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 don’t 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, they’ll bring it back!), most of me is just grateful there’s 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.
That’s 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 didn’t 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!
Last 5 posts by Michael Swaim
- 2012 ... The Realistic Edition - January 7th, 2009
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December 23rd, 2008 at 4:32 am
Arrested 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.
Flight 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.
December 22nd, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Arrested Development is comic genius and the best show ever. Anyone who realizes that automatically gains supreme respect points.
December 13th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
I’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.
Again, 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.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
this is really the funniest show i have ever seen
September 1st, 2008 at 9:38 am
The only things on TV I’ve ever laughed at are AD, The Office (American), a smattering of Brit comedies, Canadian sketch comedy, and every SNL skit with Chris Walken.
Absurdity is big with me. Getting bludgeoned with obvious humor doesn’t amuse me, but if something makes the average person go O.o it probably makes me laugh. I don’t think it’s because I’m a snob — in fact my love of the absurd has made for more than one awkward social situation. It’s just what I dig, you dig?
I loved AD because of the absurdity, but there was also something loveable about the cast and the way they interacted. Most of them were failures as human beings, but you were rooting for them. Every actor absolutely nailed their character to perfection and made it impossible to imagine anyone else in the role (Portia de Rossi or whatever her name is….she’s an exception. I don’t like her for some reason).
Anyway, I had nothing really to add, I just want to be included in the weener poopie thread.
August 20th, 2008 at 1:22 am
AD was great and I danced naked when I heard about it too. Which was odd because I was at work.
From 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.
August 13th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
AD was like one giant episode. You had to watch it from beginning to end to get all the little in jokes
August 13th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
It 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…
August 9th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Oh. 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).
And 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.
August 7th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
@ 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.
August 6th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
AD was screwed by fox just as Firefly was. They just don’t know a good thing when they’ve got it.
August 2nd, 2008 at 6:53 pm
The 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.
June 6th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
And dan has completely missed the point . . . thank you for showcasing your lack of understanding.
May 19th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
you guys are all dorks. stop fighting over a show, no one is going to change their minds.
April 30th, 2008 at 11:02 am
I’m not sure how long ago the last reply to this was, or if it’s still a link people are paying attention to, but having just discovered the awesomness of cracked.com after leaving college and my job I’ve only begun trawling the archives for shit i’m interested in…I LOVE arrested development. It’s by far the funniest show I have ever seen. I think the reason that it got cancelled probably has something to do with one of the reasons I love the show so much. Many of the jokes are built up slowly through many many episodes… it’s far funnier seeing the american government thinking George Michaels Star Wars video is a training video when you’ve seen it so many other times. And when you know the preceding episodes inside and out you notice tiny things like the blue piant marks on the walls from Tobias. Or when they show like a 2 second cut to something in the past one of the characters is alluding to….This, in my opinion is one of the things that make the show so fucking funny.. but that also means that it iasn’t as funny to the lay-person who just walks in to sit down and watch one episode. You have to know all the context to fully get the jokes. And missing one episode means missing the crux of a joke in a later one. So you have to be pretty fucking dedicated to sit down to every single episode (from episode one of seson 1, which many people possibly missed)…. having said that, I can’t understand anybody who couldn’t love the show so mucht they HAD to watch them all… douches
April 7th, 2008 at 3:32 am
My name is Judge
GOB: 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.
April 6th, 2008 at 1:06 am
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.
I 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!
March 24th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Oh of course Father Ted.
Durrr.
[hits self in head]
i probably have to resign my citizenship now.
March 24th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
I read the rest of the comments above. Well…not all of them. Bit repetitive. But yah Hoy, basically.
I love AD but i’ve only seen it like three times. Goddamn internet won’t let me see the rest of it and I’m poor (and british…)
I’d like to say I think there is definitely something in the idea of Swaim’s that its’ lack of success could be down to it finding humour in “uncomfortable places”. I’d just like to say I didn’t like either of the Offices (i didn’t watch them for very long, mind, so maybe i will in future) BECAUSE they were soooo uncomfortable.
oh, and Anyon, michael snr was hot. surely you must agree. and portia de rossi, come on…
And fuck you, monty python and especially fawlty towers are amazing. i hate to be a nerd supremacist, but they just are.
mighty boosh, anyone?
i love that show.
=D
March 14th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Are u kidding?? People are still adding REAL comments to this blog post?? AWESOME!! Did they read the other 300 comments before submitting their diatribes?? O, wow, Swaim, u better have had some sweet anal lovin’, my friend……
March 8th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
There are lots of reasons that Arrested Development got canceled. Most have already been rehashed a million times on the internet, so I won’t go into them, but a few that aren’t talked about as much:
• Lack of a rooting interest. Who are you supposed to root for? Or against? I guess everyone is sort of rooting for Michael, but to what end?
• Unrelatable. Relatability play a huge role in a viewer’s desire to repeatedly watch a show. Most people have trouble relating to a SoCal family with lots of money and social connections.
• No love story. There wasn’t any long-standing romance and the ones that did exist were often terminated rather abruptly. Love is a powerful emotion, and with the exception of the awkward and presumably illegal desires George Michael had for Maeby, this show had very little.
• No desirable characters. I don’t mean sex-appeal, though they had their problems there as well, but many shows present characters in desirable positions of power, prestige, etc. AD took everything desirable and turned it on its head! All of the characters were pretty deeply flawed and none were in situations most people would like to find themselves in.
• Expense. AD was an expensive show to make! It would have had to have a pretty large following to keep the ensemble cast together.
Really, it takes a special kind of person to love AD. Not superior special, but a pretty narrow set of circumstances and beliefs.
There are many, many more reasons, but they don’t matter. I’m just happy that we got to experience AD as long as we did, and while I miss it, I’m at least happy it didn’t become so successful to devolve into the soap-opera that The Office is becoming.
And just for the record, the UK Office WAS better by fair margin. The characters were much richer than those of the American counterpart, and it had a better story-line than the US version, which will apparently just go one until people stop watching or the creative team decides their bank accounts are fat enough.
March 8th, 2008 at 11:45 am
While not liking AD doesn’t mean you’re an idiot, you did have to be smart to like the show.
The reason there’s a big discussion like this is because the show was so damn good for the fans (as oppossed to something like according to jim which will have plenty of fans that like it but few that really truely love it) and it’s hard to understand how so many people don’t seem to like it. Sure it’s all a matter of taste but, this is as if a lot of people liked the taste of grass. It’s just wierd, because for us, glass tastes awful. So now that we have a grass based analogy the whole thing should be clear to everybody.
In conclusion, watch father ted (start with season 2). If you AD haters like that, then at least I’ll ba able to sleep at night.
February 29th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I think what’s more pathetic is that it took you 5 minutes to write #300.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Shotgun Michael’s arse.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:11 am
300! yay!
