Bored to Death

When I first heard of this show, I sort of shrugged it off, more excited for the new season of 'Big Love' and the new mini-series 'The Pacific' that HBO had to offer me. And then, one day, I started to watch. This show is absolutely hilarious and well done. Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson, and Zach Galifianakis are all amazing here. It takes the classic detective story, puts it in a martini shaker with modern day, and serves you one satisfying experience. Each characters antics and flaws are hilarious and endearing, and as messed up as they each are, you can't help but adore them. Hopefully, HBO will renew it for a second season, as I was left impressed with the first. This is definitely not a show to miss.

This show is probably the best thing on American TV right now, it doesn't try to be in your face unusual but it just is because of its slow burning pace, great offbeat sense of humor, while you won't catch yourself bursting with laughter at cheap humor that many shows rely on, BTD has some of the funniest and most SUBTLE written dialog that seems to be a privilege of British shows. Its a brilliantly written show with characters and story lines that are painfully endearing. And if you like me haven't been entirely convinced in the first episode, please don't give up on it, it's one of those shows that grow on you and you catch yourself watching BTD again and again. It did seem at first as something specifically catered for Brooklyn hipsters, but it gives a great background for the stories and if you live in Brooklyn you'll appreciate glimpses of your neighborhood (especially Williamsburg). All around a funny and pleasant way to spend half an hour!

I've only seen 4 episodes, but think the show is excellent. The subtle and not-so-subtle lines are hysterical. I love the humor in "Flight of the Concords" but think that this show will be more accessible to a larger audience.

All of the actors, Ted Danson in particular, give depth and nuance to the characters they play. The entire cast use their bodies, from face to feet, to express their over-the-top characters. The script is intelligent, farcical and just plain fun and all of it is enhanced by the camera work and direction.

I am rationing the remaining episodes or I'll devour them in one day and have to wait for HBO's interminable next season!

Really cute series and Danson is entertaining in it. I don't understand why no one has made a movie about Keith Moon just so Jason Schwartzman could star in it. That would have been so great.

Bored to Death is completely unlike any other programs on at the moment, and its unique qualities, well-played characters and sometimes ridiculous plots have completely absorbed me ever since the first series. Jonathan Ames, played by Jason Schwartzman, is a heartbroken and muse-less novelist who decides to become a private investigator. His "cases" are more often than not seemingly run-of-the-mill, but when the bumbling pothead cartoonist Ray Hueston and the sartorial silver fox George Christopher become involved the plots rapidly become bizarre and hilarious.

The highlight of the show is the well-crafted and aptly played characters facing these absurd situations. Ted Danson excels in playing George Christopher, creating an insightful and comic guide for Jonathan Ames. Many of my favourite moments and lines involve George and his insatiable desire for weed, liquor and beautiful women. Ray Hueston is Jonathan Ames' "side-kick" - a down-and-out cartoonist trying to succeed with his comics about "Super-Ray"; a superhero costumed version of himself equipped with a 9-foot long penis. Madly in love with his girlfriend, his rather cringe failings as a boyfriend are very funny. I am not so impressed by Jonathan Ames as a character though, as he is quite vapid and not often particularly funny. On the other hand, this absence of a fleshed-out subconscious to Jonathan is possibly the director's choice to push more focus on the other characters.

The writing is also incredible. Dialogue isn't exactly believable, as these caricatures are all overly witty, cultured and dramatic, but it makes me laugh all the more. The deep friendship between Jonathan and George seems to be based on a father-figure relationship that is strange, funny and at times heart warming as the characters go through slightly more serious times in the 2nd and 3rd series. Most of all, a show about 3 fully grown adults in the cultural sector smoking weed, drinking all the time and going on some crazy adventures just sounds awesome.