Party Down season 3 premiere: A rare TV revival that works
“It’s an amazing feeling to know that, for a fact, this year, 2020, is going to be the best year of my life.”
TV Reviews Party Down
Previously on Party Down: It’s been 13 years! When this show originally aired, yours truly was catering as a side hustle, rubbing elbows with a rotating cast of coworkers whose hearts, like mine, were elsewhere. We were canapé-toting dreamers in wrinkled button-downs, gossiping in the kitchen and occasionally finding ourselves pouring a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau for a faded pop star or former mayor. The only thing we had in common was that we all needed to make some extra cash.
The Starz series spoke to me back then because it felt so true to life as a cater waiter, the kind of survival job that brings in people from all walks of life. But like any great workplace comedy, you didn’t have to be in the business to get it. When it premiered in 2009, Party Down struck just the right tone for the Great Recession era: cynical yet sincere, wry yet big-hearted, nihilistic yet hopeful. Like the show’s crew of has-beens, wannabes, and never-weres, we were all lying in the gutter, covered in shit but gazing up at the stars.
The series itself fell prey to downsizing after only two seasons, and its ridiculously talented stars went on to make their names in higher-profile shows like Glee, Parks And Recreation, Masters Of Sex, and Silicon Valley. But the show’s steadfast fans never gave up the dream—all the way up to our modern era, when beloved canceled-too-soon series rise from the dead faster than you can say, “Are we having fun yet?!”
Against all odds, Party Down is back for a third season, with its creators (John Enbom, Dan Etheridge, Rob Thomas, and Paul Rudd) still at the helm and its original cast mostly intact. And since it turns out 2023 is somehow even worse than 2009 was, the gang is still in the gutter—only this time, they’re face-down in the shit.
But at least when we first see them again, the gang seems to be better off. Party Down Catering is still in business, which is more than you can say for most L.A. food-service companies. Ron Donald (Ken Marino) is still team leader, sporting his signature Poindexter haircut and bubblegum-pink necktie. He’s trying and failing to get his team of fresh-faced young caterers pumped up about “circulating ’dervs.” The only holdout from the old days is Roman (Martin Starr), looking exactly as put-upon in his forties as he did in his twenties.
This week’s client is none other than Kyle (Ryan Hansen), whose preening himbo tendencies have finally taken him all the way to the top. He’s just booked the title role in Nitromancer: Dimensions—the latest film in Party Down’s impressively detailed sendup of the MCU. And he’s invited the whole gang to celebrate. Lydia (Megan Mullally) is still managing her daughter Escapade’s career, hurling insults at hapless talent execs over the phone (“You’re a sloppy, flopped-out pig’s anus!”). When we last saw Constance (Jane Lynch) in the season-two finale, Party Down was catering her wedding to a wealthy, ailing production mogul. He’s dead now, and she’s filthy rich, using her cash to bankroll emerging artists, whether they need to book the Geffen or acquire a shark carcass. (“The thing they don’t tell you about inheriting a huge amount of money is the positive side,” she tells Roman. “I found it very freeing.”)
And then there’s our boy Henry Pollard (Adam Scott), the dark heart of Party Down’s maelstrom. Though you’d never know it from his thousand-yard stare, things could be going a lot worse: He’s found steady work as an English teacher and has recently bought a house with his wife, whom we only meet via Henry’s side of their rushed phone conversations.
Ron is dancing on air as he fills Henry in on his latest scheme: He’s going to buy Party Down outright, a dream he’s grown to cherish even more dearly than managing a Soup ’R Crackers. And there’s something so bittersweet about watching these two bounce off each other. Henry has grown into what society would consider a model adult, leaving behind childish things like his acting ambitions and his survival job. Ron, on the other hand, is in the exact same mental and professional place he was 10 years ago, but his giddy passion for catering has never dimmed. Though his vision is a silly one, at least he’s on the verge of achieving it.
