After being left alone by his wife and children, Ray Drecker, an ambitious former athlete, who turns to be a coach, who struggles after losing his house in a fire, finds inspiration in life after meeting, Tanya, an aspiring poet, whom helps him to change his life and find out success.
"I don't think it's funny; I think it's sad," someone says near the end of the premiere, and as happens frequently with new shows, it sounds too much like self-criticism.
Amidst all the sniggering humor about how Ray has been taught to "do your best with the gifts God gave you" is some smart comedy about the state of 21st century America in general, as well as a superb lead performance from Thomas Jane.
HBO bills "Hung" as a comedy, but it uses comedy the way it uses sex - to set up darker, more interesting and complex points. It's amazing how many of those are out there.