HBO's HUNG Review

Don't you love it when you know absolutely nothing about a show before you watch it and then it totally catches you off guard? This happened to me today with HBO's new series, HUNG, which premiers June 28th on HBO. I got the opportunity to check out a couple episodes early and I knew within the first 30 seconds that I was going to be a fan. For starters, it takes place in Detroit. Being a Motown native, this instantly scored major points with me. I guarantee you that you won't find people more proud to be from a state than Michiganders, and we LOVE it when we are referenced on TV. I haven't seen any data to back this up, but I'm pretty sure we are what kept Home Improvement on all those years. So HBO, spend all your Hung marketing dollars targeting the Detroit DMA and this show will do just fine.

Ok, so let's talk plot. Hung is about this guy named Ray Drecker (Thomas Jane), a high school basketball coach from Detroit who is a little down on his luck. He once was a high school baseball and basketball star with a college scholarship, but that all changed when he got an injury. After his wife (Ann Heche) leaves him, he realizes his job as a high school coach gives barely enough money to get by. The final straw is when his house catches fire and he doesn't have insurance to make the repairs. He is forced to live in a tent in his backyard, and his kids decide to go and live with their mom.

During a self-help seminar about getting rich quick, Ray realizes he possesses one "tool" that could possibly make him some money. If you didn't get my innuendo, I'm talking about the oldest profession in the world. With his new friend Tanya's (Jane Adams) help, Ray strives to become a successful gentleman of the night.

Hung is an excellent dark comedy about a man at the end of his rope. Even though he's not taking on the most moral profession out there, you find yourself rooting for this underdog as he tries to earn enough money to put is life back together. Also, check out his son. He looks exactly like a younger version of Jermaine from Flight Of The Conchords! This is a show that is definitely going on my Tivo "Season Pass" list. Check it out and let me know what you think of Hung!

(Photo: Chuck Hodes/HBO)