Foto by Joel Ekdahl

Soft Drink

Fall TV Roundup Pt. 2

Bored to Death

As I mentioned earlier, Entourage has been the linchpin of my social group's Sunday night HBO get-togethers. Well, some of the folks also gathered for True Blood but I always timed my entrance near the tale end of that show, because it's awful. But with the adventures of Vinnie and company finished for now, our focus has shifted to two excellent shows, the always reliable Curb Your Enthusiasm (with this season's much hyped, so-far- so- good, Seinfeld reunion) and Bored to Death, which is based on a short story by Jonathan Ames.

I'll admit to not being all that familiar with Ames, but I'm liking what I've learned about him. His interview in the new issue of The Believer was particularly interesting/insightful. My initial draw to the show was the cast: Jason Schwartzman as writer turned Craigslist private dick Jonathan Ames, Zach Galifianakis as comic book artist Ray and Ted Danson as magazine owner George Christopher. Thus far, it's been pretty good. Not great- not yet at least. The plots have been funny, and the acting is very tight, though Schwartzman seems to be channeling his I Heart Huckabees character a bit much. The guest stars have been really great, too (esp. Ms. Parker Posey and Jim Jarmusch) and Danson and Galifianakis have both been hilarious and subtle.

I'm left with a strange feeling after some episodes, though. Sometimes it feels like the episodes are ten minutes too long, other times it feels like the episodes were originally an hour and have been ineffectively cut down to half that. I guess I could see the show doing really well employing the whip crack pace of 30 Rock, or going the opposite route, and really developing the characters and plot points over the length of say, Mad Men. The music bugs me, too. I can't quite remember what it's like, so that could very well be the problem.

I keep tuning in though. The jokes are good, great even. I really loved that "all that jizz" jazz hands move from Zach, and his references to having drawn X-Men. And like it or not (I'm sorta upset by it), Schwartzman is pretty damn easy to relate to, with all his dysfunctions. The show's season is almost over, pretty standard stuff as far as first seasons go, so we'll see what happens. I'm pretty hopeful it will get a second season, and maybe tighten up some.

Feeling a lot like that about Community, too. But that's a post for another day.

Tiger w/ Morning Cigarette, Coffee, Paper