What I’m Watching: Bored to Death (Season Finale)

Bored to Death: Season 3, Episode 8 “Nothing I Can’t Handle By Running Away” (B+)

Here’s an action-packed finale that only this show could deliver. I enjoyed Harrison’s attempts to be parental to his newfound son, telling him that he’s a little short, but otherwise he has a lot going for him, and then giving him a gun before attempting to skip town, only to be snatched by some thugs. Jonathan pursuing him was noble, and it’s too bad that his father’s gift was actually defective. Jonathan calling George for help was a good idea, and I like that he enlisted Ray, who in turn was able to have his League of Rays, all in complete costume, drive him to the stadium to come rescue Jonathan. The field battle was quite entertaining, with George’s announcements and Jonathan’s efforts to take them all out with a baseball bat less than productive. It’s nice that Harrison ultimately came back, a little too late. George managed to be sweet to both women in his life, offering to throw Emily a wedding at the restaurant and telling Josephine that he’s a 63-year-old work in progress who is falling for her. Despite the heavy presence of alcohol at the reception, he actually managed to make it a good event by delivering a terrific toast. Only this show could end with Jonathan deciding not to tell his girlfriend Rose that she’s his sister, something to which Ray, despite his initial warning that Jonathan is weird enough without inbreeding, doesn’t seem to object, telling him that they all have their things. The show has yet to be renewed for a fourth season, but I do hope that we’ll see this wacky bunch again. It’s been a fun year.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Jason Schwartzman

What I’m Watching: Bored to Death

Bored to Death: Season 3, Episode 7 “Forget the Herring” (B+)

For a show that flies relatively under the radar, this series manages to get some fairly impressive guest stars. I was delighted to see Isla Fisher in a rather subdued and fantastic role as Rose, a fellow sperm bank baby whose detective skills rivaled and more often than not outweighed Jonathan’s abilities. Stacy Keach, recently seen on “Lights Out,” popped up as Harrison Bergeron, who turned out to be not only Jonathan’s father but also Rose’s, which means that the two are actually siblings, a fact that, if true, is sure to throw Jonathan for quite a loop. Not bothering to hire donors and simply donating all the sperm yourself is one way to run a sperm bank, but it hardly seems like a good idea. While Jonathan is preoccupied, it’s fun to see George and Ray continuing to forge their relationship, highlighted by George’s apparently offensive act of putting Ray’s art up on the fridge as if he were a child. It makes sense that George would be nervous to perform in front of people given that Josephine really only slept with him and didn’t teach him to sing. He actually did a good job before running out and having his song picked up by a somewhat off-key Ray. Both men had more important quests, however. Despite threats from a perturbed neighbor, George seems to have accomplished his mission of attaining forgiveness from Emily. Ray, unfortunately, didn’t have as much luck with his impromptu proposal, and I hope he’s able to bounce back from his rejection.

What I’m Watching: Bored to Death

Bored to Death: Season 3, Episode 6 “Two Large Pearls and a Gold Bar” (B+)

There was somewhat about this episode that felt very smooth and stylized, and everything that came out of Jonathan’s mouth sounded like a warped, ridiculous version of what a true private detective might so. His belief that he would be good at guarding something because he never loses his sunglasses and most people do wasn’t exactly reassuring, and his desire to stick to his principles would have been more compelling had he been able to identify them (not quite as grievous an error as Rick Perry’s). I enjoyed the two prominent guest stars in this episode, Casey Wilson from “Happy Endings” and Rene Auberjonois from “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” and, more recently, “Boston Legal.” Wilson’s Patty was rather batty and quite obsessed with sex, and Jonathan was in position to defend himself against his charms. The two of them and George and Ray proved to be terrible guardians of the prized jewels, but given that it was Mr. Stevenson who stole them for the insurance money, it wouldn’t have made much of a difference anyway. The call Jonathan received about his father at the end of the episode should prove fruitful in the coming episodes, given that we’re already three quarters of the way through this season. The final two installments will likely focus also on Ray finding a way to get Leah to forgive him and George coming to terms with his latest near-romance and finding a way to have some sort of relationship with his daughter and her new fiancée.

