By Clara Chow

WHAT is it about self-loathing, self-absorbed writers that makes good TV?

Californication has Hank Moody, who is struggling to finish his second novel while dealing with drink, drugs and rock 'n' roll.

Now, HBO's Bored To Death, a ''noir-otic'' comedy series, offers us Jonathan Ames, a fictional version of Brooklyn author Jonathan Ames.

Onscreen Ames (Jason Schwartzman) has just been dumped by his girlfriend, and is struggling to finish his second novel while dealing with a high-maintenance magazine- editor boss (a hilarious Ted Danson), a loser cartoonist friend, and distractions like white wine and marijuana.

And that's before he moonlights as an unlicensed private eye, taking on mundane- yet-nutty cases.

The tone of Bored To Death is droll, rather than funny.

If Moody is Bret Easton Ellis mixed with Ted Hughes, then Ames is Raymond Chandler caught in a blender with Woody Allen.

BORED TO DEATH HBO Signature, StarHub Ch 66: 9pm daily from Sunday; HBO, StarHub Ch 60, HBO HD, StarHub Ch 602: Mondays 9pm, from Feb 22m

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