Surf's up, but interest in "John from Cincinnati" is ebbing

WKRP's Les Nessman is no longer the weirdest thing to come out of southern Ohio.

  That distinction belongs to the title character in “John from Cincinnati,” the off-the-charts vanity project from David Milch, who gave up his other HBO series, “Deadwood,” to work on this. A truly baffling series about surfing, screwed-up families and miracles, “John from Cincinnati” airs its fourth episode at 8 p.m. CT Sunday on HBO, and shows no signs of emerging from its self-indulgent aura of mystery.

For three weeks now, Milch (pictured here on the "Deadwood" set) has been walking us through a menagerie of oddball characters, created by himself and novelist Kem Nunn, who co-exist uneasily with each other on Imperial Beach, not far from the Mexican border. There's the onetime champion surfer Mitch Yost (Bruce Greenwood), now a grumpy and aloof patriarch who has just learned he can levitate; Mitch's strangely embittered spouse Cissy (Rebecca De Mornay), who gets arrested for throwing canned goods at a grocery store employee; their disappointment of a son, Butchie (Brian Van Holt), who was headed for surfing glory before drugs wiped him out; and Butchie's son, Shaun (Greyson Fletcher, offspring of a real-life surfing dynasty), a gifted golden child whose doe-eyed innocence and marvelous board skills are supposed to mitigate the hatefulness of the grown-ups around him during their not infrequent screaming matches.

  Then there's John (Austin Nichols), a young stranger who wanders onto the beach one day and says, “Mitch Yost should get back in the game.” And: "The end is near." John seems at first to be some kind of well-groomed soothsayer. But to our great frustration, the next three hours John is more mimic than mystic, as he keeps repeating things he overhears other people are saying. “I got my eyes on you … I have to sell it … The line forms on Butchie's left!”   If this random assortment of bon mots makes no sense to you, then welcome to my world. And I haven't even poured on the heavy perfume of scatology that seems to waft from everything Milch does these days. “John from Cincinnati” is as relentlessly foul-mouthed as “Deadwood” was, but in the absence of any real character or story development on this show, the language just seems gratuitous.

  All of which is driving viewers to distraction. In her widely-read trashing of “John from Cincinnati” in The New Yorker, Nancy Franklin wrote, “It's maddening to see a show this bad from someone so talented, but that's how it works when you're a real artist, and that's how it should work. The person who creates a 'Deadwood' is also probably going to make a 'John from Cincinnati' one day. If you let him. Networks don't let that happen; HBO does. It takes risks.”

  Actually, a network once did allow it to happen. About a decade ago, CBS signed up Milch and his “NYPD Blue” collaborator Steven Bochco to create an edgy, TV-MA-rated cop show called “Brooklyn South.” It opened with a shockingly violent, 10-minute scene where a peaceful city street exploded into a shooting gallery. The show kind of went downhill from there, and didn't get renewed.

  Still, Franklin's point is well-taken. HBO has a history of urging its producers to become auteurs, to cross that Rubicon that separates the merely commercial TV types from the telegeniuses that make HBO HBO. Alan Ball, when developing “Six Feet Under,” was told his depictions of a family that lived in the funeral home it owned weren't creepy enough. And of course, there was the recent memory of David Chase ending his show, “The Sopranos,” by switching Tony off in mid-scene.

  But even given HBO's reputation for slow-simmering, strange-tasting stews, I am developing no taste for Milch's latest concoction. I came up with a four-episodes rule after my late colleague, John Higgins, advised me in the spring of 1999 to keep watching those “Sopranos” screener tapes. “It really gets going in the fourth hour,” Higgins said, and he was right. Well, it's week four for “John from Cincinnati,” and unless I get a little resolution on this John character -- is he touched by an angel, or simply touched -- I'm going to have to move on. And I suspect I won't be alone.

Comments

[Al]

I like this show; the characters and setting make it worth watching. Like "The Sopranos", it's a drama about a family that stays intact in spite of its problems. The first episode didn't grab me, but the second one got me hooked. Don't wait for John's character to become clear: watch how the lives of the Yosts change the way we did with the Sopranos. Yes, it is strange, but there is a lot to like in this show.

[Jill]

Not knowing who John is or what his purpose is has me hooked. I'm planning to watch this show until HBO pulls the plug.

[Aaron]

Well, now, that's the ace in the hole. We may not know a thing about these characters - and I am not as gripped in suspense as you two are - but we know for absolute certain one thing: every episode HBO ordered, HBO is going to air at 8 o'clock SUnday nights until they're done. That means the world to a producer, and it's entirely possible Milch is planning to take advantage of that to throw us a curveball in the 10th episode.

If, that is, people are still watching. NObody cares that the second season of "Carnivale" was better than the first.

[Steve Hammons]

The two articles below explore some elements of "John from Cincinnati" and might be of interest to fans of the show and those who are not sure what to think about it ...

