Preview: 'Hung'

The Pitch: This HBO dramedy is cable's latest wallow in suburban rot, with Thomas Jane as down-on-his-luck high school teacher and basketball coach Ray Drecker, who has to resort to male prostitution to make ends meet. The title refers to what he's packing in his pants, which gives him an advantage in his new profession.

Verdict: Although this sort of story has been told before on shows like Weeds, Breaking Bad and The Riches (from Hung co-creator Dmitry Lipkin), Hung is entertaining enough to overcome the tonal and narrative familiarity, and has well-drawn characters worth coming back to see week after week. It starts a little slowly, but Lipkin and co-creator Colette Burson draw you in, and Jane, Anne Heche and Jane Adams all give strong performances as the main characters.

Airs: Sundays at 10 p.m. EST on HBO

Premieres: June 28

Photo courtesy of HBO