Inspired by detective stories, a well-meaning but feckless writer decides to lead a double life by pretending to be a private detective. Hobbled by his penchant for marijuana and wine, his successes are hard won... Well-received comic drama with an impressive cast and a disarming frivolity.
Episode 1: "Stockholm Syndrome": Jonathan Ames (played by Jason Schwartzman) is an alcoholic thirty-year old writer living in Brooklyn, who smokes marijuana. On top of that, his girlfriend is going to break up with him. To stimulate his imagination, he publishes a small announcement claiming that he is an unlicensed private investigator.
Episode 2: "The Alanon Case": During a fruitless attempt to reconquer Suzanne, Jonathan receives a phone call: a woman named Jennifer (Kristen Wiig) wants him to shadow her boyfriend Gary (Peter Hermann) to determine his fidelity.
Episode 3: "The Case of the Missing Screenplay": Jonathan has the opportunity to work on a scenario with the filmmaker Jim Jarmusch (who appears as himself) but it seems damaged when he forgets the script in the office of a therapist after an evening adventure with the therapist's daughter. Guest stars: Oliver Platt, Laila Robins
Epsiode 4: "The Case of the Stolen Skateboard": Jonathan tries to mix work and pleasure and allows himself to be seduced by a customer whose son's favorite skateboard was stolen.