Party Down

Where to even begin. I stumbled upon this when browsing New TV Comedies on Watch Instantly from Netflix and decided to give it a shot. And I am very glad I did. I have burned through all my TV Comedies forty times over. The Office, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, 30 Rock, Arrested Development, and all of those. This one easily fights for my number one spot of favorite TV Sitcoms. The show doesn't try any quirky gimmicks (which drove me quickly away from watching too much 30 Rock), or anything over the top. The film is based on a Motley Crew of Caterer's of has-beens or aspiring actors who do the dry waiting job while they wait for their big break.

Every character is hilarious and none are annoying. Granted, some will have their episodes where they are the heel, but the writers have a great punishment regiment in each episode which makes you feel like you weren't harassed the entire episode by horrible writing just to create an annoying personality.

The show has enough story to sync them all together and to keep you interested in the chronological history of everything, but not so much that it becomes a drama or a sinking point. The comedy is purely adult with minimal if any at all slapstick. It's namely realistic and witty humors launched from all sides with realistic and sideshow situations.

Over all this show is great for those like me who have exhausted all the better comedy shows out there and need something new and unique. I have never seen a show like this one or sell it like this.

Here is a show I've been meaning to binge but I kept forgetting in favor of other better known titles. I'm so glad I finally remembered! The show centers on a crew of misfit caterers and each party they work. As someone who worked in the catering industry for years I find a lot of relatable circumstances here. The writing is sharp and funny. Each episode is one party. The party guests fill out the scenery and make this show quick and funny without becoming too full of itself. Many of the actors have gone on to bigger projects and there are even some huge names we know today filling out smaller roles. PD is like a small entertainment time capsule one would find on a back shelf of an old blockbuster video store. We see Adam Scott, Lizzy Caplan, Martin Starr (who looks and sounds like he is still completing puberty here), Jane Lynch, Josh Gad, JK Simmons, And many more all one or two projects away from their big breaks here. For that reason alone makes Party Down a fun watch. You will see many more easily recognizable faces as well. I recommend sitting down one day and taking this show in. You will laugh at the dated technology and un-PC dialogue knowing this isn't that far in the past.

After the guilty (far too old to be it's intended audience) pleasure of Veronica Mars I stumbled across this series trying to find something else by Rob Thomas ...and what a gem! The contrast between Ron(KEN MARINO)'s touchingly earnest efforts, while his team of caterer's resent every minute of a temporary, crappy job is pitch perfect.

Also, eccentric clients (every episode is at different gig) provide some great guest cameos (Steven Weber's is my current favourite). The cringe-worthy situations that develop and basis of characters 'on the edge' of show-business remind me of Ricky Gervais's 'Extras' - but this is FAR funnier. The weakest element so far is the romance but let's see what happens with it. I just ordered the DVD of series 1 too. Bravo all involved!

This show is so great already and has even more potential. The first episode was just OK but man after that each episode keeps getting better and better. The show is about a group of caterers that go to their events but always end up being sidetracked by themselves. Every character has a unique personality and they all mesh perfectly. I wouldn't have thought that Starz could get so many actors and actresses that are hilarious but they managed to nab 3 actors from the Apatow crew (needless to say they are funny) and the Mean Girls lesbian and the dude from Wet Hot American Summer. If you have Starz this is a must watch show.. Premium Channels are saving comedy one show at a time.

And think its one of the best ever. Adam Scott and Lizzy Caplan and Jane Lynch were awesome. First time I saw this was when it originally played and I didn't know who they were. I do now. I'll probably watch it ten more times because I can binge it on StarzGo. What a great hilarious, flat out side bendingly funny show. I wish there was some way they could extend the series with a new group of unknowns.