"Bees, Michael?" And Other Obnoxious Quotes You'll Be Hearing More Of
I first saw Arrested Development when I was a Freshman in college (ah, so long ago it was), and I was surrounded by six suitemates who failed to recognize its excellence. Instead, they'd wander through the common room having loud conversations while I watched, eyes aglow with epiphany. Then they'd all get together to watch Smallville every week and I'd wonder what the fuck.
As a failing comedy writer, the show was a lot of things for me: a revelation about the state of the modern sitcom, an education about how to do high farce and do it well, and an assurance that the bastards dont appreciate genius anymore anyway. Also, it had a lot of gay jokes and David Cross in tiny shorts.
So the fact that an Arrested Development movie is seeming more and more likely is nothing short of bitchin. And while part of me slathers for a return of the series (maybe if I get everyone I know to see the movie a dozen times, theyll bring it back!), most of me is just grateful theres going to be more illusions, more awkward quasi-incest, more shallow, self-centered in-fighting and spontaneous acts of ill-fated generosity, and of course, more lessons.
Thats all. No jokes exactly, just overwhelming enthusiasm and joy at this development. I think I may dance naked in a field later, which could be kind of funny if you didnt know how many psychotropic drugs I was on.
But I am curious: is there anyone out there in Cracked-land who hates this show? I mean absolutely hates it. Not just to single you out for ridicule (although that seems inevitable, you dunderheaded half-wit), but because the fact that this show got cancelled really is surprising to me. What about it turned off a large majority of viewers? Or was it just on at the wrong time, what? Do you hate laughter? If so, may I direct you to the posts of my fellow bloggers?
When not blogging for Cracked, Michael makes videos that aren't as good as Arrested Development as head writer and co-founder of Those Aren't Muskets!
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Replyhave any of you actually seen a chicken?
Best show ever. You have to watch it from the start though or you won't get the jokes. Also it was on at 3 in the morning here in Ireland. Irish TV has no balls.
ReplyNever seen an episode. Please don't hurt me.
Replygo to f*****g hulu they usually have at least one season on there for free
I absolutely loved AD. My family would get together every week, sit down, and laugh hysterically at all of the little jokes. We got all of our friends to watch it, and bought all the seasons, alas, it was still canceled. I was very upset and went about watching it all over again.
ReplyOne of the best things about AD is that you can watch it over and over again and still not catch all the jokes. Every time I watch it, I get something new out of it. It's also narrated so well, that you don't even have to 'watch it' if you've already seen an episode. You can just listen to it in your car.
I also love randomly singing "Mr. F" and "For British Eyes Only", and, of course, THE CHICKEN DANCE! Everyone's chicken dance is unique and so much fun to mimic.
Probably one of the funniest shows. Ever. Period. Had only more Americans discovered it before it was canceled :(
Favorite line: "Has anyone in this family ever SEEN a chicken before?"
It makes me sad to see two and a half men get huge viewership and prime time slots while AD (in Australia) was aired at 11:30pm and that no one could really be bothered with a show which doesnt tell them when to laugh through laughter track.
ReplyArrested Development...greatest show ever. I tell people to buy Season 1 and if they don't like it, I'll buy it from them. I haven't had to buy one yet.
ReplyFlight of the Conchords has to be in a close second, judging by the strength of the first season. Hopefully season 2 will pull more viewers.
Arrested Development is comic genius and the best show ever. Anyone who realizes that automatically gains supreme respect points.
ReplyI'm don't usually find myself in the position of defending the Fox network, but they did promote AD, quite a bit in fact. America just didn't care. Based on numbers, AD should have been canceled after the first season. But, there were all the rave reviews. Fox kept it for season 2, still no viewers, but there were Emmy nominations.
ReplyAgain, based on numbers the show would have been canceled, but it was an Emmy winner. So, there was a season 3, promotion, advertising, and all. Still, America didn't care. So AD was finally put down, like an unloved dog. I'm not saying Fox hasn't killed shows through incompetent scheduling (sorry Futurama!), but AD was not one of those shows.
this is really the funniest show i have ever seen
ReplyAD was great and I danced naked when I heard about it too. Which was odd because I was at work.
