HOLLYWOOD—The HBO series “Hung” returned on Sunday night and was all fans expected and even more. The comedy, which stars Thomas Jane and Anne Heche, is a new take on an old story, but one that takes you through a maze of entertainment and wonderful acting from the stellar cast. The writing is always surprising to me. I find myself getting lost for the half-hour in the life of a school gym teacher who coaches by day and sells his manhood by night. Before anyone thinks it’s too raunchy, it’s not. It is a funny show that viewers can’t seem to get enough of.

On Sunday night, it looked like Ray was getting closer to his ex-wife again. However, her mother will have different plans for the duo next week. On the debut episode Ray’s (Thomas Jane) new co-partnership with Tanya (Jane Adams) and Lenore (Rebecca Creskoff) not only got off to a rocky start when he held back during a tryst with Claire (Kathryn Hahn), a client. More trouble ensued when he turned to Tanya for advice. Later, Ray and other teachers picketed the school in anticipation of summer layoffs. Jessica (Anne Heche), already filled with doubts about her marriage to Ronnie (Eddie Jemison) and refusing to take calls from Lenore after her experience with the no-show gigolo (Ray), was stung by criticism from Darby (Sianoa Smit-McPhee) and Damon (Charlie Saxton).

Looking to get an edge on Lenore and regain Ray’s trust, Tanya ventured into a tough neighborhood for liberating pimping advice from a real pro. A black man who adorned a cross but gave some tough and saucy talk to Tanya bout being a pimp. “Hung” is a show that you think you may think you won’t like, but Thomas Jane grows on you.

The episode was written by Colette Burson and Dmitry Lipkin. It was directed by Dan Attias.

“Hung” was created by Colette Burson & Dmitry Lipkin; executive producers, Colette Burson, Dmitry Lipkin, Alexander Payne, Michael Rosenberg, Scott Stephens, Noreen Halpern and John Morayniss; co-executive producer, Angela Robinson; producer, Hilton H. Smith; supervising producer, Eileen Myers.

Photograph Courtesy: HBO Productions