What I’m Watching: Bored to Death

Bored to Death: Season 3, Episode 5 “I Keep Taking Baths Like Lady Macbeth” (B+)

It was obvious that, angry as it was, George’s fury at Jonathan wouldn’t last long. Playing games with Ray is Jonathan’s absence was amusing, and I enjoyed the friendship therapy that George and Jonathan went to, which involved mostly massaging Sarah Silverman’s feet and Jonathan continually getting yelled at for apologizing. It’s great to have Ted Danson’s real-life wife on board as George’s new singing teacher and love interest. “I have to go, my #2 friend needs me” was a brilliant line, though it’s clear that she won’t have to work hard to get him after he melted when she asked if he likes to smoke pot. Leah falling back in love with Ray as he’s cheating on her with Belinda is awfully inconvenient, and that little piece of information is going to destroy her if she ever finds out about it. Ray was actually getting around quite a bit in this installment, receiving a passionate kiss from Louis while hugging him for purely malicious reasons. The sting operation was magnificently executed, with George posing as a stocker, Jonathan in the cart, and Ray standing nearby with binoculars. The supermarket chase was accompanied by fun music and great narration from Jonathan: “Duck, I mean chicken!” Richard did not seem pleased to discover (though he may already have known) that Louis was getting meat from the local C-Town rather than a farm, and George, always the pacifist, was kind enough to tell him that he didn’t want to destroy him, merely to create a level playing field.

What I’m Watching: Bored to Death

Bored to Death: Season 3, Episode 4 “We Could Sing a Duet” (B+)

I’m always a fan of shows mixing it up and featuring interactions between chose who have rarely before shared the screen together. That’s the case here with Jonathan and Emily, who really don’t make for much of a great pair romantically, not that it would have mattered considering her engagement to Bernard. I enjoyed Jonathan’s attempts at subtlety, telling Emily that “as a youthful bachelor, I live off white wine and avocados.” The discovery of Jonathan’s impostor was highly hilarious, and Emily’s point about not knowing what he looked like before and that he could be trying to look like Jonathan had me cracking up. Things were going fairly well with the odd trio until Emily broke down on the stakeout and started drinking while they were waiting for the plushies to reveal their identities. The impostor’s final words to Jonathan were memorable: “we make a great team: my brains, your name.” George and Jonathan’s relationship may not be in jeopardy, but George has inadvertently made himself a new friend in his future son-in-law, who was good enough to pretend to see a rat to damage the reputation of Richard Antrem’s new restaurant. Seeing Louis working there was funny, and I’m glad that this show is so consistent about its characters’ nemeses, fortunate enough to have Oliver Platt and John Hodgman on call to reprise their roles when needed. The return of Olympia Dukakis as Belinda was entertaining for Ray’s less-featured plotline, and I’m sure he’ll be plenty shocked when he wakes up and finds out what he did last night.

What I’m Watching: Bored to Death

Bored to Death: Season 3, Episode 3 “The Black Clock of Time” (B+)

I found this episode highly amusing, thanks mostly to the dialogue uttered by Jonathan and George. Jonathan’s preparation for Dick Cavett wasn’t terribly commendable, but he ended up doing a great job by providing an enticing story that made Dick take an interest in him. Running into Louis there provided the opportunity for a superb victory on Jonathan’s part, as Louis managed to humiliate himself after being bumped to give Jonathan more time and literally found himself hanging upside down on the set. I loved that people kept getting his book title, also the name of the episode, wrong. George’s discovery that Bernard had in fact proposed to Emily without waiting for his permission was somewhat unfortunate, but it was fun to hear George talk about how Jonathan was like a son, though he didn’t care what happened to him. Emily definitely inherited some of her weirdness from her father, yet she possesses other undesirable traits, such as argumentativeness and a zany perception of the world. Ray’s introduction to the women of the breastfeeding circle couldn’t have gone much worse, and it was absolutely hilarious that the first thing the women found on Google upon looking him up was the cartoon images of him with a giant penis. His obliviousness to Spencer’s absence was more than a little disturbing, and it’s sad to think that his accidental switch may have cost him his weekly time with his son. At least he has two good friends to bail him out in a situation like this.

