Comments on: Flashes of Quincy

Flashes of Quincy

griphus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:34:11 -0800

Proof of Arrested Development Season 4 is surfacing rapidly. A bit from Ron Howard. A bit from Jason Bateman (featuring some surprise guest stars.) A bit from reddit. And here's some more.

By: dunkadunc

dunkadunc — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:38:22 -0800

I'll just get this out there: Arrested Development only failed in the ratings because the jokes were too intelligent for most people to understand.

By: jedicus

jedicus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:38:24 -0800

Is Jason Bateman wearing a University of Phoenix undershirt in the first picture of the "some more" link?

By: orme

orme — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:39:45 -0800

I already hate myself for loving a show as stupid as Workaholics, and now I have to hate myself more for being excited about their cameo appearance.

By: Ad hominem

Ad hominem — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:43:20 -0800

Pretty cool. I hope Netflix can do this for some other beloved but dead shows. I'm thinking Get A Life. I bet Chris Elliott would be into it.

By: Plutor

Plutor — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:43:57 -0800

I prematurely blew my wad on a dry run, and now I have a sticky situation on my hands.

By: TwelveTwo

TwelveTwo — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:44:44 -0800

Arrested Development only failed in the ratings because the jokes were too intelligent for most people to understand. I thought it was because the layer of continuity was so thick that later episodes were incomprehensible to new viewers.

By: LionIndex

LionIndex — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:48:52 -0800

Arrested Development only failed in the ratings because the jokes were too intelligent for most people to understand. I thought it was because the layer of continuity was so thick that later episodes were incomprehensible to new viewers. I'd say it's partly that, and that many of the jokes are really subtle, or come so quickly and aren't highlighted to the degree that they are in other sitcoms, so people don't notice them. If anything, most of the jokes on the show are ingeniously dumb, and how dumb they are is just another level of the joke.

By: Doleful Creature

Doleful Creature — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:49:27 -0800

the layer of continuity was so thick that later episodes were incomprehensible to new viewers. That probably was a factor. But boy oh boy if you were in the know...there were many laughs to be had.

By: mysticreferee

mysticreferee — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:50:05 -0800

Is Jason Bateman wearing a University of Phoenix undershirt in the first picture of the "some more" link? "Great. You did say Phoenix again, but what do we care."

By: TwelveTwo

TwelveTwo — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:50:10 -0800

I'm not saying that that is a bad thing, but it is for Network Television. Offer a subscription to the show, provide complimentary DVDs, provide the back catalog for free, stream new episodes, and so on, and you got yourself a model that benefits from richly weaved high pile continuity.

By: mysticreferee

mysticreferee — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:52:10 -0800

the layer of continuity was so thick that later episodes were incomprehensible to new viewers. "Notice it wasn't something the narrator said."

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:52:34 -0800

Is this relatable?

By: defenestration

defenestration — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:53:05 -0800

I am so psyched about this. Unbelievably psyched. And, stupid or not, Workaholics makes me laugh my ass off. I'm glad they're getting a guest spot.

By: fiercecupcake

fiercecupcake — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:53:23 -0800

I'M SO EXCITED THAT BY THE TIME IT COMES OUT, EVERYONE AROUND ME WILL ALREADY HATE IT

By: zarq

zarq — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:53:37 -0800

I've never watched the show. If I wanted to watch a few episodes to get my feet wet, what would y'all suggest? Or do I really need to watch them in order?

By: mysticreferee

mysticreferee — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:53:53 -0800

I'm not saying that that is a bad thing, but it is for Network Television. Offer a subscription to the show, provide complimentary DVDs, provide the back catalog for free, stream new episodes, and so on, and you got yourself a model that benefits from richly weaved high pile continuity. "...if this is a lecture about how we're all supposed to whatever, and blah blah blah, well you can save it because we all know it by heart."

By: TwelveTwo

TwelveTwo — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:54:30 -0800

Arrested Developement and Archer both reliably get people to start talking in cipher.

By: mysticreferee

mysticreferee — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:54:40 -0800

I've never watched the show. If I wanted to watch a few episodes to get my feet wet, what would y'all suggest? Or do I really need to watch them in order?" IN ORDER

By: defenestration

defenestration — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:55:08 -0800

zarq: All of them in order, all three seasons. Three times.

