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From left to right: Ken Marino, Ryan Hansen, and Adam Scott
Party Down is the new Starz! sitcom from creators John Enbom, Dan Etheridge, Paul Rudd, and Rob Thomas. The latter two names may sound more familiar to viewers: Rob Thomas is the creator of Veronica Mars, and Paul Rudd has been in hits like The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up. The new series totes another loved name in Fred Savage, who acts as a series producer and directs a few episodes.
Starz! hasn't had too much original material, unlike their counterparts (HBO, Showtime, et al.), which makes Party Down a welcome addition to the network.
The show follows a catering business called Party Down, run by manager Ron Donald. Ron has dreams of running his own Souper Crackers franchise, and he's been saving up money for years in hopes that the owner of Party Down will go into the venture with him. All he has to do is prove his reliability in his current managerial position, and the franchise will be his.
Joining Ron are his subordinates:
Newly returned Henry - an actor whose only successful role was in a series of beer commercials with an awful catchphrase. Henry gave up acting and now lives in an apartment he can barely afford, working the catering gig to avoid moving back in with his parents. Adam Scott is great in this role. He's the one normal, sane person in a sea of ineptitude; yet, even though he knows this, he isn't quick to treat his co-workers unkindly.
Kyle and Roman - these two butt heads constantly, and their incessant bickering makes for good comedy. Kyle looks like he stepped out of an Abercrombie catalogue, complete with a low IQ and a desire to be a famous actor. Roman is a writer, which naturally makes him think he knows everything.
Constance is a has-been actress who had many small roles in movies 20-30 years ago. Jane Lynch is perfect for this role. She has this sort of know-it-all attitude that only an oblivious failure would have.
And finally, Casey, played by the divine Lizzy Caplan. Her mix of dead-pan delivery and comedic timing make her stand out. She wants to be a comedienne and is going through a rough spot in her marriage, but then Henry shows up and maybe working for this lousy catering business isn't so bad after all.
The episodes each follow a different catering function and the shenanigans that the Party Down crew get themselves into, often with the guests. Because of the different setting and cast of supporting characters in every episode, there's always something new and fresh, and the formula doesn't feel like it gets too old.
The show is filled to the brim with hilarious guest stars (J.K. Simmons and Kristen Bell, to name a couple), and a great cast. Each episode is funnier than the last, leaving you wanting more.
You can watch Party Down instantly on Netflix right now.
Party Down (2009)
Rated: TV MA
Genre: Comedy
Running time: 30 minutes
Starring: Adam Scott (Henry Pollard), Ken Marino (Ron Donald), Lizzy Caplan (Casey Klein), Martin Starr (Roman DeBeers), Jane Lynch (Constance Carmell), Ryan Hansen (Kyle Bradway)
Written by: John Enbom, Dan Etheridge, Rob Thomas, Paul Rudd
Directed by: Bryan Gordon, Fred Savage
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