Customer Reviews

Party Down: Season 1

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

PARTY DOWN is a fascinating show on several levels. For one thing, it was easily the funniest new show of the 2008-2009 season. It didn't start off that way. The first couple of episodes are OK, but it quickly finds its groove and by the end of the year it is as funny as you could hope for a show to be.

If you are a VERONICA MARS fan, the show is ceaselessly fascinating. The show focuses on a group of Hollywood wannabes and wash outs who work for Party Down Caterers. The manager is played by Ken Marino, who was memorable on VERONICA MARS as shady private eye Vinnie Van Lowe. One of his employees is played by Ryan Hansen, who was the magnificently lame Dick Casablancas. Adam Scott and Jane Lynch, who play two other Party Down caterers, had guest roles on VM. And virtually the entire rest of the cast of VM make guest appearances, from Enrico Colantoni (Keith Mars) to Jason Dohring (Logan Echolls) to Alona Tal (Meg Manning) and many, many others, including Veronica Mars (who has a wonderful turn as the sadistic head of a rival catering company). The show has been renewed for a second season and I'm pretty confident that many, many others from Neptune will put in appearances in the future. None of this is too surprising. One of the co-creators of PARTY DOWN is VERONICA MARS creator Rob Thomas and two writers from that series, John Enbom and Dan Etheridge, also served as co-creators. The final co-creator, Paul Rudd, guest starred. As I said, if you are a fan of VERONICA MARS, you will get a blast at seeing all the actors you have loved from the earlier series.

PARTY DOWN is the flipside of ENTOURAGE. If the latter is about largely undeserving people basking in the glory of another's success, this is about people striving for their own success and failing abysmally. Except for Ron, the manager who dreams of having his own fast food franchise, the Party Down employees are all working on the fringe of the film and television industry. Constance (Jane Lynch) is an aging "B" movie queen, star of such classics as DINGLEBERRIES. Roman (FREAKS AND GEEKS's Martin Short) is an aspiring Sci-fi script writer (one of the season's highlights is Roman cornering George Takei in a bathroom and peppering him with questions about the Mind Meld, which Takei keeps trying to explain was not his thing). Kyle and Casey (the latter played by Lizzie Caplan, seen earlier this season as Jason Stackhouse's vampire draining girlfriend on TRUE BLOOD) are both still working the dream, always waiting to hear back from their agents and dreaming of a big break. But Henry (played by Adam Scott), the show's emotional center, has given up. His hard work paid off in only one real "success," a beer commercial in which he uttered the tagline: "Is anybody having fun yet?" Deeply ironical, given the dead end job everyone is working. It is a great cast and they work wonderfully with one another. Late in the season, however, the incredibly funny Jane Lynch leaves the show. I haven't read why, but my guess is that it was so that she could work on the pilot of the new FOX series GLEE. I don't know if that means she won't be back or to what degree she will be involved with the show in the future. Luckily, her replacement was the equally funny Jennifer Coolidge. (Interestingly, Lynch and Coolidge were paired - in more way than one - in BEST IN SHOW, as the trainer and owner respectively of a full size poodle.)

Every episode of the show takes place at a catered event. There are no scenes outside of the workplace. We see them at a couple of weddings, at a birthday party, at a meeting of Young Republicans, at a party to celebrate someone who might be a Russian mobster getting off on a murder charge, a porn awards ceremony, and other wonderful affairs. Hilarity ensues. My favorite moment might have been when a Russian gangster goes up to Jane Lynch and recounts poetically, passionately, and almost reverentially a scene from one of her movies. And she, touched, replies, "You've seen DINGLEBERRIES?!" Not exactly a title you'd assume could provoke any such response.

I love the relationships that develop among the characters. Ron's almost sad attempt each week to get his workers to perform their jobs with some degree of professionalism. The way that Kyle and Roman continuously dig at one another. Constance's consistently over familiarity with the party guests. Henry and Casey's romance-in-all-but-name and Henry's chagrin when people recognize him from his beer commercial and his persistent reluctance (except on one occasion when he feels it might save his life) to say his famous beer commercial line.

I suspect that this is a show that most people will get to know via DVD, since not everyone manage to get Starz. Do yourself a favor and check this out.

I really hope the word spreads and Party Down is picked up for more seasons! The show follows caterers in California, as they slog from one depressing event to another. All of them numbly wade their way through tragicomic corporate events, seminars, weddings and birthdays, trying to maintain their dignity while being abused by their employers and serving sub-par food.

All of the waiters are (of course) dreaming of making it big in the entertainment industry. The one exception is their manager, who dreams of one day operating a franchise called Super Crackers (or Soup-OR-Crackers... not sure which). The actors hail from great shows like Freaks and Geeks, The State, and every awesome movie made in the past 15 years (I'm looking at you, Jane Lynch), and are pitch-perfect in every episode. I can't wait for Season 2!

....because you might just laugh it off. Party Down is quite possibly the funniest thing I have ever seen. Not for the squeamish; frequently raunchy, always hysterical. Every cast member shines.

On the basis of the critical acclaim it's received, I recently purchased, sight unseen, this Starz comedy series about a catering company staffed by actor wannabes and has-beens. Conclusion: in terms of intensity and frequency of LOL situations and lines, it's probably the funniest sit-com I've seen since The Office (way better in that respect than 30 Rock, which I also dig). It's a shame that it's on Starz because so few people will see it, but it's available on DVD and I encourage you to take a look.

bummed it got cancelled...
the rating system just isn't designed for modern media.
(everyone i know watched this show in Netflix Instant.)

One of the finest shows to ever grace the small screen, Party Down was bansished to the realm of outstanding cancelled TV shows (see also: Arrested Development, Freaks and Geeks) by Starz CEO, woman-beater, and noted alcoholic Chris Albrecht. Party Down will continue to live on in the hearts and minds of its fans and will hopefully gain support through DVD sales.

A darkly comic tale of struggling actors/writers working for the catering company "Party Down", this show has some of the most hilarious moments ever seen on television. Great writing and a great cast (Adam Scott, Martin Starr, Jane Lynch, Lizzy Caplan, Ken Marino, and Ryan Hansen) makes this show an instant classic.

Do yourself a favor and buy this DVD.

Both seasons are insanely good. The premier episode is a bit weak as we don't know anyone yet, but please push on. The rewards come quickly. Party Down is up there with Californication and Coupling.

...which is not a bad thing by any means. It takes a couple of episodes to get the gist of the short,punchy episodes (similar to Arrested Development in this way) but after a few shows, you will be hooked. A great motley bunch of characters, and if you love Jane Lynch in Glee, check out the other more manic side to her personality in this show. This is a tad like Clerks for the catering industry, but each show is so full of cameos from huge actors, it is impossible not to love it. Another great series from Rob Thomas, whose work is completely underrated in America.

This show is brilliant. I hear the second season is even funnier, which I am currently waiting for delivery on. Everyone is just so good and so funny. I haven't liked a show this much since Curb Your Enthusiasm. It's a tragedy it's canceled. I mean, really??? WHY??? I wish the original network would bring it back. Or better yet, hello HBO, why don't you buy it and put it back on the air! This show is worthy of HBO quality programing.

Another amazing, funny and smart show that got cancelled way before its time. Add it to the list with Freaks and Geeks, Arrested Development and every other show I've ever liked. At least Community is still going.