Interview with Abe: Adam Scott

One of my favorite interviews from this past season was with Adam Scott about his career and returning to “Party Down,” for Awards Radar. Watch my conversation with him below!

Interview with Abe: Martin Starr

It's been fun to watch Martin Starr do something different on “Tulsa King” and return in a familiar role in season three of “Party Down.” We spoke for Awards Radar - watch the conversation below!

What I’m Watching: Party Down (Season Finale)

Party Down: Season 3, Episode 6 “Sepulveda Basin High School Spring Play Opening Night” (B+)

This was a very fun finale, one that could serve as a second series ender if need be, but that would be a real shame since it’s got so much more to offer. Having it take place at Henry’s students’ performance and the subsequent surprise party Evie planned for him was a great idea, and every character got their own bit of closure that felt perfectly fitting for them. Ron dressing like he believed an owner should only to discover that his lawyer filled out the paperwork wrong and Constance actually owned a majority stake of the company was just his luck, and he showed that he’s actually quite good for something when he volunteered to deal with Vice Principal Mittman, played by Dan Bakkedahl from “Life in Pieces” and “Made for Love.” I’m glad that they gave him a little arc of his own, realizing that he missed being Mr. M and ultimately coming through to save Henry’s job. Kyle discovering that he was playing the dad, not the lead, was an amusing development, one that made a dejected Roman feel better. I also enjoyed that Lucy had her big ticket out of all this until Ron ate it and managed to regain her sense of smell. While it would have been nice to see Henry and Evie end up together, parting on good terms when he realized what he really wanted to do, and it was an important set-up for the unexpected mid-credits scene. I had forgotten all about Casey, and it was a wonderful surprise to see Lizzy Caplan return for such a superb ending. I so hope that we’ll see more of them in the future, and that this show’s revival has been a resounding success. It’s been a blast.

Season grade: A-
Season MVP: Zoë Chao as Lucy

What I’m Watching: Party Down

Party Down: Season 3, Episode 5 “Once Upon a Time Proms Away Prom-otional Event” (B+)

I’m not classifying this as a penultimate episode since I’m very much hoping that the next installment won’t be the last we’ll ever see of this show, though I have no gauge whatsoever on how popular this series return has been. I do know that its casting has been fantastic, and that only improved with Liv Hewson from “Yellowjackets” and “Santa Clarita Diet” appearing as Escapade, who revealed she was acting when Kyle and Sackson got into an annoying dance-off and that she was trying to set her mother up rather than find herself a new manager. Seeing Constance and Lydia together again was fun, but the best part of Constance’s appearance was how she shifted into nightmare boss mode when she saw that Sloan was impressed by her viciousness, firing Henry and even non-employee Evie just to make a point. Evie, who did show up in the end despite Henry’s worries that she wouldn’t, was excited about getting to use nepotism to get him a gig, and that could be a great future for the two of them. Roman nearly found himself the perfect woman, and it’s a wonder that he didn’t screw it up badly enough to negate a deal for a random, potentially up-and-coming streaming service. Lucy continues to do a disservice to Ron’s business, this time by not warning him about munching on sea urchin that was both hot already and then left out in the sun, and the results of that were not at all pretty. Ken Marino deserves enormous credit for going all in on all of Ron’s antics and everything he must endure.

What I’m Watching: Party Down

Party Down: Season 3, Episode 4 “KSGY-95 Prizewinner's Luau” (B+)

This show is certainly dialing up the creativity of its party hosts, going from Nazis to a sting operation where everyone there was actually going to be headed to jail rather than to see a performance by Sting. There were great guest stars as usual, particularly Judy Reyes as Sacker and Bobby Moynihan as Mattea. That everyone took mushrooms during the party only made things crazier, and I like that Sackson freaked out the most after deciding to live-stream his trip. Evie and Henry made the episode, discussing the Douglas Fir spinoff “Manputer,” worrying that Sackson was drowning, and Henry confusing John Krasinski with Ted Kaczynski when he was trying to list off people who were worse than Evie. Roman’s paranoia turned out to be very real, and his involvement in the Jeff Daniels was reluctant and unsurprisingly unhelpful. I loved the back-and-forth between Lucy and Ron when she presented her latest item that was most definitely not food and in fact just paper. It’s a wonder that this company is still in business for many reasons, but among the most prominent at the moment is that their chef is actively working to deliver something other than food at every party. The best pre-mushrooms sentiment was how actors don’t need people’s approval when in fact that’s expressly what auditions are. I would have thought this crew would try taking drugs to get through a boring party sooner - and it’s very possible they did and I just don’t remember - but it fit very neatly in this show’s ridiculous world.

