Image Credit: Kevin Parry/WireImage.comPut on your bowtie and grab a serving dish. To celebrate the return of Starz’ Party Down, the Paley Center hosted a screening and panel for the show on April 21. Entertainment Weekly intern Vlada Gelman was there to talk to the stars about what’s coming up in season 2 (premiering tonight) and who’s coming back (hint: one’s a former teen detective, the other is now a cheerleading coach).
* A series about catering special events definitely lends itself to guest stars galore. Among the faces popping up: Rachael Harris, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Tom Lennon, Loretta Devine, Paul Scheer, Andre Royo, J.K. Simmons, Joey Lauren Adams, and Steve Guttenberg.
* Kristen Bell returns on June 4 as Uda, Henry’s (Adam Scott) girlfriend and the head of rival Valhalla Catering, which will be catering Party Down’s company picnic. “You do get a taste of their relationship,” Scott previews. “She’s 100 percent in the driver’s seat of the relationship. It comes at a time when Henry is deciding to take the reins of his life a little more and figure out what he’s actually wanting to do.”
* The company picnic also forces Kyle (Ryan Hansen) and Roman (Martin Starr) to find some common ground. “They help each other out a little bit,” reveals Hansen. “They kind of stick up for each other.”
* With Henry and Uda dating, Casey (Lizzy Caplan) will be forced to deal with her feelings for Henry. “I would like to say that she handles it gracefully, but she doesn’t really,” says Caplan. “She doesn’t go out of her way to sabotage that relationship, but she certainly makes fun of him for dating a loser.” Things will come to a head in the season finale, but in typical Party Down fashion, it’s not all kittens and rainbows. Teases Caplan: “Gotta end it on a sad note on Party Down.”
* The finale will feature the return of Jane Lynch when Party Down caters Constance’s wedding. Ken Marino, who directed the finale, describes her husband as “a Robert Evans type… He’s this old school, much older gentleman. His family thinks she’s just a golddigger, so there’s a little conflict there.” There’s also tension between Constance and her Party Down replacement, Lydia (Megan Mullally). Meanwhile, Kyle’s band Karma Rocket performs at the wedding and rumor has it a very special guest makes a cameo.
* Mullally, who describes her stage mom character as “a little clueless” and “extremely friendly,” says we’ll meet her daughter Escapade at the company picnic. She’ll sing the national anthem and “is actually quite good. [She] could be the next Hannah Montana.”
Awesome Party Down is one of my favorite shows cannot wait to watch season 2
Omg, I LOVE this show. So excited its back!!! Yay!
It’s about damn time you give us some scoop on the funniest show on tv!
Ryan and Martin are awesome! – Great Show
Could you have picked a worse picture to accompany the article? Those are all reasonably attractive people and you find a picture that makes them all look brain damaged.
YAY KRISTEN BELL AND JANE LYNCH!!
And thanks for the scoop, some of many for one of the best shows on TV, I hope?
Kristen Bell needs to come back to TV, STAT. I adore her, but she’s been doing such crap movies lately…
Truly, one of the funniest, best-written shows in recent memories. It should be grouped with The Larry Sanders Show, Extras, Arrested Development and the British ‘Office’. Kudos to Starz for putting this on and standing by this brilliant show. Spread the word, Everyone! Sing this show’s praises!
One of the best comedies on TV. Great ensemble, great writing, great cameos. (Plus Kristen Bell!)
love this show! i am so excited j.k. simmons is back. and those 2 blond ladies as well of course. this show is fantastic. buy the season 1 dvd!
Great move bringing back JK Simmons and Joey Lauren Adams as the Stiltskins. Any chance to see Simmons utter the “F” word repeatedly and in ever creative ways is just sublime. Now if they could only find a way to bring back Molly Parker’s “Melinda” and Jo LoTruglio’s “Donnie” from the hysterical “James Rolf High School Twentieth Reunion” episode.
Why didn’t they just bring back Jennifer Coolidge’s “Bobbie St. Brown”? Bringing in Meghan Mullally is a step way down the ladder compared to comedic gold like Jane Lynch and Jennifer Coolidge.
This show is fantastic but the premiere of “Gravity” was kind of lousy. Krysten Ritter after her brilliant turn on “Breaking Bad” deserves better material.
Yay for Party Down!!! And the cast isn’t just sticking to this show. Megan M. is gonna appear again on Parks and Rec, so too is Adam Scott, and Jane Lynch is gonna guest appear on P.D. and still be on Glee! And Megan has stated some interest in being in Glee. I love seeing them do different roles on different shows almost at the same time.
I really hope they can find a way to get Adam Scott to do a season 3.
He signed on to be a series regular on Parks and Recreation next season. So it looks like 2 seasons of Party Down is all we are going to get now.
I had never even heard of this show (or the Network it’s on) until I saw the DVD on sale at Walmart, but I bought it and the show is pretty good. It kind of sneaks up on you rather than being instantly hilarious. I see it has a problem with not locking down cast members, though.
Best comedy show on American TV !