Party Down: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added
No edit summary
 
(37 intermediate revisions by 19 users not shown)
Line 1:
{{Short description|American television seriessitcom}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox television
Line 36:
}}
| producer = {{Plain list|
* [[Fred Savage]] (seasons 1–2)
* [[Bryan Gordon]]
* Nancy van Doornewaard
Line 47:
| network = [[Starz]]
| first_aired = {{Start date|2009|3|20}}
| last_aired = present{{End date|2023|3|31}}
| num_seasons = 3
| num_episodes = 2326
| list_episodes =
}}
Line 55:
'''''Party Down''''' is an American [[sitcom]] created and primarily written by John Enbom, [[Rob Thomas (writer)|Rob Thomas]], Dan Etheridge, and [[Paul Rudd]] that premiered on the [[Starz]] network in the United States on March 20, 2009. The series follows a group of [[catering|caterers]] in Los Angeles as they hope to make it in Hollywood.
 
After two seasons, Starz canceled ''Party Down'' on June 30, 2010. While the show was warmly received by critics, its [[Nielsen ratings]] were very low. Losing [[Jane Lynch]]'s commitment to ''[[Glee (TV series)|Glee]]'' as well as [[Adam Scott (actor)|Adam Scott]]'s commitment to ''[[Parks and Recreation]]'' were believed to be additional factors in the decision to end the series.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2010/06/30/breaking-starz-cancels-party-down-gravity/ |title=Breaking: Starz cancels 'Party Down' and 'Gravity' |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=June 30, 2010 |access-date=November 16, 2021}}</ref> In November 2021, a six-episode revival of the series was ordered by the network.<ref name="Revival">{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/party-down-revival-starz-greenlight-adam-scott-jane-lynch-ken-marino-megan-mullally-returning-lizzy-caplan-out-1234874850/ |title='Party Down' Revival Gets Starz Greenlight With Six Of Original Series' Seven Stars Returning |website=Deadline |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |date=November 16, 2021 |access-date=November 16, 2021}}</ref> The third season premiered on February 24, 2023.,<ref name="RevivalPremiere"/> and was later categorized as a limited series revival.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2023/12/shining-vale-canceled-minx-starz-comedy-retreat-1235680977/ |title=With 'Shining Vale' Canceled & 'Minx' Renewal Unlikely, Starz Signals Comedy Retreat |website=Deadline |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |date=December 22, 2023 |access-date=January 20, 2024}}</ref>
 
==Premise==
This half-hour comedy follows a [[Losgroup Angeles]]of [[catering]]aspiring teamactors, forwriters, theand titularothers company.working Thefor sexteta of[[Los aspiringAngeles]]-based [[Hollywood (film industry)|Hollywoodcatering]] actorscompany andnamed writers,Party asDown. wellThe as drifting lost souls,group workworks small-time catering gigs while hoping for their break or some positive change in their lives. Each episode finds the team working a new event, and inevitably getting tangled up with the colorful, affluent guests and their absurd lives.
 
==Cast==
Line 65:
===Main cast===
* [[Adam Scott (actor)|Adam Scott]] as Henry Pollard, a failed actor who returns to Party Down catering after he quit acting. He is most well known for a beer ad where his line "Are we having fun yet?" earned him fame but killed his career. Apathetic and a perpetual underachiever, he often plays [[straight man]] to the rest of his coworkers and is most often the most level-headed of the group. His romantic relationship with Casey is a recurring plot element in the show.
* [[Ken Marino]] as Ronald Wayne "Ron" Donald, the prideful team leader of Party Down catering who is very uptight when it comes to work and strives for customer satisfaction. He is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, although he relapses when under pressure from work as he suffers from low self-esteem. His dream is to manageown a Soup R' Crackers, a franchise that offers all-you-can-eat soup. AfterMonths gettingafter theobtaining funding and opening his moneyrestaurant, the business shuts down after five months, forcing Ron to return to Party Down but this time not as team leader.
* [[Lizzy Caplan]] as Casey Klein (seasons 1–2; guest star season 3), a struggling comedian and actress who often disregards authority, especially Ron's. She was married at the start of the series but got divorced and started a relationship with Henry to make a "clean break" from her marriage.
* [[Ryan Hansen]] as Kyle Bradway, an aspiring actor, sometimes model, and front man for the band Karma Rocket. He believes he is the "total package" and is just waiting for his big break.
* [[Martin Starr]] as Roman DeBeers, a screenwriter who is a professed fan and author of [[hard science fiction]]. Often frustrated by his lack of success, he harshly judges his colleagues and party guests with an acerbic wit.
* [[Jane Lynch]] as Constance Carmell (seasons 1 and 3; guest star season 2), a former actress who befriends and mentors aspiring actor Kyle. Lynch did not appear in the last two episodes of the first season due to her commitment to ''[[Glee (TV series)|Glee]]''. Lynch guest starred in the final episode of the second season.
* [[Jennifer Coolidge]] as Bobbie St. Brown (season 1, episodes 9 and 10), Constance's roommate who replaces her on the Party Down team after her absence.
* [[Megan Mullally]] as Lydia Dunfree (seasons 2–3), a recent divorcee who has moved to Hollywood hoping to achieve stardom for her 13-year-old daughter Escapade. She is very optimistic and naive, constantly seeking advice from people in the entertainment business.
* [[Jennifer Garner]] as Evie Adler (season 3), a [[film producer]] who is reevaluating her life and career.
* [[Tyrel Jackson Williams]] as Sackson (season 3), a Party Down employee and [[content creator]].
* [[Zoë Chao]] as Lucy Dang (season 3), a Party Down employee and aspiring food artist and [[celebrity chef]].
 
