What I’m Watching: Californication

Californication: Season 3, Episode 6 “Glass Houses” (B+)

Things were already terrifically entertaining and wildly out-of-control for Hank when he had three women vying desperately for his sexual attention, and the arrival of Karen seemed like it might complicate that in an amusing but disciplinary way. It’s a wondrous surprise, therefore, to see Karen delight so fully in Hank’s promiscuous nature and try just as hard to attract his attention while making snap judgments of his other women. Watching her eagerly raise her hand and try to answer questions was almost as terrific as Jackie coming to her defense and flirtatiously suggesting that he allow her to speak. The most amazing part of Karen’s trip back wasn’t her immediate dislike for Felicia but her incredible angry outburst at both of the Koons parents for allowing their daughters to get drunk together. Seeing more of Dean Koons was a fantastic treat, and his very verbally violent tennis-playing was quite hilarious. The most surprising eruption came from Becca, whose swearing was quite unexpected but was a good way of giving the often all-too-easygoing girl a chance to speak her mind and really rail on her parents for the shoddy parenting job they did. Sue Collini’s simulated sex scene was perhaps her best yet, and Kathleen Turner really knows how to command the screen. Her “Collini out” is a terrific catchphrase that she utters so well. The legendary sexual draw of Rick Springfield was fun in the way that both Marcy and Karen were so attracted to him, much to the chagrin of their respective husbands. The guest characters on this show have always been especially incredible, and Rick is no exception.