HBO's new show Hung, set in Metro Detroit, is wonderful. For those squeamish about the name, no worries. If you've enjoyed any HBO series, you'll probably like Hung.
The main characters are Ray (Thomas Jane) and Tanya (Jane Adams). Ray's a middle-aged former athlete who teaches high school history and coaches a losing high school basketball team. His wife (played by Anne Heche) left him for her dermatologist, his house (which was his parents' house) undergoes an accidental fire, and he has teen aged twins to care for. He needs money, and he needs an existential boost, which can also be said of his poet friend Tanya, who works as a long term temp downtown. If it sounds like a cross between an old blues song -- maybe John Lee Hooker's "House Rent Boogie" -- and David Allen Coe's "Take This Job and Shove It," it pretty much plays out that way, too.
Not only is the situation quintessential Detroit, but Ray and Tanya stand in for the "little guy, little gal" everywhere around the globe. Hung is funny, yes, but in a sweet and caring way. It's satirical but good-hearted. Watch Ray and Tanya pursue their "side hustle" despite obstacles and entropy. Supporting actors are great, too: Rebecca Creskoff (Mad Men) and Steve Hytner (Seinfeld) in particular, through episode 3.
Creators Dmitry Lipkin, Colette Burson and Alexander Payne have got a real live wire here. Even the theme song is inspired -- not the White Stripes, but the Black Keys' "I'll Be Your Man." Michigan locations are perfect, including exterior shots of Harpos at 14238 Harper Avenue ("North America's #1 Concert Theatre," according to its website.) Like Freaks and Geeks, cult status guaranteed.
Today's Rune: Separation (Reversed).
6 comments:
Wondered how that show would be. I gave up HBO a while back and have Netflix. I'll catch it on the DVD, I guess.
Well, I'm not going to be seeing it without cable. glad to hear it's worthwhile, though.
Freaks and Geeks should've been on the tube longer. It probably needed to be on HBO to survive. Let's hope Hung hangs around. (That didn't quite sound right.)
There are enough cocks in Detroit to make that show have a long run with huge ratings. And to think the rest of the nation will finally wind up at the end of the run knowing what it is about Detroit they really should envy.
Maybe I should get HBO just to watch the old home town do what it's best at; dicking people for fun and profit.
Erik, I LOVE that show! Detroit shown in an interesting light, for sure!
I've heard of that show, it looks cool. Unfourtunately I have no HBO.
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