===Recurring cast===
Line 81:
* [[Ken Jeong]] as Alan Duk, original Party Down CEO who purchases one of Ron's "Soup 'R Crackers", appearing in season 1's "Sin Say Shun Awards After Party" and "Stennheiser-Pong Wedding Reception". Duk was tried and convicted for white collar crimes before season 2.
* [[Kristen Bell]] as Uda Bengt, the uptight leader of Valhalla Catering who eventually starts a relationship with Henry after Casey leaves. She appears in season 1's "Stennheiser-Pong Wedding Reception" and season 2's "Party Down Company Picnic".
* [[Aviva Baumann|Aviva Farber]] as Mandy, Ron's girlfriend who appears in season 2's "Jackal Onassis Backstage Party" and "Precious Lights Pre-School Auction".
* [[Michael Hitchcock]] as Bolus Lugozshe, the new owner of Party Down, appearing in season 2's "Party Down Company Picnic" and "Constance Carmell Wedding".
* [[June Diane Raphael]] as Danielle Lugozshe, daughter of Bolus who begins an affair with Ron and eventually chooses him over her fiancé. She appears in season 2's "Party Down Company Picnic" and "Constance Carmell Wedding".
Line 102:
 
===Revival===
In March 2021, it was reported that a revival as a six-episode limited series was in development at Starz. The originals series creators Enbom, Thomas, Etheridge, and Rudd arebecame involved and Enbom servesserved as showrunner.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/party-down-revival-in-works-starz-1234706566/|title='Party Down' Revival In The Works At Starz|last=White|first=Peter|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=March 4, 2021|access-date=March 4, 2021}}</ref> In November 2021, Starz officially ordered a six-episode series with Adam Scott, Jane Lynch, Ken Marino, Martin Starr, Ryan Hansen and Megan Mullally to return; Lizzy Caplan didwas reported not to return due to scheduling conflicts. [[Jennifer Garner]], [[Tyrel Jackson Williams]], and [[Zoë Chao]] were cast as series regulars, while [[James Marsden]] was cast in a recurring role.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/party-down-jennifer-garner-tyrel-jackson-williams-zoe-chao-james-marsden-cast-revival-starz-1234922327/ |title='Party Down': Jennifer Garner, Tyrel Jackson Williams, Zoë Chao & James Marsden Join Revival On Starz |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=January 31, 2022 |access-date=January 31, 2022}}</ref> Ultimately, Caplan appeared in a cameo in the season finale, as her appearance was always meant to be a surprise.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/party-down-lizzy-caplan-cameo-season-4-1235569310/|title=Lizzy Caplan on Her Surprise 'Party Down' Cameo and Hopes for Season 4: 'They Would Have to Tie Me to the Train Tracks to Keep Me Away'|work=Variety|first=Ethan|last=Shanfeld|date=March 31, 2023|access-date=April 4, 2023}}</ref> The series began production in January 2022<ref name="Revival"/> and filming wrapped in March 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/party-down-season-3-image-wraps-filming/ |title='Party Down' Season 3 Wraps Filming, Celebrates With Cast Image |last=Leishman |first=Rachel |work=Collider |date=March 7, 2022 |access-date=March 7, 2022}}</ref> The third season premiered on February 24, 2023.<ref name="RevivalPremiere">{{Cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2022/12/14/party-down-revival-premiere-date-teaser-starz-season-3-video/|title=''Party Down'' Revival Gets Premiere Date at Starz — Plus, See (Most of) the Catering Crew Reunite in a New Teaser|work=TVLine|first=Dave|last=Nemetz|date=December 14, 2022|access-date=December 14, 2022}}</ref>
 
