With the penultimate episode of "Bored to Death"'s debut season, the show seems to have reached a nice equilibrium, with the characters and premise established. That makes it easier to watch, but it means challenges for next season (HBO picked it up for a second year weeks ago). How to keep it fresh, particularly as Jonathan and his ex grow further apart and the foibles that caused trouble this season have faded?

In this episode, Jonathan's case hits close to home: It seems the lesbians that had been getting Ray's sperm in the hopes of having a baby have actually been selling it to other lesbian couples. Jonathan and Ray stumble on this after Ray gets worried over the lack of contact from the couple. The search leads the two into some interesting scenes, including one with a food co-op girl who smokes pot with them in exchange for sharing information, an encounter with Hasidic Jews and another with Jonathan's ex.

George takes a back seat for much of the show, but it closes strong, with a proposed boxing match between George and his magazine publishing nemesis (played by Oliver Platt). Jonathan and a book critic who savaged his first novel (played by John Hodgman) want to get in on it as well. The challenge was a cliffhanger, which will lead to the big match this Sunday.

Jonathan's writing is discussed briefly. He has one sentence written (that he doesn't like) when Ray asks him to help find the lesbians. He also discusses the book with his agent, who sheds more light on the fact that it is a "comedy about one man's journey through the Kama Sutra."

This week's stunt casting was Samantha Bee from "The Daily Show," who played one of the lesbians.

Best lines:

Food co-op girl to Jonathan: "I just ordered this vaporizer called the Volcano. They use it on cancer patients in Germany. It's very healthy. It's what Woody Harrelson uses."

Jonathan to his ex, who was walking a new dog: "You replaced me with a little white dog named Phillip? But you could have held on to me. I'm not neutered. I don't beg for food. I don't need to be walked."

Labels: Bored to Death, HBO, Jason Schwartzman, Jonathan Ames, Ted Danson, Zach Galifianakis