By: fiercecupcake

fiercecupcake — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:55:24 -0800

zarq, watch them in order, and then watch them again. You really have to see all of the episodes multiple times to begin to understand how incredible AD is.

By: philip-random

philip-random — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:55:55 -0800

I thought it was because the layer of continuity was so thick that later episodes were incomprehensible to new viewers. Not really. I stumbled into it somewhere in the first season and, though confused, loved the ride anyway. Later, due to various life complications, I missed a bunch, then picked it up again somewhere in Season-3, and same basic situation. Loved it anyway. Then, later again, I got a hold of a few box sets and watched the whole thing in order. And damned if I could tell you how it all played out. Madness, hilarity, complexity, Blue Man Group. I think Arrested Development is ultimately like a great 1970s CONCEPT album (man). Yes, the whole is superior to the various parts, but that doesn't mean the parts aren't bloody amazing, too. Take that Pink Floyd and your insistence that Dark Side of the Moon can only be sold in its entirety on iTunes. Sorry, just not that important

By: cortex

cortex — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:55:57 -0800

We just recently watched the whole series run. And man was that a great way to watch it. And I'm glad that we didn't do it until just now, because I've seen so much cancellation angst and not had to share any of it, and the new stuff was in the works by the time we got around to it. So I highly recommend to anyone feeling angst about it that they get a time machine and just change the past so that they didn't watch it until recently. If anything, most of the jokes on the show are ingeniously dumb, and how dumb they are is just another level of the joke. That kind of nails it for me, yeah. It's not like AD was some sort of high brow operation that was above sitcom humor; it was just absolutely, brilliantly self-aware about the stupidity of its jokes, about the ridiculous plot contrivances and the shamelessness of the running jokes. If we're willing to anthropomorphize television shows a little, one of the things going for AD is that it seemed to have fantastic self-esteem.

By: burnmp3s

burnmp3s — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:56:52 -0800

I thought it was because the layer of continuity was so thick that later episodes were incomprehensible to new viewers. That was why I didn't start watching it after I had heard it was good in the middle of the first season. I watched one episode and out of context who the characters were and what had been established in previous episodes and it wasn't nearly as entertaining as it was when I re-watched it in order. And it's not just the plot being confusing, there were a ton of running gags or funny situations that were only funny if you knew what was going on.

By: griphus

griphus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:58:26 -0800

You absolutely must watch them in order, constantly. I'm about to make whatever the opposite of a humblebrag is ("awesomepity"?) but I've seen the entire run at least a dozen times and every single time I will discover something I missed before.

By: entropicamericana

entropicamericana — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:58:51 -0800

I wonder if the Bluths will finally get rid of the Seaward.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:59:09 -0800

awesomepity is when you're trolling for concern by mentioning how terrible and bad at things you are.

By: dunkadunc

dunkadunc — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:59:42 -0800

Remember when we were all excited that they were bringing Futurama back? And what happened?

By: TwelveTwo

TwelveTwo — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:00:44 -0800

Obama got elected?

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:00:57 -0800

It continued at the same level of quality more or less with a few freaky scary good episodes like the brain-swapping one.

By: defenestration

defenestration — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:01:18 -0800

What do you mean, dunkadunc? Quite a few of Futurama's best episodes were produced after it came back.

By: griphus

griphus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:01:57 -0800

The new Futurama episodes seem to be taking a combination of the Jurassic Bark pathos and the FX bombast of the movies as the guideline. It's an evolution, for better or worse.

By: griphus

griphus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:02:41 -0800

God I'm so terrible and bad at using quotes around episode names instead of italics.

By: KGMoney

KGMoney — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:02:45 -0800

I don't see a release date. Has that been announced yet?

By: Ad hominem

Ad hominem — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:03:07 -0800

On the off chance the so called season 4 may suck I'd like to disavow it right now in preparation for saying told you so if it sucks.

By: Mayor West

Mayor West — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:04:27 -0800

I'm about to make whatever the opposite of a humblebrag is ("awesomepity"?) but I've seen the entire run at least a dozen times and every single time I will discover something I missed before. Yup. Fourth time through, I finally caught the reference in Buster's "I shall put a fig in my mouth" line in "Exit Strategy", and just about fell off the couch.

