Showtime has gained a reputation for high-quality programming including "Weeds," "The Tudors," and "Dexter." Before any of these shows, Showtime produced a program that was nominated for ten Emmys and won three Emmys during its two-year run. With a talented cast and strong writing, "Huff" was a brilliant and heartbreaking show that ended far too soon.
"Huff" tells the story of psychiatrist Craig Huffstodt or "Huff" (Hank Azaria) and his attempts to appease or save everyone in his life from his demanding mother Izzy (Blythe Danner) to his drug and sex addict best friend Russell (Oliver Platt) and his mentally unstable brother Teddy (Andy Comeau). In the meantime, Huff's wife Beth (Paget Brewster) is distracted by work and her mother's fight with breast cancer, and Huff's wise teenage son Byrd (Anton Yelchin) is more often giving his father advice than getting it. As he balances all of these tumultuous relationships, a crisis at work makes him reexamine if he is helping any of his patients.
The show might be named "Huff," but the real stars of the show are the supporting characters. Blythe Danner won two Emmys for her part as Izzy, an upper-class alcoholic with a good but complex heart. Izzy is a character full of contradictions, someone that the viewer will love one minute and hate the next, and Danner plays her character with grace and sensitivity.
Oliver Platt was also excellent as Huff's coke-addicted best friend Russell. Platt earned two Emmy nominations for the role, and deservingly so. Russell could have easily been nothing more than a two-dimensional partying womanizer, but Platt brings depth to the role, particularly in episode eight, "Cold Day in Shanghai."
Paget Brewster and Anton Yelchin are also deserving of praise, but guest star Lara Flynn Boyle steals every scene as Huff's disturbed former patient Melody. Throughout season one, Melody gets creepier and creepier, showing up at Huff's office in a sailor suit and leaving red roses on his doorstep. Boyle's performance made Melody the unpredictable ingredient in season one.
Despite Blythe Danner's Emmy wins, "Huff" was cancelled by Showtime after its second season because of low ratings. Season one was released on DVD in 2006, but there are currently no plans to release season two on DVD. Until Sony changes their mind, "Huff" fans must be satisfied with only the first season of this critically-acclaimed show.
Rachel Kolb
Huff: Season 1
Showtime has gained a reputation for high-quality programming including "Weeds," "The Tudors," and "Dexter." Before any of these shows, Showtime produced a program that was nominated for ten Emmys and won three Emmys during its two-year run. With a talented cast and strong writing, "Huff" was a brilliant and heartbreaking show that ended far too soon.
"Huff" tells the story of psychiatrist Craig Huffstodt or "Huff" (Hank Azaria) and his attempts to appease or save everyone in his life from his demanding mother Izzy (Blythe Danner) to his drug and sex addict best friend Russell (Oliver Platt) and his mentally unstable brother Teddy (Andy Comeau). In the meantime, Huff's wife Beth (Paget Brewster) is distracted by work and her mother's fight with breast cancer, and Huff's wise teenage son Byrd (Anton Yelchin) is more often giving his father advice than getting it. As he balances all of these tumultuous relationships, a crisis at work makes him reexamine if he is helping any of his patients.
The show might be named "Huff," but the real stars of the show are the supporting characters. Blythe Danner won two Emmys for her part as Izzy, an upper-class alcoholic with a good but complex heart. Izzy is a character full of contradictions, someone that the viewer will love one minute and hate the next, and Danner plays her character with grace and sensitivity.
Oliver Platt was also excellent as Huff's coke-addicted best friend Russell. Platt earned two Emmy nominations for the role, and deservingly so. Russell could have easily been nothing more than a two-dimensional partying womanizer, but Platt brings depth to the role, particularly in episode eight, "Cold Day in Shanghai."
Paget Brewster and Anton Yelchin are also deserving of praise, but guest star Lara Flynn Boyle steals every scene as Huff's disturbed former patient Melody. Throughout season one, Melody gets creepier and creepier, showing up at Huff's office in a sailor suit and leaving red roses on his doorstep. Boyle's performance made Melody the unpredictable ingredient in season one.
Despite Blythe Danner's Emmy wins, "Huff" was cancelled by Showtime after its second season because of low ratings. Season one was released on DVD in 2006, but there are currently no plans to release season two on DVD. Until Sony changes their mind, "Huff" fans must be satisfied with only the first season of this critically-acclaimed show.
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