HUNG 1.2 – "'Great Sausage' or 'Can I Call You Dick?'"

[SPOILERS] There's a risk involved with any sex-related TV show of becoming sleazy, but that's neatly avoided by Hung simply because it focuses its attention on the male of the species. The notion of a gigolo is just funny somehow, probably because it's a reversal of expectation when it comes to prostitution, and Thomas Jane is a wonderful choice for a lead actor; handsome enough to be plausible as a male escort, affable enough for everyone to immediately like, and sympathetic enough for the guys to want to watch.

"'Great Sausage' or 'Can I Call You Dick?'" was a much breezier, funnier episode than the pilot, helped by its new half-hour duration (which is de rigueur for the actual series, thankfully) and its appealing approach to its potentially seedy subject-matter. In some ways this was more Tanya's (Jane Adams) story though, as she got to grips with her role as Ray's pimp by making a vital contact with glamourous personal shopper Lenore (Rebecca Creskoff) -- a plain-spoken man-eater who agrees to help spread the word about "happiness consultant" Tanya's new business, as long as she can test the goods for herself first.

So the tent-pole of the episode was seeing Ray get his first success under his belt, by arriving at Lenore's house for a rampant sex session, during which time he lost his wallet but couldn't rouse the stoned Lenore from her slumber the next morning, making him late for school and spending the day worrying that Lenore stole his wallet and now knows his true identity.

What became clear in this episode is that Hung's not quite as risqué as Californication (the David Duchovny sex-comedy it's essentially HBO's answer to), or as tightly scripted as Breaking Bad (which it shares a basic conceptual structure with, as both involve a downtrodden teacher venturing into illegal activities for the betterment of their families), but Hung is possibly more appealing as a result. And it's certainly not prudish, let's get that clear – there's dirty talk and nudity on the level of what you'd expect from an American subscription channel, so don't worry if you're expecting a totally sanitized viewpoint. I'm not expecting full-frontal nudity here, but the boys get to see breasts and the girls can relish Jane's artfully poised backside.

Overall, this was an entertaining follow-up to a pilot I quite liked, and has definitely persuaded me to stick with the show for awhile longer. Here in the UK, Hung is tucked away on More4 with precious little marketing, so I hope everyone will make the effort to seek it out. It's easy to pick up if you go in knowing the basic premise, so the excuse that you've missed the first two episodes won't wash.


22 October 2009
More4, 10pm

written by: Colette Burson & Dmitry Lipkin directed by: Craig Zisk starring: Thomas Jane (Ray Drecker), Jane Adams (Tanya Skagle), Eddie Jemison (Ronnie Haxon), Charlie Saxton (Damon Drecker), Sianoa Smit-McPhee (Darby Drecker), Anne Heche (Jessica Haxon), Taylor Ashlynn Beckett (Choir Singer), Karen Chmielnicki (Natasha), Jason Collett (Van Olsen), Rebecca Creskoff (Lenore), Joyce Greenleaf (Female Teacher), Gina Hecht (Principal Rhonda Barr), Gregg Henry (Mike), Frank Noel (Dan Libinsky), Jodi Riggins (Driver) & Bach Hoang (Pedicurist)