There are many American comedy-dramas on television today but one that has become particularly popular is Weeds, a Showtime show made by Lionsgate television and created by Jenji Kohan.

Weeds’ plot is basically about a housewife whose husband dies suddenly and thus must find a way to make money and continue her affluent suburban lifestyle. She becomes her neighborhood’s marijuana dealer in order to keep her income up and continue her lifestyle.

The TV series name, Weeds, seems to refer both to the plant that the protagonist sells (marijuana) as well as widow’s weeds which is what one would wear when one’s husband dies and becomes a widow. Additionally, it may refer to American suburbs which grow quickly like weeds and contain many people who are indistinguishable; just like weeds.

The opening theme song for Weeds is “Little Boxes” further emphasizing the American suburban neighborhood lifestyle as well as the fact that all of the houses and people are very similar thus stressing more the “Weeds” type mentality.

Weeds currently has five seasons and began to play in 2005. It was the highest rated series for Showtime in its first year and has been considered a definite success for the channel. On average, the season has attracted 962,000 viewers.

1.2 million viewers and an additional 500,000 for the rerun later that night meant that the season 5 premier was a definite success and with a total viewership of 1.7 million, it is safe to say that the Showtime channel was probably quite happy.

The exteriors for the show are shot mainly in California in the Santa Clarita Valley region. Some other shots are taken in Calabasas, California.

Nancy Botwin is the protagonist who is the housewife whose husband dies. She lives the typical affluent suburban life style in a very nice neighborhood where one wouldn’t think much about drugs or other seedy type activity. However, after her husband’s quick death while out jogging, she must find a way to make ends meet which leads her to begin selling marijuana to her neighbors and friends. Later on, she must continue to expand her customer base which brings on more challenges and obstacles.

Celia is Nancy’s best friend who also seems to be at times her best enemy. She is stuck in an unhappy marriage and is a character taken to various vices including alcohol. She also is mean and takes actions against various people to teach them lessons.

Season 1 starts off with Nancy’s husband dying suddenly while he is out jogging thus leaving Nancy alone and in search of a trade to keep her suburban lifestyle afloat. This leads her to the marijuana trade.

Both of Nancy’s children attend public school but for Nancy to live and keep going on in her upper middle class lifestyle, she has to make ends meet and this involves her entrance to the marijuana market when she begins to sell to her friends and neighbors.

Later on, some of Nancy’s customers begin to go to a medical marijuana dispensary because its quality of weed is far superior to that of Nancy’s. Nancy is forced to employ her cooking skills to make baked goods and thus find a way to continue to sell her inferior weed to her customers. She later opens a bakery in order to cover this baking up while putting Costco products on her shelves to further her cover.

Weeds is a very good television program that has been doing quite well for some time now. If the characters and plot seem interesting to you, it would be worth checking out on the Showtime network. You may also view clips and other videos from the show online if you search around a bit for the “Weeds” television title.