I know this is really pathetic and sad, but in my defense i haven’t slept in many days and am barely holding onto a shred of my sanity
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February 22nd, 2008 at 4:00 am
I was hoping that it wouldn’t come to this, but it looks like its going to…
February 20th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Well actually there is a ‘hole’ community dedicated to the defiling of Michael’s anus. But unfortunately these ‘dark siders’ have gone ‘underground’ due to the light siders interested in preserving his arse in its natural state.
February 19th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
godammit! am i the only one here who cares about Swaim’s anus!
February 19th, 2008 at 2:00 am
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February 19th, 2008 at 1:59 am
Si, se puede!
February 19th, 2008 at 1:58 am
If Michael Swaim does not get his anal Hannah Montana wins.
February 18th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
As George Oscar Bluth would say, come on!
February 18th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
I did not just read 251 comments on a blog for Michael to be deprived of his anal sex!
February 18th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Keep the dream alive! Anal! Anal! Anal!
February 18th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Hey Michael, this auction may be worth your while to check out:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/RED-STRETCHY-SATIN-BUTT-PLUG-LACE-SISSY-PANTIES-M_W0QQitemZ310022954184QQihZ021QQcategoryZ63854QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
February 18th, 2008 at 11:22 am
250 + the, I would say, 4 or 5 post from the jesus blog. Here’s to Swaim getting anally ravaged.
February 18th, 2008 at 7:19 am
hahaha now its at 49 and 249
February 18th, 2008 at 3:44 am
The Neil abides
February 17th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Here’s one more to see Michael get reemed.
February 17th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
54….take that Hannah Montana!
February 17th, 2008 at 11:19 am
the Neil should have been there Neil.
February 17th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Way to hang in the Neil and comments from Swaim blog “Jesus is More Photogenic, Anyway”
that are about AR count toward the 300 also.
February 16th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
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damn this is sad
February 16th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I am going to post every single day
February 16th, 2008 at 1:08 am
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February 16th, 2008 at 1:07 am
After this post there are only 61 to go!
February 16th, 2008 at 1:06 am
You know who’s with the terrorists (and by that I mean trying to stop Swaim from gaining his butthole pleasures)?
Hannah Montana
February 16th, 2008 at 1:05 am
Why thank you, Hoy. It’s good to know that there are those out there willing to fight the terrorist threat with me by getting one, sir michael swaim some ass nookie.
February 15th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Michael said “from” that indicates he is the recipient.
February 15th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Now Swaim, think back carefully! Please try to remember the exact words Jack used.
Did he say after reaching 300 posts you would “give” anal sex or that you would in fact “get” anal sex?
Think carefully, your arse virginity depends on it!
February 15th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Ibh: Any wife would be insecure about our level of awesomeness. Can you blame them, really? I can’t.
February 15th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Neil, you are a patriot my friend, a true patriot. Because, as I’m sure you already know, if an internet stranger doesn’t get anal, the terrorists win…..the terrorists win……
February 15th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Oh, I can finally get some sleep after all that worrying night and day about your handjob, Swaim. I’m just glad the terrorists didn’t win. I feel very patriotic right now. Now, about that anal…… 300, here we come!!!
February 14th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
only 70 to go, although counting this post we’re down to 69! woo!
February 14th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I will keep posting to myself if I have to, I hope not to as that would be ridiculously sad, but never say I wasn’t willing to go to bat in order to get a stranger on the internet anal.
February 14th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
We’re taking this comments section to level anal, people! let’s do it!
February 14th, 2008 at 10:13 am
For the sake of anal, weiner poopie.
February 14th, 2008 at 12:47 am
Everyone, if you’re still reading this, I received the hand job. I don’t want to go into too many details, but I do want to thank everyone who lobbied so fervently on my behalf. It…well, it feels good, I’m not going to lie. Thanks again, and uh…yeah.
Oh, quick FYI, Jack O’Brien our editor said if this thing hits 300 comments I get anal. He didn’t say from who, but, I’m just putting it out there.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
You’re the Chicklet, not me!
February 13th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
RESUSCITATION!!!!
February 12th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Time of death 11:53 Est
February 12th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Arrested Development was the Devil’s work. Everyone on the site is going to Hell.
Repent!
February 12th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Swaim may not have found out why enough people didn’t find AR terribly funny but he can console himself with the fact that everybody here thinks well enough of him to really, really…really want him to get that handjob.
February 12th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
TillyKGB: “I’m looking at Ibh and Hoy in sort of that in sort of that “he who smelt it…”way.”
This is valid logic that still applies beyond sixth grade but I believe Swaim’s married or something very close to it. His wife/significant other may feel threatened by myself or Hoy1229, what with us being so awesome and all. That leaves the original suggestion of some platonic man-on-man handjob action.
So what do you say J.R. ? Don’t let the terrorists win. Just close your eyes and pretend you’re 11 and back in Boy Scout camp.
Or we could keep going and draft #300.
February 12th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Glen,
Yes, this is exactly what I expect from my banner ads: rediculous prizes you will never get. If you’re going to try to get me to answer a question in order to get my email/home address in order to send me lots of useless penis enlargement spam (useless for me, anyway
,) at least do me the favor of making it a prize that is hard to find/expensive. You know where else you can get campaign shirts? CAMPAIGNS!!!!!! Seriously, just ask them for one. They’ll give it to you just to have you wear it.
February 12th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
@ TillyKGB
What the hell did you expect from a banner ad, a free laptop, an ipod or a hd tv maybe. That fact that they were giving anything without going through Hell, high water and Hades is pretty remarkable.
February 12th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
PARANOIA!!!
February 12th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Sshhhh… I think she’s trying to communicate…
February 12th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
How is a t shirt not a prize? Don’t you need shirts to clean your house/paint/work on a car/wear as an undershirt that no one will see anyway? At it’s worst it’s still a free dust rag/dry your car for no streaks towel……
stop being such a weener poopie eater, TillyKGB….
And the terrorists my be on the cusp of winning, but Swaim’s handjob can yet save us all if J. reinhold will just step up to the plate…
February 12th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Ok, this is off subject, but I didn’t know of anywhere else I could vent as poignantly.
I just saw a banner ad that offered a prize if one answered the question “Will you vote for Barak Obama in ‘08 - yes or no.” Wanna know what the prize was? A FREAKING BARAK OBAMA IN ‘08 T-SHIRT.
What the shit is that? First, if I say yes you say, “hey, then why not help advertise for us.” Second if you say no they say, “well, why not advertise for him anyway?” What the shit type of prize is that!?!?!
Are they not even trying to fool anyone anymore? Didn’t the prizes used to be stealth bombers and what not? When did a political t-shirt become a freaking prize? What is the world coming to?
I’m pretty sure this means the terrorists have already won.
