Not 'Bored to Death'

Looking for a TV show that doesn't live up to its title? Try "Bored to Death," a new HBO comedy from author Jonathan Ames '87.

Bored to Death" follows a fictional Jonathan Ames (played by a lovably hopeless Jason Schwartzman). This Jonathan is a writer as well, though he's not as successful as his real-life counterpart. Struggling to make progress on his second novel and brokenhearted by a recent breakup, Jonathan places an ad on Craigslist offering his services as an unlicensed private detective. Using everything he's learned from reading crime novels, the pseudo-PI starts accepting cases, taking the audience on a colorful tour of Brooklyn in this modern-day noir.

There are plenty of shows on TV right now about civilians solving crimes using skills from a previous day job (see: "Psych," "The Mentalist" and "Castle"). The premise of "Bored to Death" is in the same vein, but the show doesn't stick to the typical procedural structure. With half-hour episodes, there's not usually much of a case to crack, so if you watch crime shows because you like to solve the mystery along with the characters, this one probably isn't for you. Instead, "Bored to Death" focuses on less dramatic cases: missing people and items that are usually found the first place Jonathan goes looking for them. Our hero's not a particularly great detective. He's just a smart guy who cares about getting results for the wacky clients he takes on.

The characters, then, provide the real reason to watch the show. The cast is a veritable crop of indie staples and comedy hotshots - a combination that mirrors the series' quirky tone. Jonathan can be a little self-absorbed, but Schwartzman makes him so earnest that the audience keeps caring. Zach Galifianakis stands out as Jonathan's best friend, Ray. Galifianakis brings the cluelessly goofy charm that won him acclaim in "The Hangover," and the show is at its funniest when Ray is attempting to help Jonathan with his PI duties. Ted Danson is consistently amusing as unpredictable magazine editor George Christopher. A marijuana-loving womanizer, he could easily be over the top, but he's played with enough subtlety and written with enough audacity that he's fun to watch. And excellent guest stars like Kristen Wiig and Parker Posey make the cases more than just stories of the week.

The real Ames also offers some behind-the-scenes insight in regular blog posts on the series' website. Like the show itself, the writer's messages vary from funny to philosophic, occasionally offering scattered thoughts instead of a bigger picture.

While it's not always laugh-out-loud funny, the show is shot beautifully, showing the light along with the noir in Jonathan's day-to-day urban existence. Some of the humor relies a bit too heavily on inside jokes - there are lines that only a New Yorker, a struggling writer or a veteran stoner would really appreciate - but the show connects enough to the outside world to maintain a broader appeal.

Though the season finale aired last Sunday, chances are HBO will be re-airing the eight episodes ad-nauseum for the next year or so. Seeking it out might prove rewarding, especially for fans of the stars, noirs and New York.

3 PAWS