Party Down is an American sitcom created and primarily written by John Enbom, 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 caterers in Los Angeles as they hope to make it in Hollywood.
Starz canceled Party Down on June 30, 2010. While the show was warmly received by critics, its Nielsen ratings were very low. Jane Lynch's commitment to Glee as well as Adam Scott's commitment to Parks and Recreation were believed to be additional factors in the decision to end the series. In November 2021, a six-episode revival of the series was ordered by the network. The third season premiered on February 24, 2023.
Premise
This half-hour comedy follows a group of aspiring actors, writers, and others working for a Los Angeles-based catering company named Party Down. The group works 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
Main cast
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 own a Soup R' Crackers, a franchise that offers all-you-can-eat soup. Months after obtaining funding and opening his restaurant, the business shuts down, 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. 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.