By: mysticreferee

mysticreferee — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:05:09 -0800

On the off chance the so called season 4 may suck I'd like to disavow it right now in preparation for saying told you so if it sucks. "You are a worse psychiatrist than you are a son-in-law, and you will never get work as an actor because you have no talent."

By: gompa

gompa — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:05:23 -0800

I've never watched the show. If I wanted to watch a few episodes to get my feet wet, what would y'all suggest? zarq: I want you to steal a car . . .

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:06:17 -0800

"Hands off." When someone finally pointed out Lucille/ "Loose Seal" my brain melted.

By: muddgirl

muddgirl — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:06:24 -0800

Offer a subscription to the show, provide complimentary DVDs, provide the back catalog for free, stream new episodes, and so on, and you got yourself a model that benefits from richly weaved high pile continuity. Arrested Development premiered in 2003 and the finale was in 2005. Hulu, by comparison, was founded in 2007. I think we can forgive both the producers and Fox for not taking the trouble to invent a whole new content service for one television show. I don't agree with the idea that AD is a show you can't just jump in to. The running gags won't make any sense but nearly every episode has a contained story arc that works fine on its own.

By: ninjew

ninjew — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:06:59 -0800

workaholics is subversive in it's stupidity. i was fully prepared to hate it but it is kind of amazing. they turned Office Space into a intentional stoner comedy ripoff and I think they've pulled it off brilliantly.

By: Greg Nog

Greg Nog — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:07:43 -0800

I've never watched the show. If I wanted to watch a few episodes to get my feet wet, what would y'all suggest? Or do I really need to watch them in order? Yes, in order. Just start from the beginning. It's not like, say, Community, where it takes a while to warm up to how good it is; it hit the ground running pretty well. So if you don't like the first couple eps, you probably won't like the show, but if you do like 'em, you can look forward to a consistent output throughout.

By: griphus

griphus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:09:07 -0800

Fourth time through, I finally caught the reference in Buster's "I shall put a fig in my mouth" line in "Exit Strategy", and just about fell off the couch. Yeah, I think the last time I around I caught the "Lindsay is incapable of getting men's attention because of third party's interference" running joke. Also, the dude who locks up the "Free Speech Zone" cage is Neelix from Voyager.

By: mathowie

mathowie — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:09:25 -0800

zarq, I stumbled upon the show by accident, watching one of the episodes from early in season two (Good Grief, the one that parodied Charlie Brown several times). I understood about 80% of the jokes, watched the episode that followed, saw that it referenced the previous show, so I went back to season 1, ep 1 to enjoy it in order and was glad I did. So you can start anywhere and see if you like it, then go back to S01E01 to do it up right once hooked.

By: griphus

griphus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:10:34 -0800

Oh, also the show overtly rewards your for watching it in long sittings, rather than episode-by-episode, which probably didn't help when it originally aired.

By: tilde

tilde — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:12:53 -0800

"Notice it wasn't something the narrator said." I wonder if there's a recut without the narrator. Probably not as disturbing as Wonder Years without narration.

By: mysticreferee

mysticreferee — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:14:28 -0800

I wonder if there's a recut without the narrator. BLASPHEMYBLASPHEMYBLASPHEMYBLASPHEMYBLASPHEMYBLASPHEMYBLASPHEMYBLASPHEMYBLASPHEMYBLASPHEMYBLASPHEMYBLASPHEMYBLASPHEMYBLASPHEMYBLASPHEMYBLASPHEMY

By: fiercecupcake

fiercecupcake — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:15:11 -0800

"tilde had gone too far and she had best watch her mouth."

By: symbioid

symbioid — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:15:32 -0800

\O/

By: gompa

gompa — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:16:47 -0800

There really is no good reason to start anywhere other than the pilot. Unlike any number of other classic comedies - even the hallowed Simpsons and Seinfeld - Arrested Development was firing on all cylinders right out of the gate. That said, if you insist on watching out of order, simply look for any episode featuring Mr. Carl Weathers. Because that way, no matter what, baby you got a stew goin'.

