I personally enjoyed Party Down from the first episode. I liked how its a look at the side of Hollywood that we don't see often and this dysfunctional group's full of entertaining characters.
It was like the anti-Entourage and I actually preferred this show.

Considering a lot of great shows these days seem to have "really kick into gear in the 2nd season" syndrome, I thought Party Down hit the ground running.
Even Parks & Rec (which was my gateway to Party Down) has an uneven first season that looks increasingly weird and out of sync with the rest of the show, the further you go into it.

I have contradictory feelings about this show. I stuck with it because I found it to be fairly interesting and the seasons were short. Plus, I'm a big fan of "Veronica Mars" and like checking out other projects by the creator and actors. I did appreciate the realism portrayed in how a struggling actor's / performer's / writer's life can be, as I've known some people who have felt the same way as these characters. Not saying the ridiculous situations are the same, obviously, as this is an embellished comedy show, but there are some very realistic and emotionally relatable scenes. But only a few peppered throughout the episodes.
Now to move on to the things that make it a bit weaker:

• It's depressing and only in the last episode is there some semblance of happiness.
  It surprised me that I was bothered by this, since I normally love dark and alternative comedies. But I soon realized that the next point is part of why I didn't love the show:
• The characters are hard to sympathize with and relate to.
  It's like they made this show for an "everyman", but still intelligent viewer, but it didn't quite get to that level.
  I really couldn't find anyone I liked, and I enjoyed the show even less when they had the (predictable) relationship between Casey and Henry. They started that theme right away. Those two were fairly level-headed, but I didn't think they had much chemistry or a real reason to be together. It's almost like the creators thought that every single show needs some kind of long-lasting romance or courtship, so they choose two characters and put them in that situation.
  I think 2 seasons was a pretty good run. I may even have enjoyed a season 3, but no more than that. It's not that it's not really interesting, but I don't think I laughed out loud even once. Different strokes for different folks

I've watched almost all of it, it was recommended after Parks and Recreation which I found after Community, and I don't much like it. The characters are unappealing, especially the leads. Adam Scott thinks he can pass for a normal cool guy by playing it normal and cool, which is the opposite of what works (he annoys me almost as much on P&R). The relationship between him and Caplan's character is childish and annoying, more like something from a 90s sitcom than a modern single-camera comedy. Nothing about Party Down really rings true, and the farce isn't sharp enough to make up for it.

"cos" "truely" "def"
Not for you. There is a blond airhead surfer type that you would identify with, but he is treated as the punching bag of the show.

I kinda see where OP is coming from. I watched the first episode on Netflix and wasn't into it. It felt kinda cold and uninviting to me. Then a few days later I re-watched it and now I'm completely hooked. Kyle is the only character I sort of dislike but his moments with Constance totally redeem his douche baggery.

I watched the first two episodes, but didn't like it at first either. I think by the fourth or fifth episode I really started to enjoy it, and by the end of the first season I was hooked. I can safely say by the second season I really did love all the characters, and I can't really say that for very many shows.
It might help to be a Veronica Mars fan because there's tons of cross-over.

Actually, "Scrubs" was a pretty good show to me for a while. My favorites are probably "MASH," "Frasier," "Cheers," "Will & Grace" and currently "Big Bang Theory." "MASH" aside, I always liked the conceit of the multicam. We are supposed to essentially be part of a studio audience watching a sort of stage play. In a way it's a more communal experience where we are laughing at what the actors playing the parts are saying. It's a much less passive experience than faux-doc shows like "The Office" where we are invited to sit there as voyeurs and feel better than the people on screen, laughing AT these supposedly 'real' people. It seems cynical and mean.

I guess Scrubs is more up your alley.
Besides, the majority of PD characters do actually develope over the series, and actually end up in much better situations by the end.
I figure our life expectancy is between that of a fly and a fly with a heart condition

I'm having a similar experience. I heard from several people that PD was good. I made it through an episode and a half before I had to turn it off. This show is so cynical and hateful I couldn't stand it. It's the most depressing TV "comedy" since "Good Times."
The only characters that the writers want you to really identify with are gutless. They mostly sit and silently pass judgment on everyone around them rather than do anything. Henry's defining characteristic is that he's a quitter but we get the feeling that the writer's want us to feel that he's somehow better than the people around him still pursuing their dreams. I guess it's this kind of mean spirited douche that we are supposed to think is the voice of sanity.
There's no one on this show that I'd want to spend time getting to know and the fact that the writers think I would want to sit for a half an hour and laugh at damaged people's misery puts them the bottom of the list.

For me, it took until the second season to start enjoying the show. Maybe it was because the characters started growing on me, maybe it was because the writing was simply better. I wonder if I watched season 1 again, would I enjoy it more this time around? I'm probably in the minority saying that I liked Megan Mullaly's character more than Jane Lynch's, but I found the former's cluelesness amusing.

I liked it pretty much from the start, but it starts to get REALLY good in the third episode, the single's seminar for seniors. The whole getting high in the bathroom scene was hilarious, one of the funniest scenes I've seen in a show.

Around episode 5.
I see a
red
door and I want to paint it black.

It took me like 4 episodes to get into it

Its a better show when you actually listen to the dialogue,
P.S. I wouldn't put the word "Comedy" in my name unless i was sure i knew something about it Just Sayin..
P.S.S. I'm glad you dig 30 rock after an episode or two, please give party down as much (or more) patients than u gave 30. Besides, P.D. is a great show with actors who actually enjoy the show. The main characters love it, and I think that an actor who loves his role is the probably the luckiest man on earth, paid or not

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Just finished season 1. Loved it. Is season 2 on DVD yet? I can't help but feel bad for Roman, poor bastard never gets laid.

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I don't remember Party Down being particularly week during the first couple episodes, although the first season was a little uneven overall. It's such a short season though, so just stick it out and if you don't love the show by the end you know it's not for you.
Liz Lemon is my Soulmate

The answer for me was Ep5
I'm halfway through season 2 now, glad I stuck with it.

I'm sure everyone has heard of character development, but it's never a good idea for a show to start with its weakest episodes.

ever heard of character development?

I love this show, but also thought it was a little weak in its first couple episodes.
For me, I liked it more when they brought the supporting guys forward a little, and the actors gave them a little personality.
the whole cast is very funny, but Ron is especially fun to watch. And Constance (Jane Lynch) can be funnier is 2-3 minutes than Entourage is in half an hour.

this is one of the few shows where i really like every episode, they all have replay value to me. i hope you continued watching and like it better now. it'd be sad if you stopped after episode 2 cause episode 3 is one of my favorites, and by that episode i knew i was hooked and that party down would become one of my all time favorite shows. i've never been so upset over a show being cancelled, i cant believe there won't be a third season
it's really all about personal taste though. like i'm apparently the only one who doesn't think 30 Rock is all it's cracked up to be, let alone the best comedic show out there. to me it's too over the top, or as one reviewer put it, has too many "quirky gimmicks." i enjoy it and all, i'm just crazy about party down, and there's no substitute for its style.