But as soon as he declares, “If you work hard, the system pays off!” we know he’s doomed. Sure enough, Ron’s shoddy lawyer delivers the news that there’s a lien against Party Down, and the sale will be void unless he can rustle up $10,000 by midnight. He finds an angel in the form of Evie Adler (Jennifer Garner), a Nitromancer producer who just so happens to be dating Jack Botty (James Marsden), a wealthy idiot who loves the restaurant industry. But when Ron’s pitch goes south, he turns to Constance, an idiot so wealthy that she thinks “10 grand” means $10 million.
Despite being the man of the hour, Kyle is having the worst night of anyone. A video is making the rounds on Twitter of his former band, Karma Rocket, performing at Constance’s wedding all those years ago. If you’ve revisited that episode recently, you’ll recall that the song Kyle belted out was a rock ballad about making it in Hollywood that actually sounds like a paean to Nazism called, yes, “My Struggle.”
He doesn’t get what all the fuss is about, but he enlists Sackson (Tyrel Jackson Williams), Party Down’s most Gen-Z employee, to help him film an apology video that never makes it to Twitter. By the end of the evening, Kyle has gotten himself canceled, and his agent (Quinta Brunson) has found a different actor to play Nitromancer. Turns out it was all an elaborate revenge scheme cooked up by Karma Rocket’s onetime lead guitarist, Miles (Fran Kranz), an aging, embittered hipster who claims he invented alternative indie rock. (Step aside, Neutral Milk Hotel!)
Henry’s spiral is a subtler one—a slow fall into melancholy as the night progresses. Maybe it’s because the tagline from a beer commercial he filmed decades ago still haunts him everywhere he goes; maybe it’s because he keeps getting reminders that his old flame Casey (Lizzy Caplan) has long since hit it big and left him in the dust; or maybe it’s because he keeps talking to Roman, the human equivalent of a little gray cloud.
We know Henry’s going to tank the stable little life he’s built the moment he fishes a half-finished pack of cigarettes out of the trash and chain-smokes in the back alley while Ron slams his fists into the Party Down van. There is a flicker of something, however, between Henry and Evie. I’m not ready to root for them just yet, but let’s see where the season takes us.
Nowhere to go but up from here, right? Ron sure thinks so: “It’s an amazing feeling to know that, for a fact, this year, 2020, is going to be the best year of my life.” It’s Henry who clocks the breaking news alert on the bar TV—a brief item about potential Nitromancer production delays due to something called the…novel coronavirus?
TV revivals rarely stick the landing; it’s all too easy for them to come off as thin shadows of what they once were. But Party Down’s stacked cast hasn’t missed a beat, and neither have its writers. It’s still a grim, laugh-out-loud exploration of life on the raggedy edges of Hollywood, asking us to consider whether it’s better to give up for the sake of your sanity or keep chasing your deeply embarrassing dreams.
Stray observations
- In the mid-credits scene, Ron emerges from his van 14 months later, shaggy-haired and barefoot in boxers and a ratty T-shirt, to answer a call for a potential catering gig. Nature is healing.
- When Henry is trying to convince the bouncer that, yes, he is an invited guest, he mentions that he and Kyle used to work together at Party Down. “Never heard of it,” the bouncer replies. “Is it on cable or something?”
- Since a scheduling conflict prevented Caplan from joining the reboot, the writers explain away Casey’s absence by making her the one Party Down alum to truly hit it big: She landed a spot on SNL a decade before, and is now starring on a network crime drama in New York. Though Caplan’s wisecracking, acerbic presence—not to mention her raw-edged chemistry with Scott—was sorely missed, the series smartly uses Casey’s success to push Henry deeper into his dissatisfaction.
- Constance and Lydia bemoan the fact that Henry and Casey won’t be reuniting behalf of…Kashenry? Hasey?…shippers everywhere. (“I was hoping they’d hook up for old time’s sake.” “You know, I always rooted for them as a couple.”) Roman is there to pour out the cold water: “Why? Because they hooked up 10 years ago on and off on a shit job? Why not root against them?”
