Playlist: Party Down (Season 1)

Why? Recommended by a few people, including our very own Vin

If you don't know (and you might not since this was on Starz, which you may also not know is a cable network), this comedy follows a small catering team to a different event each episode. It's L.A., so the charcaters are all trying to break into or back into the Industry. Fittingly, the show works because of the actors.

The thing about ensemble casts is that you need to start everyone off as a broad charcater type in order to ground the audience. Look at Kramer from "Seinfeld." he started as "the goofy neighbor." No one knew anything about him so they had to play it a little obvious at first. He was still funny, but he became funnier as he took on more layers. And, as is the case on "Party Down," those layers are exposed during interactions with the other characters. Good shows are self-feeding organisms: they make they're own jokes.

As for those actors, I didn't want to like Adam Scott--he has one of those punchable faces--but he centers the show with his low-key charm. I also didn't want to like Jane Lynch--for personal "Glee"-backlash reasons (man, I'm a jerk)--but she's undeniably naturally funny. PD's Kramer. And Ken Marino, as the team leader, is so sweetly desperate that you feel bad for laughing at him. Not that it stops you.

SMC Bonus Cool Point: Director Fred Savage is also a regular director on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." Who needs Winnie, right?

Favorite Episode: "Celebrate Ricky Sargulesh" (Guest-starring Steven Weber as an Eastern European gangster who just got off for murder. Most out loud laughs of the season.)

Favorite Guest Star: Kristen Bell, "Stennheiser-Pong Wedding Reception" (I'm not usually a fan of hers, but she was spot on as the anal-retentive team leader of a rival catering team)