5 Reasons Why Tonight's Season Finale of Party Down Should Be Its Last

The admirable selflessness of Lizzy Caplan aside, the second season finale of Party Down -- airing tonight on Starz, but already available via Netflix Instant Watch -- could very well be its last episode. Even if Starz's were to pick up Party Down for a third season, how would the show work when Adam Scott -- the ostensible lead -- can only appear in three of the likely 10 episodes because of his new job on Parks and Recreation? That's like having Dexter appear on his eponymous show 30 percent of the time. So, yes: This could be the last episode ever. And guess what? That's probably a good thing. To get you revved up for the season finale, here are five reasons why this should be the end of Party Down.

· It's better to go out sooner rather than later

As Edward Norton says in Fight Club: "On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero." In sitcom terms: Party Down could drag out for another season or two, but the laws of diminishing returns state that it would only get worse. Don't believe me? Check out any episode from the second season. And speaking of which...

· The second season was pretty bad

Maybe it shouldn't have been a surprise -- especially based on the level of expectations set by season one -- but season two of Party Down was a giant disappointment. Bad even. And it wasn't just because Megan Mullally replaced Jane Lynch; year two felt like a rudderless ship, drifting along on memories of better times. In an interview with HitFix's Alan Sepinwall, Scott confirmed as much, despite citing the ennui as a good thing:

[W]hen we were shooting the premiere of season two, I said, 'It feels like we're making a sequel.' Especially the way the episode was structured with everyone coming back. It had that sequel feeling. I love that because I love sequels, especially ones that are super-shitty. The first few, it felt like we were making Police Academy 2, but a good version of Police Academy 2. It was fun.

Sorry, Adam: A "good version of Police Academy 2" is still Police Academy 2.

· The talent-rich cast can be spread to other shows

It's already happening with Jane Lynch on Glee and Scott on Parks and Recreation. If Party Down ends, though, that means everyone can get another job. The networks are already pounding on the doors of Caplan and Ryan Hansen, but with no Party Down maybe they'll even look to Martin Starr and -- pleasepleaseplease -- Ken Marino. Instead of all these comedy geniuses being on one show, they can be on many. This is a win for everyone!

· The finale feels like a series finale

Not to spoil anything, but: The events that happen in the Party Down season two finale feel like closure. Or, as much closure as you're every going to get with characters like Ron Donald.

· It means Rob Thomas can concentrate on that Veronica Mars movie

Ha! Just kidding. But if the cancellation of Party Down means that Thomas and his fellow producers can work on a movie version of the Starz series, well then count me as intrigued...