's 11, 12, and 13).  This almost came to a head last season as Jessica sat waiting for a male hooker in a hotel room, but Ray, realizing who he was going to meet, couldn't bring himself to go through with it.  It's frustrating, because Ray and Jessica have great chemistry, and they belong together, now that Jessica is developing into a full grown human.  They just had a case of bad timing the first time around.

     Their kids, twins Darby (Sianoa Smit-McPhee, UK's As the Bell Rings) and Damon (Charlie Saxton), are far less than well adjusted, and wish Ray would finish his construction so they could go back to living with him, which hurts Jessica quite a bit, as she's genuinely trying.  They are both interesting, though rarely get much plot.  Darby's campaign last week to make fat acceptable was nice, and Jessica's attempt to support her, though awkward and a complete failure, was sweet.  My biggest question about the kids, though, is how did two such beautiful parents make two completely average, normal looking children?  I would have never suspected Damon and Darby's biological lineage had it not been spelled out explicitly.  In fact, I'm still waiting for the plot twist to explain it.  I'm not trying to be mean; I like them both.  They just don't match.

     Tonight will be the third episode of the second season.  This year, Ray is being fought over by two pimps.  His first, Tanya (Jane Adams, Frasier), doesn't quite know how to build the business, but is trying her hardest.  Lenore (Rebecca Creskoff) is already a lifestyles coach for wealthy broads, and is just trying to add Ray to her list of offered services.  Lenore is winning on the income, but Tanya is determined to prove herself, so it's still anybody's game.

     Hung doesn't get the attention, praise, and award nominations that many HBO shows get and have gotten, but it is very good.  It's a unique story, told in a compelling way.  I don't really see where it's going to go long term, but twelve episodes in, I'm very pleased.  I think it just needs to find its audience, and with HBO waiting two weeks after the season premiere to air the second episode, that may be difficult.

     Hung airs Sunday nights at 10pm.