HBO has picked “Bored to Death” and “Eastbound & Down” for third seasons, TheWrap has confirmed.
“Bored” centers on a moonlighting private eye(Jason Schwartzman) and kicked off its second season last Sunday. It co-stars Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis and was created by novelist Jonathan Ames.
“Eastbound” stars Danny McBride as a steoroid using, drug abusing, washed up former baseball player. Its sophomore season kicked off in September.
Will Ferrell and Adam McKay co-produce the risque comedy.
Both shows have received critical buzz and cult followings, but are only modest ratings successes. For instance, “Bored” drew 1 million viewers and “Eastbound” attracted 1.4 million viewers in its most recent Sunday airings.
However, HBO has maintained that as a pay channel it is less concerned about ratings than basic cable channels or networks.
Consequently, it has exhibited more patience with softly rated series if it thinks it can develop a core audience. Case in point, "Hung." The gigolo in recession dramedy also got a third season order despite having just so-so viewership.