Oh yeah, and weener poopie.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:47 am
J.: I responded to your arguement. I attacked your arguement as opposed to you. What more do you want? Sorry, didn’t mean to make you cry…
Ibh: Thank ya, thank ya. Yes, I get plenty of horror stories. I have a sister, mother, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, etc. you know…
Yes, I agree, to a certain extent, humor is subjective. This, however, is not an excuse for relativism. That is to say, someone out there might prefer to eat the weiner poopie, but I bet most people would prefer the jelly doughnut.
Hail: You are wrong. Some of us are just sarcastic assholes who are not elitists, autistic nerds, or weiner poopie.
Hoy: If fox had a concrete -Jesus- statue, there would be no problem at all. I’ve been looking for a way to get them to clean up their weener poopie anyway…
Jason: I believe what you meant was “deux douches,” otherwise known as deuche.
P.S. If Swain doesn’t get a handjob, the terrorists have already won. I’m looking at you, J. And if not J., I’m looking at Ibh and Hoy in sort of that “he who smelt it…” way.
February 12th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Put your penis back in your pants.
February 12th, 2008 at 8:33 am
I’ll admit I’m just posting to see how high we can boost the number of comments on this article.
Oop, just found some damp stringy thing on my desk. I should go now.
February 12th, 2008 at 2:17 am
this show was the best. every time you watched it it got better and better because you caught little inside jokey things that the brilliant writers would weave into the dialogue. i can see it not being as big a hit on tv though, because you had to watch it from the start and it was on before DVDs could completely save a show (family guy). now thanks to the dvds the fan base is huge and i bet if it was on tv now itd be a big hit.
February 12th, 2008 at 1:56 am
that’s dueche bag, jason, get with the program
February 12th, 2008 at 1:29 am
I hate when people complain that their favorite show got canceled because “people are stupid.” Even if that’s true, it makes you sound like a fucking douchebag.
February 11th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
an entirely off topic pallette cleanser:
everytime i come across the “Bees, Michael?” line i can’t help but hear it in my head as being in a KITT from Knight Rider voice, which totally changes the intended humor.
February 11th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Unless of course FOX has a concrete statue of Jesus we could steal……
February 11th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
J. Reinhold, it’s up to you to fullfill Swaim’s platonic man-on-man handjob needs (unless you’re a woman, but I doubt that will present a problem either). Godspeed and good luck my friend….
and nothing says anything as well as weiner poopie does. nothing.
February 11th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Something that I have realised through the use of an excessive amount of drugs while reading this forum:
There are elitist deuches who look down on people because they don’t like AD.
There are elitist deuches who look down on those elitist deuches because they are autistic nerds.
There are elitist deuches who look down on those elistist deuches because they are just as arrogant.
So many deuches, I have realised that the only people that are not elitist deuches have made no comments about anyone else. How many of you can honestly say that you have not been elitist in any way, I know I can’t.
Oh yeah, I know this is a comedy website so … weiner poopie
February 11th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
J. Reinhold was # 200 !!! Does this mean he gives Swaim the handjob since Gladstone opted out ?
February 11th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
TillyKGB : Congrats! Toughest job you’ll ever love. Hoy1229 and I would happy to share our own pregnancy horror stories sometime. Oh wait…every woman you know who’s had a baby or known someone who’s had a baby, including the lady in line at the grocery store, has probably seen to that.
Hoy1229: “…..right, Ibh, right? RIGHT???” Absolutely ! Conversations with people at work and with the husband/boyfriend/ex don’t count. Working moms are too busy for much else.
OK, dialing down the estrogen now…
On “deuche”: Only too happy to keep this version going. When I pronounce it in my head I use an Inspector Clouseau accent (as in “dish beg”). I will apply a Brooklyn accent to douche (”Yo, doooosh baag!”).
Grr: re top three sitcoms…excellent point, but I disagree with “…says everything it needs to about why Arrested Development didn’t make it.” Afterall if 100 posts = handjob just imagine what 200+ posts might equal. What’s the matter, don’t you like Swaim ?
Humour being purely subjective, not everyone is going to find the same show funny. It doesn’t matter how clever, intelligently written or well acted it may be. Just because you didn’t find such a show funny enough to continue watching, doesn’t mean you’re some kind of comedy plebe. Plenty of intelligent people leaving comments here didn’t find it funny enough to invest their time in the show. Think how many more there are out in the wider world.
I’ve given my theory as to why I personally didn’t find it as funny as Swaim. I now put forth another theory. Perhaps it wasn’t that the overwhelming majority of the TV viewing public are morons that made a sustainable audience for a genius show like Arrested Developement statistcally impossible. Plenty of intelligent folks watch TV, only the truely deuchey/douchey elitist snobs don’t admit to it. Maybe…just maybe, the problem was that those intelligent people, who would’ve found the show funny and kept in on the air, never thought to look for a clever, hilarious well written program on FOX. And when they did hear of it they simply didn’t believe it (”FOX ? No way, try pulling the other one!”) and, therefore, never tuned in. It’s possible.
Again, I bring up sending Fox a message ala Jericho/fan/mass peanut mailing protest. It may be a too late for AR but it merits further consideration on general principle alone.
For those of you that think nothing says “Your programming executives have shit for brains” like weiner poopie:
Fox Broadcasting Company
10201 West Pico Blvd.,
Los Angeles, CA 90035
February 11th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Wow, TIlly…
…seriously, goddamn…
All I was trying to say is that humor is subjective, and that while I love AD, I can understand why others won’t. Sometimes you’re on the same wavelength as a piece of art, and sometimes you aren’t.
I wasn’t trying to call you out or anything. I addressed my response to you specifically because Miles is such an obvious asshole. Now I wonder.
Jesus Christ, dude…
February 11th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
i think 200 is a record.
February 11th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
mmmmm, cart vendor hotdogs…..
hey Swaim, after 200 do you finally get that handjob?
February 11th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
That delicacy is otherwise known as cart vendor hotdogs.
February 11th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
try weiner poopie boiled in dog piss, that should settle all argument
February 11th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
“Dog piss, while delicious, is no where near as tasty as weiner poopie.”
Touche.
February 11th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Dog piss, while delicious, is no where near as tasty as weiner poopie.
February 11th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
“I doubt the writers of AD’s purpose was not to have the majority of people ignore the show.”
Sorry, I confused the negative there.
I meant, “I doubt the writers of AD’s purpose was to ahve the majority of people ignore the show.”
February 11th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
J.,
Again, I used the dung example to illustrate a point. Apparently you didn’t get it. Yes, there were plenty of people who were outraged. To say that it wasn’t the artists intent to be offensive does not disprove my point. To be sure, I doubt the writers of AD’s purpose was not to have the majority of people ignore the show.
