Continuing to expand its original programming slate, Starz has ordered a comedy series from "Veronica Mars" mastermind Rob Thomas.

Titled "Party Down," the half-hour comedy will premiere on Starz in the first quarter of 2009 with a 10-episode first season.

The series focuses on six friends who come to Hollywood to make it big, but instead make ends meet working for a catering company. Each episode takes place at a different catered event, including a sexy seniors singles mixer, an adult entertainment awards after-party and a super-sweet 16.

"We'll have opportunity for satirical lampooning of whatever subset the party represents as we tell the ongoing stories of our catering crew," Thomas explains in a statement. "If the original British version of ' The Office' was a show about people who have given themselves over completely to the rat race, 'Party Down' is a show about people who have chased the dream for far too long. We're particularly interested in mining the comedy of what happens as the dream fades."

Thomas created the series with "Veronica Mars" veterans John Enbom and Dan Etheridge, along with actor Paul Rudd, who had a memorable guest-starring turn on the critically adored, but low-rated UPN and CW series.

The "Party Down" pilot was shot last year without a network destination, but Starz jumped at the opportunity to extend an original programming lineup that includes the comedy "Head Case" and the upcoming dramatic series " Crash."

"'Party Down' is a new daringly fresh series that will bring a new style of comedy to Starz," says Stephan Shelanski, executive vice president, programming, Starz Entertainment. "It further fulfills our mission to produce intelligent, contemporary original series that traditional networks cannot offer. We are pleased to work with Rob Thomas who brings a unique and visionary style to his productions. 'Party Down' will be the perfect companion show to our hit comedy series 'Head Case.' These two shows will ensure a dependable destination for fresh, out of the norm comedy entertainment."

With Thomas hard at work resurrecting "Cupid" for a midseason launch on ABC, Enbom will serve as showrunner on "Party Down." In addition to writing more than a dozen "Veronica Mars" episodes, Enbom has most recently served as a producer on FOX's " Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles."