What I’m Watching: Californication

Californication: Season 3, Episode 9 “Mr. Bad Example” (B+)

It’s fantastic that the Koons couple continues to be integrated into the storyline of the show. This episode, more than all the others before it, provides a nice showcase for Peter Gallagher as Dean Stacey Koons, and it’s great to see more of him. His attempt to make a pass at Karen as a way of getting back at Hank and Felicia was hilarious, mostly because it was something expected to happen but not as so unsubtly suggested by Stacey. Felicia can’t seem to let go of Hank either, as her trip to bail him out of trouble results in another try at seducing him. Most of all, it’s wonderful to see the real woman meant for Hank back in his life. Karen’s return is superb, and her insistence on the fact that Felicia is dumb was particularly amusing. Her best moment was her threat directed at Felicia, warning her that she’d discover where her daughter learned how to fight. The opening scene with Hank and Stacey both receiving calls from the principal was simple terrific, and seeing Hank with that pipe drooping out of the side of his mouth like Popeye never gets old. Another plotline that’s at risk of getting old appears to be wrapping up, which is good, and that’s Charlie’s endless pursuit of Marcy. He seems to have proven that Rick Springfield is bad news, and hopefully Marcy will see the good intentions in him, even if he loses his job as a result of his firing Rick. Hank and Charlie’s efforts to procure the cocaine for Rick resulted in the most cringe-worthy revelation of the episode – the fact that Hank used to splice porn into the Disney movies when he worked at Blockbuster.