"Let's hug it out, bitch!"

This isn't so much about literature as it about television. Specifically Sunday nights on HBO.

I don't mind telling you, they were losing me. I still turned it on and watched, but I wasn't so thrilled anymore. "Six Feet Under" just got to be too much of a hassle at times, and last year, "Entourage" really didn't thrill me at all. Was I all excited about watching Lisa Kudrow in a new Larry Davidish show? No.

But lemme tell you. I could still list a few grievances about Entourage, but what's the point? I kept watching cause I like Jeremy Piven and he won me over right away. And this new season? I dig it! It's sharper writing with more of an arc with the whole Aquaman thing and Johnny Drama cracks me up. And Piven? He's still the best. If you don't know what the title of this thread is all about, it's about Piven and one of his best lines on the show.

Lisa Kudrow in The Comeback? Out-fucking-standing. The woman is nearly unrecognizable as Pheobe, and she has the self-conscious ticks down perfectly. Val is a great character, not because she's so loveable, but precisely because she's sort of an asshole, ok, a huge asshole, but that's just her and somehow Kudrow pulls her off as this one big huge exposed needy nerve that's at the same time trying to shelter and hide that hurt and need. It's some pretty good shit, is what I'm saying.

And Six Feet Under? Man, I got to totally hating Nate. Just loathing the bastard and his existential crises all the time. So what happens in the middle of the final season? Nate finds peace and they whack the son-of-a-bitch!! I LOVE IT! Now that's some great television, kids.

I wasn't loving you much these days, HBO. But with some tight (Entourage), uncomfortable (The Comeback) and gutsy (SFU) writing and two great actors (Piven and Kudrow) you've still got me watching. We're back on track now, baby. So let's hug it out, bitch!