jonathan ames
'Bored to Death' Season 3 Premiere: Jonathan's a Test-Tube Baby
Season 3 of HBO's noir-comedy 'Bored to Death' will be riddled with daddy issues.Created by novelist Jonathan Ames, the show stars Jason Schwartzman as none other than Jonathan Ames, a Brooklyn-based novelist who finds his inspiration in crime novels and desperately strives to be a private detective in his real life.
The first episode of Season 3 kicks off with Jonathan finding out that he was actually conceived in a test-tube and therefore not the biological son of the man who raised him.
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.
Review: Bored to Death - Take a Dive (season finale)

(S01E08) "You think we learned anything tonight?" - Jonathan
I'll tell you what I learned -- Bored to Death has a lot of potential. All season long, I've gone from loving to hating to loving this show, and with the season finale now come and gone, there's a real opportunity here for Bored to Death to become HBO's next break-out hit when it returns. All the pieces are in place and it probably could have blown up this season had there not been so many episodes where the show tried to find its footing. Is it a detective show? Or is it about three friends in the publishing world trying to make their mark? Or is it both?
Review: Bored to Death - The Case of the Stolen Sperm

(S01E07) "I don't mean to be rude, but I was transporting chilled semen." - Ray
What a great way to set up the season finale! At this point, I'm not sure Bored to Death has turned out to be anything like what HBO originally green-lit, but, despite its many ups and downs, it sure has been fun to watch.
Not only did last night's episode feature the return of two plots, that, when originally introduced, seemed like throw-away gags (Ray's sperm donations; George's rivalry with Richard Antrem), but it also featured one helluva line-up of guest stars. It bodes well for season two and even though we still have one more episode left, I'm feeling a lot better about the direction Bored to Death is taking when compared to Hung.
Review: Bored to Death - The Case of the Beautiful Blackmailer

(S01E06) "Excuse me -- can I get a cheeseburger, no cheese, to go?" - Jonathan
Despite its overall mediocrity thus far, those of us out there who have been sticking with Bored to Death in the hopes that it would get less, well... boring, were finally rewarded. Not only was "The Case of the Beautiful Blackmailer" the best episode of the season to date (I know I've said that before, but clearly I spoke too soon), but it definitively justifies the show getting a season two renewal. This episode proved that the ensemble can actually work well together, and it also made one other thing very clear -- individually, Schwartzman, Danson, and Galifianakis are funny guys. But, together? Comic gold.
Review: Bored to Death - The Case of the Lonely White Dove

(S01E05) "Is vodka really made from potatoes?" - Jonathan
Bored to Death isn't boring me, but after last night's extremely slow episode, it's close. The premise of the show coupled with a really great cast speaks to the potential Bored to Death has, but save for last week's episode (the one with Parker Posey and still the best so far), there haven't been many high points. Last night's installment had some of those moments, but for the most part, I didn't give a crap about the white dove or why she was lonely.
Bored to Death: The Case of the Stolen Skateboard

(S01E04) "I'm almost done. Just three more tugs!" - Ray
After I screened the first three episodes of Bored to Death early last month, I had resigned to not watch it ever again. For the most part, save for Ted Danson's performance, there wasn't much I found funny about the show. Add in last week's weirdo installment featuring Jim Jarmusch and I wasn't sure what to think. Given the premise of the show, last week's episode didn't even feel like the same program. It was like they took a script from something else and just had the Bored to Death ensemble act it out.
But then HBO went and renewed it for a second season and I figured, hey - maybe I'll cover the rest of the season for TV Squad. Well, I'm glad I did. Despite numerous shortcomings, "The Case of the Stolen Skateboard" is easily the best episode of the series thus far. And Ted Danson? Still very funny.
Watch the first episode of Bored To Death - right now!

I'm a very impatient person, but I'm usually pretty patient when it comes to TV shows. I can pretty much wait several days or a week until an episode of one of my favorite shows premieres. But I'll admit that it's cool when networks give viewers a chance to see a new show before it officially debuts.
Here's the first episode of HBO's Bored To Death, which starts this Sunday. (Some of it might be NSFW.) It's also on Amazon, iTunes, and also HBO On Demand.
HBO's Bored To Death isn't real noir, but it looks good
Jason Schwartzman is HBO's newest leading man
Jason Schwartzman is officially coming to HBO. The actor will play the lead in Bored to Death, a new comedy from the cable network. Schwartzman has been cast as Jonathan, a struggling writer in this thirties who has a drinking problem. The series, which is set in Brooklyn, follows Jonathan's post-breakup decision to pretend to be a private eye. Although he's not qualified for detective work, Jonathan loves the novels of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. He'll luck out and solve a few cases, but his lack of experience will often make matters worse for his clients. Novelist Jonathan Ames wrote the pilot and will serve as the show's executive producer.
HBO wants us Bored To Death
Hmmm ... this sounds like a rather interesting premise, actually: HBO has just given the green light to a new comedy pilot titled Bored To Death, about a Brooklyn writer who is so bored that he decides to become a real life private eye like the hero in his favorite Raymond Chandler novels.
Hey, if we can't have Marlowe, I'll take this.
The script is being written by Jonathan Ames, former columnist at The New York Press and author of the books The Extra Man, I Pass Like Night, I Love You More Than You Know, My Less Than Secret Life, Wake Up Sir! and What's Not To Love? Ames has also been a boxer and has appeared several times on The Late Show with David Letterman. He's also working on a graphic novel called The Alcoholic, which sounds like a rather great idea for a graphic novel. He'll also be executive producer on the project.
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