What I’m Watching: Party Down

Party Down: Season 3, Episode 3 “First Annual PI2A Symposium” (B+)

It took me a while to realize who it was playing Stuart, the relatively nice leader of the Nazi-adjacent group putting on the conference, and I now realize that it was Calum Worthy, who was a great part of Hulu’s sadly short-lived “Reboot.” It’s not great that there were so few objections to working with Nazis from the catering team, but Lucy was the one who got most upset and hatched a plan to poison the protesters. While Kyle opted to go out and deliver that food and could have screwed everything up, it was helpful that they weren’t actually protesters at all but instead people hired to drum up press for the event by Stuart himself. It was great to see Nick Offerman, husband of Megan Mullally and former “Parks and Recreation” costar of Adam Scott, as Dermott, the speaker who was very much into naming and praising Hitler and was able to get that permitted by Stuart when he ended up having to foot the bill since Stuart didn’t have any money to pay the caterers. After showing up with that questionable check engine light mention, Henry seemed like he wasn’t in great shape, being pulled in multiple directions by his students and by Evie, who showed up at precisely the wrong moment. But then he did exactly what he needed to in order to get them paid and show his students that he’s worth taking seriously, since acting can be very convenient and persuasive at times.

What I’m Watching: Party Down

Party Down: Season 3, Episode 2 “Jack Botty's Delayed Post-Pandemic Surprise Party” (B+)

This episode neatly dealt with some question marks about the people involved, with Henry returning to work because he had to pay his ex-wife alimony since he still made more than her as a teacher and Kyle there under the guise of preparing for an audition when he really just needs work. Constance’s role is absurd, though at least she’s not featured all that much and everyone gets it, while Lydia is also a client now, so worried about the child actor trajectory that she wants to throw her twenty-three-year-old daughter a prom to try to set her on the right path. Ron losing his sense of smell because he got COVID four times and having Henry smell his armpits twice was hard to watch, and of course he got caught using the off-limits upstairs bathroom because he used the very unique soap Jack has. I love the addition of Zoë Chao as Lucy, the new chef whose many pearls of deranged wisdom include being a storyteller whose medium is food, that people are stuck on food being good, and that she’s proudly been fired from every job she’s ever had. That camembert-infused cake did exactly what it was supposed to and got Jack’s mistress to reveal their affair before Evie had planned for it to come out according to what Henry had tried to do by leaving the note. A romance between Evie and Henry seems even more likely now, though it’s definitely going to be complicated because of her social status and his, but that should be perfectly entertaining to watch.

What I’m Watching: Party Down (Series Return)

Party Down: Season 3, Episode 1 “Kyle Bradway Is Nitromancer” (B+)

With all the shows being rebooted and revived these days, I’m happy to have this one back because I always found it entertaining and I’ve gotten to know some of the performers better in the time since it went off the air after just two seasons. I liked that this episode really was a reunion, and I’m genuinely curious about what happens next given that a handful of the characters theoretically won’t be involved in regular Party Down operations but easily could be given how their circumstances may change. It was fun to see both Jane Lynch and Megan Mullally together since the latter replaced the former when she left to star in a small show called “Glee,” and I wonder whether we will ultimately get to see Lizzy Caplan again since she’s very busy these days. Kyle experienced a very rapid fall from grace when that “My Struggle” video came back out just as he was finally hitting it big, and I enjoyed the appearance from Quinta Brunson, who assured him they would be fine but didn’t actually mean him. From the other guest stars, I was happy to see Jennifer Garner in a role that doesn’t feel like the kind she usually plays, and I’m intrigued to see whether she’ll continue to appear and if a romance with Henry might be possible. He seems to be the most stable of the group, with a steady job and a family, but I have a feeling that he won’t be able to resist helping Ron through his latest tough time. I’m excited for the rest of the season.