==Episodes==
Line 120:
| color3 = #333333
| link3 = #Season 3 (2023)
| episodes3 = 6
| episodes3 = 6<ref name="Futon">{{cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/party-down/listings/ |title=Shows A-Z - party down on starz |website=The Futon Critic |access-date=January 19, 2023}}</ref>
| start3 = {{Start date|2023|2|24}}
| end3 = {{End date|2023|3|31}}
Line 344:
 
===Season 3 (2023)===
{{Episode table |background=#333333 |overall= |season= |title= |director= |writer= |writerR=<ref>{{cite web |url=https://directories.wga.org/project/962502/party-down/ |title=Party Down - WGA Directory |website=[[Writers Guild of America West]] |access-date=January 19, 2023}}</ref> |airdate= |airdateR=<ref name="Futon"/> |viewers= |country=U.S. |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 21
Line 352:
|WrittenBy = John Enbom
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|2|24}}
|ShortSummary = The Party Down team, still led by Ron, is catering an event for Kyle, who is celebrating being cast in the superhero role of "Nitromancer". Roman is still working for Party Down and bitter about Kyle's success. Former Party Down employees Henry, Constance and Lydia attend the event. Lydia is a successful manager for her actress daughter; Constance is still an actor, as well as a playwright, and now widow and heiress; and Henry is a high school English teacher and married with children. Ron reveals to Henry he will be taking over as owner of the company. A news story about Casey causes Roman to mention her success as an actor and that she "made it big" from her role on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''. Kyle runs into controversy when a 10-year-old video of his band Karma Rocket performing "My Struggle" surfaces online, which accuses Kyle of being a Nazi because of the lyrics being misconstrued. Henry meets Evie, a film producer who is attending the event with her actor boyfriend Jack Botty ([[James Marsden]]). Ron runs into financial trouble and is $10,000 short of his bid for the company, but is helped by Constance. New Party Down employee Sackson helps Kyle craft an apology video. However, due to the controversy, Kyle loses the role and learns the guitarist ([[Fran Kranz]]) for Karma Rocket leaked the video because Kyle's success led to the downfall of the band. Ron is excited about the future of the company but news breaks about a [[COVID-19 pandemic|coronavirus outbreak]]. Fourteen months later, Ron, who is living in the Party Down van, gets a call about a possible booking.
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary = The Party Down team, still led by Ron, is catering an event for Kyle who is celebrating being cast in the superhero role of "Nitromancer". Roman is still working for Party Down and bitter about Kyle's success. Former Party Down employees Henry, Constance and Lydia attend the event. Lydia is a successful manager for her actress daughter; Constance is still an actor, as well as a playwright, and now widow and heiress; and Henry is a high school English teacher and married with children. Ron reveals to Henry he will be taking over as owner of the company. A news story about Casey causes Roman to mention her success an actor and that she "made it big" from her role on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''. Kyle runs into controversy when a 10-year-old video of his band Karma Rocket performing "My Struggle" surfaces online, which accuses Kyle of being a Nazi because of the lyrics being misconstrued. Henry meets Evie, a film producer who is attending the event with her actor boyfriend Jack Botty. Ron runs into financial trouble and is $10,000 short of his bid for the company, but is helped by Constance. New Party Down employee Sackson helps Kyle craft an apology video. However, due to the controversy, Kyle loses the role and learns the guitarist for Karma Rocket leaked the video because Kyle's success led to the downfall of the band. Ron is excited about the future of the company but news breaks about a [[COVID-19 pandemic|coronavirus outbreak]]. Fourteen months later, Ron, who is living in the Party Down van, gets a call about a possible booking.
|LineColor = 333333
}}
Line 363 ⟶ 362:
|WrittenBy = John Enbom
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|3|3}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary = Party Down caters a surprise 45th birthday party for Jack Botty. Henry has finalized his divorced from his wife and to help pay the [[alimony]], he has taken a second job working for Party Down again. Kyle is also back at Party Down after losing the role of "Nitromancer". Ron introduces their new chef, Lucy, a food artist, who is more interested in the food evoking emotion than tasting good. Constance, now an investor in Party Down, video chats with the team. The team learn Jack Botty is cheating on his girlfriend Evie when he arrives to the party early with a different woman named Tandy and tells them to keep it a secret. Lydia questions the psychological consequences of being a child actor regarding her daughter Escapade and worries she will be fired. Ron breaks his own rules by taking a shower in the clients home after Henry tells him he smells bad; Ron tells Henry he lost his sense of smell after getting COVID four times. Evie learns from Henry that Jack is cheating. When Ron is talking with Jack, he recognizes the smell of his soap, so Ron re-showers with his own soap. During karaoke, Tandy reveals to everyone about her relationship with Jack. Ron loses his chance at working with Jack after he knows Ron used his shower. Lydia gives Ron an event form for an upcoming party: a prom for her daughter. After casually flirting with each other during the party, Evie gives Henry her number.
|LineColor = 333333
Line 374 ⟶ 372:
|WrittenBy = John Enbom
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|3|10}}
|ShortSummary = Party Down caters an event for [[white supremacists]], unbeknownst to the group at first, because Ron needs the money. The rest of the team expresses their displeasure about working the event. The symposium is led by a man named Stuart ([[Calum Worthy]]) and their main money donor is Dermott ([[Nick Offerman]]). A protest group forms outside the event, which Kyle eventually joins. Kyle gets help from Henry as Kyle has an upcoming audition for an ''[[Othello]]'' adaptation. Dermott compliments Lucy regarding her food, but she feels conflicted with the appreciation. Sackson reveals to Roman that the main demographic of his blog are white supremacist-affiliated groups. Henry and Evie establish a more serious relationship. It's revealed that the protestors are actually part of the white supremacists group in an attempt to create publicity. Stuart tells Ron he won't be able to pay for the event until next month, but Henry puts on a sympathetic acting performance, which leads Stuart to have Demott pay the invoice.
