Category: TV Series
Nucky Thompson’s Red, White, and Blue
Steve Buscemi as “Nucky” Thompson in “The Emerald City”, episode 1.10 of Boardwalk Empire.
Happy 4th of July to all American followers of BAMF Style.
Vitals
Steve Buscemi as Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, corrupt Atlantic City treasurer and Republican political boss
Atlantic City, November 1920
Series: Boardwalk Empire
Episodes:
– “The Emerald City” (Episode 1.10, aired November 21, 2010, dir. Simon Cellan Jones)
– “A Return to Normalcy” (Episode 1.12, aired December 5, 2010, dir. Tim Van Patten)
– “Two Boats and a Lifeguard” (Episode 2.08, aired November 13, 2011, dir. Tim Van Patten)
Creator: Terence Winter
Costume Designer: John A. Dunn
Tailor: Martin Greenfield
Background
While our nation may be politically divided today, there is one politician that all of America can agree on: Enoch “Nucky” Thompson. Continue reading
Californication – “Turn the Page” (1.11)
David Duchovny as Hank Moody in “Turn the Page”, episode 1.11 of Californication.
Vitals
David Duchovny as Hank Moody, womanizing novelist with substance abuse issues
Venice Beach, Fall 2007
Series: Californication
Episode: “Turn the Page” (Episode 1.11)
Air Date: October 22, 2007
Director: David Von Ancken
Costume Designer: Peggy A. Schnitzer
Background
In the penultimate episode of Californication‘s first season, Hank Moody has spent the majority of the season wistfully hoping that his ex-wife (common law, at least) Karen will abandon her thoughts of marrying the “dial-tone” Bill and come back to Hank. He thought he had his life on track when he wrote a new novel, but it was unfortunately lost when his new car was stolen. He and Karen briefly rekindled their passions after the death of Hank’s father, but it didn’t last. Finally, Hank hit his seasonal rock bottom in “The Devil’s Threesome” when doing just that with gym rat Laura and his best friend/agent Charlie.
It’s safe to say that, by this point, Hank’s been swallowed up and shit out by the powers that be. Continue reading
Don Draper’s California Adventure
Jon Hamm as Don Draper in “The Mountain King”, the twelfth and penultimate episode of Mad Men‘s second season.
Vitals
Jon Hamm as Don Draper aka Dick Whitman, overwhelmed Madison Avenue ad man
Los Angeles, Fall 1962
Series: Mad Men
Episodes:
– “The Jet Set” (Episode 2.11, dir. Phil Abraham, aired 10/12/2008)
– “The Mountain King” (Episode 2.12, dir. Alan Taylor, aired 10/19/2008)
Creator: Matthew Weiner
Costume Designer: Janie Bryant
Background
By the end of Mad Men‘s second season, Don Draper’s year of professional success has not been without its personal struggles. He’s still wowing clients right and left, but his home life is in turmoil after one too many extramarital dalliances—or at least a far too blatant one—landed him out of the house indefinitely. Furthermore, it’s September 1962, mere weeks away from the proverbial “eyeball to eyeball” tension of the Cuban Missile Crisis would threaten the world as they know it.
Hank Moody at the Gym
David Duchovny as Hank Moody in the tenth episode of Californication, “The Devil’s Threesome”.
Vitals
David Duchovny as Hank Moody, bored writer and womanizer
Venice Beach, Fall 2007
Series: Californication
Episode: “The Devil’s Threesome” (Episode 1.10)
Air Date: October 15, 2007
Director: John Dahl
Costume Designer: Peggy A. Schnitzer
Background
By the tenth episode, Hank is now the unofficial roommate and caretaker of his agent and best friend Charlie, who’s been “kicked to the curb by his diminutive lesbian wife,” according to Hank. Looking to get back into the dating game, and knowing Hank’s reputation as a cocksman supreme, Charlie decides to hit the gym and use Hank as a wingman. Continue reading
Hank Moody Goes Porsche Shopping
David Duchovny goes car shopping as Hank Moody in “Filthy Lucre”, the ninth episode of Californication.
Vitals
David Duchovny as Hank Moody, washed-up novelist and womanizer
Venice Beach, Fall 2007
Series: Californication
Episode: “Filthy Lucre” (Episode 1.09)
Air Date: October 8, 2007
Director: Scott Burns
Costume Designer: Peggy A. Schnitzer
Background
After a traumatic first eight episodes, Hank Moody’s luck seems to be changing. He has endured losing the love of his life, the death of his father, and a crippling inability to put pen to paper. Continue reading
Sidney Reilly Goes Undercover in Russia
Sam Neill as Sidney Reilly in the seventh episode of Reilly: Ace of Spies (1983).
