Party Down Confessions @partydownconfessions - Tumblr Blog

truly never getting over the greatest loss streaming services caused: the disappearance of DVD special features. behind the scenes, bloopers, deleted scenes, commentaries, I will never forget you, I will never stop missing you.

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Party Down Reviews

No, I don’t plan on watching the show or anything Rob Thomas created. Yes, I used to watch the show back then, and frankly, I wasn’t a fan. For a comedy, it was very depressing. The only reason I watched the show was because I was obligated to watch it for the VMars cast.

I did like one episode where Steve Guttenberg guest-starred. I thought it was hilarious and made me sympathize with the characters. It also gave me a glimpse of how Hollywood works.

Not a fan of a show when they are called “COMEDY” and yet it’s a depressing dark comedy. I don’t see the point. Call it a dramedy or something, you don’t need to put it under a sitcom banner.

Anyway, I’m glad to announce that the revival was so-so and meh, according to critics. The critics and the audience liked it enough, but it doesn’t excite everyone. After a bunch of failed revivals and reboots, I think people are already fed up with those things. Also, Rob Thomas is always stuck in how he writes a show: full of references to other pop cultures and quotes, expecting that people understand the refs.

Party Down review: A revival that feels like season 15, for better and worse

Are We Having Fun Yet? ‘Party Down’ and the Sadness of the Sitcom Revival

‘Party Down’ Revival Is a Dour Party You’ll Want to Leave Early

Generally, most fans enjoyed it but, again, it’s not something that people are enthusiastic about. I would agree that most fans are just happy to see their favorite actors and characters together again. But as the storyline goes? Blegh.

Be glad that nobody dies, folks (as far as I know). Rob Thomas’ career is depending on who he knows in Hollywood, not his talent.

veronicamarsconfessions

The Unsympathetic Rob Thomas (Trigger Warning: Suicide)

(plus how Ryan Hansen learned from Rob Thomas' unsympathetic ways)

And no, I'm not talking about how he made Veronica Mars. It was about Party Down, its history, and his apathy-ness when creating the show with his friends.

Based on his own interview about Party Down, Rob Thomas was asked the reason why he made Party Down: The show was a collaboration between him, John Enbom, Dan Etheridge, and Paul Rudd; friends who wanted to make a comedy series based on the experience they had in Hollywood.

He went to this party in Hollywood and struck up a conversation with one of the waiters or a bartender. While his friends were sometimes listening to the bartender telling the story of how he ended up in Hollywood, Rob was listening intently. The guy told him that he was a small-time actor, who was basically a glorified extra. The more he told the story, the more unhinged he became. He admitted that he got depressed after a string of failures. And he had to take a catering job to support his life. In the middle of the story, he cried as he poured his heart out about his failed life and even one-time considers suicide.

As the bartender practically sobbed while telling the story, Rob awkwardly left him.

And this part made me cold in my heart when he returned to his friends - he LAUGHED telling this story about a failed actor who was so depressed that he almost committed suicide. He then told John that this might be a really good basis for a tv show. "How about we make a comedy series about a bunch of losers who work in a catering business, and no matter how hard they try, they will never succeed?"

John thought it was a good idea and was ready to recruit his friend, actor Paul Rudd to be a part of the creators of the show. When the interviewer asked Rob what happened to the waiter/bartender, Rob just shrugged and answered, "I hope he didn't kill himself." As I read that interview (I'm sorry I can't provide the interview link because I don't remember where I read it and it was a very long time ago, almost 12 years or so) I was so sick to find out that Rob nonchalantly telling this story. The amount of apathy from this man, telling a story about a suicidal man, laughing about it, and thinking it would make a good COMEDY series...

Look, you can get inspiration from anywhere. Sometimes you'd get it from the darkest place of humanity, and it's legit. But... the way Rob was telling the story like it was no big deal, and the lack of empathy radiating from Rob, made my skin crawl. And the fact this is a true story, not a rumor created by some blogger, but a legit interview from an official magazine, made me shake my head.

And the ironic thing is that when Brad Bufanda died of suicide, Rob actually tweeted his condolences. But it felt... how do I say it... empty? It was like he had to do it because his death was Trending on Twitter, and many casts tweeted their condolences, especially Francis Capra and Julie Gonzalo. Francis was a friend of Brad's family, so he reached out to his mother. Julie was his co-star in Cinderella Story. But Rob (and KBell) didn't say anything until everyone sorta tagged them about his death. Btw, KBell never tweeted anything.

Brad Bufanda's mother reached out to me on this blog, and I felt gutted that the show meant something to him and his family. I still remember when Brad and I DM'd a few times a few years before his suicide. He was DEPRESSED. Apparently, after Veronica Mars, he didn't have a steady job. He got rejected so many times whenever he went to casting calls. He even said "The fans don't care. They don't care about me." I was so confused about how to answer that, but I tried my best to encourage him that the fans did care about him. Anyway, he deleted his Twitter account and I didn't know how to reach him until I heard about his suicide.