Your arguement is ludicrous. According to how you put it, there is absolutely no standard for anything. Everything is relative. Sorry, I don’t believe that (and neither do most people, I’d wager.)
Again, you could decide tomorrow that dog piss is delicious. You aren’t going to convince me you’re right by telling me that enjoyment is subject to “getting” why it tastes good. “Well, if you’d been drinking dog piss all along, you’d see why it tastes good now.” See how stupid that sounds?
Essentially, you’re saying “If you get it, it’s funny. If it’s funny, that’s because you get it.” Now, I’m no philosopher, but I think there’s a name for that type of arguement.
By the way, if laughter settles all debate, why do so many AD fans display so much outrage when the world yawns?
February 11th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Tilly: Actually, the Elephant Dung painting from the Sensation exhibit was greatly misunderstood (and not by a poseur, either). The artist was a devout Catholic - FROM AFRICA - where elephant dung is seen and understood as a symbol of fertility (it’s incredibly rich fertilizer.) Thus, he took two dried dung-patties or whatever you want to call them and made the Virgin Mary’s breasts out of them. I saw the exhibit when it was in Brooklyn and causing all the fuss, and I can tell you that the painting was gorgeous. I also don’t remember it being a majority of people being offended, particularly not “even non-Christians.” It was Bill Donoghue who was offended, and then misrepresented the content of the painting all over New York, until Guiliani caved and took away the Brooklyn Museum’s funding so that he wouldn’t lose Catholics.
Still, I think the elephant dung painting still serves as a metaphor in that it shows how much a different culture or even people with different upbringings will see art differently. In the artist’s home country, the meaning behind the art and choice of medium were clear, and enhanced the work. In America, away from the cultural context, the combination became offensive and heretical. It’s all about the audience. It’s similar with comedy, and even more apparent most of the time. As Robert McKee said, ” If you say Citizen Kane is a bad movie, you and I can argue all day about the artistic merit, but if you say A Fish Called Wanda isn’t funny, I’ll just pity you and walk away. In comedy, laughter settles all debate.”
I think we need to differentiate two different meanings of “get it.” The first is what you say to a little kid who doesn’t laugh at your knock-knock joke, and you’re about to explain it to them. The second is a little more nebulous, but it’s what people mean when they say that non-fans of AD just don’t “get it.” It involves feeling a connection with the characters and a connection with the world they live in. If you don’t have that, then nothing’s going to be funny, no matter how well written or produced it all is, and then you’re bound to step back and find things like hand-held camera work that pisses you off even more, and harp on that, and so on, and then you’ll probably feel a little alienated from the people laughing at it. It has absolutely nothing to do with intelligence.
AD had the deck stacked against it by nature in this regard. It was about intentionally unlikable characters, running gags that only worked if you’d seen the set-up three episodes previously, and queasy subject matter much of the time. Moreover, the “world” as it was, was tied deeply to those running gags (the model home, the stair car, the blue paint everywhere) and could come off as just cloying and quirky to someone unfamiliar with the earlier episodes.
I don’t “get” Scrubs, for instance. I don’t think the humor is over my head - I just can’t give a shit about any of the characters or the world they live in, so the show comes off to me as abrasively obnoxious and bad. Yet many people with similar senses of humor to mine adore it. I can tell you, Tilly, that if you “get” AD, it’s not an exaggeration in the slightest to say that it’s the best thing that’s ever been on television. SO it just sucks that it didn’t tickle your funny bone the way it did mine.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
much
February 11th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
douche
noun
1. a small syringe with detachable nozzles; used for vaginal lavage and enemas
2. irrigation with a jet of water or medicated solution into or around a body part (especially the vagina) to treat infections or cleanse from odorous contents
Now that is funny damnit! Don’t try to ruin it again TillyKGB, you autistic nerd you!
February 11th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
better?
February 11th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
oh ass master, turn that frown upside-down (and go see a doctor about those bizarrely vertical eyes)…with a name like ass master you really should invest in some thicker skin, don’t you think? I was really refering to your blog (which I read) and your slightly off definition of snob (shy?). Wear our condescention as the badge of a true blogger!!
February 11th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Wow, I had forgotten I even made a Brian Regan reference until you said something. Thanks, Mike!
The whole deuche thing is slightly less funny when you realize that “doucher” is the french verb for shower. Je douche becomes “I shower.” Sorry to be the kill-joy.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Not sure if I’m being called a ‘me-monster’ or a deuche-bag, but if I am, er….sorry?
I wasn’t trying to be a snob =(
February 11th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
oh kingmonkey, you have made my day….deux douches….that’s just wonderful…
February 11th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
..not sure how subtle of a reference it was, and also there are a lot of me-monsters here…
boxen
February 11th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Snob - noun 1. a person who imitates, cultivates, or slavishly admires social superiors and is condescending or overbearing to others.
2. a person who believes himself or herself an expert or connoisseur in a given field and is condescending toward or disdainful of those who hold other opinions or have different tastes regarding this field
February 11th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
TillyKGB, Don’t think no one appreciated that incredibly subtle Brian Regan reference.
February 11th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Deuche: noun, origin French (deux douches); 1 having the properties of two douches… because twoche would just be silly.
Also, don’t listen to glendoor42’s rant about having four children. Two of them look like me.
I’ve always liked British comedy more than American, and when I see American comedies come along that are actually funny… it’s usually already after they’ve been cancelled. I think CTV is playing Arrested Development at around 5.00pm or so. I saw it just last week.
February 11th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I would have to agree.
February 11th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
So… does that make me a semi-negative sarcasti-tard?
Also, weiner poopie.
February 11th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
lol, I love how people are reluctant or afraid to agree with me because of my name. It’s like I’ve imposed some sort of stigma on myself by using it.
TillyKGB, thank you for clarifying your point, as it is a good one. Just because someone doesn’t particularly care for AD (or other art enjoyed by a minority of people), doesn’t mean they don’t understand it or are stupid for not enjoying it. Definitely, no argument there. And I suppose that people that would argue that are just as stupid and annoying as people that would state that if you like AD you are a snob and arrogant.
As for what I call negative snob-tards, that would in fact be those people who can’t be happy with anything, finding faults no matter what they see, and are subsequently blind to whatever positive attributes the work in question (or people in question) might contain.
Internet nerds would perhaps include everyone in this comment section, myself no exception. Nothing wrong with bein a nerd….
February 11th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Ass Master: I read your blog and I’m a bit confused. Am I an internet nerd, a negative snob-tard, or both? And which are the people I’m arguing with?
Should I be disturbed that I can’t tell the difference between the two of us?
February 11th, 2008 at 11:34 am
I’m a little embarrased (or aroused, I can’t decide) that I agree with someone named Ass_master3000. Now that’s a product I hope to NOT see in the future.
You are right in your analysis. That is why I said I used the examples only for illustration of a point. I do not think the situations are entirely congruous, only the way that the fans of each react. In each case, the supporters lay the blame on the detractors for their distaste. For the most accurate example, I would turn to Hoy1229’s oranges analogy.
If people like AD, that’s perfectly fine. There’s nothing distasteful about liking it. However, I don’t think it’s any deficiency that makes me dislike it.
That’s all I’m saying. That’s all I’m really drivin’ at, if ya think about it…
February 11th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Sir, yes… ma’am?
February 11th, 2008 at 11:26 am
I’m sorry, tillyKGB, but you’re trying to compare AD with….elephant dung?
While I think I see where you’re trying to go with that, the bottom line is this (IMO):
In any art community there are artists that imbue their work with quality, and yet their work isn’t readily accessible to the ‘majority’ as you put it. This does not mean that the minority of people, who appreciate its particular style, are foolish or absurd to do so.
AD would be a work that falls into this category.
Then there is the category, rampant throughout modern art of all forms, where the artist is some poseur who is fortunate (or wily) enough to fool critics into thinking that their work is deep and meaningful, when in fact it is, aesthetically and, as we’ve seen even physically, elephant dung. The work of ‘art’ that features the Virgin Mary and elephant dung would not surprisingly fall into this category. Other examples might include some fuck splashing red paint across white canvas, or modern abstract music that makes no sense rhythmically, melodically, or harmonically, and thus has no way of being referenced by anyone, and so no one can officially state: ‘this is crap’.
The point is, when assessing the value or quality of a work of art, in any medium, it is necessary to evaluate if there was any skill involved in creating it. I look at it as, ‘what is this work about or after, and does it succeed in fulfilling its ‘goal’ so to speak. How well does it do it? If it’s a comedy show, what kind of humor does it employ, and how effectively?
Each show, movie, article, painting, etc. needs to be weighed on its own merit.
February 11th, 2008 at 11:24 am
TillyKGB, why don’t you harden the fuck up and try some dog urine before you knock it you autistic nerd!!!
Congrats on the kid, dude, and welcome to the ranks….now drop and give me twenty diaper changes, and no back talk!!
February 11th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Well, weekend is over and I’m a bit surprised to see this blog still going strong. As no antagonist has stepped up to take my spot, I suppose I shall resume.
Andy Pants: If I understand it right, the only people who have the credentials to speak about comedy are “comedy writers on a successful comedy website.” Thanks for clearing that up. Of course, that would invalidate this entire comment section and opinions like, say, YOURS. Also, I certainly hope this applies to subjects like religion, politics, movies, fashion, and music also. I’m really getting tired of hearing people’s opinions on these subjects.
Your “idiot/elitist” argument is really (really) stupid and ironic, in a “sad little man” sort of way. Your argument is like trying to convince someone you’re not an asshole by punching them in the face. Only instead of using a fist, you use angry-nerd-sarcasm. How pathetic.
Gladstone: I sort of agree with out. I think Gervais’ difference lies more in his timing. Perhaps his response timing is a bit more realistic, but I prefer Carell’s absurd portrayal. To me, there is nothing awkward about Gervais’ portrayal. It’s more assholish and less “cover my face out of embarrassment for the character” like Carell’s. What can I say, I’m American. I have an American sense of humor.
Hoy1229: Thanks for keeping the deuche alive.
Mr1swift: Strangely, I agree with you about the link between AD and Reno 911. I don’t think they’re similar on their faces, but I somehow get the impression that people who like one are more likely to enjoy the other.
Grr: That’s the exact elitist attitude I was talking about. People don’t like AD so it’s there fault, not the shows. Remember a few years back, when some artist (and I use the term loosely) made a collage of the Virgin Mary and elephant dung? The majority of people were offended (even non-Christians.) Yet, the “high art” community went on and on about how the problem was people don’t know how to appreciate art. My question is: why is it always the majority’s fault that only a minority appreciate something? If a small group of people suddenly decide that drinking dog urine is delicious, they’re still not going to convince me the problem is with my unsophisticated pallet. I realize these examples are a bit extreme, and I use them only for illustration.
Parents: I am expecting my first. Soon I will be among your ranks (though still a junior member!)
Liner notes: KitH is not funny in my opinion. Python had its moments of genius. KitH did not. There’s one where I can say, “maybe I just didn’t get it” because I don’t even see how anyone would laugh. With AD the reaction is “meh,” with KitH it’s more “ugh.”
February 11th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Don’t leave your uncle T-bag hanging!
February 11th, 2008 at 6:07 am
People don’t like to actually watch shows. They like to put on the tv for background noise or to let the electric fuzz blanket them to escape after a hard day’s work.
let’s keep this comments machine running!
February 11th, 2008 at 5:57 am
Hoy, one step at time please. I thought you would be happy not to be perceived as autistic. You are definately funny but I can’t rule out the nerd thing yet though. Keep the funny shit coming and you should have me convinced.
Hey I looked into the D&D thing for you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_and_dragons
yep, definately been books (I have impressed myself with this nerdry fact)
Also, seeing as I was owning up to being a deuche, I thought I’d better find out what one was:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douche
Yep, I am definately one of those!
February 11th, 2008 at 3:26 am
I learned the other day in my pop culture criticism class (how does that get to be a class? It’s too good!) that the top three sitcoms over the last several years have been The King of Queens, According to Jim, and Two and a Half Men. I think that says everything it needs to about why Arrested Development didn’t make it.
(Hint: It’s not Arrested Development’s fault.)
February 11th, 2008 at 2:35 am
I want to throw in another mention of Father Ted. Definitely worth checking into if you’ve never heard of it. Same for Mitchell and Webb Look and Peep Show.
Alanis, you are awesome. That is all.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:29 am
…wait a minute…d&d is books? I thought it was a board game turned video game….can some autistic nerd please set me straight? and hailswhatever: thanks for honestly not thinking I’m autistic, but does that mean that you still honestly think I’m a nerd? hmmm, well at least I’m glad to see you getting behind the fresh new spelling of “deuche”…
Ibh: don’t feel bad, I’m a better woman than most, so you’re in large company. (btw, my kids are 5, 3, and 23mo, so I’m actually even better than you thought…) also, in pitying you i would also pity myself, and I’d much rather dilute myself into believing that posting comments on a blog is the hippest thing anyone’s ever done….cuz it is, right? I mean, it’s way cooler than actually having face to face conversations with people you have actual relationships with…..right, Ibh, right? RIGHT???
February 10th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Arrested Development was just… fantastic. I’m delighted in the rumors of a movie, and i really wish it would come back on the air. it really was genious. In addition, the show is so good, that it’s spreading accorss quite quickly. My sister and her fiance got me hookedon it 2 years ago, and every single friend I have told about it loves the show.