What I’m Watching: Bored to Death

Bored to Death: Season 3, Episode 2 “Gumball!” (B+)

Now this was one hilarious half-hour. Ray running straight into a cop and using a fake accent to pose as the co-op inspector was great, and I love that he caught Jonathan by his tie. The rationale about Jonathan having blog interviews scheduled being the number one reason for him not to go to jail was ridiculous, as was Ray’s suggestion that it could be good for book sales. Jonathan’s natural tendency towards guilt didn’t help him much in this situation, though the pilot costumes sure did, thanks to Patton Oswalt’s Howard. George’s paranoia actually proved somewhat useful, and I enjoyed that he stole Bernard’s bike without answering his question about whether or not he was giving him his blessing to marry his daughter. Bringing up Ray’s attempts to spoon both of them in bed was the perfect way of proving that it was really Jonathan, and it’s a good thing that George finally caught up to his pals since his being so out of the loop made everything much funnier. Jonathan nearly got framed again at the carnival, but fortunately, the police showed up, including our very own Officer Drake, who was impressed with Jonathan’s detective work and wanted to commend them by giving them NYPD hats. Ray’s obsession with being a father is turning him into a new person, but mainly it just provides him with another excuse to try to get to Jonathan to live a more tranquil lifestyle: “You have to stop being a detective, it’s too dangerous!”

What I’m Watching: Bored to Death (Season Premiere)

Bored to Death: Season 3, Episode 1 “The Blonde in the Woods” (B+)

It’s a pleasure to have this show back, a series that I had forgotten all about but found instantly enjoyable once again just moments into the premiere. Jonathan releasing his new book reminds of his semi-celebrity status, where he is an esteemed author but no one actually knows or cares who he is, save for his own parents, who are willing to stand on line to have him autograph their copy. Ray getting to see his kid once a week now that the sperm-stealing lesbians have divorced is a pleasant surprise, but the fact that he moved so quickly to breastfeed his son with whiskey was rather disturbing. Jonathan’s own discovery about being concerned about a sperm bank should lead to some interesting and eccentric soul-searching this show, but for the moment he’ll have to deal with having been framed for a murder and currently hanging in an extremely precarious position off a giant clock. I enjoyed many of George’s lines to Jonathan in this episode, particularly “I’m at a loss as to how to console you, so I’ll pay for lunch” and “Is that hat distinctive because it’s yellow?” The introduction of George’s daughter, played by Halley Feiffer from “Gentlemen Broncos” and “The Squid and the Whale”, should make for some new drama in George’s life, if her older boyfriend and would-be-fiancé played by David Rasche is any indication. George banning cell phones in the restaurant is an amusing move that has clearly backfired, and it’s just one example of how singularly terrific this show is.

What I’m Watching: Bored to Death (Season Finale)

Bored to Death: Season 2, Episode 8 “Super Ray Is Mortal!” (B+)

