HBO has released the first teaser for Bored to Death, a series pilot starring Jason Schwartzman as an alcoholic writer who begins to moonlight as a private detective, just because he can. In mid-September last year Zach Galifianakis was added to the cast as Ray, a comic book writer and close friend of Schwartzman’s character. Given the success of The Hangover, nabbing him now probably seems like the best idea this production ever had. Consequently he figures into this teaser in a big way. Read More »
We’re still waiting to get a look at Zach Galifianakis‘s middle-finger-future comedy, Visioneers, but in the meantime, the talented and gruff comedian continues his trek into the mainstream wilderness with a lead role in The Hangover from director Todd Phillips (Old School, School For Scoundrels). Galifianakis will star alongside Ed Helms and Bradley Cooper (Wedding Crashers) as one of “three groomsmen who lose their about-to-be-wed buddy during their drunken misadventures, then must retrace their steps in order to find him.” Will there be snuggling? Filming starts this weekend.
ZG has also joined the cast on HBO‘s upcoming series Bored to Death, starring Jason Schwartzman as an alkie Brooklyn writer-turned-accidental Philip Marlowe-ish sleuth. He’ll play the best friend to Schwartman’s PI, a comic book artist with his own set of problems. Ted Danson stars as a mentor of sorts. From writer-director, Alan Taylor (The Sopranos, Mad Men, Palookaville), this show sounds better and better with each announcement. So, yeah, we think is awesome news all around. Maybe the guy can finally quit his fledgling talk-show Between Two Ferns.
Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore, Spun, Coconut Records) will play an aging Brooklynite/alcoholic writer who experiences a nasty breakup and finds himself in the position of a Philip Marlowe-ish gumshoe in the new HBO series Bored to Death. Written by former New York Press columnist and novelist, Jonathan Ames, the half-hour comedy will go into production this September. Seth Gordon, director of The King of Kong, will work as a consultant on the show.
Schwartzman’s character “takes out an ad pretending to be a private detective and starts taking cases — solving some and making others worse.” You may remember that back in 2004 Schwartzman starred in the failed Fox sitcom, Cracking Up, from writer Mike White (The School of Rock). Ames also began developing a semi-autobiographical pilot for Showtime the same year, but it was never picked up. Based on the logline, it’s easy to picture Schwartzman making the role and premise into an irreverent hit.
HBO also has the series, Hung, in development from creator/director Alexander Payne and weeks ago I took a look at the pilot script for Cocaine Cowboys, the rumored series for HBO from Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay.
via Hollywood Reporter / Buzz Sugar
The iffier logline belongs to Lie to Me, a one-hour drama for Fox starring Tim Roth as a “scientist/human lie detector, skilled at reading the human face, body and voice to uncover the truth in criminal and private investigations.” Shades of House: the character’s talent/gift makes it difficult for him to maintain personal relationships.
As long as Lie to Me isn’t peppered with computer-generated eyeball schematics of various suspects in the vein of Robocop, we’ll check it out. Variety reports that the material is inspired by the real life science and life long studies of psychologist/deception specialist Dr. Paul Eckman. Brian Grazer is exec-producing the show, which has been picked up for 13 eps, and begins shooting in August.
Discuss: Good day for TV, no? Which show sounds more appealing?