I am, however, flabergasted that Fox cancelled the show, while allowing the Simspons to go into it’s 20th year (and 10th un-funny year). In addition, we have American Dad and the return of Family Guy (which pales woefully in comparison to it’s original three seasons). If there is room for this on the network, there is room for more Arrested Development.
The only way it will return, though, is pull. Pull from Producers, pull from DVD sales, and Pull from fans. Family Guy did do it. It is possible. It just has to be profitable.
February 10th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
The American Office went off air in Australia more-or-less because everyone was a fan of the British office and it aired almost directly after the final episodes of the original. That and everyone seemed/seems to have a pre-emptive hatred of anything American. Which makes sense considering how the place has been run for the past eight or so years.
I think the actors all took a little while to settle into character in the first season too. When they stopped becomming based on their British counterparts and started getting more depth is when the show really came into it’s own. So I think here atleast it’s another one of those shows you needed to give a little time to in order to fully appreciate it.
February 10th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Wow, thanks Alanis. I want to marry you. Unless you’re a dude, in which case a handjob will have to do. After all, Swaim’s not getting one.
February 10th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Gladstone, your description of the difference b/tw the American and British Office totally articulated my sentiments. Thanks! And I AM Canadian, but I know nothing about Slings and Arrows, sorry. Mark McKinney started another project a year or two ago called Robson Arms that is fairly decent, although I’ve only seen a couple of episodes and it’s not really a ha-ha comedy per se.
Swaim, I agree with your sentiments about KITH as well as Monty Python. Your truthful review of the FC series is spot on, as each of the group have said the same damn thing about the show themselves, that it was very immature and there are parts of it that they are embarrassed by in retrospect. It was still very awesome in parts, but come on. Far from perfect. KITH were much more consistently funny - and then they’re movie was largely a disappointment, so there you go. I’m actually really glad they ended their show when they did.
I hate a lot of these discussions because there’s so much chest beating and bullying, but I also love them because I, too, am very interested in talking seriously about comedy. And for all of the douchebaggy that goes on here, there are some really insightful comments that are worth it - mostly from the bloggers themselves (no offense anyone else). I really appreciate that you guys participate in this stuff.
You all have some really expensive hats!
February 10th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Yeah, no shit, now tell me something I don’t know.
February 10th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Haha, glendoor! you’re old!
February 10th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
I’ve tried really, really, really hard to see through the perspective of someone who doesn’t like the show.
I…can’t. I just fucking can’t.
February 10th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
If this tableau I recreate, perhaps I can resnare my mate.
February 10th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Hoy1229: Three? You’re a better woman than me. I can barely deal with the two. This probably explains why you have a more evolved sense of humour. The more kids you have, the better your sense of humour needs to be just to get through the day.
On Monty Python…perhaps we can compromise and agree that A Fish Called Wanda was funny.
“Harden the fuck up and buy this you autistic nerd!”…Made me laugh too and my 10 year old is autistic. Of course the 10 year old makes me laugh all the time too. She was praticing her silly walk yesterday and I was laughing so hard it hurt.
On Southpark…it hasn’t gotten old for me yet because I wasn’t watching it from the beginning and am usually asleep by the time it airs so I only catch episodes sporadically.
glendoor42: “@ Hoy1229 and Ibh, I’m a father of four, a 20 year old, an 18 year old (girls), a 15 year old and a 14 year old (boys) So HAH!!! and HAH because we all know being father is infinitely harder than being a mother. That was a joke, in so many ways was that a joke.”… It’s only a joke if their mom says it is. HAH !
and…”This is truly the comment section THAT WOULD NOT DIE.” This is only time I get to have any kind of social interaction with other adults. Sad but true. Hoy1229 is now free to pity me in return.
February 10th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
This is truly the comment section THAT WOULD NOT DIE. Father Ted was good. Black Adder
was good. Fawlty Towers was good or IMHO John Cleese is just that good. Red Dwarf is very good.
@squiggles yes, getting old sucks, as did the moment I realized that Swaim and Gladstone
were born about the time I graduated from high school. But then again age has nothing to do with good taste, as a matter of fact, it expands it.
February 10th, 2008 at 8:24 am
I like Arrested Development. Also Monty Python, which is erratically brilliant although its revolutionary qualities are overstated because Peter Cook, the Goodies, Spike Milligan, Marty Feldman etc. were doing the same sort of thing. Also Father Ted, Black Books, Green Wing, the Mighty Boosh, Seinfeld, Ripping Yarns, Fawlty Towers, Blackadder and the Day Today.
This gives me a comfortable feeling of superiority to those who like the Young Ones, Red Dwarf or South Park, who are kiddiefiddlers, which is useful to counteract the feelings of inferiority produced by just realising just how much older than Michael Swaim I am.
February 10th, 2008 at 4:52 am
Is 154 some kind of cracked-blog comment record?
February 10th, 2008 at 4:01 am
Hey Hoy1229, thanks for the post replying to mine. After rereading my post I apologize if you thought I meant that all nerds are autistic, I meant only some of the ones I know personally. But I have to agree with you, I am kind of a deuche.
Mainly I thought I’d get back to you because I loved your idea “Harden the fuck up and buy this you autistic nerd!” This is genius. I laughed my arse off. I can honestly say that I don’t think you are autistic because YOU ‘get people’. If you ever want a job in sales then put down those Dungeons and Dragons books and give me a call.
February 9th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
I remember renting the third and last season man I laughed so hard.
February 9th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
I have many expensive hats … and a peacemaker.
February 9th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
yeah, well, my dad can beat up your dad! so, nanna nanna boo boo….
February 9th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
They would never say that they were dumb, but they say that a person who just tuned in for one random episode wouldn’t get it and therefore wouldn’t like it, which is why they didn’t have very expansive numbers.
Or EXPENSIVE HATS!
February 9th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
A Peacemaker is a .45 cal handgun, there Swaim.
@ Hoy1229 and Ibh, I’m a father of four, a 20 year old, an 18 year old (girls), a 15 year old and a 14 year old (boys) So HAH!!! and HAH because we all know being father is infinitely harder than being a mother. That was a joke, in so many ways was that a joke.
February 9th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
I’m going to be honest with ya. I didn’t care for it. I made a list of all forms of comedy I can point out like all of them and when I got around to acknowledging AD nothing came up. I can tell work went into to it but nothing really funny perse it doesn’t help that the actors are appalling and the unless it was on purpose there show feels and looks like its written to the similar style of reno 911 (not a complement by the way) the way they hold the camera is similar as well. I think and it just popped into my mind here. people who like AD find good writing funny. now I didn’t say there was a joke in it they just laugh whenever they since a well thought out piece of information and fall to the floor laughing. I may have seen at least 7 or 8 episodes of the show and I didn’t like it and to see more episodes would be a waste of my time because shows of real excellence grab you instantly. and has anyone figured out that fox is the cursed network? love it, hate it, or just hate the people that love it, or you love the people that hate it or whatever weird ass combination one can conjure the movie is going to ruin it. it almost always happens.
