Bored to Death may take some time to grow on you, but I suggest you give it a chance

Ep. 11: Inside the Episode

Bored to Death creator-writer Jonathan Ames -- the real one, that is, who appeared stark naked as the fictional Jonathan's friend Ray's ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend in episode 10 -- talks about images he incorporated into the hilarious kidnapping plot of episode 11, "The Gowanus Canal Has Gonorrhea!"

"Well, I could use the money."

-- Jonathan, in episode 10 of Bored to Death

KIDNAPPER 1 [to JONATHAN]: Is everybody you know a back-stabbing double-crosser?
KIDNAPPER 2: I shared my booze with you! What kind of person are you?
JONATHAN: Sorry.
JONATHAN'S FATHER, IRA [in his bathrobe]: Stop apologizing all the time.

-- scene on Jonathan's parents' New Jersey front lawn after his kidnappers (Dominick Lombardozzi and Patton Oswalt) have been forced to accept $2000 ransom from his father (Richard Masur) instead of the specified $20,000, in episode 11

by Ken

Then, with the kidnapping transaction successfully concluded (and Jonathan's father has asked the, er, fleeing kidnappers about their choice of a Zipcar to drive, insisting that for his $2000 he's entitled to some information), Jonathan (Jason Schwartzman) entertains his friends Ray (Zach Galifianakis) and tycoon magazine editor George (Ted Danson) in his old bedroom, featuring his complete collection of original Tarzan novels, until his mother, Florence, calls the "boys" down for a breakfast featuring herring and lox.

I don't have much more to say, now that we're a couple of episodes into the new season, except that Bored to Death has been growing on me to the extent that I'm on the verge of becoming crazy about the show. I would add that a "breaking-in period" is often necessary when a show sets out to establish a genuinely original tone, as I noted last season in connection with ABC's Modern Family, which apparently won a lot of hearts and minds, going on to win the Best Comedy Emmy in its maiden season.

The Bored to Death characters aren't easy to love, or necessarily even care about. The hopelessness of Jonathan, Ray, and George when it comes to relationships is well-earned -- these guys are truly clueless, however George may be able to camouflage his hopelessness with money. (Being rich may not be all it's cracked up to be, but it sure helps, as George himself is finding out now in the withered economic situation his magazine finds itself in, along with the new Christian-right ownership, of course. And George is undergoing more serious tributlations this season of a medical sort.) But eventually the sheer scale of their cluelessness, coupled with the fact that the women in their lives aren't a lot less preposterous, can become endearing, which is what seems to be happening with me.

I'm finding it harder and harder to resist Jonathan's literal-minded earnestness, applied even under the most inappropriate circumstances, which he seems to find himself in fairly regularly, both in real life (such as his modest real life is) and in his outlandish "sideline" existence as a part-time unlicensed private detective. For example, wasn't it one of Jonathan's kidnappers who was provoked to ask him if he's "bi"? Frankly, in Jonathan's life, it could have been most anybody, and he probably would have taken the same beat to ponder the question fairly before announcing in ploddingly deadly earnest that he doesn't think so, although he was "touched inappropriately" in camp.

In much the same way, when Jonathan -- against his better judgment -- takes on a job with his friend George's editorial archrival (played by Oliver Platt), he has to know, or at least suspect, that those fateful words I've quoted at the top of this post, "Well, I could use the money," are going to wind up something like famous last words, even under the best circumstances. And in his life, the circumstances are apt to be way closer to the worst than to the best.

I would just suggest that, in approaching Bored to Death, if it doesn't grab you immediately, give it some time. See if it doesn't grow on you too.

New episodes of Bored to Death continue to air on HBO Sunday nights at 10, and at goodness-knows-what-other-times throughout the week. Also watch for marathon showings of at least the Season 2 episodes.

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