Party Down - Page 2

Absolutely loving this show. You knew Guttenberg would end up with Kyle's date. Roman's laments at the end about realizing you should rewrite stuff was pitch-perfect for that character--he thinks he is so brilliant and always right, so there's never a need to rewrite because it's great the first time.

I would prepare as if this is the final season. Adam Scott is on "Parks & Rec" and Ryan Hansen (Kyle) is in a pilot that just got picked up.

I completely loved the first season. I don't know why I took so long in getting back with it. Just finished the Jackal Onassis Backstage Party episode. It was good. I don't mind if the season continues with this level of funny but hearing that it gets even better is great news.

Just got into this show, and what a nice surprise it's been.

I have to say though, I'm a bit disappointed with Season 2 so far. When Coolidge came in to replace Lynch, I was ecstatic based off her awesome performance in the Season 1 finale.

But this new girl in her slot? Jesus... such a bore.

I'm loving the second season, find the show amazingly consistent. The scruffy low key/low budget approach really pays off and it's just very well written and acted.

I was about to declare "James Ellison Funeral" the best since "Celebrate Ricky Sargulesh," but that moment in the hot tub between Caplan and Scott was amazing. They're so good.

Also, Casey on Ayn Rand ("She writes about awesome people who are awesome") was pretty great.

While I'll miss it when it most likely is done after this season, I'll actually be happy that it won't have to deal with the same issues as "The Office" (US version of course). It would be cool to get a two hour series finale though, much like the perfect run of the british Office.

Scott has said he's got the option to appear in three episodes of a third season. I wouldn't be surprised if Hansen has a similar deal. From what I've read, too, this show is really fast and cheap to produce (I think Lizzy Caplan balanced her stint on True Blood with the first season, but I could be wrong). Finally, although the Mullally addition has been an adjustment, I think that has to do more with that actress than her character. The format of the show allows them to write people off, although it's clear this is never going to be a long-running series. I'd be fine with this and Eastbound and Down being examples of how to do limited comedy series for American TV. (Assuming the second season of Eastbound doesn't shit the bed.)

Forgot to mention the nice turn by Christopher Mintz-Plasse in the Guttenberg episode.

That makes sense for Adam Scott, considering "Parks and Rec" won't be coming on until midseason. I hope they don't replace many cast members though, since a big part of my attraction to the show is the chemistry between the current cast.

Also, I like Megan Mullally a lot more than Jane Lynch on the show. Lynch was putting in the same exact performance that she's put into every show and movie since "The 40-year Old Virgin." Mullally's not as zany, but I think she's putting in a fine, subtle comedy performance.

Oh, I completely agree about the chemistry the cast has -- just look at the funeral episode for how on their game they all are, and how they interact as both characters and performers (nobody trying to be big, everybody getting a moment, etc.). It's cliche, but there's an electricity to watching these guys work together and I think that's part of why the show is so beloved by those of us who watch it.

if theres a show that could accommodate a huge cast turnover i think its obv Party Down. Scott is key though......

This show is firing on all cylinders now. Excellent episode.

Just watched the "Party Down Company Picnic" episode on Netflix Instant. This show has seriously hit its stride. And Lizzy Caplan knocks it out of the park. She needs her own show/movie if they don't get a third season. Or if they do a get a third, and lose Adam Scott, move her up to the lead.

I remember hearing they finished shooting this season in November of 09. That's insane. It leads me to hold out hope that, since NBC is moving Parks and Rec around, Scott might be able to do more than three episodes if there is a third season. Then again, he's blowing up (Piranha 3D!) and might be booked solid.

I just hope they get enough advance notice so they're able to write him off well. He's the character I'm most invested in so I'd want a satisfying conclusion.

The Starz network really screwed themselves by not signing the whole cast to longer contracts. From what I've heard, Ryan Hansen is locked into another show, and Adam Scott is on Parks & Rec (supposedly with the 3 episode flexibility).

So that's two of the main cast out of the picture sporadically or altogether. Add that to replacing Jane Lych with Mullally, and that just might be too much chaos to write around, and still hold the same quality/chemistry.

But, that said, I'm really enjoying this season while it lasts.

Scott is on Parks & Rec but that show isn't coming back until mid-season and even then its future seems uncertain at this point. So as someone just said above he might end up with more flexibility than the previously allotted 3 episodes.

Kristen Bell's last line made me laugh very hard.

I really liked last week's episode as well, both as farce and meta-farce.

