HBO Picks Up Two More Comedies

Zap2It.com | December 19, 2008

Jason Schwartzman

Discuss this story now

'Bored to Death,' 'How to Make It' earn series orders

HBO has picked up two more comedy series, bringing the total of new laffers debuting on the channel in the coming months to four.

The latest series orders are for "Bored to Death," starring Jason Schwartzman as a writer-turned-private eye, and "How to Make It in America," about a pair of would-be entrepreneurs (Victor Rasuk and Bryan Greenberg) in New York. Both were given eight-episode orders, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The two shows join the Will Ferrell-produced "East Bound and Down," which premieres in the spring, and dark comedy "Hung," which was picked up earlier in the week.

Written by novelist Jonathan Ames, "Bored to Death" follows Schwartzman's ("The Darjeeling Limited," "Rushmore"), a writer/drinker in Brooklyn who, following a bad breakup, emulates his literary heroes by offering up his services as a private investigator, with decidedly mixed results. Ted Danson ("Damages," "Cheers") and Zach Galifianakis ("What Happens in Vegas") also star.

"How to Make It in America" comes from the "Entourage" producing team of Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson and Julian Farino (who also directed the pilot) and writer Ian Edelman. It centers on Greenberg ("October Road," "Nobel Son") and Rasuk ("Raising Victor Vargas," "Stop-Loss") as two guys who are trying to achieve the American dream in New York. Shannyn Sossamon ("Moonlight") and Scott Mescudi round out the cast.