Just can’t get enough of Ted Danson? He’s now a regular on CSI but, starting October 10th, you can get a double dose of the former Cheers star (along with Jason Schwartzman and Zach Galifianakis). HBO has announced the third season return of their Bored to Death TV series.
The eight episode season is expected to run until November 28th. Here’s the press release from HBO:
HBO COMEDY SERIES BORED TO DEATH, STARRING JASON SCHWARTZMAN, TED DANSON AND ZACH GALIFIANAKIS, KICKS OFF ITS EIGHT-EPISODE THIRD SEASON OCT. 10
Jonathan Ames continues to ply his trade as an unlicensed private detective, getting caught up in increasingly risky jobs and absurd adventures around New York City with George and Ray, his always supportive partners in solving crime. In addition, a shocking revelation drives him to embark on one of his most important cases yet, the quest to find his biological father. As if that wasn’t enough, Jonathan’s writing career is finally starting to look up with the publication of his long-delayed second book.
Created by real-life author Jonathan Ames (“The Extra Man,” “The Alcoholic”), BORED TO DEATH begins its eight-episode third season with the episode entitled “The Blonde in the Woods” on MONDAY, OCT. 10 (9:00-9:30 p.m. ET/PT), followed by other half-hour episodes debuting on subsequent Mondays at the same time, exclusively on HBO. The new series “Enlightened,” starring Laura Dern, debuts immediately following the season debut of BORED TO DEATH.
Starring Jason Schwartzman (“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” “Funny People”) as the fictional Jonathan Ames, BORED TO DEATH tells the story of the noir-obsessed writer, who moonlights as an unlicensed private detective listing his services on Craigslist. This season, Ames has published “A Blonde in the Woods,” his collection of mystery stories, and is living in the topmost apartment of Brooklyn’s Williamsburgh bank tower, while putting his sleuthing skills to the test for a myriad of clients new and old.
Meanwhile, Jonathan’s mentor and benefactor George Christopher, played by Ted Danson (“Damages,” HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm”), has left the magazine business to open his artisanal restaurant George on Jane, located on Jane Street in the West Village, while also attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughter. And Jonathan’s close friend, cartoonist Ray Hueston, played by Zach Galifianakis (“The Hangover II,” “Due Date”) begins to transform into a Park Slope mom when one of the lesbians who bought his sperm on the black market contact him after her divorce.
Also returning as a cast regular this season on BORED TO DEATH is Heather Burns as Ray’s girlfriend Leah. Guest stars this season include series veterans Allyce Beasley, Samantha Bee, Olympia Dukakis, John Hodgman, Richard Masur, Bebe Neuwirth, Patton Oswalt and Oliver Platt, as well as Dick Cavett, Chris Elliott, Halley Feiffer, Isla Fisher, Stacy Keach, David Rasche, Sarah Silverman, Mary Steenburgen, Casey Wilson and Zach Woods, among others.
October’s episodes:
Episode #17: “The Blonde in the Woods”
Debut: MONDAY, OCT. 10 (9:00-9:30 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 11 (11:00 p.m.), 12 (12:30 a.m.), 13 (10:00 p.m.), 14 (9:30 p.m.) and 16 (4:30 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 12 (11:00 p.m.), 14 (11:00 p.m.), 15 (4:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m.) and 16 (8:00 p.m.)
After celebrating the release of his new book, “The Blonde in the Woods,” Jonathan (Jason Schwartzman) learns some distressing familial news. George (Ted Danson) reunites with his daughter Emily (Halley Feiffer) and meets her new boyfriend Bernard (David Rasche). Ray (Zach Galifianakis) spends time with his biological son Spencer. Meanwhile, Jonathan’s latest case leaves him in a precarious position.
Written by Jonathan Ames; directed by Michael Lehmann.Episode #18: “Gumball!”
Debut: MONDAY, OCT. 17 (9:00-9:30 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 18 (11:00 p.m.), 19 (12:30 a.m.), 20 (10:00 p.m.), 21 (9:30 p.m.) and 23 (3:30 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 19 (11:30 p.m.), 21 (11:00 p.m.), 22 (3:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m.) and 23 (8:00 p.m.)
On the lam, Jonathan and Ray try to hunt down the person who framed Jonathan. Meanwhile, George covers for them, despite his growing cannabis-induced paranoia.
Written by Martin Gero and Jonathan Ames; directed by Michael Lehmann.Episode #19: “The Black Clock of Time”
Debut: MONDAY, OCT. 24 (9:00-9:30 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Oct. 25 (11:00 p.m.), 26 (12:30 a.m.), 27 (10:00 p.m.), 28 (9:30 p.m.) and 30 (4:00 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 26 (11:00 p.m.), 28 (11:00 p.m.), 29 (3:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m.) and 30 (8:00 p.m.)
As a guest on “The New Dick Cavett Show,” Jonathan runs into his nemesis. George is surprised to hear Bernard and Emily’s news, and Ray sets off an AMBER Alert.
Written by Jonathan Ames; directed by Michael Lehmann.Episode #20: “We Could Sing a Duet”
Debut: MONDAY, OCT. 31 (9:00-9:30 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Nov. 1 (11:00 p.m.), 2 (12:30 a.m.), 3 (10:00 p.m.), 4 (9:30 p.m.) and 6 (3:55 a.m.)
While showing Emily a “youthful” time, Jonathan discovers a classified ad for a detective impersonating himself. On a night out with Bernard, George learns that Richard Antrem (Oliver Platt) has opened a restaurant aimed at hurting George’s restaurant. In hot water with Leah (Heather Burns), Ray finds himself drawn to Belinda (Olympia Dukakis), a lonely older woman.
Written by Luke Del Tredici & Jonathan Ames; directed by Michael Lehmann.BORED TO DEATH’s opening season prompted the New York Times to hail the series as “the best new comedy.” Concluding its second season in Nov. 2010, the show continued to garner acclaim, being hailed as “flat-out inspired comedy” by the Wall Street Journal, while the San Francisco Chronicle described it as “charming as well as quirky and funny,” calling the series “another gem unearthed by HBO.”
In addition to widespread critical praise, in 2010 BORED TO DEATH received an Emmy(R) in the category of Outstanding Main Title Design (Tom Barham, Marci Ichimura, Dean Haspiel, Anthony Santoro).
Winner of a Guggenheim Fellowship, series creator Jonathan Ames is the author of eight books, including the graphic novel “The Alcoholic” (illustrated by Dean Haspiel), “I Pass Like Night,” “What’s Not to Love?,” “Wake Up, Sir!”, “I Love You More Than You Know” and “The Extra Man,” which was adapted for a feature film of the same name starring Kevin Kline.
BORED TO DEATH was created by Jonathan Ames; executive producers, Jonathan Ames, Sarah Condon, Stephanie Davis and Dave Becky.
What do you think? Are you looking forward to the return of Bored to Death? How long do you think this TV series should run?
Image courtesy HBO.
I really enjoy this show. Just has a such a different feel than any other comedy on TV.
How long should it last? Well I like the short 8 episode seasons. I’d say 3-4 more seasons is good for a show like this. But really all depends on the writing.