Party Down (2009-2010)

USA

Television Series

Creators: John Enbom, Dan Etheridge, Paul Rudd, & Rob Thomas

Cast: Adam Scott, Ken Marino, Ryan Hansen, Martin Starr, Lizzy Caplan, Megan Mullally, Jane Lynch

This gentle, pathos-laden, and oft hilarious workplace comedy follows the ups and downs of a group of Los Angeles-based caterers – a ragtag mix of aspiring and failed actors, comedians, and writers – as they cater various oddball parties and events.

Season 1 (2009)

Freshly retired from a not-so-successful acting career, Henry Pollard, down and disillusioned, begins to work for the Party Down catering company, where he slowly begins to find his way in life again (well, sort of), not least with the help of aspiring comedienne Casey, whom he takes a shine to, in this consistently entertaining and surprisingly affecting first season.

Season 2 (2010)

Significant changes to the group dynamic see the show lose its way a little in the opening episodes of this second season, but as it progresses order is slowly restored, as characters return to their more suited roles, and by the end (which it sadly seems to be) it is firing on all cylinders again.

Iain.Stott