- It’s clear that the writers had a blast coming up with names for things in their fake MCU: Guardians: Infinity Sticks, Max America, the Eternity Rhombus, Defenders: Wormhole, and, of course, Guyote.
- Enbom and company have no trouble breathing life back into the characters we’ve known from the beginning. But season three’s major additions, Sackson and Evie, are both pretty one-note so far. But considering how much the season premiere had to pack in, there’s still plenty of time for these two to grow.
- Sight gag of the week: Ron casually lifting his hand into frame to reveal that his pinky is bent fully horizontal from using the van door as a punching bag. No worries, though: He’ll fix it right up with a little masking tape.
- I am begging Andrew Lloyd Webber to please not actually write More Cats.
38 Comments
Had a lot of fun with this one. I was a massive fan back during its original run so it was nice to see the gang again.
It was everything I hoped for in the new season of Party Down. Pumped for more episodes.
I can’t believe we only get 6 episodes this season. Well, that’s 6 more than we’ve been expecting for a decade, lol.
Its been a while since I watched the original run, but was Roman really that much like Gilfoyle? I could’ve swore he was sarcastic and verbose, just without the confidence and bluster we saw yesterday.But yes, a terrific start.LOL, Ron should’ve kept his mouth shut—he’d have $10M and no problems at all.
Roman might have actually been worse than Guilfoyle, and was practically a proto-incel.
I’m actually rewatching the first two seasons before starting the new one, and he totally comes off as proto-incel, seriously cringy dialogue especially towards women. Fortunately, its right at the edge of full incel, but woah man its right there.
Yeah , just watched S1 & 2 for the first time and Roman’s 2010 mysoginist, toxic awfulness has not aged well
My favorite Roman moment from the original run was when he was somehow on the verge of getting together with a porn star but couldn’t stop himself from being pedantic about the difference between fantasy and sci-fi. Even though he knew that if he could just not be a dick he would’ve very likely gotten laid by a porn star.
One of the main points of the Roman/Kyle relationship was the inversion of the usual trope: shitty nerd relentlessly bullies upbeat but decent vapid pretty boy.
only difference is gilfoyle is actually talented.
Gilfoyle was competent, even potentially brilliant at what he did. Roman sucks as a writer when he’s not in a purple tube of consciousness. Interestingly, they both sort of have the same level of confidence.
I could’ve swore in the original run that Roman was kind of whiny and couldn’t stand up to any thoughtful pushback (which is why he always picked on Kyle, an easy target).Gilfoyle, OTOH, wasn’t intimidated by anybody because he really was smarter than just about everybody else.
I’m pretty excited for this. Good to see it got a good grade. Not a chance in hell I’ll read this “recap” and spoil it for myself. I do kinda miss the days when we’d read reviews before viewing the media. So as to help us with our decision whether to watch it.
This review was posted after the episode was up, not sure what you mean.
just like noone is forcing you to comment noone is stopping you from watching the show. it’s out.
Maybe Noone should just mind his own damn bee-eye-bi’niss!
This is an odd take, considering 1) this site’s bread and butter was episode recaps just like this so I don’t know how this particular recap is throwing you off, and 2) episode recaps/reviews are deliberately written for those who have watched the episode.I do miss when this site was staffed/funded enough that there’d be a preseason review that suits your expectations.
The pot is about to call the kettle black, but you’re surprised at on odd take from cosmicghostrider? Their take on Firestarter getting a Razzie was “I was so upset I told my parents about it!” (That one’s really tattooed on my brain)
Dialogue still awesome.“Henry, you still acting?”“I’m a high school English teacher.”“Oh, nice, on what show?”
I don’t remember the exact phrasing, but there’s an exchange that’s like, “I kept believing, I worked it hard, and I made it.” “But… I kept believing, I worked it, and I didn’t make it.”
“But did you work it hard?”
The fact that Paul Rudd is part of it makes the MCU stuff even funnier.
I guess.
Fact: Before the MCU, Paul Rudd was a struggling actor who did low-profile independent movies.
Fact: I’m not entirely sure you understand how jokes work.
