Season 2

Welcome.

Last we met, Karen was leaping into the back of Hank’s Porsche.  A Palisades sunset at their backs.  The promise of a second chance ahead of them.  As we froze frame and faded to black…

So much has happened since.

The writers struck. And thanks in no small part to our Strike Captain (and new mom) Daisy Gardner, they prevailed.  Kind of.

David Duchovny beat out Alec Baldwin, Steve Carell, Ricky Gervais & Lee Pace (that’s right, people -- Lee f***in’ Pace) to bring home our first Golden Globe.

Tom Kapinos welcomed two new writers to the fold. Jay Dyer and Gabe Roth. They join Gina Fattore and the aforementioned Strike Captain to form the most sexually experienced room in pay cable.
   
And Metz and his grandparents double dated the s*** out of the mid-level O.C. chain restaurant scene. Granddaughters were defiled outside the Cocos parking lot. Innocence was lost in many a P.F. Chang's bathroom.

This was a long, lingering hiatus. But just before the crushing depression of not working for so many months could reach its ugly, natural, bloody end…

The writers’ room reopened.  In late February.  Praise Jesus.

After a few days of obligatory reacquainting, s***-talking, and pretzel-gorging, we got down to the dirty business of making television. Tom gave relatively painless manbirth to many new threads, arcs and characters. And soon enough, the writers were imagining what now looks to be an incredibly strong – and funny -- Season Two.

There’s a magic to those first few weeks of pre-production. The offices all to ourselves. The whole season comprised of nothing but little interconnected kernels of thought. Everything in a vacuum. No producers to deem your set piece unfeasible. No actors reluctant to appear bottomless on PCH. It’s a neurotic writer’s wet dream. All you have to do is think and riff. And eat expensive sandwiches. It’s hard out there…

And then production rolls around. And the dream bursts. The vacuum’s unsealed. But you’re also reminded of how immensely talented the cast and crew are. One of the coolest things about production – in addition to seeing David, Natascha, Evan, Pamela, Madeleine & Madeline bring the page to life – is watching how each department approaches the latest script. How they analyze the teleplays through their own trained, hyper-specific lenses.

Let’s say Tom’s pitching a joke in the room. And comes up with a set-piece in which a minor character exposes himself (Hint – watch Episode 2). To the room, it’s a funny, one-off joke that takes up a single line of scene description. A little parfait of a d*** gag.

To Felicia, our casting director, it’s a big bowl of uncertainty. Are we doing full-frontal? What’s more important, the quality of the actor or the aesthetic of his member? Is it okay if he’s a little undersized? I know this amazing guy -- but he’s got a little bit of English to his shaft…Should we audition porn stars or only actors? Do you have a preference in terms of hue? What about a nice medium-brown cappuccino?

And that’s before Kapinos can explain that it doesn’t matter.  We’re using a prosthesis.

At which point Skip, our Prop Master, starts annotating his script like he’s Tracy Flick the night before a final. How big does this manprop need to be? Flaccid or hard? Wait, both? So you’re saying we need two fake units? This changes everything. Does the prop need to be able to achieve...full release? In which case, I’m going to need my guys to build an entire penis rig. And we’re gonna need like a table to hide the guy who steps on the bladder. I’ll talk to Set Dressing.

And this is before Camera, Make-up, Costumes and Sound all dissect the script – utilizing their unique expertise to bring that random funny thought Tom had – that wonderful little c*** – to life.

We’re only three episodes in, but it’s amazing to see how streamlined all of these departments have become. Everyone’s in a sophomore year groove. Hitting the ground running. Kapinos and Duchovny respectively wrote and directed the f*** out of the season opener.

You guys have an exciting season awaiting you. And until we air, please inundate me with any and all questions about the show. No query’s too long or too lame. And while I can’t give away any major story threads, I’m not above a strategic leak or two. We’re even posting photos from the set. Which means you’ll have unprecedented access to teaser pics of episodes that won’t be airing for months.

So welcome back. You were truly missed. You’re the reason we all have jobs. See you next post -- and don't let the door hit you on your soon-to-be-huge ass on the way out.

Comments

[maringuy]

Congratulations on driving the best show on TV. Glad to hear the ante has been raised and the squirter was only the beginning...

I tend to focus on the practical issues that are often overlooked in the interest of story-telling, and because dwelling on minutiae is boring as shit (and we only have 20-something minutes to work with). But...when Hank's new Porsche was stolen, we can assume he collected the insurance money, right? And just didn't pick up a new one? He wasn't too lazy to let it slide...was he? Just curious.

Better questions on the way, promise.

And nice Election reference...

[JOnasLumiere]

Hi, I am an overseas fan. I am looking forward to seeing Hank, Mia, Karen, Marcy, Becca and everybody again.

I love the show.

Do you know if Hank uses condom? I don´t want my boy getting sick.
LOL
I think David and Natasha look great together. They are such an amazing couple.
Thanks to everyone for the best TV series ever!
(and sorry for my English).

[Zosia]

Hi, I'm really looking forward to watching season 2!
I was wondering if you could tell me whether Natascha's recent tragedy and pregnancy will affect the show...? Will she have a smaller role than planned? Are you going to hide her baby bump or write in a future sibling for Becca?

Take care,
Zosia

[Alyssa]

I neeedd season two. Californication, a new discovery of mine, is one of the best tv shows I've had the pleasure of watching for some time now.

