Right here in Party town, They really party down. Yeah, yeah

Thanks to Starz making it available On-Demand before the "official" start-date, I've already seen the first episode of the new comedy series Party Down.

This was co-created by Rob Thomas of Veronica Mars, actor/writer Paul Rudd (Knocked Up), Dan Etheridge, who produced and directed for Mars, and John Enbom. I think this is Enbom's first big credit; he's apparently been writing most of the episodes.

It's a largely improvised series revolving around a team of cater-waiters made up of would-be Hollywood performers waiting for their "big break." Speaking of which, this is the part where I make full disclosure:

One of the reasons I'm watching this series is because my pal Corey "The Beaver" Klemow has a small role in one of the later episodes. Tho I might have watched anyway, as Rob Thomas is a sometime hero of mine from Veronica and the original Cupid.

Based on the first episode, I would say this show has a lot of potential. Whether it lives up to that, for me, will depend upon whether the characters develop with any substance. It strikes me as the sort of thing that if it's kept too light, has the danger of floating into "so what?" territory.

The lead is Adam Scott (that cannot possibly be his real name) as an actor whose career has failed despite/because of appearing in a once-popular series of commercials.

Now he's forever known as "Were you...that guy?"

Scott himself is stepping up to leads after several years of supporting roles. Supporting him on this show is:

Comedienne Jane Lynch, subject of many a lesbian crush. Her character is the permanently-deluded never-will-be, aging actress.

Lizzy Caplan. Caplan is a star of Mean Girls and quite possibly the subject of my next straight crush.
When not serving drinks to the more succesful, her character is a comedian and possible romantic interest for Scott (she's married, though not altogether happily; her husband is..."difficult.").

Ken Marino. Another Mars vet, as the just slightly tightly wound boss.

Ryan Hansen (ditto, plus he was in the 2009 Friday the 13th) as the prototypical stupid actor.

And Martin Starr. Of Knocked Up, as well as Freaks & Geeks. He plays a bitter, seething, resentful, self-hating writer. And as we all know, such men are just catnip to the ladies.

(and you said Lynch's character was deluded, Varkentine?)

Incidentally, many of the episodes are directed by Fred Savage--brother of Ben Savage; star of Little Monsters and some TV show or another.