Hung (TV series) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hung Genre Comedy-drama Created by Dmitry Lipkin
Colette Burson Starring Thomas Jane
Jane Adams
Eddie Jemison
Sianoa Smit-McPhee
Charlie Saxton
Rebecca Creskoff
Gregg Henry
Lennie James
Stephen Amell
Anne Heche Opening theme "I'll Be Your Man"
by The Black Keys Country of origin United States Language(s) English No. of seasons 3 No. of episodes 30 (List of episodes) Production Executive producer(s) Dmitry Lipkin
Colette Burson
Alexander Payne
Michael Rosenberg
Noreen Halpern
John Morayniss Running time 28 minutes Broadcast Original channel HBO Original run June 28, 2009 (2009-06-28) – December 4, 2011 (2011-12-04) External links Website

Hung is a comedy-drama series, which premiered on HBO on June 28, 2009. The series was created by Dmitry Lipkin and Colette Burson and stars Thomas Jane as Ray Drecker, a struggling suburban Detroit high school baseball coach who resorts to male prostitution. The second season premiered on June 27, 2010 and concluded its 10 episode run on September 12, 2010. On September 2, 2010 it was announced that HBO had ordered Hung for a third season consisting of 10 episodes, which premiered on October 2, 2011.[1] On December 20, 2011 HBO decided not to renew Hung for a fourth season.[2]

1 Plot 2 Production 3 Cast and characters 3.1 Main 3.2 Recurring Season 1 3.3 Recurring Season 2 3.4 Recurring Season 3 4 Episodes 5 Reception/Awards 5.1 Casting Society of America, USA 5.2 Emmy Awards 5.3 Golden Globes Awards 5.4 Satellite Awards 5.5 Writers Guild of America 6 Distribution 6.1 DVD releases 7 International broadcasting 8 References 9 External links [edit] Plot

Hung follows Ray Drecker (Thomas Jane), an unhappy, financially strapped history teacher and athletic coach at a high school in suburban Detroit. He is also the father of twin teenagers (Charlie Saxton and Sianoa Smit-McPhee) who are currently living with their remarried mother (Anne Heche). After a fire destroys the childhood home Ray still owns and lived in, he is left without many options. With the help of a friend, Tanya (Jane Adams), Ray decides to turn his extremely large penis into an opportunity to make money. The episodes center on Ray's attempts to maintain a "normal" life while starting his business as a male prostitute. Together, Tanya and Ray begin their business, "Happiness Consultants".

The second season focuses on the complex dynamic between Ray and his two pimps, Tanya and Lenore (Rebecca Creskoff). Lenore, a life coach whom Tanya brought in to help them in the early stages of the business, began taking over Happiness Consultants late in the first season, as she believes she can take Ray places in the business and views Tanya as an obstacle.

The third season sees Tanya and Ray forced to compete for clients against Lenore and her younger prostitute Jason (Stephen Amell).

[edit] Production

The show's pilot was directed by filmmaker Alexander Payne. Payne serves as executive producer along with Lipkin, Burson, and Blueprint Entertainment. Lipkin and Burson's script was the first major purchase by the network's new entertainment president Sue Naegle in April 2008. This move led the writers to immediately work on five more episodes for the series, a total of ten episodes. On December 18, 2008, it was announced HBO picked up the dark comedy. The show's first season ran from June 28, 2009 to September 13, 2009. On July 30, 2009, it was announced that HBO had renewed the series for its second season which ran from June 27, 2010.[3]

The theme song for Hung is "I'll Be Your Man" by The Black Keys [4] from their debut album The Big Come Up (2002). The track can also be found on the Rescue Me Original Television Soundtrack (2006) album.

Much of the show is filmed in the suburban Detroit cities of Royal Oak, Troy, Walled Lake, and West Bloomfield, Michigan.[5]

HBO announced it will not pick up "Hung" for a 4th season.[6]

