I Really Need You Guys to Start Watching Bored to Death

A few weeks ago, I invited you to peruse the first episode of HBO's latest comedy Bored to Death. I watched it, as well, and I found it...okay. First episodes are always kind of awkward in their expository nature, so it often takes at least two episodes for me to determine whether or not I like a show.

Also, I realize that I tend to get a little fetishistic about HBO shows (I'm pretty sure I was the only person who like John from Cincinnati and am one of maybe a dozen people who laments the abrupt cancellation of Carnivale), but I'm telling you: Bored to Death is really good and I'm worried that not enough people are watching it.

While Jason Schwartzman's antics as the struggling writer/unlicensed private detective Jonathan Ames are awkwardly hilarious, a la Seinfeld or Curb Your Enthusiasm, the supporting characters, Ted Danson as editor George Christopher and Zach Galifianakis as comic artist Ray Hueston, are really what puts the show over the edge into utter hilarity. Danson is an absolute genius as the clueless but absolutely-not-giving-a-fuck editor and Galifianakis manages to be dimwitted and brilliant at the same time. And the dialogue is relentlessly funny.

Here's a clip of Ray trying to help Jonathan, who had the opportunity to revise a Jim Jarmusch script but screwed up royally by going home with a young girl, who "accidentally" pushed the script behind the couch...in her father's psychiatry office. The plan is for Ray to go in and discretely get the script. I'm sure you won't be surprised to learn that things don't go exactly as planned.

I'm honestly so worried that this show won't survive, so please, I beg of you, give it a chance, catch up if you can, and join me in the lulz.

Comments

[Alison]

We're HBO junkies. My husband is even right there with you about Carnivale. But, as much as I wanted to love this show, I find myself getting impatient with it. I think I've been de-sensitized to this kind of slow, subversive humor. Ted Danson and Zach Snuffleupagus are awesome though, and I just love Jason Schwartzman, so I'm going to stick it out.

[michele]

i'll try!

i have carnivale in my netflix queue.

[makyo]

yay i love this show! and i never hear anything about it, which mean you're probably right and not enough people are watching it. schwartzman is ADORABLE. also, i love the opening, but maybe that's just because i'm a book nerd. i thought the ending of the jarmusch episode was freaking hilarious, with him riding around on a bicycle inside his cavernous "office" for no apparent reason.