Starz' "Party Down" is Canceled *Creator and Fans React to Cancellation* - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 05-21-2010, 04:22 PM

"Party Down": One of the Best Sitcoms No One is Watching
by Jason Hughes
posted May 21st 2010

Jane Lynch is knocking the roof off of "Glee" every week.
Adam Scott just debuted alongside Rob Lowe as a most unwelcome state arbiter on "Parks & Recreation".
Ryan Hansen's comedy pilot "Friends With Benefits" just got picked up by NBC.
Lizzy Caplan is attached to the CBS pilot "True Love", though the network hasn't announced its fate yet.

But what do these four actors have in common? They all are, or were, a part of Starz' amazingly under-watched "Party Down".

Lynch starred in most of the first season, before "Glee" came knocking.

The other three are still part of one of the sharpest ensembles on television.

Megan Mullally ("Will & Grace") was brought in this season to try and fill the Lynch-sized hole in the cast.

The real tragedy for the series isn't even that it's being strip-mined for its comedic talent. It's that nobody seems to be watching.

The latest episode managed a paltry 113,000 viewers, according to TV by the Numbers, and a whopping 0.1 in the 18-49 demo.

Is it because it's on Starz?

"Spartacus: Blood & Sand" kind of came out of nowhere for the network, and quickly grew into a cult hit, growing week by week in viewers. It generated plenty of press and had tremendous buzz throughout it's run.

Perhaps the Friday night at 10PM ET time slot isn't helping people find the time for "Party Down", though it does re-air several times across the Starz family of channels.

The network certainly didn't short-change the comedy in advertising for its second season premiere. There have been print ads plastered everywhere touting the addition of Mullally to the cast.

Mullally herself has been making the talk show rounds, using her "big name" status to try and bolster interest in the series. She even took some time out to chat with our own Maggie Furlong for a recent installment of 'The Show Girl.'

Critics have been down with "Party Down" from the beginning.

The sharp writing, great committed acting and outrageous situations this group of caterers manage to get themselves into seems to be in an unlimited supply.

And because the stories are framed around different events they're catering, the series has managed to snag some very fun guest stars for each episode.

We've already seen:

Enrico Colantoni ("Just Shoot Me!")
Jason Dohring ("Veronica Mars")
Ken Jeong ("Community")
Joey Lauren Adams (Chasing Amy)
Breckin Meyer (Garfield)
Allison Scagliotti ("Warehouse 13")
J.K. Simmons ("Law & Order")
Rob Corddry ("Children's Hospital")
Steven Weber ("Wings")
Kyle Bornheimer ("Worst Week")
and Kristen Bell ("Veronica Mars")

Ed Begley Jr. and Marilu Henner were at a seniors singles mixer.
George Takei spoofed himself during a lavish gay wedding.
Eden Sher ("The Middle") played a sexy teen looking to hook up at an event her parents were throwing.

Last week's episode brought us Loretta Devine ("Eli Stone") at an awkward funeral, while this week offers Steve Guttenberg's birthday party.

And yet, the guest actors never overshadow the core cast.

Most of them are struggling to make it in show business one way or another; they're only stuck doing this catering job because they can't get their acts together.

Very adult in tone, the show has featured its fair share of sex and nudity, and has the language you'd expect on a premium channel. We even saw more than any of us wanted to of Ron Donald's enormous penis during the catering of a porn awards event, but we were laughing too hard at the mishaps it experienced to be too uncomfortable.

That's where the show succeeds. These people are miserable in this job. It's the last thing they saw themselves doing with their lives. They're embarrassed, most of them, to be seen by friends and former colleagues.

It's a perfect reflection of the frustrations many working Americans feel every day, only they have the freedom to act out and say exactly what all of us wish we could. They're angry, bitter and frustrated and they take it out on every event they cater.

While Scott has technically been the lead, the character of Ron Donald, played by the hilarious Ken Marino, is a central part of what makes it work.