As this season comes to a fun and unfortunate end, I bid a sad goodbye to one of TV’s most subtly hilarious comedies (only until next fall, of course!). I’m not sure I’ve done Ted Danson justice, since he’s absolutely terrific in his role as George, and nothing demonstrates that better than his therapy session in this episode. Of course, quitting his job so that he doesn’t have to go to rehab is pretty extreme, and so next season will likely find the rich man slumming it with Jonathan and participating more actively in cases with him. I loved the fact that Louis actually was trash-talking Jonathan during his interview since it makes the usually paranoid Jonathan seem a bit more normal, and it also just ended up being really funny. I wonder whether Nina will stick around next season as a more regular player or if Jonathan will take George’s advice and oust her now. I’ve enjoyed having her around, and this show could use some stable female presence. Well, then there’s Leah, who seems to have returned to having great affection for Ray, even if he had to get stabbed in the shoulder with an exacto knife to make it happen. Hands down, my favorite line of the episode was Jonathan’s comment that it was weird to have two things happen at the same time, like when there were two Capote movies released (I saw both; the one you’ve heard of is better). In any case, this show is wonderfully irreverent and entirely enjoyable, and I’m eagerly looking forward to season three.

Season grade: A-
Season MVP: All three guys

What I’m Watching: Bored to Death

Bored to Death: Season 2, Episode 7 “Escape from the Castle” (B+)

One of the things I love most about this show is the fluidity with which all of its characters accept their various predicaments, whether it’s the peculiarity of their assignments or the bizarre situations in which they seem to continually find themselves. I particularly loved the way that Jonathan chose to inform the dermatologist of his partner’s birth gender, so subtly and seemingly professional. The fact that Vikrum was able to get in on all of the excitement and become a part of the team, at least for this episode, was nice, especially since this show’s core cast of only three characters is a bit small (the similarly testerone-filled trio of “Human Target,” returning to the air next week, is actually expanding its cast and adding two female characters). This show managed pretty well this week by having a male character that also happens to be the central female character of the show. Ray’s birthday was a fun subplot that wasn’t much delved into, since Jonathan’s side job and George’s affinity for hallucinogens seem to always take precedence. It did have the benefit of delivering my favorite line, from Ray to George: “are you sure you’re the editor of a magazine?” Nina’s speedy progression of her dalliance with Jonathan was somewhat alarming but rather entertaining, mostly for Jonathan’s reaction to the whole thing. Sadly, next week is this show’s finale, but it’s been a fun, fleeting, all-too-brief run, and fortunately we’ll have our three silly characters back next year for season three!

What I’m Watching: Bored to Death

Bored to Death: Season 2, Episode 6 “The Case of the Grievous Clerical Error!” (B+)

I feel like I haven’t been appreciating Jason Schwartzman enough as a lead actor on this show. I think it was the line “his fist was the size of small dictionary” that really reminded me of how eccentric and hilarious Jonathan is, and how fantastic a job Schwartzman does portraying him. I also enjoyed Jonathan’s attempts to defend his near-kiss with Leah, citing his bad posture as a reason that he appeared to be leaning forward. Ray’s reaction to the almost-affair was funny as well. It’s nice that Ray was able to take an active role in the case and help bring back the dog (and then some) for Leah. I’m quite impressed that he threw the bolt cutters at the guy who was chasing him, especially since I really thought that he was going to catch up to him and beat him senseless. The fact that George used the same line on both his doctor girlfriend and his ex-wife was quite amusing, and it was even funnier that his doctor was going to take out her fury on him during his operation. Fortunately, it was Jonathan to the rescue, since the nurse calling him Mr. Christiansen was no mispronunciation, and instead, as the title so marvelously suggests, a grievous clerical error! Well, that resolves the issue of George’s cancer, which as it turns out is a timely revelation, since apparently the second season of this comedy will only be eight episodes, just like the first. Good news though, the show has been renewed for a third season, so it won’t be long before Jonathan, George, and Ray return after their departure from the airwaves in two weeks.