What I’m Watching: Party Down (Season Finale)

Party Down: Season 2, Episode 10 “Constance Carmell Wedding” (B+)

Bringing back departed cast member Jane Lynch is certainly a great thing, but it’s also a reminder of why the character wasn’t quite a perfect fit for the actress. Sue Sylvester is a fantastic vehicle for Lynch’s rude and sarcastic nature, whereas Constance Carmell was never fully developed and more of an oddball, like Lydia. More often than not, though, Constance was funny, and her appearance in the second season finale is definitely enjoyable. I particularly liked her cheering Ron on when he was objecting to another union and her monotone declaration of her husband’s passing only moments after they drove away from the wedding. He did make quite an impression while he was alive, however, most memorably by tricking Ron into thinking he had caused him to have a heart attack. Ron’s confession of his true love to Danielle was absolutely inappropriate and a bit too cringe-worthy to be endearing, especially considering she excused herself to go to the bathroom because her dress was actually on backwards. Ron gleefully telling her that her parents are getting divorced shouldn’t help matters either. Lydia’s excitement about the possibility of getting with Danielle’s father is somewhat fun, although it’s hopelessly awkward. Kyle’s “My Struggle” song and Roman eating lots of pot and thinking he might be dead soon or already soon were amusing subplots. Best of all, of course, is the interaction between Casey and Henry. Him telling her that she can make it elicited a powerful response: “if you’re not crazy enough to believe it for you, you’re not crazy enough to believe it for me.” That final shot of Henry being called for his audition was a great, hopeful way to end the show’s second season. Many are expressing concern that this will be the show’s last-ever installment, and after a speedy ten episodes, I certainly want more. At first it was questionably quirky, but after this season, it seems to have found its footing, and I’ve been thoroughly entertained for the past ten episodes. Here’s hoping for season three!

Update: I'm sad to report that, only hours after posting this, Starz has officially cancelled "Party Down." Very sad.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Lizzy Caplan

What I’m Watching: Party Down

Party Down: Season 2, Episode 9 “Cole Landry’s Draft Day Party” (B+)

The look on Henry’s face when Ron asks him about his situation and porn expertise is simply priceless. Henry is really terrific in the role of pointing out how ridiculous everything is, and there’s so much that Ron does whose ridiculousness bears repeating. Lydia got a chance to shine and let out her inner crazy in this episode by revealing her passion for sports. Her outburst after she discovered that no one followed football included a hilarious question: “are you even American?” I liked all of the awkward conversations between Henry and Casey about her not bringing him to the party. Henry being bothered by the logic of Casey’s animatronic robot routine was very funny. Roman’s discovery that the football player was into hard sci-fi was fantastic, though it wasn’t much of a surprise that Roman couldn’t take it well and ended up trying to antagonize him. The NFL passing on Cole Landry wasn’t a surprise either, but it did provide Lydia with a reason to start yelling at the quarterback, his father, and his agent to get their acts together, which was great. It also gave us another spectacular chance to see Casey putting her skills to work, acting on camera as Cole’s girlfriend. I loved when she looked at the camera after being yelled at by Rihanna and sheepishly said, “you can’t say fuck on TV.” Among the best lines in the episode were Lydia’s snapped quip to Casey – “language, you’re a girl” – and everything that was said during the uncomfortable conversation Henry had with the angry agent, being told to tell thee guy’s wife that if she loved him, she wouldn’t call on this day, and finding out which kid was bitten by a hamster to determine whether he should be brought to the hospital.

What I’m Watching: Party Down

Party Down: Season 2, Episode 8 “Joel Munt’s Big Deal Party” (B+)

This is a particularly fun episode for a number of reasons. Having Henry leave the position of leadership allows him to return to a far more relaxed, sardonic comedic partner for Casey is a wonderful thing, especially because it helps to scoop Ron out from his rut and give him back his treasured authority that didn’t really do anything anyway. Casey’s reaction to all of the attempted shows of manliness was very entertaining throughout. What was great about this episode in particular was the invocation of the code, which had not just frequent troublemaker collaborators Roman and Kyle giving their revenge plan their all but also involved both Ron and Henry. Of course the plan to give Roman’s nemesis a champagne glass filled with urine didn’t exactly work out, but it was still fun to see all of the males on the team contributing. Casting Paul Scheer, who I know from “30 Rock” as Kenneth’s nemesis Donny the Page, as Roman’s former writing partner was fun, and it’s rare that someone is actually so seedy that they make Roman seem sympathetic. The storyline of the sci-fi writer was a perfect fit for Roman and Danny’s rivalry, and I loved the way it all played out, even though Roman’s cooperative act didn’t work out for him too well in the end. Lydia’s infusion of cocaine gave her an intriguing energy that made her a hoot for the entirety of the episode, whereas she’s mostly just seemed strange for no reason up until now, and it was good to see her having a great time on the sidelines.

