Adam Scott has become a household name thanks to his role in Apple TV's Severance and his latest film Hokum, but his true breakout came in 2009 with a little-seen Starz sitcom called Party Down. Now, this cult classic is finding a new audience on streaming platforms, including the Apple TV Store, and it's quickly becoming a late-night favorite for viewers looking for something fresh and funny.

Party Down owes its existence to the original British version of The Office. Creator Rob Thomas, known for Veronica Mars, told The Ringer that he was inspired by the show's "melancholy comedy" and wanted to do something similar. He landed on the idea of cater waiters, where each episode takes place at a different party. Thomas teamed up with John Enbom, Dan Etheridge, and Paul Rudd to bring the concept to life.

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The team initially pitched Party Down to HBO, which agreed to buy it. Paul Rudd was set to star, but his busy film schedule forced him to drop out, leading to Adam Scott stepping in as Henry Pollard, a down-and-out actor working for a catering business. After seeing the pilot, HBO passed, but the series was later picked up by Starz.

Unlike typical sitcoms like Seinfeld or Friends, Party Down doesn't rely on predictable tropes. The show's format keeps things changing in every episode, with characters always moving, even as their lives seem to go nowhere. The cast, including Ken Marino, Martin Starr, Lizzy Caplan, Jane Lynch, Jennifer Coolidge, and Ryan Hansen, brings a contrast of characters that makes the comedy feel effortless.

Despite its cult status, Party Down was a ratings dud when it first aired. Scott later joked on Late Night with Seth Meyers that the series finale had only 13,000 viewers, saying, "One Taylor Swift concert would dwarf our entire audience." But like the hopes and dreams of its characters, the show refused to die. Word spread, and eventually, a six-episode revival aired in 2023, featuring guest stars like Jennifer Garner and James Marsden.

If you missed Party Down when it first aired, now is the perfect time to discover one of TV's most underrated sitcoms. It's a show that proves great comedy doesn't need a huge audience to make a lasting impact. For more underrated gems, check out our list of Underrated 90s TV Gems That Deserve a Second Look.