So... to have Rob making fun of a depressed person who was suicidal and at the same time tweeting about someone he knew who committed suicide is making me nauseous.

Another story about Party Down was coming from Ryan Hansen who was also one of the cast of the show. It wasn't an interview per se, but more like a tidbit behind the scene regarding one of the episodes.

There was an episode (I forgot the title), but if you watched the show, you know which one I'm talking about. It was about the orgy episode where the Party Down caterers served them, and the interviewer asked the cast about how the episode was made; the technicality of it, the guest stars, how they filmed it, etc etc.

Ryan, jokingly, talked about how there were so many nude extras, and some of them were beautiful girls. And as they were hanging around, Ryan struck up a conversation with a bunch of naked girls. He was making small talk and trying to make everything fun because apparently, directing a bunch of naked people doing sex wasn't easy.

Ryan, then, ASKED WHETHER HE COULD TOUCH THE BOOBS. The girls at first were reluctant, but one of the girls let him touch and fondled the boobs. Some of them were laughing like it was nothing because most of them were okay doing that. It was a bizarre situation but nothing new in Hollywood. It wasn't until Ryan fondled another boob from a different girl, the girl burst into tears.

The nude girl said she had no choice doing this type of role. She was a small-time actress and had to accept this kind of role to support her life and school. Ryan, while telling the story, mocked her cry. He mimicked her sobbing and cry "Booohoooo hoooo!" and he had no choice but to stop fondling her boob. He laughed and made a comment that if she didn't want to be there, then she should just leave and find another career.

Now, I don't care whether you agree or disagree with someone's career choice, whether it's a sex worker, nude artist, an extra, or whatever. I do care whether you are dick or not (pun intended), and actually be a human being that shows empathy or something.

The interviews were after Party Down had already been canceled at the time, and I already watched the show and didn't think about the complication behind the scenes. But I lost all respect for both Rob Thomas and Ryan Hansen back then. And I have to admit, I had a myopic POV regarding them when they announced the Veronica Mars movie and their interviews were forgotten by me. It wasn't until recently that those memories came back to me, and I regret having ever supported them and even have a blind spot regarding them. That is why I changed the Rob Thomas Book Club to BLIND RATS.

My point is... jebus, it's not hard to be kind to strangers who poured their hearts out. Don't be an asshole and laugh when someone said that they have a problem.

“when someone shows you who they are, believe them”

Note: No, this is NOT the interview I was talking about. This is a new interview, in which Rob is adamant that Party Down is not based on a true story, very different from the old interview that now I can't find the link. Feel free to believe which version, but I do still remember his original story.

This PARTY DOWN blog is no longer active. Fuck off, Rob Thomas

#Party Down #Rob Thomas #Veronica Mars #Dan Etheridge #John Enbom

J.K Simmons Joins Veronica Mars Revival

#Veronica Mars #J.K Simmons #Rob Thomas #Ryan Hansen #Party Down

blind-rats

Oscar winner J.K. Simmons has signed on for a recurring role in Hulu’s revival of Veronica Mars, from original series creator Rob Thomas.

Simmons will play Clyde Prickett, an ex-con who served 10 years for racketeering and was smart enough to be the first guy in Chino to offer protection to Neptune’s richest real estate developer, Big Dick Casablancas, on Big Dick’s first day in prison. Now a free man, Clyde works as Big Dick’s fixer. He’s the smarter and more dangerous of the pair, and he has a network of fellow ex-cons he can count on to keep his own hands clean.

Thomas executive produces with Bell, Diane Ruggiero-Wright and Dan Etheridge. Spondoolie Productions produces in association with Warner Bros. TV.

Simmons, who won the Oscar for his supporting role in Whiplash, can next be seen in Sony’s Jason Reitman-directed political drama, The Front Runner.

[ X ]

#Party Down #Rob Thomas #Adam Scott #Lizzy Caplan #Ken Marino #Megan Mullally #Martin Starr

blind-rats

Ken Marino talks about Veronica Mars, Kristen Bell, Stormy Daniels, Party Down, Paul Rudd, and many more. Click HERE for FULL VIDEO

The name Stormy Daniels has been all over the news lately, what with the former adult film actress allegedly having had a months-long affair with our president in 2006 as his wife while he was still a national punchline (and his wife was still recovering from childbirth). Reports circulated that Donald Trump’s lawyer paid $130,000 in hush money to Daniels just before the election, and just a few days ago Daniels filed her own lawsuit against Trump for apparently not signing their non-disclosure agreement. He’s a smart one.

Though this might be the first you’ve heard of the name Stormy Daniels, it’s probably not the first time you’ve seen the actress. Daniels actually has a fairly extensive resume in non-pornographic works, with small roles in Judd Apatow’s The 40 Year-Old Virgin, FX’s Courtney Cox-starring series Dirt, and Comedy Central’s Mind Of Mencia. Sure, she was usually playing the role of “porn star,” but work’s work.

Her most robust role, as UpWorthy’s Parker Molloy points out, came in Starz’s cult classic series Party Down, an A.V. Club favorite that ran for two seasons back in 2009. In season one episode “Sin Say Shun Awards Afterparty,” she played—surprise—a porn star feuding with a colleague over the award for “best blowjob.” Later, she sizes up the porn prospects of Ken Marino’s hapless Ron Donald before accidentally crushing his balls with her award, which is shaped like a giant, golden dildo.

Check out her scenes above and below or, if you haven’t, just watch all of Party Down.

#Party Down #Rob Thomas #Stormy Daniels #Ken Marino #Donald Trump

gettoknowlizzycaplan

Lizzy Caplan and the other cast of Starz Party Down. Adam Scott, Ryan Hansen, Ken Marino & Martin Starr.

glennjaminhow

Aw, I love this!

Adam Scott sees a 'Simon & Simon' connection with 'Ghosted' and knows Craig Robinson owes him a few slaps.

I don’t think there’s ever been a definitive “No” attached to the possibility of a Party Down continuation, but is there interest on your end and would it be from a place where you feel like there’s unfinished business or a place where you just want to go back to that character and that world?

I love Party Down and miss making it and getting to spend so much time with all of those people. Can’t even watch it, makes me sad. I would love to make more episodes or something, maybe it’s too late though? We had a chance a few years ago, but I don’t think the network was particularly enthusiastic. Feels like the cultural moment to put out more episodes passed? Maybe not, who knows.

#Adam Scott #Party Down #Rob Thomas

PARTY DOWN

Are we having fun yet? I sure hope so, but it has been difficult without more Party Down to watch. The wickedly funny show about a group of struggling Hollywood types working at a catering company while they try to make their dreams of being actors, writers, and owner-operators of all-you-can-eat soup restaurants was sadly ahead of its time. With a murderer’s row of talented comedians and outstanding guest stars, Party Down took us from everywhere from Sweet Sixteens to murder acquittal celebrations to adult video awards, and beyond. The episode where they cater Steve Gutenberg’s 50th birthday party ranks among the greatest episodes of television of all time. So do yourself a favor and watch this show if it somehow flew under your radar.

#Party Down #Adam Scott #Rob Thomas #Steve Guttenberg #Are We Having Fun Yet?

blind-rats

From Chuck to Murphy Brown and beyond, it's time to revisit these shows - Are You Listening, TV Execs?

We live in the Golden Age of TV…revivals that is. Well, also the original TV is also pretty good, but there’s no denying it that reviving a TV show is the hottest trend in development right now, thanks to the success of The X-Files, Gilmore Girls and even Arrested Development and The Comeback before them.

In the coming months, the TV landscape will feature new episodes of Roseanne, The X-Files, Will & Grace, Arrested Development, American Idol, Trading Spaces, Cash Cab—the list of shows that were once canceled and now live again goes on. And it’s certainly exciting to see what these characters are up to and how the showrunners will undo some of the previous series finale pickles they created for themselves (Didn’t Dan die in Roseanne? Will and Grace drifted apart!), but we can’t help but wonder: What if we had a say in what revivals happened?

PARTY DOWN

Are we having fun yet? No, we’re not and haven’t been since Party Down ended in 2010. Talks of a movie reunion featuring the likes of Adam Scott, Megan Mullally, Martin Starr, Ken Marino, Lizzy Caplan and Ryan Hansen have been around pretty much since the show ended, but nothing ever materialized. A Party Down reunion would work best as a batch of new episodes. Has any of the catering crew found success in Hollywood? We need to know.

VERONICA MARS

Yes, Veronica Mars came back to life on the big screen, but the series created by Rob Thomas works best on TV with a serialized structure. The story needs to be right, but the appetite for more adventures of Kristen Bell’s snarky private eye is still there.

by @chrisharnick

blind-rats

We rank the outstanding direction that has led to some of television’s most distinctive comedies.

Notable Directors: Fred Savage, Bryan Gordon, David Wain, Ken Marino

One of the best TV ensembles in recent memory was guided to comedic brilliance by its directors, who crafted some of the most insane, out there scenarios around the lives of disaffected caterers. “Party Down” captured so well the way in which our dreams can haunt us, maybe even ruin our lives, and the way in which these directors found the poignancy in that internal struggle makes this show so painfully relatable. With each long lingering look on Adam Scott’s face, “Party Down” broke our hearts.