I’ve perhaps wrongly assume that anyone currently writing for a television show has seen Alfred Hitchcock’s Dial M for Murder. Its adaptation in 1954 from Frederick Knott’s play makes it anomalous in Hitchcock’s filmography for taking place mainly in a single room. Surely, Psycho was distinctly connected to the Bates Motel, but viewers were able to see the owner’s house, the motel office and a few rooms in addition to that creepy path leading up the hill. Dial M for Murder is all windows, walls, carpet and furniture. That’s not bad – and in fact it’s one of my favorite films from the British director. But it’s surprising that last week’s episode of Californiacation – “The Apartment” – was able to summon some connection to the fifty-five year old film.

Hank Moody, as always, is involved with a series of women. And when the episode begins, he’s engaged in convincing his child’s mother to bare her bosom via webcam over Skype. And apart from the fact that including technology which will shortly be outmoded and appear ridiculous – much like Zach Morris’ enormous cell phone from Saved by the Bell – seeing the slightly browned cleavage of his amore is just damnably aggravating. I mean, what are viewers going to do with just a glimpse?

But regardless of that, Moody’s soon joined by a student of his after she knocks on the door accompanied by a bevy of strippers. What ensues is implied, but the action all takes place in Moody’s apartment. The following morning, as Becca, Moody’s daughter, has stayed at a friend’s house and is being chauffeured to school, the protagonist slowly awakes atop a pile of women to answer another caller at his front door.

Unfortunately, it’s his teaching assistant come to profess her love for the older man. And while she’s no doubt attractive – clothed or otherwise – Moody has a problem keeping the trio in his bedroom from being noticed by this new comer. Again, though, he’s beckoned to the door, stashing the teaching assistant in his daughter’s room. There’s another woman, some discussion of sex and everything else that one should expect from the lascivious plots of Californiacation.

But as this third season began, Moody made a vow to work at being a better man and father. He obviously soon forgot that pledge and since that time has jumped atop an endless list of woman who seem to all be jacked into his life in ways separate from the bedroom. That doesn’t make him a horrible person – he’s not married, engaged or otherwise unavailable - just kinda slutty.

This all does point to a tragic character flaw – and one that will mostly likely lead to the discontinuance of his relationship with his daughter’s mother. That, in-fact, might be a good way for the series to conclude. And seeing as the writers have run out of story ideas – but not thoughtful ways to arrange the arc of an episode – that might just be over the horizon line of next season. More importantly, though, if that’s not the case, how old can Moody get and still be a viable and believable sexual force?