Starz’s new comedy, Party Down, ended its first season run Friday night. While the show hasn’t had stellar ratings, it has already been renewed for a second season, which everyone on the entire planet should be thanking their lucky stars for.
If you haven’t seen this show yet, then you need to find a way to see it very, very quickly. (Fortunately, for those who don’t have Starz, all of the episodes are available through Netflix’s Watch Instantly service).
The show follows the exploits of a second-class catering service in L.A., staffed, accordingly, by a group of out-of-work actors and writers. The show is well put together in all aspects, but where it really shines is in the casting. Both the regular cast and the guest cast is truly outstanding.
The cast is like a Veronica Mars reunion special. Regulars Adam Scott, Ken Marino, and Ryan Hansen play their roles to perfection. Marino, in particular, doesn’t hold back and is way over the top as the hapless supervisor of the crew. Lizzy Caplan (True Blood), Martin Starr (Freaks and Geeks), and Jane Lynch (in pretty much everything funny during the last three years) round out the regulars. The number of episodes Lynch will appear in during season two are still up in the air, based on her commitment to Glee.
The guest cast is a who’s who of popular culture, as well. Stephen Weber, Enrico Colantoni, Joey Lauren Adams, JK Simmons, George Takei, Ed Begely Jr, Alona Tal, Jason Dohring, Jennifer Coolidge, Rick Fox, Breckin Mayer, Marilu Henner … The list could go on forever.
However, the best performance, in this humble blogger’s opinion, is by Ms. Veronica Mars herself, Kristen Bell. Bell plays the head of a rival catering agency in the finale. Imagine Veronica pissed off, and not on network television, and you might have an IDEA of what she’s like.
If you haven’t seen it yet: Go. Now. If you have been lucky enough, who was your favorite guest star?
Clacked by Ivey West 
on May 23, 2009 @ 19:33 EST5EDT
First Glee, now this? Are you REALLY a Jane Lynch fan?
Jennifer Coolidge replaced Jane Lynch in the last two episodes.
But yes, yes I am, she rocks on Party Down and was cool on Glee.
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Honestly, not that much. But she’s a funny lady who has been cast in a lot of funny movies lately.
While I did like her character on Glee, I don’t know where it can/will go from where its at. And I’ve decided I’m not talking about Glee with you, not if you can’t recognize its brilliance ;)
I downloaded all the eps after seeing a post earlier this week about it on TVSquad. Its a hilarious show!
Took a few episodes for me to really get the comedy of the show. But, once I did, I enjoyed it. It was over way to soon with only 10 episodes.
The last episode with KB was at times funny and at times painful to watch because we have gotten to know the characters so well, but it ended wanting more! What will happen next season?
Just finished the finale. I hope Kristen comes back on the show. she’s gorgeous & really bitchy (in a hott way). I wonder what will happen next season with Casey gone & Ron running the Cracker place.
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I have a feeling Casey will be back from the cruise by the time the show gets started again (After, of course, Henry has been dating Uda). Also, I suspect Ron will have failed at Soup or Crackers (Or is it Super Crackers?) and will be working for Henry.
This show is awesome. Kristen bell killed it last nite. Shes never not amazing
For me the best guest star performance was between Steven Webber and J.K Simmons and Ken Marino is awesome in Party Down.
I am a little tired with the Kristen Bell’s worship; with that we are beginning to not like her whereas she is a good actress so stop please !
She plays too often the bitch character at this time (think about it Forgetting Sarah Marshall,Heroes,Gossip Girl) she has to be versatile. Since VM she is just “the uber bitch”…but John Enbom and Thomas write so well that yes she is hilarious in the finale.
But not Uda and Henry…but it’s a funny interaction, Casey could kick her ass ! I love Casey she is so rad ! And Henry doesn’t like frigid girls like Uda, it’s for sure !! lol
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I’m sorry to say that I remain a big fan. Its certainly a fair point to say that most of the characters know her for (Veronica, Elle, Sarah Marshall, Uda) are very similar in that regard.
I only like Uda and Henry together as kind of a retaliation for Casey leaving. Something to cause some conflict next season (Hell, they don’t even have to have dated on screen for it to work).
Simmons and Webber would probably be my two favorite appearances other than Bell. One other outstanding member of the cast that I didn’t mention in the original post was Ken Jeong as Party Down’s owner Mr. Duk.
If Kristen Bell is in it, the show is definately worth watching. And the show sounds like it has an interesting plot premise.
I’m sorry, I just didn’t get it. I wanted to like this show, and I watched the first 8 episodes before finally being honest with myself and saying “okay, it’s been at least six episodes since I didn’t find myself fast-forwarding through most of this show…it’s time to stop.” I was *almost* tempted to come back just to see Kristen Bell, but the fact remains that each week the guest stars are more interesting than the series regulars (Jason Dohring was the best in my opinion), and so no, I won’t get pulled back in for one throwaway appearance. I’d rather go find another new show that I could potentially enjoy right away, rather than wait for this one to find its groove.
I think I remember hearing that the show has been picked up for a second season however, so all you fans can have something to look forward to.