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FOT Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: NJL on September 01, 2009, 11:07:49 PM

Title: Bored To Death
Post by: NJL on September 01, 2009, 11:07:49 PM
Just saw the "Making of..." on HBO and it looks promising, particularly as John Hodgman, Patton Oswalt, and Zach Galifianakis are in it or at least have some part in it.  I'm not sure what capacity Mr. Oswalt will play, I think I only saw a brief clip of him, but it appears Mr. Hodgman will have a signifigant role.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: iAmBaronVonTito on September 02, 2009, 10:47:54 AM
from my understanding this is a show with jason schwartzman and zach g, featuring appearances by our other famous, comedic FOT.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: MattJohnson on September 02, 2009, 12:38:56 PM
I was forced to watch Hung and Entourage this weekend, and just as I was realizing that I'm currently watching the least HBO I've watched in probably 5 years I saw a preview for this—about which I had all but forgotten—and my faith in HBO was once more renewed!
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: dotmap on September 02, 2009, 01:31:10 PM
I'm actually really looking forward to this show. I haven't really gotten into many of the newer HBO shows, but this one looks interesting. I think the fact that Zach Galifianakis is in it makes me extremely optimistic about it. He makes anything good. Anyone see him in that Kutcher Diaz movie What Happens in Vegas? I thought he was hilarious, well, him and Rob Corddry of course, 2 absolute geniuses.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: Gilly on September 02, 2009, 04:58:38 PM
Yeah, it's good to see that something decent might be on HBO again. Well, Flight of the Conchords is awesome but everything else is pretty bad. Showtime is blowing them out of the water these days.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: Joe Rogaine on September 02, 2009, 06:01:11 PM
Plus theres that Scorcese show coming next year.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: samir on September 14, 2009, 06:58:47 PM
Pilot is online:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002P3GM8E?ie=UTF8&s=digital-video&qid=1252963670&sr=1-1
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: buffcoat on September 15, 2009, 08:06:12 AM
Yeah, it's good to see that something decent might be on HBO again. Well, Flight of the Conchords is awesome but everything else is pretty bad. Showtime is blowing them out of the water these days.


This past season of Big Love was amazing.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: cutout on September 16, 2009, 09:57:53 PM
Does the Amazon link only work on PCs? I'm getting nothing on the Mac.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: Chris L on October 04, 2009, 11:32:34 PM
This show is pretty bad.  I see it only took them 3 episodes to digress from the detective plot in favor of HBO-style celebrity asskissing (and I doubt Jarmush is attracting too many wild 16-yr-old fangirls these days).  But the biggest problem - on this show and possibly our universe - is Schwartzmann, who is a total nonentity. 
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: Martin on October 05, 2009, 02:29:25 AM
I kinda like it.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: Martin on October 05, 2009, 05:06:26 AM
I see it only took them 3 episodes to digress from the detective plot in favor of HBO-style celebrity asskissing

OK, so I just watched last night's episode and I do agree with this criticism. Not a great episode. I like that Zach got more scenes, but I was disappointed that the detective stuff was thrown out so quickly.

Timely Polanski reference.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: yesno on October 05, 2009, 06:53:17 AM
The pilot didn't really grab me. But then I don't like Flight of the Conchords either.  It all seems like comedy that's afraid of making people laugh too hard.  I'm not an invalid, I can take it.

Does the Amazon link only work on PCs? I'm getting nothing on the Mac.

Timely tech support: it works fine.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: todd on October 05, 2009, 09:17:23 AM
Is Jason Schwartzman funny? I haven't seen Rushmore in a few years, but this show is doing a lot of damage to my memory. Christ, could his character be more bland?

The show's writing is a mess.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: Steve of Bloomington on October 05, 2009, 11:06:28 AM
Schwartzman has been in some questionable movies ('Slackers') and otherwise burned up goodwill since 'Rushmore'.

Maybe a midlife career rescuscitation is in his future. I'm pulling for him.

Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: cutout on October 05, 2009, 11:38:33 AM

Does the Amazon link only work on PCs? I'm getting nothing on the Mac.

Timely tech support: it works fine.

I don't know what's wrong with me and mine, but when I click Samir's link, I get an error that says, "Video currently unavailable. Due to our licensing agreements this video is currently not available for purchase or rental"
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: Christina on October 05, 2009, 12:40:45 PM
Schwartzman has been in some questionable movies ('Slackers') and otherwise burned up goodwill since 'Rushmore'.

Maybe a midlife career rescuscitation is in his future. I'm pulling for him.


Eh, I don't know, he's been pretty good in many movies - and not every one of those were good overall. He's good at playing feckless types, weak characters: Marie Antoinette, Spun, Darjeeling, etc.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: masterofsparks on October 05, 2009, 01:13:48 PM
Schwartzman has been in some questionable movies ('Slackers') and otherwise burned up goodwill since 'Rushmore'.

