What I’m Watching: Hung

Hung: Season 1, Episode 9 “This is America or Fifty Bucks” (B+)

Lenore really is becoming a terrific recurring character on this show. Her complete makeover, both look-wise and personality-wise, of Jessica, is a great way of incorporating one of the less, to this point at least, used characters on the show and making her feel truly necessary, important and interesting. It also provides for a fun if brief scene with Ronnie and Lenore, two completely opposite characters whose momentary interaction is wonderfully hilarious. Ray’s reaction to his son’s homosexuality was also pretty darn funny – his initial request to see his son outside and his description to Tanya of his son as “a gay.” Tanya’s response to his preposterousness was even more wickedly entertaining. Tanya’s new backdoor selling strategy makes for some awkward and some devilishly fun situations. The ending scene was fantastically melodramatic, and you get extra points if (like me) you recognized the man playing the piano. It’s none other than the terrific Gregg Henry, most recently seen as the immutable Hugh on “The Riches.” He’ll be guest-starring in a multi-episode arc, which is just great since the actor is highly skilled at playing over-the-top characters, and this show may just be surprisingly mature and grounded enough to turn his seismic performance into pure dramatic gold.

“Hung” won’t be airing next week because of Labor Day, and the tenth and final episode of this season will air on September 13th.