Considering how apprehensive everyone was for how a third season could work plot-wise when the reunion was first announced, that was a very satisfying premiere. It was exposition-heavy since we had to get refamiliar with where everyone’s at, but it gave me hope there are going to be some fantastic episodes to follow.Covid was a depressing experience for practically everyone, and I think it’s a smart decision including it in the story to explain how everyone ends up back at Party Down. And I know everyone was bummed Lizzy Caplan wasn’t available, but I think they did a good job incorporating her absence into the story too. These two factors (Henry and Casey’s relationship not working out and weaving the pandemic into the story) very much keep in line with the downer tone this show is known for.
I thought they did a good job of handling the trickiest element — how do you make a show about caterers in their 50’s when realistically most of these characters would have long since moved out of the service industry? — in that Ron and Roman are the only two people who still work for Party Down in the first episode, and this is appropriately depressing even as all the other characters who moved on have a good reason to be there.But I’m concerned about how they’re going to pull the rest of the cast back into orbit for more than one episode. If Kyle was successful enough as an actor that he was cast in an MCU movie, could he really ever become broke enough that he’d need to become a caterer again? I’m assuming they’ll explain that he burned through all his money during COVID and was blacklisted because of the My Struggle video, but that’s a stretch (why would he go back to the same exact catering company?). Is Henry going to leave teaching behind too? And also go back to Party Down?
Everyone is entertaining and as much a loser as I’d hope. Glad its back Party Down.
sheesh this is a strong start. i was WORRIED. feels as good as ever, noone has aged much, excited to see where the season goes. i’m only disappointed that it’s weekly, i was really hoping i could watch it all today.
also if you want to remind yourself that you aren’t crazy, i went back and read a few of the season 2 reviews and the content (and discussion in the comments) is just so much better.(just trying to nest my comments, not appear like i’m having a talk with myself [which of course i still am])
do you not know how to fucking spell? No one is two words, dude.
I haven’t finished the first seasons, but I am psyched for this.
I would ask what you’re waiting for, but apparently the show is only available to be streamed on Starz, which, who the fuck has time and money for that?
I’ll probably wait ‘till they’re all out then subscribe long enough to watch them in one or two sittings.
As one does.
Why does Jane Lynch have to be in everything? At least it’s not everybody’s favorite slob Melanie Lynsky again.
Great return. I don’t usually binge watch shows, but I was kinda hoping we’d get 2 a week at least—that said with only six this season, maybe it’s good to paces them out. I had planned on doing a rewatch of the original series before this started, but didn’t get around to it, so I appreciated that it had just enough exposition to refresh my memory.
The mid end-credit sequence says 14 months later (so Summer 2021?) And then next week’s preview seems to be at Jack Botty’s surprise party–I’m assuming because it had to be postponed that long because of shut down? (I can’t even remember if we were opening up somewhat in Summer 2021…)
wtf is starz lol
God I hate jokes like this that remind me of a time when the AV Club was a fun, joyous community and not a clearing house for constant outrage and clickbait.
Having just watched this third season premier after binging the past 2 seasons, it was good to see consequences from the season 2 finale, Constance’s wedding, hold over into season 3. This episode didn’t really sell me on the “Party Down needs a season 3″ idea entirely, as it didn’t….FEEL quite like the same sitcom from 2009 (how could it?), but there were kernels of characterization and sight gags that did work for me. And I usually never laugh out loud that much during comedies, but Jane Lynch repeated her tendency in getting a couple of laughs out of me with the best lines of the episode, her delivery is always immaculate. I liked the new kid on the party down staff, it’ll be fun to see how his youth clashes with the old farts coming back from the cast. And it looks like Jennifer Garne’s character is recurring this season, which makes her light flirting with Henry make a bit more sense. She unfortunately inhabits basically the same role as early season 1 Casey did, though, which is a potential love interest currently tied up in a bs romance that Henry will find meaning in his life around. With only 6 episodes total, this revival will have to work hard, and quickly, in order for me to feel like we’re “back” in Party Down’s world, though.