“You know what’s actually boring? Fucking models in penthouses.” – Jackal Onassis
“Really? That’s boring?” – Henry
“Yep.” – Jackal Onassis
“That doesn’t sound boring to me.” – Henry
“Try doing it hundreds of times.” – Jackal Onassis
“STILL not boring.” – Henry
I was really excited for Party Down‘s second season to return this week. As I watched the season premiere, it was funny enough and had pretty much all I would have expected … except, there was something missing. Oh, I know Jane Lynch hasn’t been on the show since, what, the middle of last season? I had sort of gotten used to her replacement, Jennifer Coolidge, so what’s changed since then? Two things: Glee, and Megan Mullally.
I’m not sure I would miss Jane Lynch so much if it wasn’t that she moved over to Glee, which is another show I watch (and one she’s brilliant in). Now that I see her there, not seeing her on Party Down is a bummer. Couldn’t she have done both shows, dammit? Yeah, I know that’s not how it works. On the bright side, I guess, supposedly she’ll be appearing in a guest spot on Party Down in the future; it’s not as though her character, Constance, was recast.
I’ve also got an issue with Megan Mullally’s character so far, and it only served to remind me of those that filled that spot before her. She wasn’t bad, but the character she played wasn’t funny or interesting … yet. I’m starting to wonder if the Party Down producers and casting people should consider that spot on the catering team to be ever-rotating. Just throw a new, relatively known actor in that spot twice a season. That could wind up being funny on its own.
As for the episode itself, it was a great showing overall. It strongly hinted that Ron (Ken Marino) will be back again, as well as Uda (Kristen Bell) for at least one episode. The question is, will Ron be allowed to take over as team leader again, or is that now Henry’s job for good?
One last thing: Fans of Psych, did you catch that Jackal Onassis/Dennis was Mary (Jimmi Simpson) from Psych? I have to admit, I half thought the talk between him and Henry about The Mentalist was yet another small Psych dig at the show, but it was way too subtle … I think.
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on Apr 24, 2010 @ 10:07 EST5EDT
Yeah, there was definitely something missing from the premiere, and I too can’t figure out what it was. Maybe Ken Marino failing as the boss vs. Adam Scott actually having a modicum of success.
I agree, I did miss Jane Lynch a lot and something did seem a little off about the episode. I guess it was just the sudden dynamic change with Henry being in charge…
Glad to hear that Lynch will guest star in the future.
Jimmi was great as “Dennis”. Too funny that Roman STILL struck out with girls who thought he was Jackal Onassis.
And yes, as a Psych fan, I cracked up at the Mentalist reference at the end!