Suits

Bobby and I are constantly changing what pay channels we subscribe to on Direct TV because we’re never really satisfied with the programming and we can’t resist the new deals they call and offer us. Recently we traded in Showtime for Cinemax & Starz (we always keep HBO because I have some kind of weird loyalty to them) and thanks to the trade this past weekend I discovered Party Down. We watched the whole marathon of the show’s first season in preparation for the premiere of season two this week. The cast on this show is hilarious and while the writing can be hit or miss, it hits a lot more than it misses. So I was pretty psyched at my great find until I did a little internet research on the show (which for those of you who have never seen it is about a actor wannabes who work for a catering company) and found out that after season two which has already been shot, almost all the original characters will be leaving the show.

And to make matters worse, this mass show exodus is apparently brought on by a change in upper management at Starz. Nothing makes me madder than suits ruining creative. Not the slaughter of the whales. Not the possibility that the LOST island is purgatory even though the show’s executive producers, Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse assured us years ago that this was not the case. Not Oliver and Johnny, the two characters who single handedly killed The OC. Nothing.

So anyhow, apparently, Starz named Chris Albrecht from HBO as their new President and CEO in December and Albrecht dragged his feet renewing Party Down because it wasn’t a ratings blockbuster yet and he wasn’t in charge when it was created. See if Party Down ends up being super successful after season 2, Albrecht won’t get the credit for it because it wasn’t his show to begin with. And suits hate not getting all the credit. In the meantime, Glee, while not my cup of tea, became a HUGE hit and Jane Lynch who rocked on Party Down quit before Season 2 even began filming because on Glee she is the bomb and getting paid like it, while on Starz she was probably getting paid more like an actor working as a caterer.

And once filming did begin, so did pilot season and the other actors on the show were faced with the agonizing decision of whether they should hang in there and hope Albrecht keeps the show for a third season or whether they should try to find other jobs on network TV. Not surprisingly, they took care of themselves and auditioned for other roles. Three of the shows best players found new jobs. And I can’t blame them for taking them because finding their kind of work is tough, especially with suits running the show.

Adam Scott, who plays Henry, the show’s central character, is joining Parks & Recreation next fall which is a great move because that show is getting better and better and Aziz Ansari is blowing up because of it.

Lizzy Caplan, who is totally hot despite playing the not so hot sidekick to that Lohan girl in Mean Girls, is leaving Party Down to join a CBS pilot called True Love with Jim from American Pie and Lyla from Friday Night Lights.

And Ryan Hansen who plays the hilariously dim Kyle on Party Down is leaving for a new pilot called Friends with Benefits in the fall which costars troublemaker Rachael from One Tree Hill.

What will Starz do without four of the show’s biggest stars for Season 3? Well, first the show needs to make it through Season 2 and get picked up. And then who knows?

Beverly Hills 90210 lasted six more years after original star Shannon Doherty left and then was reinvented moderately successful new show last year so there is definitely a chance that Party Down can go on with new cast members, especially if they hold onto Martin Starr and Ken Marino who has me dying to go to a Soup R Crackers.

Hopefully, one way or another despite the suits, shows like Party Down will prevail. All we can do now is tune in and find out.