Jason Schwartzman Isn't Bored of 'Bored to Death'

When HBO's 'Bored to Death' returns for its second season (Sun., Sept. 26 at 10PM ET), you can expect more wacky cases, elaborate hijinks, Brooklyn scenery and ... full-frontal male nudity? Guess 'Bored to Death' decided to take a page from fellow HBO comedy 'Hung.'

Jason Schwartzman called TV Squad to preview season 2, which includes that nudity in the second episode (by, of all people, the show's creator, author Jonathan Ames). He also talked about the chemistry he shares with co-stars Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis, his other projects and the mustache he may or may not keep.

What can you tell us about season 2? Are there arcs, new journeys for the characters?
We all have new arcs, new journeys. As a detective, my cases are getting more intense, because theoretically, I've been doing it now for a little while. I'm not getting the cream of the crop in terms of cases because I'm still unlicensed, but I am getting involved with more crime, more life or death type situations.

My character [Jonathan], when we find him, has written a novel -- which was something he was struggling to do the entire first season -- but it's been rejected. And the publishing company wants their money back. So, because of that, I have to take on a third job as a teacher of creative writing at night. My arc is, how do i pay this money back and what am I going write about now? I've written something, which no one likes -- what am I going to do? Ted has a very, very big story arc, as does Zach.

Season 2 Clip Preview

Zach's girlfriend breaks up with him. Will that be on-again, off-again?
What I love about our show is that, though we're all struggling with our careers and we're getting involved in these crazy, surreal cases at night -- what ultimately drives all of our characters is the search for a companion. We want to be held by woman. You'll see Zach's ex-girlfriend will play a major role and influence throughout the season.

I was happy to see Jenny Slate return. Will Jonathan's relationship with Stella grow -- or will he screw it all up?
It wouldn't be 'Bored to Death' if my character didn't screw things up. But yes, the relationship will also grow, physically as well.

And I read that the creator, author Jonathan Ames, is doing full-frontal nudity? Were you there to witness that?
He wanted me to come down for solidarity, then they wanted to have as few people as possible. I didn't go, but I kept texting him how's it going, then I realized he doesn't have anywhere to put his phone.

What's the situation? Why does he get naked?
I'll give it away. If i tell you how he's naked, then you'll work backwards and it will ruin some things. But basically, let's just say he's caught in bed naked with a yarmulke.

Would you do full-frontal?
Not nudity. I would do full-frontal; I mean, I'd stand there in my clothes and face the camera, why not? I don't know if I could do the nudity, but you know, never say never. And as the years go on, your rules get a little more elastic.

Do you enjoy shooting in different Brooklyn neighborhoods?
I love shooting in the various areas of Brooklyn. Jonathan lives in Brooklyn, and I feel like I'm kind of learning about Brooklyn as we shoot. He's always writing about places that he's at. When he comes up with a scene, he could be having coffee some place and it occurs to him, you know we should set a scene here. Or he'll be walking down a street and see an alley or a park and think [the same thing] ... I think it's nice because he tends to work visually. He'll have an idea for a visual: It would fun to have Jason here, or it could be fun to have Ted here. Then I think he kind of works backwards and thinks of how we could get in those situations and in those locations.

It seems like everyone in the cast gets along really well.
We work about 16-20 hours a day and when you're going into a situation like this, you really hope that you are going to get along with the people you work with. Speaking from experience, there have been times when I have not totally clicked with my collaborators, and it makes the experience much, much harder and annoying. Knowing as well that this is such an ensemble ... you hope that the chemistry is right.

And I cannot tell you how rare it is to have the dynamic that we all have, which is so good. Because I've been in the other situation where it's not good, I really feel so thankful. I fully realize the rarity of the situation. The three of us totally get along. And the hours, though hard, are so much more fun because I'm working with people that I love, that I respect, that are hard-working.

Conversations with the Cast: Season 1 Recap

Let me ask you about Coconut Records. I hear you are making a new album?
I'm trying to, yeah. It takes awhile, you know. It's hard to write the songs.

How far into it are you?
Four days [laughs]. So just the begining, but I love it. Writing music is just wonderful, especially because I'm not really on a label, so there's no tour or anything planned. So I'm able to make a lot of mistakes and hopefully find something that's good.

And are you working on any film projects?
There's something that I can't talk about that's in the works, maybe. Once I finished 'Bored to Death,' I went on a promotional tour for 'Scott PIlgrim vs. the World,' and that occupied the majority of my summer. Now I'm doing this. I basically have two months where I wait nervously to find out if we get another [season], which I hope we do because it's fun to be with Ted and Zach and Jonathan Ames and to go off and make these strange little movies.

And I feel so satisfied creatively -- I love the scripts, I love working on the show -- so it would be almost impossible at this moment, knowing my history ... It's hard to get cast in a film; you have to audition for almost four times as much as you actually get, because you are rejected quite often. The odds of me being cast in something before a possible third season is just kind of out of the cards. It would be very unusual.

So I'm making the record, I'm expecting a child -- so that's that's going to take up the next two months. And then I wait for a third season. If we don't get one, I would then begin the process of trying to find a movie and go audition. And then if we do get another one, I'd take care of my child and go back to New York and begin again -- which I would be happy to do. I would be totally content and happy to work on 'Bored to Death' solely for the next couple years. It really is that special and that much fun.

What's going on with the mustache? You've said you'll shave it off. Did you get peer pressured into promising that?
First of all, the great thing about is it can come right back if you want it. I've had it for about five months now, and I like it, my wife does, as does my dog. I'd keep it, but I have been on the fence about it lately, because I'm having a kid and how do I want the kid to first see me? At the same time, will it even register, does it even matter?

Maybe not.
And maybe the kid wants to play with it. Who knows?