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 333333
}}
Line 382 ⟶ 379:
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = KSGY-95 Prizewinner's Luau
|RTitle = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/party-down-episode-qxnzzxq6vlgtmtawmjy2nty |title=Party Down - Ksgy-95 Prizewinner's Luau |website=[[BBFC]] |access-date=January 19, 2023}}</ref>
|DirectedBy = [[Ken Marino]]
|WrittenBy = Dayo Adesokan
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|3|17}}
|ShortSummary = The team cater a [[luau]] for contest winners for a [[Sting (musician)|Sting]] concert. Evie hangs out with the team during the event and brings [[psilocybin mushroom]]s, which they all decide to take except Ron who is unaware. Kyle is depressed because he has not received any callbacks for his auditions. Sackson live streams his [[drug trip]]. Roman is suspicious something weird is going on at the event and is pulled away into a tent and it's revealed that the event hosts are actually cops. Lieutenant Sacker ([[Judy Reyes]]) reveals the event is actually a [[sting operation]] for [[deadbeat parent]]s with outstanding child support payments who will be going to jail. While high, Roman gets inspiration to complete his science fiction screenplay. Kyle gets good news and gets a callback for ''[[The Lost Boys (franchise)|The Lost Boys]]'' adaptation. Evie tells Henry he should seriously get back into acting.
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 333333
}}
Line 394 ⟶ 389:
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = Once Upon a Time Proms Away Prom-otional Event
|DirectedBy = VanViet Nguyen
|RTitle = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/party-down-episode-qxnzzxq6vlgtmtawmjy2ntc |title=Party Down - Once Upon A Time "Proms Away" Prom-otional Event |website=[[BBFC]] |access-date=January 19, 2023}}</ref>
|DirectedBy = Van Nguyen
|WrittenBy = John Enbom
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|3|24}}
|ShortSummary = The team caters a prom for Lydia's daughter Escapade ([[Liv Hewson]]) which is also a press event for her upcoming film, ''Proms Away''. Ron is nervous to impress a powerful [[Public relations|PR]] agent, Sloan, who is attending the event. Constance shows up in person to support Ron. Roman connects with a fellow sci-fi fan named Steph at the event and begins to feel romantic feels for her, but he soon learns she has a boyfriend. However, Steph is a development executive and Roman gets a development deal for his sci-fi idea. Lydia is worried another [[talent manager]], Ted Fine ([[Seth Morris]]), is going to steal Escapade as a client, so Lydia has Sackson spill wine on him, forcing him to leave. However, Escapade reveals to Lydia that she invited Ted as a blind date for her mother. Kyle tries to prove he is still young by having a dance-off with Sackson, but later feels the effects with a sore back. Ron gets food poisoning from eating bad [[shellfish]], so Constance is tasked with impressing Sloan. Constance is successful and gets Sloan's business card. Evie gets a promotion at work and offers a role to Henry for a film franchise shooting in [[Tunisia]]. Lydia fires her daughter as a client because she just wants to be her mom.
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 333333
}}
Line 406 ⟶ 399:
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = Sepulveda Basin High School Spring Play Opening Night
|RTitle = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/party-down-episode-qxnzzxq6vlgtmtawmjczntc |title=Party Down - Sepulveda Basin High School Spring Play Opening Night |website=[[BBFC]] |access-date=January 19, 2023}}</ref>
|DirectedBy = [[Wendey Stanzler]]
|WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|t=John Enbom & [[Rob Thomas (writer)|Rob Thomas]]|s=John Enbom|tfirst=y}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|3|31}}
|ShortSummary = Henry's high school theater class perform a production of ''[['Tis Pity She's a Whore]]''. Evie surprises them with an afterparty hosted by Party Down. The streaming service Roman sold his screenplay to goes bankrupt and Kyle gets the role in the ''Lost Boys'' reboot. Sackson pivots his content creation after one of his videos where he faceplants on an escalator during his dance-off with Kyle goes viral and Lucy has an audition for an upscale restaurant for celebrities. Ron learns from his lawyer that Constance actually owns the majority stake in the company because the forms were filled out wrong. The school's vice principal, Marty Mittman ([[Dan Bakkedahl]]), shuts down the party on school grounds due to them not having any permits. The team then secretly move the party into the library. Kyle discovers he was actually cast in the father role in the reboot, while Roman thinks of new ideas for his next screenplay. Marty finds the new party and instead joins them after wanting the students to like him. However, the principal ([[Jean Villepique]]) shows up and disciplines Henry and Marty. Henry reveals to Evie that he does not want to go to Tunisia for the acting gig and instead wants to stay. Four months later at a press junket the company is catering, Henry runs into Casey ([[Lizzy Caplan]]) and they catch up.
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 333333
}}
Line 423 ⟶ 414:
In 2014, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' listed the show at #22 in their list of the "26 Best Cult TV Shows Ever" calling it a "smart, drily funny series" and saying, "But the off-beat writing shone brightest in the smaller moments, when the gang was just sitting around a kitchen and bickering to pass the time."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/gallery/26-best-cult-tv-shows-ever/#22-party-down |title=26 Best Cult TV Shows Ever |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=March 14, 2014 |access-date=May 29, 2018}}</ref> In 2020, Briana Kranich of ''[[Screen Rant]]'' ranked ''Party Down'' as the second-most underrated TV show of the 2000s.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kranich |first1=Briana |title=10 Underrated TV Shows Of The Noughties (2000-2009) |url=https://screenrant.com/underrated-tv-shows-noughties-2000-2009/ |website=Screen Rant |date=March 6, 2020 |access-date=February 25, 2021}}</ref>
 