[edit] Cast and characters [edit] Main Thomas Jane as Ray Drecker: Former star athlete turned high school teacher/coach and single dad who becomes a prostitute in order to provide a better life for himself and his children. Jane Adams as Tanya Skagle: A former flame of Ray's who reunites with him later on. She takes on the role of his pimp after proving to have optimism to make money in the business. Anne Heche as Jessica Haxon: Ray's ex-wife who is trying to build a relationship with her children as they drift away from her. She also finds herself drifting from her new husband, Ronnie. Charlie Saxton as Damon Drecker: Ray and Jessica's son. He partakes in goth-like activities and is unsure as to his exact sexuality. He has issues with his mom and is much more comfortable around his father. Sianoa Smit-McPhee as Darby Drecker: Ray and Jessica's daughter, and Damon's twin. Darby has had issues with her boyfriend, and is very close with her brother, often a source of support. Eddie Jemison as Ronnie Haxon: Jessica's new husband who is starting to become more about business than romance, causing both Jessica and himself to drift to outside romantic sources. (Regular Seasons 1-2, Recurring Season 3) Rebecca Creskoff as Lenore Bernard: A life coach who is introduced to Ray by Tanya to bring in clients. Eventually, Lenore proves she can be a better pimp than Tanya, and the two are currently battling for his attention. (Recurring Season 1, Regular Seasons 2-3) Gregg Henry as Mike Hunt: Ray's good friend and assistant coach. He is becoming suspicious of Ray's behavior, and is worried about being laid off as the school begins cutting costs. (Recurring Season 1, Regular Seasons 2-3) Lennie James as Charlie: Tanya's pimp mentor. (Recurring Season 2, Regular Season 3) Stephen Amell as Jason: a young prostitute found by Lenore to serve as competition against Ray.(Season 3) [edit] Recurring Season 1 Natalie Zea as Jemma Joshua Leonard as Pierce Steve Hytner as Floyd Gerber Alanna Ubach as Yael Koontz Loren Lester as Howard Koontz Marylouise Burke as Lottie Gina Hecht as Principal Rhonda Barr [edit] Recurring Season 2 Kathryn Hahn as Claire Alanna Ubach as Yael Koontz Loren Lester as Howard Koontz Marylouise Burke as Lottie Roxanne Hart as Frances [edit] Recurring Season 3 Analeigh Tipton as Sandee: Jason's fiancee. Ana Ortiz as Lydia Kaitlin Doubleday as Logan Alanna Ubach as Yael Koontz Matt Walsh as Matt Saline Amy Farrington as Mindy Saline Roxanne Hart as Frances [edit] Episodes [edit] Reception/Awards

Hung was well received by critics. For its first season, the series' reviews equated to generally positive, with special mentions made to Thomas Jane and Jane Adams for their lead performances.[7] The show received multiple nominations during its run.[8]

[edit] Casting Society of America, USA 2010. Nominated, Artios award. Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Television Pilot - Comedy: Lisa Beach, Sarah Katzman[8] [edit] Emmy Awards 2010. Nominated, Emmy. Outstanding Cinematography for a Half-Hour Series: Uta Briesewitz (director of photography) (HBO; for the pilot episode.)[8] [edit] Golden Globes Awards 2012. Nominated, Golden Globe. Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy: Thomas Jane.[8] 2011. Nominated, Golden Globe. Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy: Thomas Jane.[8] 2010. Nominated, Golden Globe. Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy: Thomas Jane.[8] 2010. Nominated, Golden Globe. Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film: Jane Adams.[8] [edit] Satellite Awards 2010. Nominated, Satellite Award. Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: Thomas Jane.[8] 2010. Nominated, Satellite Award. Best Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical: Jane Adams.[8] [edit] Writers Guild of America 2010. Nominated, WGA Award (TV). Best Screenplay, New Series. Colette Burson, Ellie Herman, Emily Kapnek, Brett C. Leonard, Dmitry Lipkin, Angela Robinson.[8] [edit] Distribution [edit] DVD releases Season Region 1 Release Date Region 2 Release Date Region 4 Release Date Episodes Discs Bonus Features 1 June 22, 2010 September 13, 2010 August 4, 2010 10 2 Disc 1: Audio commentary on episodes 1 and 4 with the creators and executive producers of the series Colette Burson and Dmitry Lipkin. - Disc 2: About Hung. • Women Hung. • Personals Ray and Tanya. • Audio commentary on episode 8 with the creators and executive producers of the series Colette Burson and Dmitry Lipkin and writer Brett C. Leonard. 2 September 27, 2011 ? ? 10 2 - [edit] International broadcasting Country Television Network Latin America HBO Latin America Southeast Asia HBO Asia (2010-01-08) Australia showcase on Foxtel and Seven Network Belgium Prime, Be TV and RTBF Bosnia and Herzegovina HBO Bulgaria HBO Canada HBO Canada, ARTV Croatia HBO Czech Republic HBO, ČT1 Middle East OSN Comedy Estonia ETV France (premiered on December 1, 2009) Orange Cinémax, Série Club Finland (premiered on September 24, 2010) YLE TV2 Germany (premiered on May 6, 2010) Comedy Central Hungary HBO Iceland Stöð 2 India HBO Ireland 3e Israel yes Drama HD, HOT V.O.D Italy SKY Uno Macedonia HBO Macedonia Moldova HBO Montenegro HBO Netherlands Comedy Central New Zealand TV One Nordic countries Canal+ Norway NRK1 Pakistan HBO Philippines HBO Poland HBO Portugal Fox Next, FX Romania HBO Serbia HBO Slovenia HBO South Africa MNET Spain (premiered on January 10, 2010) Canal+ Spain Sweden SVT Switzerland TSR1, SF2 (2011-02-24) Turkey e2, CNBC-e United Kingdom More 4, Channel 4, Sky Atlantic HD [edit] References [edit] External links Official website Hung at the Internet Movie Database Hung at TV.com 1970s debuts 1980s debuts 1990s debuts 2000s debuts 2010s debuts Current Upcoming