“Developments in science, human consciousness hold promise of new discoveries, better world”

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=30886

- - -

“New HBO series 'John from Cincinnati' has metaphysical mysteries”

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=29716

[arthur]

Is it just me or was the families reaction to the kid coming back to life pretty non-exsistant??? they werent shocked or anything. if that were to happen in real life they would be freaking out. they acted like they werent shocked. not even really happy about it! weird show, ill give it one more episode. its kinda boring

[AmandaOnTheCopyDesk]

It's funny, I decided after watching the third episode that I would give it one more. I had really high hopes for this since "Deadwood" is easily one of my favorite shows, but other than admiring Rebecca DeMornay's acting, I'm just not engaged. To me, the characters are intriguing, but not engrossing.

[Stratbat]

I'm happy for those who are sticking with show, because they are the sort of viewers that encourage the "Milches" to try something new. Whether or not it turns out to be a worthwhile investment of the viewer's attention, at least they gave it a shot.

That said, I really can't understand why HBO would gamble on a new series with as quirky a premise as "John," when a viable and incompleted masrerpiece--Deadwood--was left for dead. We all know that it will be highly unlikely the two, two-hour final movies will ever be shot. That's what doesn't make sense to me.

Stratbat

[Aaron]

I agree completely with the observation that Rebecca De Mornay alone might be reason to keep tuning in.

[OPen]

yeah I guess this would only attract a certian crowd that is not your average T.V watcher as above, but Im sure its beginning to apeall to those more "left winged" thinkers who believe in the metaphysical or just plain enjoy the entertainment of such. Its going after a new generation of people. I dont see this really grasping ahold of the critics well being they just see a T.V show

[Kay]

I'm enjoying the show okay. I just wish they'd put in more surfing scenes. It'd give the show more energy!!!

[brian]

I am in love with this show the characters are brilliant and complex. ed oniel is a living legend. I love the dealer from Hawaii and his stooge the guy who picks up the illegals on beach is a great character actor. The setting is perfect. Do not miss out by writing this show off after 5 ep's. the shit is just about to start flying. Finally something fresh and different leave it to hbo

[Paul J]

OK, Just finished this week's episode and am left with a "I wasn't fed, but I don't care" feeling. Then again I'm one of those people who gives more chances than not that something might be redeemable. Call me the glass-half-full person. I like a good story that engages my feelings pro or con to the characters. Alas, I don't care about any of the Milch characters in JOC. And yet I watch. (perhaps I need to go outside more) There is more drama, excitement and intrigue on the surfing beach across the road from me that I should turn off the TV and look out the window.
Does anyone really know what Ed O'Neill is talking about when he chats with his bird? The one colorful character who is like an old shoe is Dayton Callie (Steady Eddie). Seems like I've known him for a while. Long story-short, even though we see subtle changes in Mitch and Butchie...I am getting to the point where I don't care.

[ok]

hold on to your weenus. it is just about to get good.

[margie]

I love this show. It leaves alot to our imagination (which we do not use much of anymore). This is kinda like Carnivale. I wanted more but HBO did not pick it up for a third season and left us hanging. Please do not do this with this one. I love the whole messed up family thing which makes it Great. It touches on the hope that there is a God and he can come in any form to all of us (at least I think John is from God). I am intrigued.

[jen]

I want to like this show, and like others I cannot believe that HBO would get rid of Deadwood, for this. To me each episode is worse than the last. The fourth especially. The problem is I really want to like these characters and do like some, but the show seems stagnant at times. One thing I really didn't understand was there is no way a grandparent after thinking their grandchild was dead, would come home, fight with his wife, and then leave without seeing his grandchild. Auhhhh.

[margie]

I guess the best part of this show is that in disfunctional families we do NOT do what is right.That is why I like this show. It kind of reminds me that we are all one organism and anything we do can change everything and that we are all connected. Sounds cornball but that is what keeps me watching. The real and unreal.
It's HBO people if you want an ending each episode watch law and order!! Give me John from Cincinnati!

[damian]

I can't believe someone actually associated this show with "left wingers". Some people seriously need to stop and get a grip.Not everything is about your sick desire to maintain a division in the countries political spectrum.

As for the show, I find it intriguing. I'll keep watching it. But, I hope there's a payoff.

[Will]

This show is just plain weird. Bring back Deadwood. I loved that show

[Doug]

I LOVE this show. I Loved Carnivale also, which may be a prerequisite to liking John from Cincinnati? It's kind of like a premium channel Northern exposure. Fan-friggin-tastic, so far.

The character development is just starting and I can't wait to see where it's headed. I think the people who don't like it may be too used to the standard network tv, straight forward, style of writing meant for commercial sponsors tastes and just don't get the fact that this show is 'supposed' to be different. HBO lets the writers concoct and imagine different writing methods and it works to the viewers advantage.

Carnivale, ROME, Sopranos, Deadwood. Need I say more? Give it a chance to ripen on the vine and you may be surprised.

[Aaron]

Moving discussion to episode four posting:

http://blogs.kansascity.com/tvbarn/2007/07/i-watched-episo.html