Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp

So late summer nights are usually the time to catch up on the ever growing backlog of shows and movies to watch, and one night I decided to try out a movie that I kept hearing the name of. Wet Hot American Summer. I kept hearing the name because not only is the movie on Netflix, but so is the newly released mini series as well as a making of documentary for the movie, so between all three I was a little bit curious. I'd previously heard that the movie was pretty funny so I gave it a go.

And to be honest, I didn't think it was especially great. Don't get me wrong, I did like the movie, but at the same time it is really apparent that they didn't succeed with everything they wanted to do. Some of the jokes fell flat, the pacing was a little off and it lacked a suitable budget which left everything feeling a little cheap. BUT, with that said, if you can put aside all gripes with some of the humor and technical aspects, it is certainly possible to enjoy this movie, with all its lovably dumb characters and cheesy satire of teen comedies of the 80's.

When the movie came out in 2001, it absolutely bombed, both commercially and critically. The movie was torn apart by almost everyone. Though over time, some people found the remains and managed to enjoy what was there, a movie not meant to be taken seriously at all. It went on to achieve cult status along with movies like The Big Lebowski. When Netflix announced the mini series, I'm sure that most people had no idea what it even was, while people who liked the movie rejoiced. The mere fact that it could be created it honestly astounding, all things considered. The cast in the movie was absolutely stacked, as many of the stars hadn't hit it big yet. There's Bradley Cooper, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Amy Poehler, among others, and all of them were slated to return with new additions in tow. After finishing the movie I went on to start the mini series.

I can say whole heartedly that the mini series improved on the movie in every way, clearing up some backstory, expanding on some jokes and preserving the essence of the movie perfectly. The whole concept is silly, taking place on the first day of camp in 1981, while the movie took place on the last day of camp in 1981, so all the characters look much older while actually being younger. Every episode was packed with jokes that, unlike the movie, are mostly solid.

In a time when most shows or movies take themselves so seriously, it's refreshing to see something so delightfully uncaring about logic. There was one particular part where there was a trial and a verdict for something that all happened within the same day, because who has time for the legal system? At any rate, I highly recommend Wet Hot American Summer: First Day at Camp as well as the movie, cause even though it might not be for everyone, knowing the jokes in the movie makes the series even better.

'Party Down': The Little Show That Should've

Back in the late summer of 2010, I discovered the show Party Down as I was lazily flipping through the hundreds of options on my cable provider's OnDemand menu. I recognized Adam Scott from The Aviator and decided to give it a shot. I was addicted instantaneously. I watched all twenty episodes in a matter of a few weeks. After I'd finished with the two short seasons, I went on a search to figure out when I could tune in for the next season. Much to my surprise, I found that Starz had canceled this wonderfully dark and quick-witted comedy.

A little background on Party Down. Premiering in March of 2009, the half-hour show is about a Los Angeles catering team, made up of aspiring actors and writers. Each episode revolves around an event the team is working and the shenanigans each member ends up getting tangled up in. It was created by Rob Thomas (90210), Paul Rudd (I Love You, Man), Dan Etheridge (Biodome), and John Enbom (Veronica Mars). The show was directed by Bryan Gordon (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Fred Savage (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia). The recurring characters included some recognizable actors:

• Adam Scott, as Henry
  
• Ken Marino (The State), as Ron
  
• Ryan Hansen (Veronica Mars), as Kyle
  
• Martin Starr (Freaks and Geeks), as Roman
  
• Lizzy Caplan (Mean Girls), as Casey
  

With all of these big names associated with the show, it came as quite a shock when Party Down didn't get a chance at a third season. According to this article, the ratings simply were not there. While the show may have had staggering potential, I think there are two main reasons why Party Down never got to come full term: Starz and censorship. Starz is a little-known channel that comes up with very few contending programs in comparison to its ever-growing rivals, HBO and Showtime. The viewership for anything on a channel like Starz is low from the get-go. And Party Down is too graphic for the likes of NBC or FOX, which has to cater to parents' wishes to keep their children naive. We are still living in an time where censorship and media regulation laws rule, often leaving winning shows to die in the outer limits of obscure cable channels.

But there is hope on the horizon! There have been rumors circulating all over the internet these past few months, hinting at a potential Party Down full length feature. Rob Thomas has even gone as far to say that his people are well into negotiations for a movie deal. Along with all of the buzz from Arrested Development supposedly being picked up for a few more episodes AND a movie deal, this could make for some interesting coming years.

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'Party Down' Reunion on 'Children's Hospital':

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To read more, try these links:
The Complete Oral History of Party Down - details.com
Interview: Lizzy Caplan on the Party Down cancellation - hitfix.com