February 9th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
I AM A PEACEMAKER.
February 9th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
@glendoor, I think Swaim’s virulent racism is something we can all agree on.
February 9th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Ibh: I am also a mother (of three, so take that!), but I am clearly not as empthetic as you (and I’ve wept openly at television commercials, so….) The akwardness of the incredibly embarrassing things that Michael says and does makes me giggle with glee (that’s right, fucking glee). Python is silly, yes, and I do loves me some silliness (although I must disagree, if you don’t see silliness everywhere you go, you just aren’t looking hard enough), but I think my problem is that I always felt like I had to wait for the next thing that would make me laugh…I could never sustain that “laughter high” throughout an entire episode/movie. (ah hah, I think that was my problem with AD too!) As for South Park, I used to watch it religiously (and I do a MEAN Eric Cartman voice, seriously) but I think it just got old…yeah yeah, we get it, you guys have something to say about everything, and you use little kids saying outragiously profane things to prove how seriously the masses take the mineutia of their lives and blah blah blah….I got it and then I got tired of it. Yeah. Family Guy, not funny. Keeping my kids from flipping to it b/c it’s a cartoon, huge pain in my ass. We’re together on that. Hey, and way to help prove that being a mom doesn’t mean you can only love ER, DR. Phil and Oprah…you’re awesome! (much like myself…)
Swaim: “And I didn’t mean to be smug, although I can understand how me being so great makes things come off that way.” - I know how you feel, my greatness also intimidates others, but what can you do? It’s the price we must pay……
February 9th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
@ Swaim, Racist.
February 9th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Swaim you live another day sans handjob.
February 9th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Glendoor, I kind of lumped a response to someone else in with my response to you. So, yeah, sorry about that. You all look the same to me.
February 9th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I love the british office too, but I enjoy the American office more. And that is in part because it is so much less painful. Ricky Gervais is considered awesome by pretty much everyone because he seems to have the ability to hit the exact spot to make people feel as uncomfortable as humanly possible. It’s like a super power. But in addition what makes the American office more fun for me is that there are so many more ridiculous characters. Michael Scott isn’t even the dumbest man in that office. There is just an awful lot of awkwardness.
My problem with Fawlty Towers was mostly that it came off as a sort of typical sitcom to me. It was the british three’s company.
Hey! How’d we get to arguing amongst ourselves instead of crushing the AD nonbelievers? Mustn’t they agree with us or else we crush them?
February 9th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Hello Everyone,
I would like to preface my comment with the following statements…I’m female. I’m a mom with 2 kids (12 & 10), which also qualifies me as an adult most days( I visit this site for some well deserved regression). I haven’t read every single post, yet , but a couple sorta jumped out at me. I apologise if my comments are out of sinc.
Three Stooges : It’s a scientific fact that women’s brains are wired a little differently. Generally speaking, its because of this that women are more vulnerable to experiencing an empathetic response. My theory is this… due to the pervasive violent site gags, for many women, watching the Three Stooges is on some level literally painful.
Family Guy & Southpark : I don’t see how these two shows can even be compared. Please don’t put these two together just because they’re animated shows fashioned for adults. Southpark, acheives greatness because it uses humor to take social commentary & brutal honesty outside of people’s comfort zone. It has a point of view. The vulgarity and violence are just gravy or camouflage, depending on one’s personal point of view. Love it.
On the other hand, Every episode of Family Guy is just a meandering string of vulgarity and Jr. H.S. bathroom humor. Imagination or a point of view aren’t even attempted. Hate it.
PS. I don’t allow my kids to watch either show. Which brings me to…
Fox’s Programming Genius : True story…I’m at a Parent/Teacher conference for my son. His teacher, who’s suddenly uncomfortable, awkwardly tells of an incident in which my son innocently asked her for permission to go on the classroom computer so he could look up “douchebag” on Wikipedia. I assure her that, of course, language like that isn’t used in “our” house. She says she figured as much and that she had a talk with him about steering clear of the “rougher kids” at recess. It turns out Nate did hear it at home. Guess how? The local Fox affiliate airs Family Guy at 5pm as a lead in to The Simpsons. Brilliant! This is a time when most of us haven’t gotten home from work yet, are getting supper ready or are umm… glued to the computer reading Cracked articles (woops) and aren’t paying attention to what’s on. I’m still trying to figure out how get the friggin V-chip to work.
The Office & Arrested Developement: Watching both shows I recognized the quality but I failed to really feel the “funny”. I just couldn’t get into them. I think part of the problem is that I’m a hopelessly Dweebie WASP. Perhaps my empathic female brain identified a little too closely with the characters. Combining all that with a certain camera style and I suspect my subconcious was registering those shows as more “documentary” rather than “comedy”.
Monty Python: Oh my, Hoy1229, dear girl I am sorry for you. There just isn’t enough silly in the world. That’s what Monty Python gave us. Sublime silliness. Silly sketches, silly movies, silly walks…not to mention crunchy frog, naked ministers, upper-class twit olympics, knights that say “Neet!”and most significantly operatic odes to Spam. I know you’d rather “fart in my general direction” or “bite my leg” than have my pity, but you have it just the same. And now for something completely different…
When Network Morons Cancel a Good Show: Fans are not completely helpless. There have been instances when fan outrage and subsequent action got their show put back on air after cancellation. Most recently, fans of Jericho conducted a protest campaign which put that show back in the line up. Thousand of pounds of peanuts were shipped, from all over the country, to the executive offices of CBS to signify that the fans thought they were “nuts” for cancelling the show. So for you fans of Arrested Developement or any other critically acclaimed show that gets the ax, I leave you with two words…
wiener poopie
February 9th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I need to read the other comments before I respond.
February 9th, 2008 at 11:57 am
What the fuck? You don’t like Dave Foley, Dave Foley’s bad doctor monologue was one of the funniest fucking things I’ve ever seen, Goddamn Swaim, you don’t know shit, JUST KIDDING!
I did not say that KITH were trying to be Python, I was trying to say that almost all great comedy shows owe something to Python. Things like Saturday Night Live, Not Necessarily The News, Weekend Update, The Daily Show, The Simpsons, Family Guy, South Park, KITH and a host of older shows and movies all owe something to Python and the creators have said so.
“And I didn’t mean to be smug, although I can understand how me being so great makes things come off that way” Good GAWD!!!!!
