HBO’s new comedy series Bored To Death stars Jason Schwartzman, Zach Galifianakis and Ted Danson and debuts Sept. 20. The following are reviews from TV critics around the web, compiled by B&C.
“It is funny, once you have adjusted yourself to the existential rhythms and embraced the offbeat. If the prospect of a Jim Jarmusch cameo excites you, this show is for you.”
-Paige Wiser, The Chicago Sun-Times
“Bored to Death is as idiosyncratic and delightful in its own way as Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
-Alessandra Stanley, The New York Times
“HBO sent out three advance episodes of Bored to Death, and by the third one (also the best one) I felt confident that Schwartzman was exactly where he belongs - in Brooklyn, in a cafe, watching, and worrying.”
-Matthew Gilbert, The Boston Globe
“Jonathan Ames’ literary voice infuses HBO’s new comedy Bored to Death, and that’s mostly a bad thing…the series proves too precious and quirky for its own good.”
-Brian Lowry, Variety
“It’s a comedy that’s so dry, you may need to have a canteen by your side to watch it. It’s also very uneven (I liked half the episodes I’ve seen, and found the title too apt for the other half).”
-Alan Sepinwall, Newark Star-Ledger
“It’s tempting to say HBO’s Bored to Death lives up to its title, but that’s not entirely true. Sunday’s premiere is a little dull, but future episodes have more entertainment value. Still, you have to be a fan of neuroses humor for Bored to have much comedic impact.”
-Rob Owen, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“It feels new, because it is so completely itself, consistently itself, a mix of romance, adventure and stoner comedy (there is a lot of pot about) that never abandons the world the rest of us can recognize.”
-Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times
“It may be Schwartzman’s best role yet, and the half-hour Bored to Death episodes roll by all too quickly.”
-Tim Goodman, San Francisco Chronicle
“Sure, you could make the easy pun on Bored to Death’s name, but that would be as indolent, indulgent and humor-free as the show itself.”
-Robert Bianco, USA Today