The third season holds a 95% rating with an average score of 8 out of 10 on Rotten Tomatoes based on 3742 reviews. The website's critical consensus is, "Returning after a long layoff, ''Party Down'' brings patient fans a third season that's every bit as sharp – and laugh-out-loud funny – as its predecessors."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/party_down/s03 |title=Party Down: Season 3 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=March 1713, 2023}}</ref> On Metacritic, it has a score of 81 based on 2627 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/party-down/season-3 |title=Party Down: Season 3 |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=March 1713, 2023}}</ref>
 
== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}
 
== Further reading ==
*{{Cite magazine |last=Siegel |first=Alan |date=2023-02-22 |title=Are We Having Fun Yet?!: The Oral History of 'Party Down' |url=https://www.theringer.com/tv/2023/2/22/23607127/party-down-oral-history |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=The Ringer |language=en}}
 
==External links==
Line 438 ⟶ 432:
[[Category:2010 American television series endings]]
[[Category:2023 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:2000s2023 American sitcomstelevision series endings]]
[[Category:2010s2000s American single-camera sitcoms]]
[[Category:2020s2010s American single-camera sitcoms]]
[[Category:2020s American single-camera sitcoms]]
[[Category:2000s American workplace comedy television series]]
[[Category:2010s American workplace comedy television series]]
[[Category:2020s American workplace comedy television series]]
[[Category:American television series revived after cancellation]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Fictional waiting staff]]
[[Category:Starz original programming]]