What I'm Watching: Bored to Death

Bored to Death: Season 2, Episode 5 “Forty-Town Down!” (B+)

What brilliant writing there is on this show. I was particularly impressed with the editing in this episode, which made the already rhythmic dialogue and pacing work even better than usual. George hanging up the wrong phone when he got a call while he was talking to Jonathan was great, as was Ray spilling coffee on a baby. I love that Jonathan was so taken by the fact that his client's husband was a limo driver and a poet, and it was just as funny when she said that she didn't care, cutting right away to Jonathan following the bald guy. I'm intrigued by the appearance of Zoe Kazan, who I interviewed last year when her film “The Exploding Girl” was released, as Jonathan's student, Nina. Hopefully George's demoralizing speech about print being dead won't ruin the chances of a love affair between them happening. Ray's breakup couldn't have gone much worse, thanks to his mixed-up expression of “it's not me, it's you” and his quoting of Bob Dylan, resulting in Jennifer taking a beer bottle to his crotch. Kevin Bacon portraying a bizarro version of himself was entertaining, and it wasn't too distracting to the rest of the episode ,which was good. George explaining the reasons that he'd prefer to stand during the holdup was hilarious, and I like how both he and Jonathan talked the limo driver out of his holdup before accidentally shooting off the gun. And, marvelously, it all worked out! The poet limo driver can be George's chauffeur. Isn't that wonderful?

What I'm Watching: Bored to Death

Bored to Death: Season 2, Episode 4 “I've Been Living Like a Demented God!” (B+)

I love the way the characters on this show interact, and I don't think any other show can quite match the wacky fluidity of their relationships and the reliably irreverent nature of the bizarre personalities that are Jonathan, George, and Ray. Seeing Louis again and having him follow Jonathan on his case was a fun twist that hadn't before been explored on this show, and I enjoy the fact that Louis still doesn't like Jonathan and that the first thing he said to him upon having his life saved by Jonathan in his most manliest of maneuvers was that he would not have been a good professor at Midwood College. I laugh every time Jonathan tries to explain his dual career as private detective and writer, and the professor's less-than-impressed reaction to his chosen fields was very funny. Ray's surprising lucky streak based on the success of his comic book was entertaining, and Kristin Wiig was the perfect choice to play the peculiar woman who slept with him and then felt utterly out of place and disgusted with herself the following morning. Ray's run-in with Leah was about on par in terms of awkwardness with any of Jonathan's attempts to get Suzanne back last season (I would definitely love to see her again). George's storyline in this episode is brilliant, and it's Ted Danson's way of reacting to everything that really makes it work, evidenced by the quick shift from his delighted realization that having cancer excused his smoking pot to his horrified realization that he does in fact have cancer.

What I’m Watching: Bored to Death

Bored to Death: Season 2, Episode 3 “The Gowanas Canal Has Gonorrhea!” (B+)

Jonathan always does get himself in sticky situations. This week’s mess, of course, is a leftover problem from two week’s ago when Jonathan escaped from the dungeon. This show has a marvelous sardonic tone that really works well, and all of its characters, especially the guest ones in this episode, conform to it excellently. It’s no surprise that Jonathan’s kidnappers don’t have their business together, and that Jonathan doesn’t exactly take them seriously, evidenced by how he responds to all of their questions and demands. I like the fact that George and Ray come to his rescue, and that George was so stoned that he didn’t realize that his surprise assault should take place at a time the kidnappers didn’t expect. His notes taken in the air were also quite impressive, and I like that he’s bonding with Ray, even if the bearded guy isn’t terribly receptive to his friendship. George shooting Ray in the head probably won’t help them, but I do love that it didn’t even really faze Ray, at least physically. George’s discovery of his cancer is a sad turn of events, though I’m sure this show will manage to turn in into a wacky emotional journey even more peculiar than that of Cathy on “The Big C.” Jonathan now once again finds himself single, and his breakup wasn’t all that pleasant this time around either. It might be some comfort to him, however, that in this case, it really wasn’t him or his love for wine - it was someone else.

