I really enjoyed season 1 of this 2004 series, Huff, which I found beautifully acted, realistic, and interesting. However, I now can't find season 2 so I guess I'll have to buy it. Season 1 ends with a cliffhanger.
Hank Azaria plays the psychiatrist Huff, who at the beginning of the first season, suffers a terrible trauma. But he didn't need that in order for his life to be in chaos. He has a wife, Beth (Paget Brewster) who is a party planner, and a son Byrd (Anton Yelchin). Byrd is a perceptive, smart kid with raging hormones. Huff's brother Teddy (Andy Comeau) is institutionalized with schizophrenia, and each episode ends with Huff visiting him.
His mother Izzy (Blythe Danner), she of tart tongue, lives with Huff's family, and is more than a little disapproving of Beth. (Her character softens quite a bit as the season continues.) His best friend is Russell (Oliver Platt), an out-of-control attorney who drinks, does drugs, and sleeps with hookers. Huff's practice consists of an unstable young woman (Lara Flynn Boyle) who stalks him, and that's just one patient. There is also a homeless man (Jack Laufer) who may or may not be real who keeps showing up. Sometimes he's working, sometimes he's got a place to live.
As the season continues, there are more and more complications in Huff's life. He has a midlife crisis. Russell gets into big trouble. Page's mother (Swoosie Kurtz) becomes ill. Byrd gets a girlfriend. Huff has to deal with his estranged father (Robert Forster) and his new wife.
An excellent, involving show that was canceled after its second season, although it received many accolades. I think nowadays, Showtime would have kept it on the air. I can't wait to dig up season 2 to find out what happens.
Hank Azaria plays the psychiatrist Huff, who at the beginning of the first season, suffers a terrible trauma. But he didn't need that in order for his life to be in chaos. He has a wife, Beth (Paget Brewster) who is a party planner, and a son Byrd (Anton Yelchin). Byrd is a perceptive, smart kid with raging hormones. Huff's brother Teddy (Andy Comeau) is institutionalized with schizophrenia, and each episode ends with Huff visiting him.
His mother Izzy (Blythe Danner), she of tart tongue, lives with Huff's family, and is more than a little disapproving of Beth. (Her character softens quite a bit as the season continues.) His best friend is Russell (Oliver Platt), an out-of-control attorney who drinks, does drugs, and sleeps with hookers. Huff's practice consists of an unstable young woman (Lara Flynn Boyle) who stalks him, and that's just one patient. There is also a homeless man (Jack Laufer) who may or may not be real who keeps showing up. Sometimes he's working, sometimes he's got a place to live.
As the season continues, there are more and more complications in Huff's life. He has a midlife crisis. Russell gets into big trouble. Page's mother (Swoosie Kurtz) becomes ill. Byrd gets a girlfriend. Huff has to deal with his estranged father (Robert Forster) and his new wife.
An excellent, involving show that was canceled after its second season, although it received many accolades. I think nowadays, Showtime would have kept it on the air. I can't wait to dig up season 2 to find out what happens.