The Starz of TCA

(Hollywood) Who knew critics would be fascinated with original programming from, of all people, Starz? Perhaps it’s that the network is continuing to make an investment in the non-reality genres as many other networks are bombarding audiences with reality television.

While 2008′s big push for Starz, Crash, ended last night and there was no certainty that it will be renewed (Starz chief Bill Myers said a decision has yet to be made), season 2 of Headcase, the improvised series about a celebrity therapist (played by Alexandra Wentworth), made a strong showing for critics here. The series showed a terrific sizzle reel today, with a funny turn by Jerry Seinfeld. Other guests on the couch, shown in clips, included chef Mario Battali, Torrie Spelling and husband Dean McDermott, Hugh Hefner, Tiffani Amber Thiessen and Issac Mizrahi.

The series Spartacus (fall 2009) sounds exciting, too. It will include material that couldn’t be told by the film of the same name. But it’s not for the faint of heart. Show runner Steven DeKnight says there will be decapitations and arms being cut off. “It was a very violent time…you proved yourself a man through combat,” he says. It was also a sexy time, DeKnight says, promising nudity. The series likely will be rated R, he says.

It won’t be all action, DeKnight says. “We’re looking for a [Spartacus] who can do the action part, but also have acting chops.”

Much of the early hype revolves around the digital technology the production will have to be used to do Spartacus on Starz’ budget. It won’t simply be CGI, though, executive producer Rob Tapert says. It will be a whole range of digital technology that allows scenery to be created and imagery changed that used to take a week can now be done in an hour, Tapert says. Green screen will allow us “a certain latitude” on recreating historical scenery.

Another new series on Starz has an interesting premise. Party Down (March 20, 10:30pm) is a comedy series that looks at aspiring actors, comedians and musicians who are paying the bills in Hollywood by being “cater waiters.” The idea came to show runner Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars) while watching BBC’s The Office, which shows people in the rat race. Cater waiters are those who refuse “to give up their dream,” although some of them may have been at it for quite a while. Needless to say some in the ensemble cast won’t have to act too hard. Lizzy Caplan recalls being a cater waiter in her early days in Hollywood. “I was working at a premiere…and thinking, ‘These people should be serving me!’”