The Caplan-Scott relationship is being handled pretty well, it's not so much a "will they or won't they," so much as a "what will it take for these two crazy kids to get together?" It really seems to be building and I can see it ending on a nice note this season. I hope. They could kick us in the nuts again.

funny, i disliked kristen bells last line ... end the show on literally the exact same joke they made ten minuteds ago?

Although the credits sequence where the daughter tells him shes engaged ("you're engaged?" ..."yeah i know, its a drag") was truly fucking hilarious

And good premise for an episode, kinda wished it was an hour or two parts, as it felt a bit rushed and abbreviated on the other sequences i.e. competitions, daugher of mullaly,rivalrly with other caterer dude (good actor, always great at the smarmy roles) etc.... just kidna wish there was more of this one episode.

And maybe it justs stems from having an uber innocent and naive mom like megan mullaly's character, but i find her performance great, if not nearly as funny as everyone elses (not her fault they cant write funny for the part).

You would think that being all smeared with ketchup and regurgitating bits of chewed up hot dog would make me want to make out with Lizzy Caplan less. This is not the case.

This show is so much fun, and remarkably consistent. Every episode is packed with phenomenal throwaways, and the guest stars never fail to kill it (special props to JK and the McPoyle).

"It's just, Skynyrd puts me in a weird place, y'know?"

"Thank you. But, in aggregate, they are better looking than us."

I loved that they gave Ron a bit of hope, then pulled it away but not so far that it's another soul-crushing blow. (After all, June Diane Raphael's character kinda seemed flaky enough to eventually dump her fiance in favour of Ron. Probably never happen, but I'm pulling for him.)

I'm pretty sure that the producers of this show have never watched a football game in their entire lives.

And was that one of the guys that ruined At The Movies as one of the commentators?

I don't see much talk about around here, but I think it's a pretty great show with a lot of little one liners that are golden. I agree on the guests that they bring in each episode. Always good work. JK Simmons has done a few, as well as "The Gutt".

I don't get why you would say that. What was so glaring a mistake that led you to think that?


I thought that episode was absolutely hysterical. The cold open set the tone & had me doubling-over with laughter. Loved seeing Roman get the tables turned on him, Lydia really proved to be important to the episode for once & it was nice to see Henry and Casey trying to hash out some of the stuff in their relationship.

I hope next week's finale is longer than the usual 30 minutes, since I fear its the series finale.

"At the end of it, she said 'is that it?'"
"Maybe she was having an existential crisis."

"Why would someone be psyched about being sent to Afghanistan?"

"You just fucking jizzed in my hand bro!"

Oh my god, hearing the guy freak out during the middle of the football interview was fucking hilarious.

"Isn't it enough to know my shit runs at all?"

The live interview with Casey playing the quarterback's girlfriend (badly), the black guy freaking out, the quarterback getting outed on TV, the guy yelling about jizz in the background and Henry looking incredulously from the bar was among the most hilariously awkward scenes I've ever seen.

Also "Dude, I'm gonna get so much ass!" Poor jilted black guy.

Just watched the season (series?) finale. Last scene really hit a perfect note of hope without going into over sentimentality. Some big laughs too, of course.

In thinking over the season it really seems all of season 2 has been a gradual process of Henry starting care and reclaim his passion. Where in season 1 he was numbed with Vicodin and failure, this year has been a series of baby steps:
starting out as team leader, breaking up with Uta to be with Casey, putting his all into acting the scene at Guttenberg's, and climaxing with the final scene in the last episode.

The show has always been about the comedy first, but seeing how this is probably the last episode of the series it just hit me how Henry, while usually playing the straight man, ends up with the really poignant arc, and how there has always been something to this show besides the laughs.

Just wish more people watched.

I'm looking forward to watching the last two episodes, but I have to say that overall, I enjoyed the first season much more than the second. MUCH of it has to do with how much I can't stand the new "wacky" female caterer.

I preferred Lynch, too, but the position occupied by whichever slightly older female actress at any given moment is the least connected to the others. The switch barely affected anything about the show, overall. The bigger change to the group dynamic was the Henry/Ron switch in responsibilities.

For me, each episode exists fairly independently. If the first season's better, it's primarily because it had a few better party setups. The porn party, the sweet sixteen party, Ron catering his own high school reunion...

Agreed. It really is just that the first season has more episodes that I find are better, and I think that's very much tied to the party scenarios. The high school reunion might be the high point for me, I can't decide.

I liked Lynch alright, but I flipped for Coolidge in that finale. I was extremely sore that she wasn't taking over that role. I figured that's what was coming in Season 2.

