After the first two episodes, I didn't laugh out loud once (as opposed to its lead-in, Curb Your Enthusiasm, which had me laughing several times). The show has a really interesting idea: Jonathan (Jason Schwartzman) is a writer struggling to pen his 2nd novel. He decides to distract himself by posting a Craigslist ad offering his private detective services. Once he gets into the swing of things - seeking out clients, trying to solve the cases, the show is definitely entertaining to watch. But it's almost never humorous. There are jokes about colonics and Alcoholics Anonymous, even a few homophobic remarks. All of it feels very tired.
The actors are doing their best. Zach Galifianakis plays the best friend and Ted Danson plays Jonathan's boss at the newspaper job. Both seem just itching for a good line or two to come their way, but none ever do. Olivia Thirlby is uncharacteristically ineffective as Jonathan's ex-girlfriend, Suzanne. I think she's trying to age up and it doesn't work. She's 23 in real life and here she's portraying a woman who's dated this guy for a long time and is now moving out of the apartment and she's supposed to world weary and 23-year-olds just aren't that disillusioned yet. (I'd hope!)
The problem with the show's "hook" is that it's handled in such a careless fashion. Suzanne dumps Jonathan and then he decides to become a private investigator. They make no explanation as to why he would do this, save for the few detective novels on his desk and the fact that show is called "bored to death."
Another private investigator sitcom, the much superior Andy Barker: P.I., had a great reason for why this normal guy (an accountant played by Andy Richter) would become a private investigator. He opened his accounting firm in an office formerly owned by a private investigator, so when clients keep coming to him with P.I. jobs, and since he's not making money as an accountant, he decides to take the P.I. gigs. It's brilliant. And while a show doesn't always "need" a reason for the character to decide to do something, when its not there, in cases like Bored to Death, it doesn't come across as Mr. Ames being original, but just lazy.
I do hold out hope for the show though. Perhaps Mr. Ames will find his footing. The cast is too good for the show not to find success and the plots for the episodes are effective to suggest potential. It's just the comedy part that needs to be improved. [C-] -Ryan Sartor.
