Californication: Levon – Keep Calm and Carry On

Season 7 of Californication kicked off on Showtime with its first episode “Levon” on 4/13/14. Hank returns after running off with a “rock and roll circus” but his reunion with Karen doesn’t exactly go as he envisioned it. After tracking her at the coffee shop, declaring his love and announcing that they need to resolve their relationship beginning “right now,” Karen’s friend from yoga class shows up and Hank runs him off with a barrage of ridicule.

Hank meets Charlie that night for a drink to relate how he ripped his heart out in front of Karen, to no avail. Charlies has some bad news himself. Atticus fired him and Hank too and Charlie has no offers. Also, a kid named Levon keeps emailing him wanting to interview Hank for his college paper. Hank wants a job. He needs to present himself to Karen as a hunter, a provider and a gatherer. Charlies reminds Hank that he has managed to piss anyone and everyone off in books, movies, theater, anyone who ever gave him a job. Hank suggests they look for an opportunity in television. Charlie confides that his honeymoon didn’t go so well.

Hank brings Charlie home and his wife, Marcy, is angry to see he’s been drinking. Charlie claims he is raring to go but Marcy says: “Let’s not write any checks your limp biscuit can’t cash, okay?” Hank gives them a pep talk and they go off to try to TCB. The next morning, Levon knocks on the door, and Charlie acts like he’s never seen the kid’s emails. Hank comes out in a kimono while they argue and agrees to talk to Levon, who proceeds to ask him a ton of personal questions. Hank asks Levon if he slept with Levon’s girlfriend because he seems to have some kind of beef, and no interest in Hank’s career. Charlie has managed to arrange a meeting about an upcoming TV show called Santa Monica Cop, so Levon is sent packing.

As Hank and Charlie talk with Marcy’s producer ex-husband, Stu Beggs, and the director for the failed original Santa Monica Cop, producer Rick Rath comes out and puts a cup to the wall to listen to the conversation in the next room so he can see who is back-stabbing him. Rath then kicks everyone out but Hank and immediately tells Hank he won’t hire him. He likes his work but after “due diligence”, he knows Hank is a nightmare to work with. Rath is just about persuaded to hire Hank when he learns that Rosenberg is staging a coup in the writers’ room. He tells Hank to stay, there may be an opening in 45 seconds.

The following day, Hank waits for Levon to complete their interview in a coffee shop, when Karen stops by and they chat. Levon shows up and asks Karen questions about her relationship with Hank and, after she leaves, he asks Hank if he loves Karen. Levon continues with his interrogation into Hank’s personal life. Hank asks him if he wants to be a writer. Levon said no, he wants to be an actor. His mother says he looks like… Dustin Hoffman, Hank finishes. (Levon does look a bit life Hoffman). No, Levon says, Marlon Brando. Levon asks Hank if he has slept with a lot of actresses and again, Hank wonders what Levon’s beef is, and if he’s sure Hank didn’t shag his girlfriend. Levon says no, he’s never really had a girlfriend but Hank slept with his mother. Hank says this is not the first time this has happened to him but they should keep calm and carry on. “When did this unfortunate moment of carnal whimsey occur?, Hank inquires. “I don’t know. I guess about nine months before I was born,” Levon replies.

Cast of Levon:
David Duchovny – Hank Moody
Natascha McElhone – Karen
Evan Handler – Charlie Runkle
Pamela Adlon – Marcy Runkle
Michael Imperioli – Rick Rath
Oliver Cooper – Levon
Stephen Tobolowsky – Stu Beggs
Jonathan Kasdan – Director
Roger Howarth – West Side Yoga Guy
Tara Holt – Melanie