What I’m Watching: Party Down

Party Down: Season 2, Episode 7 “Party Down Company Picnic” (B+)

What a fun opportunity this was to see the Party Down crew out of their uniforms and in civilian clothes as they attend their seasonal company picnic. It’s great that Ron still dresses up in a tie when he doesn’t have to and, as Henry correctly points out, Kyle and Roman spend their day off turning their jobs into a contest. Uda’s catering crew really does make for a fabulous villainous group. Seeing Lydia’s daughter Escapade just makes it clearer, if it wasn’t entirely clear already, how out of touch with reality Lydia really is. Kyle giving Escapade advice, like to go to bars but not to share with anyone that she’s fourteen years old, was hilarious, but what proved to be truly awesome was when Lydia stepped it up and cut Kyle’s $300 shirt with her $1.29 scissors and threatened to call his manager and reveal that he wasn’t actually gay. It may not be a traditional way of solving problems, but it sure as hell works here, and the incredibly dumb Kyle doesn’t even seem to mind. Casey’s sudden decision to become a champion is fantastic, and I enjoyed seeing here extremely competitive side. The return of Kristen Bell as Uda was, as expected, excellent, and seeing her constantly on her Bluetooth and then break up with Henry just as he was about to break up with her was a fitting departure for a fun (or, more accurately, a stick in the mud) character. Ron’s fortune in finding the perfect woman in the form of the company head’s daughter after she threw a horseshoe at his back could have worked out so well, but of course, she has a fiancée. That man can never catch a break, though at least Henry decides to give him control, albeit minus the raise and benefits, of the crew once again. Seeing Henry and Casey back together and on the same level next episode should be a lot of fun.

What I’m Watching: Party Down

Party Down: Season 2, Episode 6 “Not On Your Wife Opening Night” (B+)

What a crazy party this was. It’s one thing when the guests are weird, but to see several members of the Party Down crew acting strangely is something else altogether. Roman’s initial commentary that telling everyone they’re magnificent means that magnificent is the statistical average turned into him getting appreciated as a writer by the stage stars and entering into some sort of three-way make-out-and-more session at the bar. Kyle offering up a helping hand courtesy of his seduction skills to his former director was a nice gesture, and his surprising ease with the wrong woman (classic mistake: character’s name instead of actress’) led to him hitting a brick wall with the real woman he was supposed to seducing. Casey flirting with a woman and then just passing it off to Henry like nothing happened was amusing, and their weird make-out session under the veil lead to the ultimate comedy of errors. The mistaken accusations and the final proclamation of obvious lesbian love between Nina and Margaret were very entertaining. Lydia’s incomprehension of the term “cougar” was great, and it was also funny to see Casey refuse to let Ron ask him anything about Lydia. Ron’s really not headed anywhere good, but fortunately Lydia is strange enough that she’ll likely stick around through pretty much anything. The renewed chemistry between Casey and Henry, however, is a different story. Though Casey’s relationship has ended, Henry is still dating Uda, and something tells me that she wouldn’t take this news very lightly. At least it’s another chance to see Kristen Bell!