Do you have a premiere date for season two? Please. I need my Hank fix.

Thank youu,
Alyssa

[Peggy]

Your post made my day! To quote you, "So welcome back. You were truly missed."

Congratulations to all of you on the Golden Globe!

Peggy

[Derrick]

HANK GIVES ME A BRONER WITH HIS UBER-FUCKING COOLNESS!!!!!!!!!

[McKenna]

Totally love this show! Thanks so much for brining it to cable! I can't wait to see the Californication gang again, especially Hank. I hope you post the pics soon! ;D

[Andy]

well this is one of my fav shows

Can't wait til season 2 comes out =]

[Burrows]

This could very well be the best show since..... You know I can't think of one any better. Keep up the great, funny and sexual dialog. By the way, my wife and I just loved the squirt scene!

[lulu]

Ahhhh...So excited to see you are up and running! Please give my condolences to Natascha. Congratulations to all of you, in working again, the golden globe, and an exciting new Season 2.

Hank Moody remains one of the most well-written, self-loathing dirty bastards to ever make sleeping with a minor an empathetic situation. I have never wanted to lay a man and mother him at the same time.

Please get a PA or a GD to pretty-up a button link so I can send more readers and future Californication watchers here!

Take it sleazy,
Lulu.

[Deborah]

LOVE,LOVE,LOVE this show,I'm in Australia, so can you please tell me when it's coming back on?It's the best show on TV.Go Californication.

[Sarah T]

Hey there!
I absolutely cannot wait for season 2! Hank is a rare character that exudes both an utterly dispicable aura and sexiness in a equal degree. I am on the edge of my seat in rapt anticipation to find out what will happen between Hank and Karen!

[Nathan D.]

i've been looking everywhere to find out when season 2 premiers, as i heard it's set for "summer 08"...i'm working my way through the x-files complete set right now (as i'd only seen the last couple seasons as a young lad, and Californication made me crave more covny.HA! and it's been great, but i can't wait to see Duchovny again in his best role ever. This show makes me smile the entire time i watch it, and i'm not a smiley person, i just think i want to be hank moody, without all the sexually transmitted stuff...

WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO GET OFF MY CHEST THOUGH, is how strange it is that a young duchovny looks so much like BENJAMIN McKENZIE of The O.C. it drives me crazy!!! anyone else see this? i think ben should make an appearance as an accident child of Hank moody from way back that he doesn't know about. Because now that the family's all together, i think it would really stir S*@$ up. cause isn't that what we all want to see? hank's life get F*$%d up? I'm not an O.C nut or anything, but i actually think that would be an awesome story line.

[Roberto Larroude]

When does season 2 premieres?? Anybody knows?

Tks

[Westside Steve]

Your team seams to have an affinity for staging scenes in our screevy, but beloved, venice mini-markets. Season 1's tampon fight was truly inspired. Kudos! A few wednesdays back I couldn't get a 6-pack and some pretzels because of your season 2 location shoot at Al's on Washington. I was pissed until I found out it was you - the only show on TV worthy of such insolence. You can block off my street, hog all the parking and impregnate my cat anytime if it results in such excellence!
Can't wait for season 2. Keep up the excellent work!

[maxoutkast]

I can't wait for the second season. I've gotten at least 3 other people hooked on this show after seeing it while visiting my buddy in Cali (4 blocks from Venice, BTW). I watched all but 2 episodes in one night with my roommate after I got back from Cali. He squirmed pretty bad during the "squirt" scene, but I swear, that is still one of my favorite scenes- in movie and TV history. He knew it was coming, and it was fun to watch him squirm. (My seat is conveniently behind his, so I had a good view.)

One of the most solid first seasons I have ever seen. The writers and characters figured themselves out so quickly- it made it so easy to watch, and made it so easy to breeze through episodes.

Keep it up kids. I'll have my HD DVR set to record as soon as the new episodes are posted. I know I'll end up watching many of the episodes are their air night. (I have never done that for a TV show).

[Cruzer]

Yes! Californication is back! Bad news is that we have to wait until September. Bummer. I have no idea how you're going to play out season 2. Obviously Hank and Karen can't stay together, can they? Just promise not to drag out the Karen finding out about Mia thing. Or did the season one finale put that to bed for good? Brilliant casting; David, Natascha, Madeline, Evan, and Pamela are great. And brilliant writing. The perfect storm.

[carmelo valone]

Thanks for coming back finally! You're show has made me feel a little less alone as myself being one of those 'not so Hollywood' writers living in Los Angeles.
What I always say is "You can't take down the system from the outside."

Good job double agent teams & Hank Moody!

-Carmelo Valone

[JP]

here is a vote that season two stays as reasonably grounded in reality as season 1 did most of the time.

I would hate to see the show become Melrose place.

[Dan]

Any chance of David's real life wife Tea Leoni making a guest appearance... It seems right up her alley... No pun intended... Also who was the actor who played Hank's dad... I have seen him before and what a great character actor - so sad to only see him in a one episode arc.

Keep on keepin on... as the rest can't wait to see the new season...

DRS

[Amy]

Californication is the best damn show on television! My husband and I are addicted- we found it by watching Season One on On Demand. The writing is so amazing and fresh. Of course, kiddos to the cast and it is so nice to see David back on TV in a starring role. I can't wait to see what happens to everyone in Season Two. Keep up the great work!