Maybe a midlife career rescuscitation is in his future. I'm pulling for him.


Eh, I don't know, he's been pretty good in many movies - and not every one of those were good overall. He's good at playing feckless types, weak characters: Marie Antoinette, Spun, Darjeeling, etc.

I hated everything about Rushmore (including Schwartzman's performance), so I figure this show has nothing for me.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: jamesp on October 05, 2009, 01:39:27 PM
Schwartzman has been in some questionable movies ('Slackers') and otherwise burned up goodwill since 'Rushmore'.

Maybe a midlife career rescuscitation is in his future. I'm pulling for him.


I liked him in Shopgirl and Funny People.

I've enjoyed Bored to Death so far. It's not great but I think watching any show after Entourage will look great at this point. I know Tom called Curb "lazy writing" two weeks ago, but Entourage kills Curb in that category. The Eric & Sloan on-again/off-again romance might be one of TV's least interesting romantic storylines. I also still don't get why a 25 minute show wants to have 5 storylines (Lloyd, Ari, Turtle, Drama, and Eric) so that each character ends up only getting 5 minutes. No wonder nobody's changed and nothing's really ever happened on the show.

Did anybody see last night's Curb? In terms of any realism, I don't see a 4th place NBC saying no to a Seinfeld reunion because of some grudge between Larry and the network exec.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: not that clay on October 05, 2009, 02:07:58 PM
The pilot didn't really grab me. But then I don't like Flight of the Conchords either.  It all seems like comedy that's afraid of making people laugh too hard.  I'm not an invalid, I can take it.

I'm going to steal that line.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: not that clay on October 05, 2009, 02:13:06 PM
I've enjoyed Bored to Death so far. It's not great but I think watching any show after Entourage will look great at this point. I know Tom called Curb "lazy writing" two weeks ago, but Entourage kills Curb in that category. The Eric & Sloan on-again/off-again romance might be one of TV's least interesting romantic storylines. I also still don't get why a 25 minute show wants to have 5 storylines (Lloyd, Ari, Turtle, Drama, and Eric) so that each character ends up only getting 5 minutes. No wonder nobody's changed and nothing's really ever happened on the show.

Entourage has got to be the worst written show of all time. It's a like a parody of a tv show. The characters are always saying generic stuff like, "Well, I guess things are back to normal now." I keep watching because I know someday somebody will actually say, "Insert banter here," and it will be awesome.

Last night's Bored to Death was basically Entourage. Star cameo, groupie sex, gratuitous nudity, etc. The only things missing were pot smoking and conspicuous consumption.

Did anybody see last night's Curb? In terms of any realism, I don't see a 4th place NBC saying no to a Seinfeld reunion because of some grudge between Larry and the network exec.

That's how you get to be 4th.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: jbissell on October 05, 2009, 03:03:24 PM
Schwartzman has been in some questionable movies ('Slackers') and otherwise burned up goodwill since 'Rushmore'.

Maybe a midlife career rescuscitation is in his future. I'm pulling for him.


Eh, I don't know, he's been pretty good in many movies - and not every one of those were good overall. He's good at playing feckless types, weak characters: Marie Antoinette, Spun, Darjeeling, etc.

I hated everything about Rushmore (including Schwartzman's performance), so I figure this show has nothing for me.

Rushmore is one of my all-time favorites but not really because of him, though I think it's easily his best work.  I liked him in his brief Freaks & Geeks cameo as the mall fake ID guy.  Other than Rushmore, he's always struck me as a more "hip" version of the bland Luke Wilson type guy.  I guess I'm usually pretty indifferent to him.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: Matt on October 05, 2009, 03:39:12 PM
The show itself isn't that hot, but that theme song is pretty killer. Right, guys?

Guys?

When it comes to CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, I learned a long time ago that you have to embrace the absurdities. I actually think this season is already on stronger footing than any since Season 3. Season 4 was pretty good, Season 5 was the nadir and Season 6 was somewhat of a rebound. As long as there aren't any out-and-out inanities like the Law of the Laundromat or sonic boom toilets, I will continue to enjoy the show. I like Larry David, and I think that even when the show isn't good, he's at least fun to watch.

And making Michael Richards out to be a total sleaze? Good choice.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: jbissell on October 05, 2009, 05:12:57 PM
And making Michael Richards out to be a total sleaze? Good choice.

Hopefully they were inspired by his portrayl in Fuel Dump.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: mostlymeat on October 05, 2009, 05:56:13 PM
Schwartzman was great in the amazing TV show "Hey Teach" in the terrible movie "Funny People". He also did the music for some movie that was also terrible.

-Ajax
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: Christina on October 05, 2009, 06:09:20 PM
Schwartzman was great in the amazing TV show "Hey Teach" in the terrible movie "Funny People". He also did the music for some movie that was also terrible.

