So what did you think of the first episode of Hung last night? Me, as you can read here, I thought it was kind of ehhh, but I liked the performances of Thomas Jane as Ray and Jane Adams as Tanya the baking poet.
But what I really liked were the opening credits. Yes, once again, HBO has come up with one of the best opening sequences in television, in this case courtesy mostly of the Black Keys’ fine, stomping blues-rock music, which you can see/hear here.
So what’d you think? Of the show, of the opening?
For more on Hung:
Hung: Ken Tucker’s review
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I think it’s hard to judge a show based on the very first episode. I did happen to enjoy it, though. Being from Michigan, it’s nice to see something set here that was actually filmed here as well. LOVE Thomas Jane and Jane Adams! Great casting there, although I could’ve done without Anne Heche. I will definitely be watching future episodes to see where this whole premise goes.
And I completely agree about the opening credits! Love the Black Keys!
Yes, never judge a show entirely by it’s pilot. (Have you ever gone back and watched a pilot ep of a show after watching seasons of it?) I think this episode will just show the back story to what’s to come. Or at least I hope so!
I think I may have enjoyed it a little more if it wasn’t exactly what the trailers had shown already. But I think once it gets going, it has definite potential.
I think it has a lot of potential–Thomas Jane and Jane Adams are fantastic. And you really are rooting for Ray the whole time. Disappointed in Anne Heche. Her performance was shrill and annoying. I understand that an actress named Kristin Bauer played that role in the original pilot.
Hmmmm. The show was ok, the comedic elements way to subtle. Anne Hache was as subtle as a nuclear bomb. A lady that turns away anyone that looks like Thomas Jane needs to have her head examined. Oh, and the opening credits are kind of annoying because they start the guy downtown and have him walking to his house on the lake… in the distant suburbs. Distant as in 20 miles (or more). As am area native, I found it strange and unrealistic.
I enjoyed “Secret Diary of a Call Girl” on Showtime more than this show. Has it been picked up? There didn’t seem to be a new episode showing next Sunday.
Umm, trust me.. the whole gigolo thing ain’t like that in real life.
I liked it and will continue to watch it after True Blood, but if Tim wants to talk about the unrealistic aspect of the show, it’s Ray’s kids. You’re telling me that a pro athlete’s and a beauty queen’s genes would result in a couple overweight Goth kids? Everytime one of them was onscreen, I couldn’t hear what they were saying because the voice in my head kept repeating, “Really?”
Ken — there wasn’t anything remotely worth you writing about in that opening.
It was a TV opening with a passable song.
For such a handsome man, he has such an unattractive family. They could have picked better kids. It was ok.
I didn’t love it, but I’ll give it a few more episodes because I adore Thomas Jane.
I don’t think you can judge a series by it’s first episode. There was so much background that had to be covered here that we didn’t really get into the meat of the plot yet (no pun intended…). I really liked the script, with lots of innuendo-laden one-liners, and I think this will turn out to be a terrific show.
Thomas Jane’s character is sympathetic but I’m guessing this is supposed to be more of comedy than a dramedy. The show needs more and better jokes. Go for bolder jokes and wackier characters. Maybe let Jane Adams really get loopy. Put Jane in funnier situations.
I loved it and I can’t wait for next week! It will be interesting to see how his story plays out. Wasn’t fussy over the kids though. Doesn’t anyone on TV ever have nice children?
Obviously skewered to the str8 audience, even the semi-tongue-in-cheek opening credits were pretty “limp” (pardon the pun) The gay audience isn’t going to “hung” around if they don’t get at least a fully clothed impression that Jane really does possess a humungous tool. My grandmother in her slacks appears to be more…well, you know… more hung than Mr. Jane. I know every leading lady can’t be really truly beautiful – but do they have to have one who is really, really unattractive (though admitedly a fine actress)?
@FolkArtist: BS! Only old, horny queens won’t stay with the show unless they see junk. I watched the show and wasn’t expecting frontal.
I had the same “meh” reaction Ken did to the Pilot. The drama wasn’t all that great, and neither was the comedy. Ken’s statement of a “pick one and go for it” was dead on.
The laughably unattractive offspring were a definite miss in the casting department.
Anne Heche isn’t a good enough actress to add any likability or at least “love to hate” to a character who is written that shrill.
And I’m probably going to hell for saying this, but I agree with Folk-Artest – the leading lady should at least be “quirky-cute” – patently unattractive doesn’t work – and in fairness to the actress, it’s not her fault. The make-up, wardrobe, and the way they light her would make anyone look terrible. She would definitely be cute if they made her up that way, but they obviously aren’t going for that…
It was okay. Interesting enough to watch, since it was all new, but I’m less than intrigued to see where it’s all going. I will stick around to see if the show finds it’s footing, but I don’t have high hopes for it.
The program blows chunks for an HBO series. The actors are excellent, but the dialogue is sophmoric, scenes diluted and it just dosen’t feel right. I’ll give it one more chance.
Way, way, way too long – should have been edited down to a half-hour. This way it was pretty unwatchable.
I thought the show was kind of “meh” also. I was never a fan of Anne Heche, and after seeing her here even less so. I have to agree: how a former high school and a former beauty queen sire twin fatties, one Goth buy and a girl with ill-fitting clothes? I guess when mom is a greedy golddiggng wench and dad is a doormat, anything is possible. And Tanya….you may be a poet with a stupid idea about baking poems into bread, but Sylvia Plath you’re not. I take that back, you’re a fugly poet. Drop the vegan act and slather on some Maybelline and Cover Girl. You’re face is scary. I’ll give it a few more episodes so see if I stick around for the long hall.
I just hope the two leads won´t get married. She would get SUCH a silly name.
ooh, we’re getting a pretty resounding “eh” here and I have to concur.
what i found interesting was contrasting this with Secret Diary of a Call Girl; so much more emphasis here on his needing financially to do sex work whereas Hannah is a sex worker because she likes sex.
not a surprising difference given that the fantasy of women freely choosing glamorous, healthy, happy sex work is pretty potent.
THE INTRO… AWESOME!! KILLER… I loved watching Ray walk by the Joe Louis Fist… I cried when they showed the demo of Tigers Stadium.. The music .. the edit.. RAY.. Its perfect… Its my home.. its jacked up.. but i love it.. oh ya coney..too.. the best
The 5th episode was disappointing. I did not understand a thing