The big question facing the series now, other than how to improve its ratings, is if it can continue without Scott, Hansen and potentially Caplan. As long as Marino is at the center of this team of "Party Down" caterers, I don't see any reason it couldn't.

In one-and-a-half seasons he's gone from an overzealous dimwitted team leader to a slacker phoning it in and doing his best to drive everyone around him crazy.

It's been an impressive transformation for the character, and Marino has mastered every nuance of the role with hilarious consequences. As much credit as I'll give to the actors for bringing the brilliant writing to the screen, I think it is that writing that is the true star of the show.

It's organic to the premise of a catering company for people to flow in and out of this low paying career option, so cast changes can be handled the same way.

As long as it stays as sharp and witty as it is right now, "Party Down" will remain at the top of the comedy heap. If only it could stand there in ratings as well.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/05/21/pa...e-is-watching/

dakert · 05-21-2010, 10:37 PM

I dont get Starz, Showtime, HBO. For some reason a show about a catering business doesnt really appeal to me.

JamesG · 06-25-2010, 06:33 PM

Could Tonight be the Series Finale of "Party Down"?
by Chris Harnick
posted Jun 25th 2010

"Party Down" has been the little show that could for two years, but this might be the end of the line.

Don't get me wrong, I love the series, but it seems that it's just me and about 200,000 other people who regularly tune in for the smart little comedy.

Tonight, Fri., June 25 at 10PM on Starz, Jane Lynch returns to the show for the second season finale and possibly series finale. Why is a show with so much praise staring cancellation in the face? Well, a few reasons.

One, the numbers just haven't gone up.

Starz's hit series, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand", premiered to roughly 1 million viewers (including those who watched the encore version). Rob Thomas, one of the creators of "Party Down", told me that Starz indicated they wanted to see the numbers go up, but they really haven't.

Another factor, the show only signs its actors to year contracts. Two of the main actors are attached to other projects next season.

Adam Scott, one of the stars and producers of the series has already made an appearance on NBC's "Parks & Recreation". He'll stick around there next season.

Ryan Hansen, goofy Kyle on "Party Down", has been tapped to star in NBC's new romantic comedy "Friends With Benefits". The new show is just what the title suggests, it's about friends who sleep with each other while searching for their true love.

Could the show come back sans Hansen and Scott? I guess.

Lynch was replaced by Megan Mullally who plays the lovable naive Lydia very well. But, Scott's character Henry is the center of the show.

Thomas told me that if tonight's episode is the last we see of Henry "... it's the most beautiful place we could leave him. The only comfort ... is that I think it's the perfect ending to his story if we don't get to see him again."

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/06/25/pa...series-finale/

Du Mont · 06-26-2010, 01:15 AM

This is such a good comedy; I'm surprised that more people haven't found it on their cable channel or via the S1 DVD. The second season hasn't lost any of its mojo, even with the acerbic Miss Jane Lynch having jumped over to 'Glee'.

I have my fingers crossed that Mr. Rob Thomas gets the third season he so richly deserves.

JamesG · 06-30-2010, 02:53 PM

Starz Cancels "Party Down"
by Andrew Scott
posted Jun 30th 2010

The party is officially over for "Party Down".

According to the Ausiello Files, Starz has pulled the plug on the critically acclaimed but low-rated sophomore comedy series, about a bunch of Hollywood wannabes who work as waiters.

The show, from creators John Enbom, Rob Thomas, Dan Etheridge and Paul Rudd, featured a wide range of talented actors, including Adam Scott, Megan Mullally and Jane Lynch, who left the show after season 1 due to her commitment to "Glee".

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/06/30/st...-down-gravity/

browneyes106 · 07-01-2010, 03:43 PM

Party Down was pretty good. I agree with Du Mont the show was still good even after Jane Lynch left.

JamesG · 07-01-2010, 04:04 PM

Co-Creator Rob Thomas, Famous Fans React to "Party Down" Cancellation
by Chris Harnick
posted Jul 1st 2010

The party may have just ended, but that hasn't stopped fans from speaking out and lamenting the loss of "Party Down".