By: zarq

zarq — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:17:02 -0800

mysticreferee: IN ORDER defenestration: All of them in order, all three seasons. Three times. fiercecupcake: watch them in order, and then watch them again. griphus: You absolutely must watch them in order, constantly. Greg Nog: Yes, in order. Just start from the beginning. I'm sensing a mixed message here. ;) Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll watch the pilot and see how it is, then watch 'em in order. :)

By: mysticreferee

mysticreferee — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:17:14 -0800

symbioid: \O/ "Steve Holt is a bastard. He doesn't even know who his real father is. What else don't we know about Steve Holt? George Michael Bluth is a cool guy. His dad is a powerful executive, working for this man. The girls like him just fine. Young and old, it doesn't matter... in the dark. That's why you had me do that?"

By: griphus

griphus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:21:09 -0800

I watched a bunch of Saving Grace with my girlfriend, and the protagonist's mother is played by Jessica Walter who is doing her "icy WASP" thing (see also: Archer, her Law and Order cameo) except for the fact that the character is a genuinely good person, but just kind of cold. Every time she showed up in an episode I waited for something horrible to come out of her mouth and it never did. Jessica Walter trolled me, guys.

By: robstercraw

robstercraw — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:22:14 -0800

Greg Nog: It's not like, say, Community, where it takes a while to warm up to how good it is... Is that right? Encouraging since I'm the ONLY PERSON ON EARTH who doesn't really like Community (after three or so shows). How many episodes should I give it?

By: mysticreferee

mysticreferee — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:22:29 -0800

griphus: Jessica Walter trolled me, guys. "First they turn you into a monster, and then they call you one."

By: FelliniBlank

FelliniBlank — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:23:28 -0800

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll watch the pilot and see how it is, then watch 'em in order. :) It's not really that you need to watch them in order; it's that after the first two or three, the inspired lunacy grabs you by the throat and COMPELS you to do so. I watched the entire run (finally) for the first time over the course of a weekend last year, and I don't regret a minute of it.

By: A Terrible Llama

A Terrible Llama — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:25:44 -0800

The unsung heroes of that show were in wardrobe. George Michael's pleated shorts alone. And his shirts. Oh, God, and GOB's sandals. Those kill me. Tobias hiding his thunder.

By: griphus

griphus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:26:16 -0800

Oh, and, zarq, if the pilot doesn't grab you, watch "S.O.B.s" which is, in my opinion, the best episode of the series, or "Mister F," which spends an entire episode setting up the greatest visual gag in the history of television. Obviously you'll end up spoiling some stuff for yourself, but if you're unenthused by the pilot, it's better to be spoiled than miss out.

By: mysticreferee

mysticreferee — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:27:02 -0800

A Terrible Llama: "...Tobias hiding his thunder." "There are dozens of us! Dozens!"

By: matt_od

matt_od — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:27:50 -0800

I'm not sure why you WOULDN'T watch them in order. You're unlikely to catch them in syndication as I believe the only channel showing episodes is IFC. That means you're likely going to netflix or some other form of internet delivery to get the episodes... So in that case.... just start with the first one and work your way through. also, BEST SHOW EVER

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:28:42 -0800

Jessica Walter who is doing her "icy WASP" thing It is amazingly easy to imagine Lucille Bluth in a shiny uniform stone cold shooting spies in the face.

By: Greg Nog

Greg Nog — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:29:48 -0800

Encouraging since I'm the ONLY PERSON ON EARTH who doesn't really like Community (after three or so shows). How many episodes should I give it? There's some good really stuff at the end of Season One, but honestly, I'd just start with the beginning of Season Two, then go back if you like.

By: boo_radley

boo_radley — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:29:55 -0800

TwelveTwo: "I thought it was because the layer of continuity was so thick that later episodes were incomprehensible to new viewers." You've made a huge mistake.

By: mctsonic

mctsonic — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:30:11 -0800

Maybe I need to rewatch - but I can stop the show comfortably after season two. Season three kinda sucked, I thought. Especially disliked Charlize Theron character.

By: griphus

griphus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:31:16 -0800

I hate it when they hire Yanks to play Brits. You can always tell.

By: boo_radley

boo_radley — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:32:45 -0800

The Whelk: "It is amazingly easy to imagine Lucille Bluth in a shiny uniform stone cold shooting spies in the face." Or the Prime Minister of Italy.