What I’m Watching: Bored to Death

Bored to Death: Season 2, Episode 2 “Make It Quick, Fitzgerald” (B+)

It’s always a bit jarring to see someone who is a regular player on a show that’s airing concurrently pop up on a show in a recurring role, even if the recurring part originated before the actor got the regular gig. In this case, it’s the always entertaining Oliver Platt, who hasn’t been kicked out of his house like his character on “The Big C” but is still the subject of some marital problems. George never has anything too concrete to do on this show, so it’s nice to see him actively engaging in something, even if it’s an extramarital affair with his ex-wife. One important thing we learned is that it’s not a good idea to hide in a place where the guy you’re hiding from already knows to look for someone else. Things are unilaterally ridiculous as always on this show, with Jonathan’s new girlfriend taking on a definitely non-monogamous stance on their relationship, something he’s not ready for but all too willing to endure. It’s his quirkiness that leads him to get stuck in these situations, whether they’re work-related and personal, where he has to experience something he shouldn’t have to because he’s trying to do what he thinks he should, for a case or for his relationship. Fortunately, it did lead to the entertaining incorporation of an otherwise relatively absent Ray into the storyline, as he and Jonathan compared their family jewels in a public restroom to determine whether Jonathan had anything to be concerned about or not.

What I’m Watching: Bored to Death (Season Premiere)

Bored to Death: Season 2, Episode 1 “Escape from the Dungeon” (B+)

Part one of the fantastic new Sunday night HBO comedy pairing is back for its second season after an eight-episode run last year that started out a bit shakily but quickly became one of the most dryly entertaining shows on television. It’s clear that season two is going to be even more of a wacky blast, if this first very funny episode is any indication. Jonathan teaching a class about writing is a recipe for amusing scenarios, and the assortment of students he has, only one of whom has, rather obsessively, read his book, is quite clever. I enjoy the fact that Jonathan, Ray, and George all hang out together regularly now, although George may have to cut back on some of his expenses, especially now that Jonathan has come in screaming with a hood locked onto his head while his clients were in the middle of a prayer. Jonathan’s investigation was typically foolhardy – he accomplished his objective yet still stayed behind to participate in the disturbing activity that ensued. I love the fact that the woman wanted to exchange services with him and have him help her with his book – only on this show would something like that seem reasonable. For those who thought the horse-bound cop looked familiar, Lenny Venito usually plays tough guys, as he did in an episode of “Flight of the Conchords,” on a few episodes of “The Sopranos,” and in the short-lived series “The Knights of Prosperity.” He did fine in this role, and contributed to a very fun first half-hour of the season.

Top Ten New Shows of 2009: #6

My annual TV Awards, the AFT Television Awards, are given out during the summer. But this year, during both the spring and the fall, produced many impressive new television series. As 2009 closes out and 2010 begins, here’s a look back at the best new shows of the year.

#6: Bored to Death
After a shaky start, this slow-moving series about a struggling author who tries his hand at being a private detective took off. Each member of the trio made up of Jason Schwartzman, Zach Galifianakis, and Ted Danson is zanier than the next, and it’s their craziness that makes this show work. Since only eight episodes have aired, this show should have even more to offer next year.

Best Episode: “The Case of the Missing Screenplay”
Pilot Review | Episode Reviews

What I’m Watching: Bored to Death (Season Finale)

Bored to Death: Season 1, Episode 8 “Take a Dive” (B+)

