"John from Cincinnati" (2007) TV series

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Creators:

David Milch
Kem Nunn

Seasons:

1

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In Imperial Beach, California, the dysfunctional Yost family intersects with two new arrivals to the community: a dim-but-wealthy surfing enthusiast (Nichols) and man spurned by the Yosts years ago.

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | California | Surfer | Father Son Relationship

Cast

Rebecca De Mornay	...	Cissy Yost (10 episodes, 2007)
Willie Garson	...	Meyer Dickstein (10 episodes, 2007)
Luis Guzmán	...	Ramon Gaviota (10 episodes, 2007)
Keala Kennelly	...	Kai (10 episodes, 2007)
Ed O'Neill	...	Bill Jacks (10 episodes, 2007)
Luke Perry	...	Linc Stark (10 episodes, 2007)
Brian Van Holt	...	Butchie Yost (10 episodes, 2007)
Matt Winston	...	Barry Cunningham (10 episodes, 2007)
Emily Rose	...	Cass (10 episodes, 2007)
Austin Nichols	...	John Monad (10 episodes, 2007)
Greyson Fletcher	...	Shaun Yost (9 episodes, 2007)
Bruce Greenwood	...	Mitch Yost (9 episodes, 2007)
Dayton Callie	...	Steady Freddie Lopez / ... (9 episodes, 2007)
Jim Beaver	...	Vietnam Joe (8 episodes, 2007)
Paul Ben-Victor	...	Palaka (8 episodes, 2007)
Garret Dillahunt	...	Dr. Michael Smith (7 episodes, 2007)
Chandra West	...	Tina Blake (7 episodes, 2007)
Paula Malcomson	...	Jerri (5 episodes, 2007)
Matthew Maher	...	Dwayne (5 episodes, 2007)

Filming Locations:

El Camino Motel - 550 Highway 75, Imperial Beach, California, USA

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Trivia:

The surfing sequences are by well-respected surfers Brock Little, Keala Kennelly, Dan Malloy, John John Florence, Shane Beschen, and Herbie Fletcher.

Quotes:

John Monad: The end is near.

Sport wood, surf water

It is difficult to say enough good things about this series. The ensemble cast gives new meaning to the term; there hasn't been as wacky and as wonderful a cast since Firefly. There are standouts -- if Rebecca de Mornay and Ed O'Neill are not nominated for Emmys something is very wrong indeed -- but pretty much every one of the actors is spot-on.

Many people will probably comment about the odd paranormal events that start to happen when John arrives on the scene. Many theories will be generated about who John is and what he does to "cause" them. I see things a different way. The magic of this series, and the brilliance of its writing, is that despite the title it really isn't *about* John. John doesn't really cause these extraordinary things to happen to this odd group of people; it's more like his presence allows the odd group of people to realize what is already going on.

There's an old spiritual saying: "Before realization, chop wood and carry water; after realization, chop wood and carry water." Realization isn't about changing anything, it's about noticing what has always already been present. The magic surrounding the extended Yost family has always already been present. You want miracles? It's a miracle that most of them are still alive. But they've been so busy for so long now chopping wood and carrying water that they never realized how much of a miracle their lives were. Around John, they start to realize this.