Party Down

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.

Party Down is an excellent and original new show. To best describe the show I would say it would be like having Seth Rogen and Jud Apatow guest directing an episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Ken Marino is excellent in Party Down as well. He plays the roll of Ron Donald perfectly and is a highly underrated comedic force. This show is a breath of fresh air to the mundane world that is comedy on television. It also features many of the actors from Veronica Mars, including Kristen Bell herself. If you are expecting a second Veronica Mars though than this show is not for you. All in all though it is an excellent comedy that should keep the laughs coming for as long as it is running.

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.

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!

I only recently discovered this show, so I know 10 episodes is the limit, and that's a shame. It's an engaging, sardonic ensemble comedy with a terrific cast (including several actors who went on to more successful series) and really interesting guest stars. It's sharply written, it's quite funny, and it's got a prickliness to it that I love but that probably was one reason it didn't make it.