by Taylor Berry

Do you like Jason Schwartzman? How about white wine? Fiction? Ted Danson? If you answered yes to any of these questions, do I ever have the show for you: HBO’s Bored to Death.

The show is based on a story by the same name published in McSweeneys by Brooklyn novelist Jonathan Ames, who wrote himself as the main character. It’s all about a “periodic alcoholic” whose girlfriend breaks up with him because he smokes too much pot and drinks too much white wine. Unsure what to do with himself, he takes a page out of the detective novels he rereads so often and posts an ad on Craigslist offering his services as a private eye. Zach Galifianakis plays Ames’ underachieving best friend, Ray, and Ted Danson is George, the editor of a New York magazine that Ames sometimes works for.

There’s a ton of good self-deprecating humour to love; a mover taking Ames’ girlfriend’s stuff asks, “What are you, another self-hating New York Jew?” and he can only nod pathetically. Plus, the first two episodes have so far offered a stellar cast of guest stars. The relentlessly hilarious Kristen Wiig guest-stars as an alcoholic afraid that her boyfriend is cheating in the second episode, and the one and only Parker Posey is set to appear as well. With these two fabulous ladies leading the way, I can’t wait to see who comes next.

After re-watching the first two episodes a few times each, I’m ready to say this is my favourite new HBO show. This noir-otic comedy is a must-see.