Pay cable channel Starz has cancelled its cult comedy Party Down after only two seasons. Yeah, Starz has had good television shows. Believe it.
In the past five years Starz has begun to branch out from motion pictures to original programming in order to compete with rivals HBO and Showtime. The original programming included the humorous Head Case, animated comedy Kung Faux, and the recently cancelled but hilarious Party Down.
Party Down’s low ratings and cast departures were sure to have an effect on the decision to cancel. Averaging only 75,000 viewers per episode it had the weakest draw of any show on the Starz lineup. The cast departures of Jane Lynch to Glee after season one and Adam Scott to Parks & Recreation after season 2 also hindered its season 3 potential; however, Party Down would have most likely still been the most refreshing, original comedy on television.
The network’s executive vice president of programming, Stephan Shelanski, issued the following statement confirming the news:
After careful consideration, we’ve decided not to continue on with subsequent seasons of Party Down and Gravity. We’re grateful to everyone involved in the shows, and are proud to have had them on the channel. Starz remains committed to aggressively expanding our original programming lineup.
Aggressively expanding? Shelanski you are a moron who can’t recognize brilliant television, how the hell are you vice president of programming.
Perhaps the worst part, with the cancellation of Party Down also came the renewal of Spartacus: Blood & Sand, otherwise known as, Spartacus: The Biggest Piece Of Shit Soap-Opera-Style Show On Television. I can’t even put into words how horrible Spartacus is with its over the top gore, forced nudity, and shitty one liners and writing. Starz is obviously straying from well written, impressive comedies to blockbuster, lust filled epics that the morons of America will no doubt love. With the cancellation of critically acclaimed comedies Head Case and now Party Down, Starz will inevitably return to a worthless movie channel that you have no reason to pay for.
I’ll leave you with this clip from Party Down‘s season two finale as Kyle sings “My Struggle” with his band.
Oh and fuck you Starz, how about some advertising and support for a show before you cancel it. People still haven’t even heard of Party Down, learn to market a show and it may attract some ratings.