By: Ad hominem

Ad hominem — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:33:14 -0800

I watched them in order straight through, I might have taken breaks to eat but I can't be sure.

By: slapshot57

slapshot57 — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:34:21 -0800

Community was pretty generic until about 6 episodes in and then it hit its stride. The realization that dropped my jaw in AD was simply how many hand references there were surrounding buster starting at episode 1. Amazing

By: cortex

cortex — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:34:22 -0800

I thought the Theron arc was fine but just too long. That could have been done in and out as a pretty solid two episode arc. But it was fun watching Dave Thomas playing the unconvincing English goon thing to the hilt.

By: mysticreferee

mysticreferee — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:35:07 -0800

mctsonic: "... Especially disliked Charlize Theron character." Pity. Her performances in 'Mr. F' and 'The Ocean Walker' are themselves worth the price of admission to a brilliant Season 3. ... and my favorite part is the continued rise of Maeby. ... and my possible two MVP moments of the show: "Welcome to the tunnel of Love Indubitably ... OF HELL!!!!!" "MICHAEL LOVE MARRY" COME ON!

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:35:46 -0800

"What's more romantic than a dildo party/murder?'"

By: schmod

schmod — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:35:51 -0800

Ad hominem: "On the off chance the so called season 4 may suck I'd like to disavow it right now in preparation for saying told you so if it sucks." Ah. The Miracle Day gambit...

By: Think_Long

Think_Long — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:35:59 -0800

If I'm ever made a mod around here, this is how every single one of my deletions will go: Think_Long: [Deleted a few comments, keep it on track you guys. - Mr. Moderator] mathowie: [Just moderator.] Think_Long: [Yeah, but you said -] mathowie: [Doesn't matter who.]

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:36:13 -0800

LOOK BANNER MICHAEL

By: FJT

FJT — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:36:24 -0800

get people to start talking in cipher. There's always a banger in the delicious brown taste.

By: Think_Long

Think_Long — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:38:33 -0800

Army had halfday.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:39:39 -0800

Watching the show is always a bit surreal for me cause I know someone who is a DEAD RINGER for Judy Greer As Kitty and whenever she's on I have a few seconds of unreality.

By: schmod

schmod — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:40:00 -0800

griphus: "I hate it when they hire Yanks to play Brits. You can always tell." Given the entire absurd "Wee Britain" context, there's a fair bit of meta-humor to be found in that... God, I loved that story arc. I've never seen a show so effectively skewer American perceptions of British people. Theron's character was actually fairly redundant to the main gag -- she was simply there to provide a bit of plot to support the jokes. Oh, and watch out for the Poppins.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:41:31 -0800

Wait a second... AD predicted the London Olympic Opening Ceremonies.

By: Think_Long

Think_Long — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:42:31 -0800

griphus: "I hate it when they hire Yanks to play Brits. You can always tell." Given the entire absurd "Wee Britain" context, there's a fair bit of meta-humor to be found in that... It's a quote from one of the Wee Britain episodes.

By: rabbitrabbit

rabbitrabbit — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:42:46 -0800

"Afternoon Delight" was the best half-hour of television ever aired. Full stop.

By: griphus

griphus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:43:44 -0800

The last moment of "Afternoon Delight" was probably the second-best closing gag they've had on the show.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:44:42 -0800

Blow em and poke em

By: shelleycat

shelleycat — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:46:09 -0800

Encouraging since I'm the ONLY PERSON ON EARTH who doesn't really like Community (after three or so shows). Nah, I didn't like it either. I also didn't like Parks and Rec, and I don't care about either enough to futz around looking for good episodes or to keep trying with them in general. They're both just so meh. Which actually put me off watching Archer for quite a long time since it gets pushed in a similar way to Community. I did finally start watching Archer a few months ago and love it (so does my husband). I still don't get why those four get lumped in together but whatever.

By: Justinian

Justinian — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:53:01 -0800

I loved the bit with Justine Bateman. Watching it was so cringe-inducingly uncomfortable but only because of the out-of-context knowledge that she is Jason Bateman's sister; in the absence of that knowledge the scenes were just regular scenes. It was some seriously awesome meta stuff.