Vitals
Sam Neill as Capt. Sidney Reilly, British secret service agent and Canadian Royal Flying Corps airman
Russia, Spring 1918
Series: Reilly: Ace of Spies
Episode: “Gambit” (Episode 7)
Air Date: October 12, 1983
Director: Jim Goddard
Costume Designer: Elizabeth Waller
Background
The mini-series Reilly: Ace of Spies, being based on Sidney Reilly’s own exaggerated account of his life, certainly stretches the truth – if not downright fictionalizes – many parts of Reilly’s story. However, the show does a fine job of serializing Reilly’s most important and life-altering adventure: the attempted overthrow of the Bolshevik government. Continue reading
Californication – Hank Grieves in Purple
David Duchovny hits rock bottom as Hank Moody on the eighth episode of Californication.
Vitals
David Duchovny as Hank Moody, brooding novelist with substance abuse issues
Venice Beach, Summer 2007
Series: Californication
Episode: “California Son” (Episode 1.08)
Air Date: October 1, 2007
Director: Scott Winant
Costume Designer: Peggy A. Schnitzer
Background
By the time of the eighth episode of Californication, viewers have certainly become familiar with Hank Moody’s “man in black” look. Thus, when we open on a scene of Hank at his computer in a surprising purple shirt, we certainly don’t expect it to be an episode where he is grieving his father’s death the entire time. And yet, that’s exactly what happens. Continue reading
The Sopranos: Christopher’s Black Leather Jacket in “Pine Barrens”
Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti in “Pine Barrens”, the eleventh episode of the third season of The Sopranos.
Vitals
Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti, recently “made” New Jersey gangster
New Jersey, January 2001
Series: The Sopranos
Episode: “Pine Barrens” (Episode 3.11)
Air Date: May 6, 2001
Director: Steve Buscemi
Creator: David Chase
Costume Designer: Juliet Polcsa
Background
For a series arguably among the greatest shows of our time, it is difficult to pick out which episode of The Sopranos is truly the best. While some episodes are more polarizing than others, most everyone who has seen and appreciated the show can agree that season three’s “Pine Barrens” is one of the most enjoyable and rewatchable episodes of television.
Much of the particular episode’s humor comes from the byplay between Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli) and Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri (Tony Sirico), two of my favorite characters of the show.
The two manage to play a pair of “bumbling” mobsters without being too over-the-top and comical. They’re efficient enough to survive in their jobs (especially in a career where the retirement policy is grim), but believably stupid enough to find themselves in this situation. Continue reading
Flashbacks of Hank Moody in “California Son”
Mark Margolis joins David Duchovny in a production photo from “California Son”, the eighth episode of Californication.
Vitals
David Duchovny as Hank Moody, successful author and family man
Venice Beach, Summer 2006
Series: Californication
Episode: “California Son” (Episode 1.08)
Air Date: October 1, 2007
Director: Scott Winant
Costume Designer: Peggy A. Schnitzer
Background
A year before he became the substance-abusing turnstile of a man we’ve come to know and love, Hank Moody was a dedicated family man with several successful novels under his belt. Much like his attitude, Hank’s clothing during this “golden era” was much brighter with nary a black to be seen.
The first real glimpse Californication viewers get of this happy past life comes in the eighth episode, “California Son”. Faced with the death of his father Al (played by the ubiquitous but underrated Mark Margolis), Hank is forced to reflect on the last time he saw Al, which happened to be the summer that his relationship with Karen deteriorated. Continue reading
Californication – “Girls Interrupted”
David Duchovny as bored writer and master chef Hank Moody on Californication.
Vitals
David Duchovny as Hank Moody, womanizing novelist with substance abuse issues
Venice Beach, Summer 2007
Series: Californication
Episode: “Girls Interrupted” (Episode 1.07)
Air Date: September 24, 2007
Director: Tucker Gates
Costume Designer: Peggy A. Schnitzer
Background
As one of the first episodes to feature more heavily on the Flanderization of Charlie Runkle (Evan Handler), Hank Moody gets relatively less screen time than usual in “Girls Interrupted”, the seventh episode of Californication‘s first season.
When we do see him, the attire is all pretty standard. We do get a better look at the green button-up he wore earlier in the season and finally find out about Hank’s signature dish, an infamous conglomeration of cheese for the whole family! Continue reading
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