While it may not have had huge ratings, those that did tune in for "Party Down" were loyal and the series creators and stars knew that.

"We wish we were making more episodes," series co-creator Rob Thomas wrote in an e-mail to TV Squad.

"We had a great time doing the show, and we were very proud of it. I've never seen a cast as eager to work on something as I did with "Party Down".

You hear the phrase, 'labor of love' thrown around all the time in this business, but if you knew how far everyone involved was working below their rates, you'd understand that "Party Down" is one place 'labor of love' was truly applicable."

Thomas is no stranger to cult-hits though, he also created "Veronica Mars".

Check out what other famous fans had to say via Twitter about the loss of this comedy gem:

"The fact that Starz just canceled PARTY DOWN makes me want to blow up my TV, followed by the entire state of California," says acclaimed author Chuck Klosterman.

"RIP #partydown. Working with that cast and crew has been one of the great joys of my life. I was sick of Ken Marino anyway," says "Party Down" star Adam Scott.

"Here's to #partydown one of the funniest shows on TV. Let's get some hollywood dummy to give them $ to make a movie spin off," says Paul Scheer.

"The fact that #partydown got cancelled saddens my soul. First the oil spill, now this?!?!," says Blink-182's Mark Hoppus.

"C'mon, Starz. I paid for you, dammit! #PartyDown, I will miss you," says "30 Rock" writer Kay Cannon.

"Thank you all for the support. These things happen and I'm honored to be a part of another fine piece of contemporary digital... art. #PDRIP," says "Party Down" star Martin Starr.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/07/01/co...-down-cancell/

TMC · 03-30-2023, 08:28 PM

Why Adam Scott Says His Recently Revived Show Deserved To Get Cancelled

TV star Adam Scott explains why his recently revived cult Starz sitcom Party Down's original cancellation made sense at the time in 2010.