By: Quonab

Quonab — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:55:08 -0800

Jessica Walter trolled me, guys. You should read this interview with her.

By: Blazecock Pileon

Blazecock Pileon — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:56:06 -0800

Looking forward to some more Bob Loblaw.

By: hal9k

hal9k — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:59:26 -0800

By: rabbitrabbit

rabbitrabbit — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:00:51 -0800

Oh god, did you guys know that there are detailed Wikipedia articles for each episode? Productivity has just ground to a screeching halt.

By: fiercecupcake

fiercecupcake — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:01:56 -0800

hal9k Away?

By: cazoo

cazoo — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:03:36 -0800

She blue him away.

By: Plutor

Plutor — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:05:58 -0800

TwelveTwo: "I thought it was because the layer of continuity was so thick that later episodes were incomprehensible to new viewers." This is exactly why television shows with deep continuity arcs -- like Lost, Twin Peaks, The Wire, Breaking Bad, and The Sopranos -- never got a very big audience. HAMBURGER The actual problem was that viewers weren't ready for that kind of attention in a comedy show.

By: elizardbits

elizardbits — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:08:15 -0800

Oh well I guess I will have to watch this show now or be drummed out of metafilter.

By: JHarris

JHarris — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:08:52 -0800

What do you mean, dunkadunc? Quite a few of Futurama's best episodes were produced after it came back. Definitely. Yesterday's was a standout, although a lot of the humor was subtle -- Bender made all the decisions for Fry and Leela when breaking into MomCorp when he didn't have free will, and everyone was sure robots would destroy all humans if they had it. That had to have been intentional. Plus the story was very well constructed I thought -- it had two substantial sections devoted just to building up the premise of the story, the whole university sequence and the time on the Robot planet (which was also a nice revisit), both were there just to build up the plot. The ending was terrific, too. "GUILTY!!!" What's that you say? There's a show called Arrested Development?

By: TwelveTwo

TwelveTwo — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:09:23 -0800

The show really does not work out of order. I am sure some episodes are hysterical in isolation, but again, only if you have already watched enough episodes. That is the thing. The show builds a language, then tells the majority of its jokes in that language. It builds a culture, a real living world of jokes. Every episode grows the lexicon, adds definitions and twists of meaning, the new meanings reverberate backwards and forwards, each episode reshaping the significance of past episodes. Arrested Development must be interpreted through Arrested Development. It is why the show deepends on re-watching. I've heard people contrast it with Family Guy. I think we can see the division clearly if we think about it in terms of a language. Arrested Development as engaged in building a culture with its audience. Family Guy assumes the audience has a shared popular culture. How many jokes in one episode of Family Guy requires a familiarity with 80s movies and Hollywood gossip? The show is written with the strangely hopeful belief that everyone is paying close attention to Popular Culture (a thing which is existing less and less). So, it is not much surprise that the jokes are so shallow, modular, and topical. Every joke is built on the optimistic assumption that the show and audience share the same popular culture, a cultural canon of television shows, movies, and music award ceremonies. Arrested Development, on the other hand, assumes very little. It takes a much more minimal approach. If the show and audience are in on anything together, then it could only be the show itself. A clever maneuver. Suddenly, everything is reversed. While Family Guy pokes at popular culture via their characters, Arrested Development pokes at their characters via popular culture. In the first, all is sacrificed unto the altar of popular culture. Parasitically, Family Guy lives off of the culture outside of itself, drawing in what it can to live. In the second, the outside culture is dismantled for parts, it is worked and molded, a parallel culture is built up. Every reference made is made to be re-referenced. While Family Guy is required to keep up, Arrested Development requires that its audience keep up, and so by watching the show you enter it.

By: elizardbits

elizardbits — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:09:34 -0800

It will totally ruin the looks of genuine anguish and horror on everyone's faces when I tell them I have never seen it, though, and I really cherish that.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:09:34 -0800

I am jealous of Elizardbits watching it for the first time. There are so many gifs awaiting you.

By: asnider

asnider — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:10:53 -0800

If I wanted to watch a few episodes to get my feet wet, what would y'all suggest? Or do I really need to watch them in order? As everyone else has already said, start with the pilot, watch them in order, etc. But watch the extended pilot, if you can; it's included on the DVDs, but I'm not sure about Netflix (considering that Netflix lists Firefly episodes by original air date instead of the proper fucking order, I wouldn't be surprised if they've only got the original version of the pilot).

