Why Megan Mullally is Bad for Party Down

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With the backing of much Internet praise -- praise, which seems inversely proportional to the show's actual viewers -- the second season of Party Down premiered on Starz last night. Altogether now: Hooray! And while "Jackal Onasis Backstage Party" was slow, moderately funny, incredibly awkward and fairly depressing -- so, y'know, a perfect episode of Party Down -- one thing stood out like a sore thumb: the presence of Megan Mullally. Who let her in this building?

Of course Mullally famously replaced Jane Lynch on the Party Down cast roster after the veteran comic actress ran off to fame and fortune on Glee. And the thought was that Mullally would fit in perfectly with the other cast members (Adam Scott, Ken Marino, Martin Starr, Lizzy Caplan and Ryan Hansen), resulting in a seamless transition.

Except, no. Despite some glowing reviews -- the Vulture recapper wrote that Mullally "seems to be inventing and unpeeling new layers of intense weirdness with every line reading and feathery hand gesture," proving that perhaps I saw a different show -- her performance felt forced, arch and broad. Or, to put it another way, everything that Party Down is not. Never mind that some of the biggest laughs in the first season came from Lynch's interactions with Ryan Hansen. Or that Jennifer Coolidge was outstanding when she filled in for Lynch last year. The casting of Mullally just feels wrong.

The series thrives on subtly and pathos, two traits that you'd never even think of using to describe Mullally's previous work. Which begs the question: How could executive producer Rob Thomas and his crew actually think that she'd be an appropriate replacement for Jane Lynch?

Having seen the second and third episodes already, I'm unhappy to report that she doesn't get much better. The series, however, is still in top form. If Party Down actually gets a third season, here's hoping Ryan Murphy finds room for Mullally on Glee.



Comments

  • Geoff says:

    i totally agree, i thought she was very awkward and her character sucked

  • rjmae says:

    I completely disagree. I thought she was hilarious and fit in well with everyone. Liked her much better than last years characters. To each his own I guess.

  • D says:

    She's no replacement for Jane Lynch, but I thought she was miles ahead of Jennifer Coolidge. Coolidge didn't gel with the cast at all in my opinion, and how anyone could think she was outstanding is beyond me.

  • Gabriel F. says:

    Oh come on, she was funny. She's replacing Jane Lynch. Jane Lynch. Big shoes to fill. And she's only had like ten lines so far. She'll come into it.

  • Daris says:

    You have to be kidding me, Jennifer Coolidge didn't fit in well at all! Megan Mullally is hilarious in this show! If anything Party Down is lucky to have her! She's a multi time award winning actress!

  • melike says:

    Disagree, I thought she was a perfect fit.

  • ArticleLover says:

    I truly love films I could not really live without...

  • I really love movies I could not really live without...

  • wtf says:

    WTF seriously ? Duz she read this? Use contacts or get lasics... I teach spelling to 13th graderz... WRUFDRN ... reading this... A H O E LL Z

  • WTF2 says:

    WTF serious this time ... JKL (jimmies kimmels live for all you B I T Chex mix) She had the new prototype for the new James Web Space Telex on her face... W T F serious this time... get freaking lazik yo...
    http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42547000/gif/_42547199_hubble_webb_416.gif

  • idisagreeyo says:

    I have to disagree with the before mentioned ...
    Invariably, the resonant impulse of the sonic attitude will defeat the harmonic balance of its frequency yo bi t chex mix !
    G E T Sum of the before mentioned F Cking Lazic yo!
    (jesse pinkman - slingin shards in low light... )
    my camper got smalled... I own Hizenberg yo! dont go into a tizzy!!!

  • Brian Douglas says:

    I vote for her to leave Party Down. I see her as Eddy on the remake of Ab Fab....she would be perfect!!!! On Party Down, i agree she seems out of place, and i stopped watching the show after the third episode......but she'd rock on Ab Fab!!!!!