Showtime's WeedsTV Show: Suburban Pot-luck

I have always been pretty much a straight edge person. I have never smoked or done any drugs, and I'm not big on drinking either. I don't normally think very highly of people that smoke pot or do an other drugs for 'recreational purposes'. However, for some reason, I really, really enjoy Showtimes original series "Weeds". I'm not sure if it is the fact that the show is a little risqué and envelope pushing (as most Showtime and HBO series are)or if it is the fact that there is a brilliant cast. For whatever reason, I just can't stop watching this show.

"Weeds" is about a suburban housewife named Nancy Botwin.(Played by Mary-Louise Parker) When Nancy's husband expectantly drops dead while jogging with their son, she finds herself in a financial mess. She wants to keep her sons lives running as normal as possible. This means not changing the rich and spoiled suburban life they are used to. Nancy finds herself selling pot in order to keep up with her lifestyle. Though there was never an episode that discussed how exactly she got into the business of selling pot, I hope that they perhaps do a flashback episode at some point to let us know. I'm not sure if that will happen though, as we are already through with the second season.

The storyline of "Weeds" follows Nancy through her day to day life trying to hide her dealings from her maid and her two young sons, as well as her meddling and overbearing fellow PTA member and best friend Celia Hodes, who is played by the brilliant Elizabeth Perkins. I have to say that Celia is my most favorite character. You love to hate her and she is hilarious. Celia's youngest daughter is slightly overweight and she does some unthinkably taboo things to get her to lose weight, like putting a laxative flavored chocolate bar in place of her normal chocolate bar. She really is an out there character. Having an overweight daughter is an embarrassment to her, and imagine her dismay when her daughter is chosen to be a model for 'husky' sized clothing. When we are introduced to Celia's mother at one point in season 1, we get a glimpse into what her home life must have been like, and why she acts the way she does.

Nancy sells drugs to Celia's husband, (who I believe is a Lawyer by the way.), and the city councilman Doug Wilson, played by that wacky Kevin Nealon. From dealings at Poker games to all the neighborhood housewive's husbands, to selling at soccer games, Nancy is good at what she does.

Nancy gets her supply from an outspoken and loudmouthed woman named Heylia James. Heylia thinks that Nancy is going to fall flat on her butt and that she needs to slow down or she will get herself busted by the cops. She gets really mad when her nephew Conrad whom works with Heylia on her dealings, gets puppy dog eyes for Nancy. Heylia says that if Conrad even tries to talk to her she will throw him out in the cold, as Nancy is just asking for trouble. It turns out that Conrad has been growing his own pot plants and wants to expand and grow more. Heylia tells him that they are sellers, not growers and that he needs to get rid of the plant. Instead, Nancy stops getting her supply from Heylia and goes into business with Conrad.

"Weeds" really starts to heat up when Nancy becomes romantically involved with a single father that she meets at her sons Karate tournament. After a memorable night, she wakes up to find his work jacket hanging over a chair. The Jacket says "DEA" on it. She realizes that she is dating an agent. Things only get more exciting and dangerous from that point on. Mix all that in with a young son who is a bit odd and is teased relentlessly and an older son who acts like a spoiled brat and tries to rebel against her and you get Nancy Botwins everyday life.

Season 2 ended with a bang and I can't wait for Season 3 to start. I guess I always have "The Sopranos" and "Big Love" to watch on HBO while I wait. If you have not caught this show yet, look for it on Comcast's Showtime On Demand, or look for the DVD box sets in stores to rent. Season 2 I'm sure will be available soon, if it isn't already.