By: TwelveTwo

TwelveTwo — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:13:40 -0800

Stay strong elizardbits! Hold ground!

By: Room 641-A

Room 641-A — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:14:06 -0800

Even after countless viewings, this 12-second clip makes me laugh harder than almost anything else in the show -- especially knowing that Will Arnett is genuinely in hysterics, too. I've got to head out the door, but I look forward to coming home this evening and reading through the next 800 or so quotes.

By: It's Raining Florence Henderson

It's Raining Florence Henderson — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:14:18 -0800

What if you watched the pilot when it originally aired and the next episode, too, and never laughed once, and gave up? Is there an episode that will convert you? Hypothetically.

By: anazgnos

anazgnos — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:14:52 -0800

Given the entire absurd "Wee Britain" context This is possibly a stretch, but I was always on the lookout for possible real-life Orange County references in the show since I grew up there and lived there during the original run. (Of course they never actually shot in OC...I think there was one establishing shot of the Balboa ferry in the pilot, and that was it.) Anyway, at the time I took Wee Britain to be a reference to the Old World Village in Huntington Beach. So there is some real-life basis to the idea of a little themed old-world European village setting.

By: It's Raining Florence Henderson

It's Raining Florence Henderson — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:16:45 -0800

Assume also that you are not hostile to the idea of actually liking the show. It wasn't the show. It was you.

By: FAMOUS MONSTER

FAMOUS MONSTER — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:18:56 -0800

What if you watched the pilot when it originally aired and the next episode, too, and never laughed once, and gave up? Is there an episode that will convert you? Hypothetically. I couldn't get into the show when it was airing. What worked for me eventually was to get a little distance from the hype. It allowed me to reset my expectations for it. The show doesn't live up to the reputation it gets - not because it isn't great, but because no show possibly could. So I'd watch it and be waiting for this rapturous experience everyone was going on about, this renaissance in comedy, and of course it never came. Years later I had a bit of spare time and hadn't heard much about the show in the interim, and sat down and watched it from the beginning and I loved it. So maybe try that in whatever way works best for you.

By: asnider

asnider — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:23:14 -0800

It's Raining Florence Henderson: In your hypothetical situation, which I'm sure is 100% hypothetical, I think the answer is probably "no," but it would help to know what, hypothetically, you didn't like about the first two episodes. You know, for the sake of argument. That said, watching several episodes in a row helps to reveal just how tightly woven the entire show is. Watching on DVD/Netflix, rather than when it originally aired with a week between each episode, makes the show much more enjoyable. But, if one were to hypothetically not enjoy it at all, then watching it in concentrated doses might not actually make a difference. Hypothetically.

By: synthetik

synthetik — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:23:29 -0800

I wonder if they will finally have the reveal about Tobias being a black man - they have certainly laid all of the groundwork.

By: TwelveTwo

TwelveTwo — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:23:34 -0800

What if you watched the pilot when it originally aired and the next episode, too, and never laughed once, and gave up? Is there an episode that will convert you? Hypothetically. I've been told to watch the first season, but what people really mean to say: watch all of it, and then you'll laugh at the first episode. Basically: have faith, then you'll have your evidence. But then, I dunno, I gave up after three episodes. But I perceive watching television in series as less an enjoyment more an obligation.

By: kbanas

kbanas — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:24:40 -0800

This thread was supposed to be full of quotes and YouTube clips to help me waste away the rest of the day. What the fuck, guys.

By: Rory Marinich

Rory Marinich — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:29:08 -0800

Yeah, I think the last time I around I caught the "Lindsay is incapable of getting men's attention because of third party's interference" running joke. Wait, what is this? I don't remember this running joke, and am not immediately recalling seeing it there.

By: LionIndex

LionIndex — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:29:37 -0800

I'm too busy at Army to provide an endless list of quotes, man.

By: TwelveTwo

TwelveTwo — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:32:09 -0800

Wait one half hour, kbanas. The nay wagon will wheel out of town, and the quotin ho down will begin.

