Showtime Showcases Anti-Heroes at Comic Con

Not wanting to miss out on all the hero-worship, Showtime pulled out all the stops to showcase its big four television shows at Comic Con, where the “Showtime’s Anti-Heroes” panel simultaneously spot lit Dexter, Weeds, Nurse Jackie and Californication. It is a rare day when you see the likes of Michael C. Hall, Mary Louis Parker and David Duchovny on stage together, so it was a special treat for fans. Rounding out the panel were producers Chip Johanneson of Dexter, Victoria Morrow of Weeds, Linda Wallem and Paul Schulze of Nurse Jackie, and Tom Kapinos of Californication. Mostly the panel was a big tease intended to tantalize the audience with sizzle reels of the upcoming seasons. The gamble played well and soon everyone was clamoring for more juicy reveals on what was upcoming.

David Duchovny

Tom Kapinos dangled the tid-bit that Rob Lowe would be guest-starring on Californication as an insane, omnisexual movie star and that Hank Moody, played by Duchovny, would continue on his self-destructive path. Also, despite being described as a “truth teller” — someone who says the truth no matter how damaging it is — Hank will find himself embroiled with more women and many more problems this next season. Duchovny said that he thinks Hank justifies telling the truth in order to seem sympathetic because even if the truth is ugly or self-serving, it helps make Hank relatable to the audience.

Likewise, Linda Wallen and Paul Schulze shared that they personally think it is fun to watch Edie Falco play such a wild role on Nurse Jackie where she is constantly getting caught in her outrageous lies. So they expect to continue with that trend. Paul Shultz also shared that he believes that Jackie is the shadow we all have. He explained, “We all keep secrets, tell lies and do our best to avoid the pain . . . we all relate whether we want to or not.”

Michael C. Hall

As for what’s next on Dexter, Chip Johanneson revealed that like the classic anti-hero who is removed from humanity, Dexter will keep trying to claw his way back — despite the fact that his touchstone, Rita, has been brutally taken from him. Thus, Harry’s warning that he can’t have it all will be hanging over Dexter. Dexter will both be a suspect in Rita’s death and he will have to deal with having to be a single parent to his own son and Rita’s kids who will blame him for their mother’s death. So expect to see the tension of whether Dexter can lean on the Code or actively defy it. Plus, faces to watch for will be Johnny Lee Miller, Julia Stiles and Peter Weller who will be guest-starring this next season.

Then on Weeds, Victor Morrow shared that Nancy Botwin will now have to face the repercussions of home schooling her son and how he learned all the wrong lessons. Mary Louise Parker also explained that Nancy is not one to feel sorry for herself and to get weighed down by guilt. She’s perfected the art of being on the run — and that includes from herself.

Mostly, for all four of these anti-heroes, the sins of their past and the bad decisions they have made in their lives will rise up to haunt them. These shows may celebrate the bad behavior of a serial killer, pot dealer, drug addict and a sex fiend, but even these anti-heroes do not get to live their lives so easily.

Fans can expect Weeds to return on August 16th, Dexter on September 26th, and then Nurse Jackie and Californication both return in 2011.