I only saw a few episodes. With David Duchovny in the lead role I thought it would be interesting, something like what if an ex-X Files agent becomes an alcoholic and writer. Then I saw one of my favorite child actresses Madeline Zima (Grace Sheffield in "The Nanny") in it and I was shocked. I thought that by being in such a show she was going to become like the next Lindsay Lohan. Fortunately she seems to be doing well and is appearing in the sequel Twin Peaks (2017). Another known actress in "Californication" was Diane Farr (Megan Reeves in "Numb3rs"). All in all I can only say that my first impression of this show was a tragicomedy depicting real life problems of alchoholism and sex addiction. The acting was up to a degree of sometimes extreme absurdism.