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Trailer

Party Down

2009 – 2023Show3 seasons26 episodesTV-MA

Comedy
84
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb8.2Metacritic788.5Rotten Tomatoes93%91%

A nostalgic, melancholic comedy series about show business and everyday modern life, with standout performances and world-building.

Good for date night · friends night · party vibe

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for scares, brutality or adrenaline.

Shows with

Episodes

3 seasons · 26 episodes · best: S2E5 "Steve Guttenberg's Birthday" 8.8

Episodes

7.8
8.3
8.0

Story

All dressed up. Going nowhere.

A group of struggling actors and dysfunctional dreamers wait for their big break while they are stuck serving hors d'oeurves for a Hollywood catering company 'Party Down.'

Feels like

  • Bittersweet Showbiz Satire
  • Ensemble Character Study
  • Nostalgic Indie Comedy
  • Melancholic Realism
  • Witty Dialogue-Driven
  • Struggling Artist Narrative
  • Cult Classic Status
  • Emotional Resonance
  • Sharp Social Observation
  • Comfort Food TV

Cast

24 of 190 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Bryan Gordon, Fred Savage, Ken Marino
Written by
John Enbom, Rob Thomas, Paul Rudd
Produced by
Fred Savage, Bryan Gordon, Adam Scott

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

March 20, 2009 · March 31, 2023 · Ended

First aired
March 20, 2009
Last aired
March 31, 2023
Status
Ended
Length
3 seasons · 26 episodes
Age rating
TV-MA
Content
Strong Language, Drug Use, Sexual Content
Genres
Comedy
Original language
English
Available in
87 countries

Tropes

Back for the Finale, Color Motif, Gag Penis +9

  • Back for the Finale
  • Color Motif
  • Gag Penis
  • Technobabble
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold
  • Catchphrase
  • Jerkass Has a Point
  • Literary Allusion Title
  • Butt-Monkey
  • Genius Bruiser
  • The Slacker
  • Drink-Based Characterization

12 of 150 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Party Down?"

Questions about Party Down

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Party Down?

NetflixPrimePhiloThe RokuStarzSpectrum On DemandPlexAmazon Prime Video Free with Ads

In the United States, Party Down streams on Netflix, Prime, Philo, Starz, and Spectrum On Demand, and it is free with ads on The Roku, Plex, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, and Amazon MX Player. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 86 other countries.

Is Party Down worth watching?

84
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 84 (IMDb 8.2, Rotten Tomatoes 93%, and Metacritic 78).

Does Party Down get better after season 1?

Yes: season 1 has an IMDb average of 7.8, and season 2 peaks at 8.3. The highest-rated episode is Steve Guttenberg's Birthday (season 2, episode 5) at 8.8, and the lowest is Willow Canyon Homeowners Annual Party (season 1, episode 1) at 7.3.

Will Party Down make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly situational comedy (9 of 10) and sharp wit (8 of 10).

Is Party Down plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on dialogue centrality (9 of 10) and character depth (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does Party Down use?

Back for the FinaleColor MotifGag PenisTechnobabbleJerk with a Heart of GoldCatchphraseJerkass Has a PointLiterary Allusion TitleButt-MonkeyGenius BruiserThe SlackerDrink-Based Characterizationand 138 more

TV Tropes lists 150 tropes for it, including Back for the Finale, Color Motif, and Gag Penis.