Five Reasons To Watch Bored To Death

1. Jason Schwartzman
Since his iconic debut role in the 1998 film Rushmore, Jason Schwartzman has established himself as an actor with a quirky, unusual sense of charisma. This is on full display in HBO's new series Bored To Death, in which he plays Jonathan Ames, a Brooklynite author moonlighting as a private detective while he struggles with his second novel. Jonathan is the kind of person who has good intentions, but tends to fail when it comes to following through with them. It could be easy to dislike the character, considering that the first episode begins with his girlfriend breaking up with him for being an irresponsible, alcoholic pothead, but Schwartzman's portrayal is instantly charming. He is the earnest, vulnerable heart of the show. Schwartzman's extensive musical talents are also showcased in the theme song; in addition to acting, he was a founding member of Phantom Planet and has released two solo albums under the moniker Coconut Records. Jason Schwartzman can do no wrong.

2. The sense of humor
Bored To Death shines with its own brand of dry wit. Sly, blink-and-you'll-miss-it moments build up to plenty of laughs. The sense of humor is organic, primarily emerging from the characters' situations. Jonathan's quixotic nature provides no shortage of entertainment, particularly when it comes to interacting with his aging boss, George, who is constantly trying to cling to youth. Whether George is suffering from a herpes flare-up or is waxing poetic about women's armpits, Jonathan takes a step back and serves as an attentive, entertaining commentator. Absurdity is the name of the game.

3. Zach Galifianakis
Zach Galifianakis plays Ray Hueston, who is Jonathan's best friend as well as his foil. Jonathan dresses like The Sartorialist's favorite English teacher; Ray is much more at home in t-shirts and hoodies. Jonathan is an acclaimed novelist; Ray is a superhero-obsessed graphic novelist who has not yet received any commercial success. Jonathan is a staunch optimist; Ray is much more world-weary. Still, Ray is a supportive friend who will always rescue Jonathan from one mishap after another, and Galifianakis and Schwartzman share an affable, easygoing chemistry. Ray's current storyline includes donating sperm to a lesbian couple who are fans of his work, and it'll be interesting to see how that plays out.

4. The aesthetics
The tone is set with the noir-inspired title sequence, in which the setting and the main characters spring to life in a series of animated sketches. The show is shot in a sharp, clean style that matches Jonathan's world of white wine and whimsy. From the camera's eye, Brooklyn comes to life and becomes a character in its own right. If Wes Anderson was more laid-back and acknowledged the progress of technology after 1990, he would be working on Bored To Death.

5. The guest stars
The show has featured a variety of guest stars, most prominently Olivia Thirlby's recurring role as Jonathan's ex-girlfriend Suzanne. Stand-outs have included Kristen Wiig as an alcoholic who wants Jonathan to track her boyfriend and Parker Posey as a radical vegan MILF. Film director Jim Jarmusch made a memorable appearance as an exaggerated version of himself, and comedian Patton Oswalt features in an upcoming episode.

For more, see Bored To Death's official site.