Are You Bored to Death?

Continuing with our theme of the Quarter-Life Crisis I wanted to suggest a show that is the epitome of this time in our lives. Assuming you are fortunate enough to have HBO (which, if you don't, let me just say it is WORTH the investment) then on Sunday nights watch/record Bored to Death.

The show stars the adorable Jason Shwartzman introspective writer Jonathan Ames and the hilarious, neurotic Ted Danson as the editor of a big NY mag that Jason's character occasionally writes for. Zach Galifianakis plays Ray Hueston, Jonathan's quirky, married best friends with problems of his own. Ted Danson's character is having a mid-life crisis of his own and relies heavily on Jason's character for entertainment. The two make quite a comedic pair. The same goes for Jonathan's relationship with Ray (Galifianakis) the two managed to get into all sorts of hijinks. That's right, hijinks.

The premise of the show is that Jonathan Ames loses his girlfriend because of his inability to give up white wine and pot. Jonathan is doing these things because he is having a directionless, quarter-life crisis of his own. He wants to write a novel and decides that he needs some life experience to write about. He's read enough detective novels that he decides to become a private detective a la Craigslist. One of my favorite lines is when Zach's character tells him that it's not legal and Jason's character says,"but I put that I am not licensed, which makes it more legal. Sort of."

You'll love this show if you like Focus Films and Jason Shwartzman. Just think of it as a pleasant way to spend the time between Curb Your Enthusiasm and Entourage.