Party Time. Excellent!
TV Roundup /
Seth Freilich
Trade News | May 13, 2009 | Comments (22)
There’s been a lot of word in recent days about shows coming back or not for next season, and about the new shows getting a tip of the hat, as the networks get ready for next week’s Upfronts. The best news so far, however, doesn’t come from one of the networks. Rather, it’s that Starz has ordered a second season of “Party Down,” Rob Thomas’ good show (his bad show being his failed attempt to reboot “Cupid,” which almost certainly won’t be renewed by ABC). Most of you likely have not seen the show, as you don’t have Starz. So you’ll have to take me on faith that this is probably the funniest show on TV right now. “30 Rock” is still solid. From what I hear, ABC’s “Better of Ted” is also solid (I’ll catch up with it later this month, once most of the network shows are wrapped for the season). But “Party Down” rules.
Like the first season, which still has two episodes left to air, the second season will be 10 half-hour episodes. All the regulars (Ken Marino, Adam Scott Martin Starr, Ryan Hansen and Lizzy Caplan) are signed for the second season except for Jane Lynch, because she’s stuck on Fox’s crappy-looking “Glee.” Hopefully Thomas and company figure out how to get her in at least a few episodes, because she’s gold on this show. As is everyone else. When “Party Down” eventually hits the DVD shelf, do yourself a favor and go to there.
In other TV news, word has it that it’s increasingly likely that “Scrubs” will come back, sans Zach Braff, for a ninth season on ABC.
Meanwhile, NBC has decided to pass on David E. Kelley’s “Legally Mad,” deciding it’d rather pay the multi-million dolor penalty fee to Warner Brothers than order and air Kelley’s apparent tripe. No word yet on whether this will have any impact on “Chuck” getting a much-desired third season, as previous talk that there might be a deal regarding “Chuck” and WB waiving the penalty fee seems to be little more than mere speculation. At a minimum, however, this makes some room on NBC’s schedule for “Chuck,” so fingers crossed.
Fox has told “Sit Down, Shut Up” to, well, sit down and shut the fuck up. Good call, as that show was a stinking disappointment. However, Fox has ordered two new shows to series, which we’ll talk about next week (“Human Target” and “Sons of Tucson”), and it’s also renewed “Lie to Me” for thirteen more episodes. What troubles me here is that Shawn Ryan is being brought in as a co-executive producer of “Lie to Me.” Which doesn’t bode well for his feelings about “The Unit,” his current show, getting a CBS renewal. Aside from “Chuck,” “The Unit” is number two on my list of bubbles shows that I hope get to come back. We’ll know soon enough, I guess.
Comments
Posted by: Kevin Longrie at May 13, 2009 5:44 PM
Party Down is amazing! For anyone who doesn't know, it's all streaming on Netflix instant watch right now. Each week a new episode. Catch yourselves up, friends.