Bored to Death
| Bored to Death | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Jonathan Ames |
| Starring | Jason Schwartzman Ted Danson Zach Galifianakis |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | HBO |
| Release | September 20, 2009 – in production |
Bored to Death is an American comedy television series, which premiered in the United States on HBO on September 20, 2009. Created by Jonathan Ames, the series follows a writer, named Jonathan Ames, based in Brooklyn who moonlights as an unlicensed private detective.[1] Advertisements have described Bored to Death as a "Noir-otic comedy". It airs Sundays at 9:30pm EST.
Although it is loosely based in Carroll Gardens, the series is shot primarily on location in the nearby neighborhood of Fort Greene.[2]
HBO has renewed the comedy for a second season. The pickup came days after the show saw a ratings high of 1.1 million on Sunday, when it followed Curb Your Enthusiasm's Seinfeld reunion episode. Since its Sept. 20 debut, Bored to Death's pilot has been seen by 4.1 million viewers with repeats factored in. [3]
Cast
- Regular
- Jason Schwartzman, as Jonathan Ames, struggling novelist and bungling new detective.
- Zach Galifianakis, as Ray Hueston, Brooklyn comic book artist and Jonathan's best friend.
- Ted Danson, as George Christopher, magazine editor and party-goer, Jonathan's boss.
- Recurring
- Heather Burns, as Leah, Ray's girlfriend.
- Olivia Thirlby, as Suzanne, Jonathan’s ex-girlfriend.
- Oliver Platt, as Richard Antrem, fictional editor of GQ Magazine and rival of George Christopher
- Laila Robins, as Priscilla, George's ex-wife and Richard's current wife
- John Hodgman, as Louis Green, a literary critic who gives Jonathan's first novel a negative review, saying "Next time, Jonathan write with BOTH hands."
- Jenny Slate, as Stella, an organic food co-op member and stoner who becomes Jonathan's love interest later in the first season
- Bebe Neuwirth, as Caroline, Jonathan's Editor
Production
- Creator: Jonathan Ames
- Executive producers: Ames, Sarah Condon, Stephanie Davis, Dave Becky, Troy Miller, Tracey Baird
- Producers: Mark Baker and Anna Dokoza.
Reception
With generally positive reviews, notably from the Wall Street Journal and Boston Globe, Bored to Death was picked up by HBO for a second season. Salon Magazine's Heather Havrilesky stated that "Yes, Bored To Death may be a parody of noir, or maybe it's a dramedy that dips into detective novel tomfoolery, but most of all, it's a story that revels in the realm of those strange overgrown children who use artistic pursuits to justify their weak little whimpering selves." Following Curb Your Enthusiasm, Bored to Death had an audience retention rating of 92 percent of the total 1.1 million person audience according to Nielson ratings, and Bored To Death has consistently raised in the numbers since its debut.[citation needed]
Episodes
| Series # | Episodes # | Title | Director(s) | Writer(s) | Original US Airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Stockholm Syndrome" | Alan Taylor | Jonathan Ames | September 20, 2009 | |
|
Jonathan Ames (played by Jason Schwartzman) is an alcoholic thirty-year old writer living in Brooklyn, who smokes marijuana. On top of that, his girlfriend is going to break up with him. To stimulate his imagination, he publishes a small announcement claiming that he is an unlicenced private investigator. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "The Alanon Case" | Alan Taylor | Jonathan Ames | September 27, 2009 | |
|
During a fruitless attempt to reconquer Suzanne, Jonathan receives a phone call: a woman named Jennifer (Kristen Wiig) wants him to shadow her boyfriend Gary (Peter Hermann) to determine his fidelity. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "The Case of the Missing Screenplay" | Michael Lehmann | Jonathan Ames | October 4, 2009 | |
|
Jonathan has the opportunity to work on a scenario with the filmmaker Jim Jarmusch (who appears as himself) but it seems damaged when he forgets the script in the office of a therapist after an evening adventure with the therapist's daughter. Guest stars: Oliver Platt, Laila Robins | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "The Case of the Stolen Skateboard" | Tucker Gates | Jonathan Ames | October 11, 2009 | |
|
Jonathan tries to mix work and pleasure and allows himself to be seduced by a customer whose son's favorite skateboard was stolen... Guest star : Parker Posey | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "The Case of the Lonely White Dove" | Paul Feig | Jonathan Ames & Donick Cary | October 18, 2009 | |
|
Jonathan agrees to search for the love of a Russian parolee in Brighton Beach, where Suzanne often noted she wanted to visit. Jonathan invites her out and is joined by Ray and Leah, who continue to experience marital/intimacy troubles. George is advised by his therapist to experiment sexually to help him "find his feminine side," which might help restore the waning female readership of the magazine. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "The Case of the Beautiful Blackmailer" | Adam Bernstein | Jonathan Ames & Martin Gero | October 25, 2009 | |
|
Jonathan is hired to track down a gorgeous Craigslist scammer who videotapes, then blackmails, married men. George, tired of high society's social obligations, insists on accompanying him and Ray on the case. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "The Case of the Stolen Sperm" | Nicole Holofcener | Jonathan Ames & Donick Cary | November 1, 2009 | |
|
Concerned over the sudden disappearance of the two lesbians who have been buying his sperm, Ray enlists Jonathan to help him track the couple down. After breaking into their apartment, Jonathan learns the pair has flown the coop--but not without leaving behind a clue that both shocks and intrigues Ray. Meanwhile, George ignores Jonathan's warnings by publishing a disparaging editorial about Richard Antrem (Oliver Platt), sending his publishing rival into a fit of rage at the local watering hole. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Take a Dive" | Paul Feig | Jonathan Ames & Martin Gero | November 8, 2009 | |
|
Jonathan, Ray, and George prepare to fight the GQ team led by Richard. Jonathan receives phone calls threatening to publicly embarrass George, but "solves that case." George sleeps with Priscilla and she begs him to let Richard win the fight. Jonathan sleeps with Stella. At the match, Ray loses, Jonathan wins, and George lets Richard win. | ||||||
References
- ^ http://www.hbo.com/events/boredtodeath/
- ^ Goetz, Graham (2009-09-16). "'Bored to Death' on Location — The Local — Fort-Greene Blog — NYTimes.com". Fort-greene.blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
- ^ Joyce Eng. "Bored to Death Picked Up for Second Season". TVGuide.com.