This season comes to a fitting close as the characters take on their rivals in the boxing ring, which, in keeping with the nature of the show, is hardly the place for them to compete. This show has been fantastically entertaining since its third installment, and it feels like it’s barely been given a chance to get started since this is only the sixth good episode that’s been produced. Fortunately, the show was renewed a while ago for a second season, and the writers will have a nice long time to get the show in order before it returns next year. The opening interview with Richard and George demonstrates just how ridiculous this fight is, and how the main characters know it. George sums it up perfectly, deeming it inane but necessary because Richard challenged him. It’s gratifying to see George approached by his ex-wife and have him take a dive for once and help someone else out rather than always turn to Jonathan to help him get out of a sticky situation or deal with a problem. Jonathan’s speedy response to the calls of an attempted blackmailer who needed to inform him that he had to go at the end of each call was impressive, and it’s great to see him getting out there and trying to be debonair and shrewd when he can be. I loved how each of the fights went down, all with different outcomes that were completely right for each set of opponents. It was hilarious that Richard hired a cartoonist because Ray was fighting alongside George and Jonathan, and the man’s admiration for Ray was amusing. Even funnier was the fact that the rival cartoonist accidentally knocked Ray down for the count with one punch, and then beat himself up accordingly so that he would have scars to show too. Jonathan’s takedown of his bullying opponent was a nice moment, as was George’s decision to go down, even though it wasn’t clear that he was actually a stronger fighter. This show has been a lot of fun, and I’m glad I stuck with it even though the first two episodes weren’t stellar. I look forward to its return, and I also hope to see more of the lovely Olivia Thirlby next year.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Zach Galifianakis

What I’m Watching: Bored to Death

Bored to Death: Season 1, Episode 7 “The Case of the Stolen Sperm” (B+)

It seems like the first season of this show has flown by, with only one episode left, and must when it was starting to get really good, it’s off the air. The same thing happened with “Hung,” but that at least had ten episodes instead of the mere eight this show has. Luckily, both are coming back, and hopefully the time off should allow the creative team behind this show ample time to prepare a new slate of cases and misadventures for Jonathan, Ray, and George. The direct involvement of Ray in this case was fun, especially since it was never explicitly stated that he was acting as a client of Jonathan’s, as opposed to a show like “Burn Notice” where even the best of friends are considered clients in times of good need. Jonathan’s willingness to drop everything and help his bud out is part of what makes him a great friend, and it’s a good thing because he’s only really got two friends. His chance encounter with Suzanne was a fun touch, and a signal that perhaps she’ll be back in the future as a result of Jonathan’s effortless, happenstance encounters with her in the midst of all his cases. The fact that Ray’s lesbian friends were selling his sperm was a bit of a shock, but his reaction was pretty hilarious, and their interview process was terrific. Jonathan’s fear of the cops being called is very amusing, and there’s something about the desperate way he says it that just makes it funnier. George and Jonathan challenging their nemeses to a physical fight certainly won’t work out well for them, but it’s entertaining to see them bite off more than they can chew, and Oliver Platt and John Hodgman (the PC from the I’m a Mac/I’m a PC commercial) make for great, preposterous challengers. I like that the episode ended on a “To be continued” note since it’s such a wondrous over-dramatization of a comic situation. Looking forward to next week!

What I’m Watching: Bored to Death

Bored to Death: Season 1, Episode 6 “The Case of the Beautiful Blackmailer” (B+)

Now here’s how a show with very few characters can increase its potential tenfold: put the two supporting characters, who up until this point haven’t shared a scene, together for the entire episode. Predictably, neither of the hapless men get much of anything done, with the exception of getting stoned and then arrested. But it’s immensely therapeutic for both parties, and the participating audience, to spend time together, for each of them to be able to complain about their lives, and more importantly, empathize about their problems. Their inability to get anything done, especially in the face of Jonathan’s entrepreneurship in creating his detective agency and soliciting cases, is quite amusing. I particularly enjoyed Jonathan’s takedown of the beautiful blackmailer in this episode, triumphantly announcing that he’s not married and therefore the sex tape that’s just been created is of no consequence. His very self-assured, “gotcha” mode of revealing his hand is fun, and the fact that he manipulates facets of his real life by incorporating his ex-girlfriend Suzanne into his deception is entertaining. Jason Schwartzmann has a very distinctive way about him that really works for this show. It might be nice to have some permanent females around to try and straighten the guys out, but for now the three of them are doing just fine by themselves. They’re not getting much done, sure, but they’re providing excellent entertainment.