05-21-2010, 04:22 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,039	Starz' "Party Down" is Canceled Creator and Fans React to Cancellation *"Party Down": One of the Best Sitcoms No One is Watching* by Jason Hughes posted May 21st 2010 Jane Lynch is knocking the roof off of "Glee" every week. Adam Scott just debuted alongside Rob Lowe as a most unwelcome state arbiter on "Parks & Recreation". Ryan Hansen's comedy pilot "Friends With Benefits" just got picked up by NBC. Lizzy Caplan is attached to the CBS pilot "True Love", though the network hasn't announced its fate yet. But what do these four actors have in common? They all are, or were, a part of Starz' amazingly under-watched "Party Down". Lynch starred in most of the first season, before "Glee" came knocking. The other three are still part of one of the sharpest ensembles on television. Megan Mullally ("Will & Grace") was brought in this season to try and fill the Lynch-sized hole in the cast. The real tragedy for the series isn't even that it's being strip-mined for its comedic talent. It's that nobody seems to be watching. The latest episode managed a paltry 113,000 viewers, according to TV by the Numbers, and a whopping 0.1 in the 18-49 demo. Is it because it's on Starz? "Spartacus: Blood & Sand" kind of came out of nowhere for the network, and quickly grew into a cult hit, growing week by week in viewers. It generated plenty of press and had tremendous buzz throughout it's run. Perhaps the Friday night at 10PM ET time slot isn't helping people find the time for "Party Down", though it does re-air several times across the Starz family of channels. The network certainly didn't short-change the comedy in advertising for its second season premiere. There have been print ads plastered everywhere touting the addition of Mullally to the cast. Mullally herself has been making the talk show rounds, using her "big name" status to try and bolster interest in the series. She even took some time out to chat with our own Maggie Furlong for a recent installment of 'The Show Girl.' Critics have been down with "Party Down" from the beginning. The sharp writing, great committed acting and outrageous situations this group of caterers manage to get themselves into seems to be in an unlimited supply. And because the stories are framed around different events they're catering, the series has managed to snag some very fun guest stars for each episode. We've already seen: Enrico Colantoni ("Just Shoot Me!") Jason Dohring ("Veronica Mars") Ken Jeong ("Community") Joey Lauren Adams (Chasing Amy) Breckin Meyer (Garfield) Allison Scagliotti ("Warehouse 13") J.K. Simmons ("Law & Order") Rob Corddry ("Children's Hospital") Steven Weber ("Wings") Kyle Bornheimer ("Worst Week") and Kristen Bell ("Veronica Mars") Ed Begley Jr. and Marilu Henner were at a seniors singles mixer. George Takei spoofed himself during a lavish gay wedding. Eden Sher ("The Middle") played a sexy teen looking to hook up at an event her parents were throwing. Last week's episode brought us Loretta Devine ("Eli Stone") at an awkward funeral, while this week offers Steve Guttenberg's birthday party. And yet, the guest actors never overshadow the core cast. Most of them are struggling to make it in show business one way or another; they're only stuck doing this catering job because they can't get their acts together. Very adult in tone, the show has featured its fair share of sex and nudity, and has the language you'd expect on a premium channel. We even saw more than any of us wanted to of Ron Donald's enormous penis during the catering of a porn awards event, but we were laughing too hard at the mishaps it experienced to be too uncomfortable. That's where the show succeeds. These people are miserable in this job. It's the last thing they saw themselves doing with their lives. They're embarrassed, most of them, to be seen by friends and former colleagues. It's a perfect reflection of the frustrations many working Americans feel every day, only they have the freedom to act out and say exactly what all of us wish we could. They're angry, bitter and frustrated and they take it out on every event they cater. While Scott has technically been the lead, the character of Ron Donald, played by the hilarious Ken Marino, is a central part of what makes it work. The big question facing the series now, other than how to improve its ratings, is if it can continue without Scott, Hansen and potentially Caplan. As long as Marino is at the center of this team of "Party Down" caterers, I don't see any reason it couldn't. In one-and-a-half seasons he's gone from an overzealous dimwitted team leader to a slacker phoning it in and doing his best to drive everyone around him crazy. It's been an impressive transformation for the character, and Marino has mastered every nuance of the role with hilarious consequences. As much credit as I'll give to the actors for bringing the brilliant writing to the screen, I think it is that writing that is the true star of the show. It's organic to the premise of a catering company for people to flow in and out of this low paying career option, so cast changes can be handled the same way. As long as it stays as sharp and witty as it is right now, "Party Down" will remain at the top of the comedy heap. If only it could stand there in ratings as well. http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/05/21/pa...e-is-watching/ Attached Images
	Last edited by JamesG; 07-01-2010 at 03:55 PM.

06-26-2010, 01:15 AM	#4
Du Mont Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 15, 2007 Posts: 331	'Party Down' Deserves Renewal by STARZ This is such a good comedy; I'm surprised that more people haven't found it on their cable channel or via the S1 DVD. The second season hasn't lost any of its mojo, even with the acerbic Miss Jane Lynch having jumped over to 'Glee'. I have my fingers crossed that Mr. Rob Thomas gets the third season he so richly deserves.

05-21-2010, 10:37 PM	#2
dakert Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Altoona PA Posts: 3,411	I dont get Starz, Showtime, HBO. For some reason a show about a catering business doesnt really appeal to me.

06-25-2010, 06:33 PM	#3
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,039	*Could Tonight be the Series Finale of "Party Down"?* by Chris Harnick posted Jun 25th 2010 "Party Down" has been the little show that could for two years, but this might be the end of the line. Don't get me wrong, I love the series, but it seems that it's just me and about 200,000 other people who regularly tune in for the smart little comedy. Tonight, Fri., June 25 at 10PM on Starz, Jane Lynch returns to the show for the second season finale and possibly series finale. Why is a show with so much praise staring cancellation in the face? Well, a few reasons. One, the numbers just haven't gone up. Starz's hit series, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand", premiered to roughly 1 million viewers (including those who watched the encore version). Rob Thomas, one of the creators of "Party Down", told me that Starz indicated they wanted to see the numbers go up, but they really haven't. Another factor, the show only signs its actors to year contracts. Two of the main actors are attached to other projects next season. Adam Scott, one of the stars and producers of the series has already made an appearance on NBC's "Parks & Recreation". He'll stick around there next season. Ryan Hansen, goofy Kyle on "Party Down", has been tapped to star in NBC's new romantic comedy "Friends With Benefits". The new show is just what the title suggests, it's about friends who sleep with each other while searching for their true love. Could the show come back sans Hansen and Scott? I guess. Lynch was replaced by Megan Mullally who plays the lovable naive Lydia very well. But, Scott's character Henry is the center of the show. Thomas told me that if tonight's episode is the last we see of Henry "... it's the most beautiful place we could leave him. The only comfort ... is that I think it's the perfect ending to his story if we don't get to see him again." http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/06/25/pa...series-finale/

06-30-2010, 02:53 PM	#5
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,039	*Starz Cancels "Party Down"* by Andrew Scott posted Jun 30th 2010 The party is officially over for "Party Down". According to the Ausiello Files, Starz has pulled the plug on the critically acclaimed but low-rated sophomore comedy series, about a bunch of Hollywood wannabes who work as waiters. The show, from creators John Enbom, Rob Thomas, Dan Etheridge and Paul Rudd, featured a wide range of talented actors, including Adam Scott, Megan Mullally and Jane Lynch, who left the show after season 1 due to her commitment to "Glee". http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/06/30/st...-down-gravity/

07-01-2010, 03:43 PM	#6
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,097	Party Down was pretty good. I agree with Du Mont the show was still good even after Jane Lynch left.

07-01-2010, 04:04 PM	#7
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,039	*Co-Creator Rob Thomas, Famous Fans React to "Party Down" Cancellation* by Chris Harnick posted Jul 1st 2010 The party may have just ended, but that hasn't stopped fans from speaking out and lamenting the loss of "Party Down". While it may not have had huge ratings, those that did tune in for "Party Down" were loyal and the series creators and stars knew that. "We wish we were making more episodes," series co-creator Rob Thomas wrote in an e-mail to TV Squad. "We had a great time doing the show, and we were very proud of it. I've never seen a cast as eager to work on something as I did with "Party Down". You hear the phrase, 'labor of love' thrown around all the time in this business, but if you knew how far everyone involved was working below their rates, you'd understand that "Party Down" is one place 'labor of love' was truly applicable." Thomas is no stranger to cult-hits though, he also created "Veronica Mars". Check out what other famous fans had to say via Twitter about the loss of this comedy gem: "The fact that Starz just canceled PARTY DOWN makes me want to blow up my TV, followed by the entire state of California," says acclaimed author Chuck Klosterman. "RIP #partydown. Working with that cast and crew has been one of the great joys of my life. I was sick of Ken Marino anyway," says "Party Down" star Adam Scott. "Here's to #partydown one of the funniest shows on TV. Let's get some hollywood dummy to give them $ to make a movie spin off," says Paul Scheer. "The fact that #partydown got cancelled saddens my soul. First the oil spill, now this?!?!," says Blink-182's Mark Hoppus. "C'mon, Starz. I paid for you, dammit! #PartyDown, I will miss you," says "30 Rock" writer Kay Cannon. "Thank you all for the support. These things happen and I'm honored to be a part of another fine piece of contemporary digital... art. #PDRIP," says "Party Down" star Martin Starr. http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/07/01/co...-down-cancell/

03-30-2023, 08:28 PM	#8
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,405	Why Adam Scott Says His Recently Revived Show Deserved To Get Cancelled TV star Adam Scott explains why his recently revived cult Starz sitcom Party Down's original cancellation made sense at the time in 2010.