Yeah, I love this show so much. It's the best kind of shame that the whole cast is becoming too successful for it. I thought the resolutions for everyone were somewhat uncharacteristically hopeful for the show, although I guess last season ended with upticks in opportunity for everyone but Roman. Kyle's Creed-does-the-Holocaust song was probably the hardest the character has ever made me laugh.

If I have any slight complaint, it's that I'm not sure we even needed to see Henry at the audition. Casey's reaction would've been a perfectly good place to end on, especially if she were to get moved up to series lead in the hypothetical third season.

Deadline.com reports it is canceled.

Not a surprise, but still, too bad.

I haven't seen the finale, but there's a great interview by Sepinwall with Enborn where he basically says they ran through all their best ideas for the first season, which was challenging creatively in the second.

And while the cancellation sucks, it's bittersweet, because this was one of the few single-camera comedies to get what was so great about the original Office, and apply that for American TV. PD is a little more optimistic than the UK Office, but I'm glad it gets to tell a complete story and not have the long slow decline of so many shows.

It gave us Celebrate Rick Sargulesh, and that alone should ensure its place in TV history over the next decade, at least.

That's a shame, but it actually ends prett well then.

I'm sad to see it go because I think it could have handled a complete cast turnover, but as it stands now it's going to be one of those shows that kills on DVD in the future as more people discover it. Keep it circulating.

It's really shitty that it was canceled but I'm glad that it stuck around long enough to give us some absolutely great comedy. This pretty much seals the deal on it becoming a cult classic.
I wonder if the number of views it got on Netflix was considered.

As the band started playing I thought that the lyrics felt weird. A few seconds later I realized why. I then proceeded to start cackling like a hyena.

I'm going to miss this show.

Well, I just have the finale left. I talked all that mess and then got to Joel Muntz's Big Deal Party.

Ho, man. Greatness = returned.

I was on the floor gasping for air at "Ron Don Don't." Jesus... I mean, I knew Ken Marino was amazing when I used to watch The State as a wee lad, something that totally rearranged by adolescent mind and sense of humor. I'm still so happy to see anyone from that group getting their dues, or at least getting great forums to display their talent.

So weird, such bullshit:

http://www.avclub.com/articles/netfl...own-too,42936/

That is really lame, but at least you can buy the first season on DVD.

I was a little skeptical about it, but a lean and mean 90 minute Party Down movie could be better than everything Broken Lizard has produced thus far put together. They would need to come up with a huge event, though.

Something like the premiere of Henry's movie, perhaps?

Or Ron getting married to the floozy he lifted off some other poor shmuck?

That's the part that practically writes itself.

What the fuck is that? What could be a reason for this?

Motherfucker. I JUST convinced my wife to watch season 2 with me tonight, and it's gone.

Based on the recommendation from a friend, I checked this show out. I burned through 6 episodes during my first viewing and just burned through the last 14 today. Great show.

It is a shame that it wasn't picked up for at least a third season but the resolution to Henrys character seems about right as a "series finale"-ish moment. We can just assume now that he keeps trying for roles and eventually gets one. Maybe he becomes a leading actor or gets a lead role on a TV show.

Ron takes over the Party Down business, Kyle fails as an actor but his band gets a record deal, Roman becomes a scifi book or comic writer (or scifi tv or movie writer) and Casey gets on a Comedy Central show.

I like my little made up resolutions for them all. Yeah, Roman wanted to me a movie writer but seeing him end up as a novelist I think works too. Kyle as a musician works.

Either way, regardless, it was a fun show with some good actors who really had that "spark" (I think someone above mentioned this) that really helped the show be something more. They all played off of each other really well and at times I felt that there would no way I could ever be on a show as an actor that requires timing and improve like shows like this do.

Kristen Bell was great and she needs to stop doing all these shitty island getaway romantic comedies and focus on ACTING. She's pissing her talent away and needs to get back to some real stuff.

The Gutt episode was great. Just hanging out at a celebrities house? Such a great idea for an episode. It's so absurd that I loved it.

Poor Rob Thomas. He can't get anything to last.

I highly recommend this for the people who haven't seen it.

Some very optimistic resolutions you settled on.

Kind of unsurprising that Brendan's such a meathead he missed the point of the show, but wow, did he miss the point of the show with those idealistic sitcom bullshit endings he came up with.

lol

I like weightsS!11! weight deh make meh strang! duuuuuuhhh durp durp!

Details has a great (and extensive) article covering the life and death of Party Down:

 

http://www.details.com/celebrities-entertainment/movies-and-tv/201102/complete-oral-history-starz-comedy-party-down?currentPage=1