Bored to Death is a new comedy series from HBO.

It is written by Jonathan Ames and the main character is called Jonathan Ames although he is played by Jason Schwartzman.  The show also starts Zach Galifianakis (the beardy one from The Hangover) as Jonathan’s best friend and Ted Danson of Cheers fame and who has more recently been seen playing an exaggerated version of himself in Curb Your Enthusiasm.

The series stars off with our protagonist breaking up with his girlfriend.  The main reason being that he drinks too much and smokes too much pot.  The main character is a writer with one novel under his belt and in the process of trying to write his second.  He also writes for a magazine of which Ted Danson’s character, George Christopher, is owner and editor of.

To help with his writers block Jonathan Ames posts an ad on Craig’s List advertising himself as an unlicensed private detective.  Most episodes are centred on him trying to solve his latest case either alone or with the help from his friends.  Much time is also spent drinking, getting high and trying to win back his girlfriend.

There aren’t many laugh out loud moments but Bored to Death is fun to watch and rather entertaining.  There are good back stories involving the other main characters who all follow artistic pursuits to compensate for their failures in life and the private investigator angle keeps the episodes varied without obscuring the main gist of the show.  The only slightly dodgy thing is that the main character doesn’t really come across as someone who drinks too much (the reason his girlfriend left him).

There are eight episodes in the first series and a second series has been commissioned.

Click here to check the Bored to Death DVD availability.