February 9th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Glendoor, I value and respect your opinion. I watch Holy Grail or Meaning of Life, I sit in awed and riotous laughter. I watch FC, I chuckle occasionally. That’s all I’m observing, and it doesn’t assert anything about others’ experiences. HOWEVER, I couldn’t care LESS what has been embraced by the most people or what will be remembered. For every Shakespeare that gets his name engraved into history there are a dozen equally deserving artists who go unappreciated. So if no one remembers Kids in the Hall sketches in 35 years, that will no less convince me that they are an equal comedy force. I’d also argue against KITH “trying to be Python.” If you define any kind of sketch comedy as that, then ok, but their cross-dressing wasn’t ironic and their style of humor was totally unique, even from one another (you can tell when you’re watching a Bruce sketch, a Mark sketch, etc.). I’d agree Mark’s were pretty Python-esque, but Bruce, Scott, and Kevin had their own brilliance going on that I think is vastly underappreciated. And I didn’t mean to be smug, although I can understand how me being so great makes things come off that way.
Gladstone, Fawlty Towers is incredible. I live another day.
February 9th, 2008 at 10:48 am
I’m not saying that you’re stupid if you don’t “get” Arrested Development, I’m just saying I don’t “get” you.
February 9th, 2008 at 8:29 am
If you like The American office better than the English office your indifference to Fawlty Towers is not that surprising. THAT’s not a dig.
It’s just that both mine for comedy in ugly, painful, cringeworthy places.
For the record, I like the British and American office equally. The British office is very painful because Gervais is fully aware how hated he is and his desperation is more apparent. Thankfully it was only meant to go 13 glorious episodes or it would have been too painful after a while.
Carrell plays the boss a touch more delusional. A little less aware of what a loser he. A little bit more able to fool himself. It’s a crucial change that makes the show easier to take for a longer American run.
Last try. I’m about to buy the complete series DVD of “Slings & Arrows” starring Mark Mckinney for 60 bucks even though i ‘ve never seen an episode. Are there any Canadians out there who can tell me whether it’s as good as i hope it is? Mark McKinney was always my favorite KITH.
Not to be confused with Darth Maul.
February 9th, 2008 at 7:02 am
Dude, I love Kids in the Hall as much as the next comedy nerd, but face it, they were trying to be Python. Without flying circus I wouldn’t know a larch from a larch or even how to silly walk. It is the complete standard for sketch comedy.
I also absolutely love Freaks and Geeks and I also like the American Office better than the British Office. That may have something to do with me being American and the American Office being driven by American humor. I like My Name is Earl. I just block out the scientology and cgi crapfests he occasionally shows up in like underdog. But My Name is Earl is just a decent show. It’s not the groundbreaking, school of humor that is AD, FC, Kids in the Hall, or both Offices.
I also think that It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has been criminally undermentioned for a blog for comedy nerds. Seriously, that show is what’s keeping television comedy alive for me in AD’s absence.
And I really never liked Fawlty Towers, it just always came off as aaaaaaaaaaahhhhgggg…
February 9th, 2008 at 6:39 am
“What about it turned off a large majority of viewers?”
Either the smug airlessness or the airless smugness. (Maybe both?)
February 9th, 2008 at 6:08 am
In theory, Arrested Development was not canceled because it lacked quality, but because it cost a lot to make and didn’t get enough viewers for FOX to keep it on the air. I feel like this is reasonable enough when it comes to measuring consistencies throughout media conglomerates, and it makes sense considering FOX’s track record (they have this tendency to choose shows that they know will only attract niche audiences and then cancel them because they only attracted niche audiences…and the worst part is, it happens over and over and over again, because they cancel so many shows each season that they have enough space to put on new great shows that they’re going to cancel in time for the next season. Most of those “great but canceled” shows were on FOX. Arrested Development, Firefly, Futurama, Family Guy, Undeclared, Andy Richter Controls the Universe…all shows that attracted really dedicated fans and only one of them ever managed to get back on the air (and how is absolutely beyond me).
And of course, the official reason that it attracted niche audiences is that it was too complicated for the casual viewer to understand. They would never say that they were dumb, but they say that a person who just tuned in for one random episode wouldn’t get it and therefore wouldn’t like it, which is why they didn’t have very expansive numbers. These days, the only network shows that seem to succeed are everyplots. And I guess it makes enough sense that Arrested wouldn’t make sense to the newcomer. I can’t imagine getting half of the jokes if I started in the middle of the second season or something, because so many of the jokes are inside jokes. Like the Beatles, the thing that made it great also destroyed it.
That said, I think it is the cruelest thing that anyone has ever done to me and I feel personally insulted every day and I long for this movie more than almost anything in the world.
February 9th, 2008 at 4:39 am
Gladstone, I cannot believe that you don’t think Jen and Hoy1229 are awesome without compare.
February 9th, 2008 at 4:17 am
Thus far, these are the reasons people dislike AD:
1) Other AD fans are smug deuchbags
2) shaky camerawork
3) serial plots and incessant in-jokes
4) Other AD fans are autistic nerds who need to harden the fuck up and hold regular jobs
5) Other AD fans are passionate about the show and thus easily trolled
May I be so kind to point out that 3 of these 6 reasons are based on reactions to the audience to the show, not the actual show itself, and are irrelevant to any evaluation of its quality. The second is a matter of personal taste akin to not liking Citizen Kane because it’s in black and white. The third is only a valid criticism if you’re not watching it on DVD or don’t have the time/attention span to sit through it in entirety. So, in short,
NONE OF THESE REASONS ARE VALID AND YOUR OPINIONS ARE WRONG
AD is rated 9.7 on IMDB out of 22 thousand votes, and is widely acknowledged amongst comedy writers to be the best show since the Simpsons. If you like to dislike things that other people like, that’s cool, humor is a sense like someone said, and not everyone has it. But if you say it’s a bad show by objective standards, compared to the majority of dreck that’s out there, the burden of proof is on you.
February 9th, 2008 at 4:16 am
Man, I haven’t seen Glendoor this worked up in a while. I dont’ really agree with you, but I enjoy your passion. I don’t think Internet Party and Anonymous were Pythonesque. That’s not a dig against you Swaim, of course.
And if you wanna talk geek-quoting, the Four Yorkshiremen skit was actually from At Last The 1948 Show and not FC — although Python performed it in concert.
So, i guess no one’s seen Slings and Arrow?
Swaim, what are your feelings on Fawlty Towers?
(Spoiler Alert: You love it or you die.)
February 9th, 2008 at 3:29 am
misspelled fucking since.
February 9th, 2008 at 3:28 am
@ Swaim, No, it is not. A possibly better way to say that is after 35 years or so how many Kids in the Hall sketches are remembered as fondly, much less by name, by such a large number of people, nerds or not. The Kids in the Hall were funny ,damn funny, I got HBO pretty much just to watch them, but to say that Monty Python’s show sucked pretty much overall is an extremely glib and ignorant thing to say. Even to say that AT THE TIME it was comedy revolution is condescending. That is analogous to saying that Shakespeare had some pretty good plays but as far a whole body of work goes Wendy Wasserstein