ReplyFrom what I hear and I cannot remember the source, the writers had mentioned something about not really wanting another season as it was very hard to come up with all of that crazy shit on a consistant basis. The movie will probably be akin to 4 episode smashed together. And it'll be wonderful.
AD was like one giant episode. You had to watch it from beginning to end to get all the little in jokes
ReplyIt was canceled for many reasons, one of which is that people are idiots. But that alone, surprisingly, isn't enough, as somewhat-intelligent sitcoms do manage to stay on the air once in a while (The Red Green Show). The other thing that killed AD is that the network (FOX, not surprisingly) made no effort whatsoever to PROMOTE the show at all. They refused to run commercials for it, they actually stopped publicity events... it's fucking insane. FOX has a long history of screwing over every great show that they get. Not that they're the only network that does so...
ReplyOh. My. God. I have just had the unmitigated joy to watch the entire three seasons of this show. Not only am I completely in the "I love this show more than anything" camp, I have dived head-first back into my 1980s mad crush on Jason Bateman (from "It's Your Move" to "Juno", he just keeps pulling me back in).
ReplyAnd if that doesn't prove it to you... I have overcome my severe hatred of the shaky-camera for the sake of this show.
I love it. I just... I just love it. I worry about the people who don't love it's souls.
Seriously, there's something wrong there. Watch them closely.
@ some guy way up top, steven segal is amazing. are u kidding? he produces about 3 movies a month. Who does that? Not to mention he's had every job known to man. An ex-navy seal chef?!?! I mean..and his ponytail of justice?! I never saw AD on t.v. but heard it was good and bought the seasons. It's pretty damn funny. The jet pack-mole fight with asian business men, unreal.
ReplyAD was screwed by fox just as Firefly was. They just don't know a good thing when they've got it.
ReplyThe reason it got canceled is definitely tied in to one of the reason's everyone agrees it is so great: the fact that it had running jokes. I watched the show basically from day one (i guess I came in a few episodes late and had to catch up to be completely honest) and it got increasingly dependent on earlier episodes. That made it AMAZING. However, it became increasingly hard to pick up new viewers as it went along, and combined with Fox's inability to market it (??????WHY?????) and Hurwitz's refusal to compromise his creative integrity (good for him) its cancellation was inevitable. I think a movie might be a little bit different, however, because new viewers can see everything they need to in one sitting. Here's to hoping.
ReplyAnd dan has completely missed the point . . . thank you for showcasing your lack of understanding.
Replyyou guys are all dorks. stop fighting over a show, no one is going to change their minds.
ReplyMy name is Judge
ReplyGOB: Who's name is Judge?
My name is...
GOB: That's a silly name.
Judge...my name
GOB: Yes, I am judging your name, it am silly.
Is...
GOB: Oh, now you're correcting my grammar?
Judge...
GOB: He's right, his name is Judge now.
amazing.
It has nothing to do with intelligence at all! These people are hilarious, getting on here and arguing that, though they didn't find AD at all funny, they are just as intelligent as anyone else.
ReplyI KNOW THESE PEOPLE. They are my friends and family and peers that never found AD funny because they...HAD ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE OF HUMOR! They are the type of person that has to see if someone else is laughing at something before they even pretend to crack a smile.
AD had nothing to do with being smart, you morons, it was simply FUNNY! What the heck do you people laugh at? Don't tell me, I know: you laugh at the accounting guy's shoes and emails from your cousin in Florida and you thought 'P.S. I Love You' was precious!
AD was a clever show and most people just aren't that clever. They're too simple and empty to 'get it', and it has everything to do with what boring dumbasses these people are. Because they are.
I have started choosing my friends on whether they enjoyed AD and it has worked out great! I'm actually looking forward to dinners out with these personalities. I'm not saying all we do is sit around and talk about AD, but the conversation is more enlightening, deep, humorous, and INTELLIGENT than it's been in years!