What I’m Watching: Party Down

Party Down: Season 2, Episode 5 “Steve Guttenberg’s Birthday” (B+)

Throwing a bash for Steve Guttenberg’s birthday might seem like a recipe for a dull night, especially when the once-popular actor forgot all about the party and didn’t invite any friends. But instead, we get a chance to sit down and get intimate with the Party Down crew when they’re not working (well, with the exception of Ron). It turns out they’re quite an entertaining bunch, mostly behaving as we’d expect, though seeing Henry with his guard down and not being as serious as he’s been lately is a treat. I’ll also posit that Casey in a good mood is just as spectacular as when she’s making fun of Henry or angry about something else. Her efforts to sneak a peek at Henry’s thespian experience were both amusing and heartfelt, and it was simply spectacular to see Henry and Casey actually trying to act. Henry kissing her during their scene and then making out with her again in the hot tub may just have been fleeting moments, but I love where it’s headed. Casey’s delivery of the line “you must miss doing something you’re actually good at” was great, as was Henry’s “you did kind of break my heart.” If this show had any chance at an Emmy nomination (which it doesn’t), I’d highly recommend that both Lizzy Caplan and Adam Scott keep this episode in mind. Ron still working the party even though it’s not actually happening was typically peculiar, and his calling his sponsor, played by Brad William Henke (recently seen on “Lost”), for a plumbing problem rather than drinking one was as ridiculous as ever. I’m thrilled to see that Christopher Mintz-Plasse is able to pull off a role just far enough off from his immortal portrayal of McLovin in “Superbad” as Roman’s cocky screenwriter friend Kent, who spouts expressions like “in one ear, out one ear.” Guttenberg’s performance as himself turned out to be a lot of fun, finally enabling the crew to actually put on a performance of the script. I liked seeing Roman and Kent both get scared and nervous when he suggested that and cast the roles, and Kent nodding along to all of the lines as they were stated was funny. Guttenberg quoting himself was also a riot, mostly because a sardonic Casey called it. Lydia still doesn’t have much to do, much like her predecessor Constance, besides spout lines like “I love nautical stories” and display her inability to take social cues, evidenced by her lone friend who doesn’t seem to particularly care for her. Hopefully she’ll have something fun to do soon, but the rest of the cast is doing just fine as is.

What I’m Watching: Party Down

Party Down: Season 2, Episode 4 “James Ellison Funeral” (B+)

Taking a very serious affair like a funeral and turning it upside down by having the crew cater it is a fun idea and it works very well here. I like how all of the team members interacted with people in their own different way. Lydia’s fear of dead bodies sparked an entertaining chain of events, and the best part of it was the attendees’ reactions. The daughter was fantastically angry and on edge, but the widow was even better. Her blasé assumption that the mistress would be an Asian lady was funny, and I love how it was followed by an Asian woman showing up with another illegitimate kid right after that. The first mistress was funny enough, and having a second was even more hilarious. Kyle trying to understand the blues experience by listening to everything the dentist told him was great. Roman arguing with the guests about the semantics of jungle fever and then attributing a quote by Jesus to Martin Luther King was very funny, and his subsequent effort to convince people that Jesus was black was amusing. The widow’s comparison of a positive partnership to a crock-pot was an entertaining scene which enabled much mockery of Henry from Casey. While it’s still fun to see angry, annoyed Casey vent about how much she hates everyone and everything, it’s even more of a treat to see her delight in making Henry feel as uncomfortable as possible by constantly giving him a hard time and refusing to give him a break.

What I’m Watching: Party Down

Party Down: Season 2, Episode 3 “Nick DiCintio’s Orgy Night” (B+)

After two episodes that weren’t completely spectacular, we have an installment that exemplifies what’s best about this show. The crazier the party the crew is catering, the more entertaining things tend to be, and in this case the theme of the party was pretty intense but none of the guest seemed to get that. Nick’s continued insistence that it was implied on the invitation was fun, and I loved having Thomas Lennon, who recently tried to seduce Paul Rudd in “I Love You Man,” as that character. His asking Roman for help but refusing to let him join in the festivities was amusing, as was Lydia’s efforts to sleep with Nick despite his blatant ignorance of her presence or her advances. I particularly love the dynamic between the main characters and how it comes into play here. The most wonderful part is seeing Henry loosen up and bond with Ron, sharing a moment of laughter when Uda calls Henry. Though it’s extremely volatile, the relationship between Henry and Casey is also fun. I enjoyed him asking why her was she was so pissed off and her readily explaining that it was due to her finding porn on the computer as well as her being on her period. Their discussion about why men and women do what they do was terrific, and it’s good to see them still working out as characters even though they’re no longer engaged in any true kind of intimate relationship. The constantly rotating shifts taken on by the crew, spearheaded by Ron and Casey continually asking for different duties, was a nice entertaining subplot throughout the episode.

What I’m Watching: Party Down

Party Down: Season 2, Episode 2 “Precious Lights Pre-School Auction” (B)

This show continues to be funny but not altogether engaging or even. It’s fun and certainly satisfying to see Henry yell at Ron for all of his faults, but by ten minutes in, Ron being present but not in charge is more annoying than anything else. Henry as team leader is a lot like having Jim being temporarily promoted to co-manager on “The Office,” though it should work better as a long-term device here. It’s particularly unfortunate to see those who actually like him and might respect him, like Casey, being so openly insubordinate and obnoxious to him. I do like how he responded with “as team leader, they do pay me enough” after Casey said that they had both agreed that they didn’t get paid enough to take the job seriously. His description of his home as having a great view, even though it was a taco ball, was also funny. Roman trying to sweet-talk Kyle into lending him money for the fourth issue of Uncanny X-Men was an ill-fated attempt which resulted hilariously in him insulting him by calling him a “can’t-act creature from the no-talent lagoon.” I love Lydia’s complicity in Ron’s efforts to piss off Henry, suggesting “will anyone do?” when he says that he should pretend to be engaging in intimate relations with Casey. The best part of the episode, as is often the case, is the guest stars. J.K. Simmons walks in and immediately steals the show with his foul language, aided by the not-as-lovely-as-usual-but-still-great Joey Lauren Adams. His comment about Roman looking like he just stepped off the set of “The Big Bang Theory” was terrific, but what was really great was his ending rant directed at a befuddled Henry, whose only response to the comment that he’d never work in this town again was “I know.”

What I’m Watching: Party Down (Season Premiere)

Party Down: Season 2, Episode 1 “Jackal Onassis Backstage Party” (B)

I wrote briefly about this show’s pilot last spring, declaring that it “left me disappointed because [it’s] the kind of fare I usually enjoy,” along with the late Patrick Swayze’s one-season drama “The Beast” and the NBC-to-TNT production “Southland.” As the first season of Starz’s caterers comedy went on, it became somewhat more enjoyable but still didn’t quite jump out to me as something I couldn’t miss. Jane Lynch left the show midway through the first year to star in the role of a lifetime which she’s excelled at on “Glee.” Jennifer Coolidge was a fine temporary replacement, and Megan Mullally, better known as Karen from “Will & Grace,” should serve as a proper, perfectly awkward permanent solution. This premiere episode was all about setup without much room for legitimate plot progression, although that’s sort of always the case on this show. Ron’s failure in his soup crackers endeavor was inevitable, and this is hardly the first time he’s shown up drunk and come off as extremely pitiful. Casey was bound to come back and there was absolutely going to be awkward tension between her and Henry because he’s now dating Uda (can’t wait to see Kristen Bell again). What was particularly fun about this episode, as is often the case, was the guest star and party in question. Jimmi Simpso, who has appeared recently on “Psych” and in the incredible TV pilot “Virtuality,” was amazing as Jackal Onassis, and seemed to have a brilliant time switching places with Roman and reveling in people hating him and being rude to him. The off-handed reference to “The Mentalist,” which seems to be a go-to nod for shows these days (see: “Psych”), was hilariously handled when Jackal said he didn’t know what that was but still proceeded to declare that he was going to watch it anyway. I’m also glad to have learned that it’s a really bad idea to give a Satanist a four-sided sandwich.

Spring Pilot Reviews: Part Three

This spring included a flurry of pilots, some of which faded immediately and others that soared with impressive ratings. To play catch-up, I’m going to forego my usual pilot reviews and offer brief thoughts on all of the pilots in three segments. I’ll try to group them by my general feelings towards their quality and enduring possibility.