-Ajax

I think he was also a little-shit wunderkind producer in CQ too ... I like that sort of tiny bravado, it always makes me laugh.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: Steve of Bloomington on October 05, 2009, 08:34:02 PM
I admit to being sort of a Larry Davidphile. A Larry Davinado. I have managed to accidentally annoy and vex people my whole life.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: jamesp on October 05, 2009, 09:41:10 PM
The show itself isn't that hot, but that theme song is pretty killer. Right, guys?

Guys?

When it comes to CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, I learned a long time ago that you have to embrace the absurdities. I actually think this season is already on stronger footing than any since Season 3. Season 4 was pretty good, Season 5 was the nadir and Season 6 was somewhat of a rebound. As long as there aren't any out-and-out inanities like the Law of the Laundromat or sonic boom toilets, I will continue to enjoy the show. I like Larry David, and I think that even when the show isn't good, he's at least fun to watch.

And making Michael Richards out to be a total sleaze? Good choice.

Yeah, I still enjoy it. I actually think Larry has become a funnier comedic actor as the show's progressed. He had some great physical reactions to Catherine O'Hara in the first episode.

I do wish this week's episode showed Leon staying in the house as Larry's new roommate.

Another HBO side-note: Is anybody watching Epitafios? I thought the first season was super fun and I'm hopeful for this one.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: orator on October 06, 2009, 03:30:36 AM
I like the show. Schwartzman puts on the cutesy a little too heavily, and the creator naming the main character after himself is a put-off, but other than that I'm enjoying it.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: dave from knoxville on October 06, 2009, 05:14:12 AM
I admit to being sort of a Larry Davidphile. A Larry Davinado. I have managed to accidentally annoy and vex people my whole life.

What the hell do you mean by that?
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: orator on October 06, 2009, 06:25:34 AM
Also, was that end Jarmusch scene a big nod to The Conversation?
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: masterofsparks on October 08, 2009, 07:01:01 AM
Already renewed. Does this show do well ratings-wise? Does Entourage still get really good ratings? I'm struggling to understand renewing stuff like this (which, in fairness, I haven't seen, but word-of-mouth has been pretty middling) and Entourage and that god-awful Tell Me You Love Me show but canceling Deadwood, Carnivale, Rome, and other quality shows.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: break on October 08, 2009, 08:00:25 AM
Already renewed. Does this show do well ratings-wise? Does Entourage still get really good ratings? I'm struggling to understand renewing stuff like this (which, in fairness, I haven't seen, but word-of-mouth has been pretty middling) and Entourage and that god-awful Tell Me You Love Me show but canceling Deadwood, Carnivale, Rome, and other quality shows.

Think of the price tag on a Board to Death episode vs. an episode of those cancelled shows you listed.  I'm sure the expensive ones are subject to a much higher level of scrutiny.  And if Bored to Death gets half the viewers but costs half as much to make, it is the same dollar to viewer benefit to HBO and they haven't stuck their neck out as far.   
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: Steve in North Hollywood on October 10, 2009, 06:01:12 AM
Schwartzman has been in some questionable movies ('Slackers') and otherwise burned up goodwill since 'Rushmore'.

Maybe a midlife career rescuscitation is in his future. I'm pulling for him.



Slackers is not great by any means, but there are a ton of good laughs in there.  Mostly thanks to Schwartzman.

i.e. "I was gonna give you a nickname!  But now, NO WAY!  I won't even tell you what it was... Okay, it was Laser."
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: jamesp on October 10, 2009, 03:02:19 PM
Schwartzman has been in some questionable movies ('Slackers') and otherwise burned up goodwill since 'Rushmore'.

Maybe a midlife career rescuscitation is in his future. I'm pulling for him.


Slackers is not great by any means, but there are a ton of good laughs in there.  Mostly thanks to Schwartzman.

i.e. "I was gonna give you a nickname!  But now, NO WAY!  I won't even tell you what it was... Okay, it was Laser."

Agreed. Always loved that line and the creepy hair doll he made. "I didn't make that! It fell out of your hair that way! "
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: hugman on October 12, 2009, 12:25:48 PM
i didn't like the pilot very much, but I've been on board since ep. 2. This week's episode was HILARIOUS!
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: KickTheBobo on October 12, 2009, 01:01:30 PM
I like Ames' books, but this show kinda blows.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: colonel panic on October 12, 2009, 10:14:26 PM
Bored to Death = Hipsters' Matlock.

(but i've only seen the pilot and it sounds like the sleuthery wears off.)

I like it. It's OK.
Title: Re: Bored To Death
Post by: wwwes on October 13, 2009, 12:38:02 AM
Bored to Death = Hipsters' Matlock.

Wow, that is awesome. You might have just ruined the show for me forever. Nicely done.