In recent times, Adam Scott has sparkled in pop-culture for two masterful performances as manicured, modern cornholios in the Will Ferrell-endorsed comedies Step Brothers and Eastbound & Down. In the former, his character coached an obnoxious wife and kids in a caravan acapella of “Sweet Child of Mine,” while faithfully rocking a Bluetooth headset. In the latter, Scott was a delusional assistant to an assistant of a Major League Baseball team who brags to Kenny Powers that his black AmEx can purchase fellatio from the Jonas Brothers. Ironically, Scott’s character proceeds to offer sex—even with “the kids”—to recruit Powers, a karma-deal that snorts the iconic wind from Powers’s mulleted sails.
On Party Down, one of the strongest and most left-field cable series to debut last year, Scott has managed to be just as funny and biting as the lead amongst a stellar ensemble cast. His character, Henry Pollard, is an out-of-work actor riding out his prime and the recession as an L.A. caterer, a role fleshed out with drama, depression and romance. But I was still surprised to see Scott’s performance in the upcoming indie, The Vicious Kind, which recently earned him an Independent Spirit Awards nom for Best Male Lead. He’s in serious company with Jeff Bridges and Colin Firth for playing a construction worked named Caleb Sinclaire. A self-righteous, aimless man with an estranged father (J.K. Simmons) and a misogynistic albeit amusingly bleak worldview, Caleb sinks to new lows in making a hate-play on his innocent brother’s weary girlfriend (Brittany Snow).
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With each new episode, Party Down distinguishes itself as one of the funniest and lewdest shows on TV, and one of the coolest that many viewers have not yet seen. Last week, we had a great chat with Martin Starr, and this week we have an interview with Ryan Hansen (Veronica Mars). As Kyle Bradway—an aspiring model, actor, rockstar, and server of cocktail weenies—Hansen plays the kind of pink and stoned specimen that is hyper-thriving in Hollywood circa 2009.
Like the other primary characters on Party Down, Kyle is employed at the titular L.A. catering service awaiting the big call. The irony is that as the careers of everyone else fizzle (Adam Scott’s Henry) or zombify (Jane Lynch’s Constance), Kyle surfs up the audition ladder on fresh-faced sex appeal. This pisses off his co-worker, the disgruntled, utterly weird screenwriter Roman (Starr), to no end. And in tapping the rude camaraderie between the two, Party Down and Starz may have already struck a tidy mine of black gold.
As exhibited below, some of the bubbly chemistry is actually just Hansen and Starr—characteristically eavesdropping?—nagging each other IRL. Other topics discussed include Party Down’s myriad connections to Veronica Mars: both shows were created by Rob Thomas and Kristen Bell makes a profane appearance later this season. Hansen also talks about getting shot in the head by the latest incarnation of Jason Voorhees.
Ryan Hansen: Hey Hunter. How are you doing, bro?
/Film: I’m fine. Summer is finally here. So, you’re in Israel right now, eh?
Ryan: I am in Israel, yes…wait…did Martin say this? Did Martin say that? [laughs]
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Dimension Films have finally announced the completed cast line-up for their upcoming superhero comedy spoof. The cast of Superhero includes: Drake Bell (Yours, Mine and Ours), Sara Paxton (Sydney White), Christopher McDonald (Happy Gilmore), Leslie Nielsen (The Naked Gun), Kevin Hart (Soul Plane), Marion Ross (Happy Days), Ryan Hansen (Palo Alto), Jeffrey Tambor (Hellboy) and Brent Spiner (Star Trek: The Next Generation).
I’m a little disappointed with the cast list (with the exception of McDonald and Spiner), but I’ve already set my expectations really low as Scary Movie 3 & 4 writer/director Craig Mazin will helm the project. I really think a superhero spoof could be great if done right. I’m kind of surprised that they’re not calling it “Superhero Movie”, or has America caught on that the Scary Movie franchise sucks? If so, I’m surprised it took four films.