For my third go, I’ll look at the pilots that just couldn’t capture my attention. Most of them lost me halfway through the pilots, and in some cases, they’re just not the type of shows I’d likely watch. That’s certainly the case for Lie to Me, which despite having a fun concept, doesn’t seem to have any special kind of hook to draw viewers in to its weekly procedural nature. I thought it could have been more like ABC’s “Eyes” from a few years ago with Tim Daly, and a more enthusiastic, capable ensemble might make it work a whole lot better. Tim Roth is pretty cool, no doubt about it, but Kelli Williams isn’t a great co-lead. The show itself isn’t terribly inventive, which is a real shame because a series about lie detectors should be inherently fascinating. No such luck, for me at least, but its second season pickup this week means that its loyal fans (including my roommate) will have many more lies to detect in the future. ABC’s Cupid is another show that just didn’t spark. Actually a remake of a 90s show with Jeremy Piven and Paula Marshall, this series doesn’t provide much of a makeover. While comparison isn’t always the fair way of judging a show’s potential (and I made sure to watch the 2009 version first), the new incarnation doesn’t improve at all upon a show that didn’t quite click in the first place. Bobby Cannavale is a lot of fun (his turn as Will’s cop boyfriend on “Will & Grace” won him a well-deserved Emmy), but he’s playing too broadly and freely here, whereas Jeremy Piven had the role more under control. Sarah Paulson, great as she was on “Studio 60” a few years ago, isn’t quite bristly enough, though that is something Paula Marshall specializes in (see “Gary Unmarried” and “Californication”). “Cupid” has the same kind of aimless feel “My Name is Earl” introduced in its pilot – this show could go on forever without ever going anywhere. I feel like I can accomplish a whole lot more in my life before Trevor makes some so-so surprising matches. HBO’s The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency is quite an unusual offering, with each episode deep and extensive like other HBO series, but with a bizarre twist. Unlike past series like “The Sopranos,” “Six Feet Under,” “Carnivale,” and “Deadwood,” just to name a few among the many, there isn’t a tremendous ensemble here. It’s just one woman, hanging out in Botswana solving cases with her energetic but relaxed approach. It’s not a show made for me, and I don’t think I could handle any further installments, but to its credit, it’s exactly what it’s supposed to be. Jill Scott, though it’s not type of my performance, does do a great job and carries the show along with her obnoxious secretary.

Three other shows left me disappointed because they’re the kind of fare I might typically enjoy. A&E’s The Beast, starring Patrick Swayze, had terrific advertisements trumpeting its premiere, and I got excited about the gritty feel that would make it irresistible, as an ideal kind of improvement on A&E’s other currently-running drama, “The Cleaner.” Swayze’s pretty intense, that’s for sure, though I’m considerably less impressed with his rookie partner and the rest of the governmental players. The main logic that kicks in while watching this show is that there are only so many times that corrupt cops going over the line can be shocking or even interesting. Maybe this one’s gone too far, and there’s little unexplored territory it can cover. The exact same logic rings true for NBC’s Southland, which got picked up for a second season almost right away. It’s another cop drama that seeks to be controversial in its graphic depiction of real life. Ben McKenzie (Ryan from “The O.C.”) does a good job actually acting (!) but we’ve seen this story play out before. Young rookie cop arrives and works with a disgruntled training officer, and both come out of the experience changed. Given how long John Wells’ last NBC drama, “ER”, lasted, this show could have some potential to go further, but I’m not up for sticking around to see if it pans out. Michael Cudlitz, who I recognize from bit parts here and there, isn’t really the lead type, and I think that calling on him for a show of emotion someday will likely disappoint. The final show that left me wanting a bit more is Starz’s comedy Party Down. A great cast of very funny actors, namely Ken Marino, Lizzy Caplan, and Jane Lynch, just isn’t very…funny. Or interesting for that matter. Marino is talented, but his part just never allows him to be funny unless he’s being stupid, and Lynch, usually a hilarious recurring player, has too much of a big part which results in her overdoing it all the time. Caplan didn’t have a chance to be more than just a depressed sad sap in the pilot, and given her recent insanely great performance on “True Blood,” I’d hope to see her talents used far more shrewdly. I’d like to try and get back into the show, but episode two didn’t really do much for me either.

There were, however, two pilots that I did enjoy a lot: ABC’s Better Off Ted and NBC’s Parks and Recreation starring Amy Poehler. I’ll offer my thoughts on their recently wrapped, shortened seasons in my forthcoming posts on their freshman years. Fortunately, they’ve both been renewed for another season, and everyone will have plenty of time to get into them.

The summer should offer some new pilots, and fall is only a few months away! In the meantime, check back daily for season recaps of all the shows I’ve been watching.