New comedy series Party Down hits Starz in 2009

[Above: Show creator/producer Rob Thomas with his Veronica Mars star Kristen Bell]

Starz is really getting into this whole original programming thing. The network's first drama series, Crash, premiered on Friday and it already has one half-hour comedy planned for 2009 entitled Head Case. Now, the cable channel is announcing plans for an additional comedy, Party Down, to premiere alongside it.

The 10-episode scripted series will be the first show produced for the channel by its sister company Starz Media. Created and executive produced by Rob Thomas (no, not that Rob Thomas), the show "follows a sextet of Hollywood wannabes making ends meet working for a Los Angeles catering company as they chase their dreams of stardom." The hilarious Paul Rudd is also set to produce.

Using the premise of the catering company, each episode will feature a different catered event, setting the stage for the comedy. "We'll have opportunity for satirical lampooning of whatever subset the party represents as we tell the ongoing stories of our catering crew," says Thomas. "If the original British version of The Office was a show about people who have given themselves over completely to the rat race, Party Down is a show about people who have chased the dream for far too long. We're particularly interested in mining the comedy of what happens as the dream fades."

Stephan Shelanski, the vice president of programming at Starz, is excited about the series and doesn't seem worried about the slagging numbers on TV. "Party Down is a new daringly fresh series that will bring a new style of comedy to Starz," Shelanski said.  "It further fulfills our mission to produce intelligent, contemporary original series that traditional networks cannot offer.  We are pleased to work with Rob Thomas who brings a unique and visionary style to his productions. Party Down will be the perfect companion show to our hit comedy series Head Case. These two shows will ensure a dependable destination for fresh, out of the norm comedy entertainment."

Related links:
News: Netflix deal with Starz adds 1,000 films to watch instantly
News: Starz to feature stars in TV's Crash
Starz.com

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