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10:30 p.m. Friday!! Herc’s Seen PARTY DOWN, The New Starz Sitcom From The Creator Of VERONICA MARS!!
I am – Hercules!!
A new Starz sitcom from Rob Thomas (who earlier created “Cupid” and “Veronica Mars”), “Party Down” follows a group of caterers who aspire to jobs in which they won’t have to wear humiliating pink bowties for $14 a night.
It stars actors who had recurring roles on “Veronica Mars” (Ryan Hanson, Ken Marino) and actors who worked on Judd Apatow projects (Adam Scott, Lizzy Caplan, Jane Lynch and Martin Starr).
Thomas wrote the pilot alongside fellow “Mars” vets John Enbom, Dan Etheridge and Paul Rudd. Yes, that Paul Rudd; the “I Love You, Man” star played a rocker on the final season of “Mars.” The pilot, if I remember correctly, was shot on the cheap in Thomas’ home.
The new series does not start anywhere near as strongly as did “Cupid” and “Mars.” I warmed to the Scott and Caplan characters but found the other regulars – all played by actors I hugely admire – mostly an annoyance.
But why take my word? If you have a computer you can see the censored version right now:
Entertainment Weekly says:
… has some great lines and a wicked streak even if, like catering food, the concept feels a little warmed-over. …
The Los Angeles Times says:
… a smart, affable, mostly unpredictable ensemble comedy that reminds us that in the 500-channel universe, fine things can happen in unlikely places, as long as you are clever about budget, commit to a sensible number of episodes -- in this case 10 -- write well and cast right, and that what matters ultimately to heaven is not the eminence of the venue but the quality of the work. …
The Chicago Tribune says:
… part of the charm of this frequently deft series about the employees of an L.A. catering firm is that some of the characters are too dense or too innately optimistic to understand that they’re probably never going to make it. There is bitterness aplenty, but “Party Down” didn’t create these characters simply to mock them. There is also bittersweet sadness lurking behind these droll, incisive portraits of failure and self-deception. …
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says:
… only intermittently inspires a good time. … "Party Down" can't decide if it wants to be smart-funny or dumb-funny. Maybe if it does, the party will truly begin.
Variety says:
… a warmed-over buffet of bite-sized moments, mostly devoid of flavor. … There's no shortage of comedy with a semi-improvised flair trafficking in detached irony, but by the end of three catered affairs, I felt every bit as bored and blase about life as Henry.
The Hollywood Reporter says:
… Lurking behind the surface of this raucous comedy is an astute meditation on the promise and peril of leading an unconventional life, something about which aspiring actors know a thing or two.
10:30 p.m. Friday. Starz.
Season Eight: Volume Four!!
"I love love love DR. HORRIBLE’S SING-ALONG BLOG as much or more than just about anything I’ve seen this year." -- Harry Knowles
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I'm in. Even if it sucks, Rob Thomas has my time for the first few episodes.
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every time i start watching a new series i'm always worried that it's going to get canceled after one season and that i'll have just wasted a year. this has definitely got good credibility though, so i'll probably check it out. the whole first season is going to eventually be on the netflix watch instantly page. as each episode is aired, they'll post it on netflix.
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shouldn't have cancelled Veronica Mars in the first place. That Logan Echolls was dreamy.
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Mar 20, 2009 7:14:17 PM CDT
It'll hit its stride by episode 3, per Kristin dos Santos of E!
by pennsy
I enjoyed it, and Dish network has a three-month free trial of Starz and HBO that just started this week, I think. So for the first time ever as a Dish customer, I took the offer. So I'll see every Party Down episode, including the season finale in May.
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I kind of liked it. Not great but I'll keep watching.
Ryan Hansen is pretty awesome. -
does lizzy caplan bare her gorgeous breasts? when they killed her character on "true love," all i could think about was the fact that i might never see them again.
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Ban Hammer for You! :)
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...but it sure smells good!
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http://tinyurl.com/dl6j56
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This show's OK. But, I kept flashing back to "Veronica Mars" and how these actors were so great in that show and just kind of ehh here. Maybe it'll get better....
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AND HE LOVES TO PARTY DOWN!
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If I get to see Lizzy Caplan's perfect tits, I'll watch it. If not I won't. Unless Thomas gets Kirsten Bell to guest star and show her little rack. In which case I'll mail him a Christmas card.
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She's in the finale at the end of May
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It sucked. Didn't even make me smirk once. Lizzy Caplan is roughly 1000x more attractive naked, by the way.
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over and over again. Can't wait to see Rob's next show, starring Jason Dohring, Enrico whatever the fuck his last name is, and Ken Marino.
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it was pretty funny
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Deserves better.
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Nowhere near as fuckin good as eastbound and down or that thing on hbo where they interview katie morgan with her big ol fake titties out every week. also, this show has lizzy caplan but not her perfect orbs.
but here's my real problem with party down: it so desperately wants to be ricky gervais-esque it hurts. You've got the guy who says uncomfortable racial things who's annoying and full of cheer (ken marino). You've got the bitter, jaded regular guy who has sexual tension with his coworker. And some freaks. Plus, the main guy is remembered for a catchphrase that's annoying, i.e. just like 'are you avin a laff' from extras. Seriously, watch Gervais much? -
If anything, it's tapping into the type of territory explored in the film "The TV Set", which, if like anything, was verging on Apatow territory.
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Mar 24, 2009 5:26:46 PM CDT
neurotic uncomfortable naturalistic workplace comedy
by kenny_fuckin_powers
isnt like ricky gervais. ok dude, keep sniffing glue.
and the tv set was directed by judd apatow pal kasdan. im guessing it was actually based on some of apatows failure in tv experiences.
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