Dexter for Free

David Duchovny fans had been waiting a long time to see their small-screen favorite back on television, but the role he decided to take when returning to carrying a series surprised many who knew him more for his work on “The X-Files.” This time around, instead of a witty special agent, Duchovny was going to play a washed-up, sex-addicted Hollywood writer–who thankfully, is still just as witty as Mulder.

If HBO’s “Entourage” is a look at the best parts of living large in California–fast cars, high definition television sets, an adoring public–then Showtime’s “Californication” is a little bit more of a wake-up call. Darkly funny and a sleeper hit with critics, the show seems to have found its audience now that it begins a third season, with Hank (played by Duchovny) having decided switch careers and pursue teaching at a local college while raising his daughter, who is turning out to be more of a handful than he had initially expected as she gets deeper into her teenage years. Instead of frat-house mansions packed with fridges full of booze and HD TVs in every room, Hank is trying to have a solid and reliable environment for his daughter, but unfortunately, his interest in women is getting in the way a little bit.

In a time where everyone seems to be cutting down a little bit on spending and excess, in an odd way, “Californication” is a welcome reminder that there’s no need to go overboard with hedonism, or even more importantly, that hedonism doesn’t always bring happiness and fulfillment. While Hank clearly enjoys the attention of pretty women and copious amounts of free substances, it’s having to prove that he can be a good father and should have a shot at trying to be a good husband again that really resonates with viewers, with almost a 50% increase in the show’s audience as the third season began.

“Californication” has done more than simply manage to attract enough viewers to keep the show afloat for at least four seasons. With critical praise and a growing audience, not to mention the added media spectacle of Duchovny admitting his own sex addiction and going to rehab, the show is starting to net guest stars of varying levels of fame, some of who go on to become reoccurring characters. From Judy Greer, known for her roles in films such as “27 Dresses” and “American Dreamz” to Kathleen Turner, one of the most famous American actresses of the past few decades, the show’s ability to attract talented actors might be one of the things that keeps it alive and kicking on cable and satellite TV.

The latest big name to be added to the show’s cast is Susan Sarandon’s daugter Eva Amurri. Known for her work in a couple of films, including one with her mother, Amurri plays a stripper/part-time student who ends up catching Hank’s eye when she’s enrolled in one of his classes. Amurri’s acting credited as one of the reasons that so many Showtime viewers have opted to watch “Californication” instead of surfing the channels to see if there’s anything else on satellite TV worth watching after “Dexter” wraps up.

If a darker comedic look at the excesses of California life and the many ways that showbiz can go from dream to nightmare sounds more up your alley than the happy-go-lucky perfect endings of “Entourage,” then tune into Showtime and give “Californication” a chance. Though a sleeper hit, the show’s potential to get excellent is truly palpable.