Inside: WEEDS and CALIFORNICATION

We started watching Californication just as Showtime's programming execs intended; because it was the follow-up to the already successful and always enjoyable Weeds, making for a nice little Monday-night dramedy hour. Although my initial impression was tepid, I've warmed up to the show a bit.

Dislike: The initial problems still exist: David Duchovney's Hank still has a Peter Pan complex. And he gets way too much play for a guy like Hank. Maybe it's his cologne? Possibly, but between his unkempt appearance and constant over-drinking, he seems more like someone who smells like he's sweating out yesterday's whiskey.

And I have two new dislikes: First, Californication has The. Lamest. Intro. Ever. At least in premium-TV channel land, where intros are generally little works of art. And second, what the hell is up with Karen (Hank's ex/baby mama)? She's seemingly more together than Hank, but yet she can't help grinning like a schoolgirl whenever he's around. Maybe she still carries a torch for Hank -- I can go with that. Maybe she's not as in love with her fiance as she would like to be -- fine. But frankly, I'd think that being significant others with a guy for a decade, having a child with him, and then having a painful break up would officially get someone over the blushing/grinning phase of their relationship.

Like: Although Hank can't get his act together in most of his life, he does seem to have it together for his daughter; his scenes with Becca always seems to come across as refreshing compared with his interaction with the rest of the world. There's been a little of the "child raising the parents" theme, but not much.

And even though I find Hank's sex life unrealistic, it does allow for several entertaining scenes and lots of fun lines -- I imagine that's how the creators originally pitched the show. My favorite Hank line from last night: "I love all women. I'll make a run for you too, crusty." This week's scenes between Charlie (Hank's agent/friend) and his wife also gave a few genuine laughs ("Maybe we should have a safe word."/"Okay, the safe word is DON'T PEE ON ME.")

Overall, Californication, like its characters, is flawed but entertaining.

I can't quite say the same for Weeds, which appears as flawless as ever in its plot -- everything happening this year seems to be a natural escalation of events from the first two seasons -- but yet seems less entertaining than usual. Perhaps it's to be expected; things are serious this year. Still, Nancy's scenes with U-Turn seemed just shy of enjoyable; all the potentially comedic elements of U-Turn's burly gangsta trying to train Nancy in the ways of thugdom were overshadowed by the constant threat of him causing her serious physical harm. Realistic, yes (as far as this show goes, anyway). But less fun. Also, Doug, Heylia, Celia, Andy and Conrad are all underused so far this year. Even Matthew Modine's new character seems full of potential, but lacking in meat. And this is a show that knows how to give its side characters meat.