By: muddgirl

muddgirl — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:32:19 -0800

As a Community-disliking heretic (not to mention my abiding hatred for geek-favorite Deep Space Nine), I hereby give permission for people to not like Arrested Development. No, you don't have to watch the whole first season to find the first episode funny. Either you like that brand of humor or you don't. Maybe try it again in 10 years or something, but please don't torture yourself because of peer pressure.

By: routergirl

routergirl — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:33:28 -0800

So excited about this. I am also one of the few who never liked Community - caught a few in the first season and just didn't get the appeal, it left me flat every time. Then I watched the Law and Order one, and it hit me suddenly - like a load of bricks from the sky - this, this is FUNNY SHIT. Next thing I knew I was crying from laughing, and my youngest son and I (he also disliked it previously) kept looking at each other, and going, "How did we ever not like this?" Always loved Arrested Development. Loved every episode. I should rewatch them all and see if I can indoctrinate my youngest son.

By: the_artificer

the_artificer — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:34:35 -0800

kbanas: "This thread was supposed to be full of quotes and YouTube clips to help me waste away the rest of the day." Maybe you could pop a tent outside with your cousin Maeby, it'd be a good chance to rub off on her.

By: TwelveTwo

TwelveTwo — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:37:23 -0800

Peers only pressure you to watch something so to share it with you, to share a laugh, share an experience, a culture, a culture which is not yet yours. They only have their best interests at heart. It is all a lot like Colonialism.

By: zombieflanders

zombieflanders — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:38:06 -0800

Nah, I didn't like it either. I also didn't like Parks and Rec, and I don't care about either enough to futz around looking for good episodes or to keep trying with them in general. They're both just so meh. There's a number of shows that pretty much sucked through their first episode or three, or even an entire first season, because they were either trying to follow a formula too hard or were trying to fit a theme that had been chosen by the suits. The US version of The Office was supposed to be a photocopy of the UK version, until they let the writers and the cast make their own world and. NBC wanted Parks and Rec to be essentially a spinoff of The Office, until they realized that Amy Poehler worked better as someone who was extremely enthusastic about civil service rather than a female Michael Scott and let Nick Offerman own Ron Swanson. Cougar Town was supposed to be a show that ABC could market as Courtney Cox banging younger dudes, until they remembered that it was run by the folks who made Scrubs and worked better as an ensemble show about friends and family. Community was kind of meh until they took the focus off Joel McHale and Chevy Chase in favor of the rest of the cast, Danny Pudi and Don Glover especially, and the supporting semi-regulars. Personal opinion may vary, of course, but it's sometimes worth it to give something a little extra time to sink in. If it's still not your bag, don't feel bad about dumping it.

By: Plutor

Plutor — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:38:13 -0800

kbanas: "This thread was supposed to be full of quotes and YouTube clips to help me waste away the rest of the day. What the fuck, guys." Like the guy in the three thousand dollar suit is going to be searching YouTube for you. COME ON.

By: Ad hominem

Ad hominem — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:38:19 -0800

I don't like any of the Star Wars films. There I said it.

By: mrgrimm

mrgrimm — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:42:13 -0800

This post is a little thin.

By: fiercecupcake

fiercecupcake — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:42:17 -0800

And THAT'S why you always leave a note!

By: asnider

asnider — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:42:19 -0800

Cougar Town was supposed to be a show that ABC could market as Courtney Cox banging younger dudes... So, wait, the title of the show actually kind of made sense based on the original (and apparently terrible) concept, then? /derail

By: shakespeherian

shakespeherian — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:44:12 -0800

Maybe you could pop a tent outside with your cousin Maeby, it'd be a good chance to rub off on her. Maybe I'll put it in her brownie.

By: fiercecupcake

fiercecupcake — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:48:32 -0800

WELCOME HO~~YOU'RE KILLING~~ME, BUSTER

By: zombieflanders

zombieflanders — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:49:23 -0800

So, wait, the title of the show actually kind of made sense based on the original (and apparently terrible) concept, then? Yep. They've spent most of the last two seasons mocking the title, network, and other shows via each episode's title cards. They also had background cameos with the cast of Community (who returned the favor).

By: fragmede

fragmede — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:51:43 -0800

Futurama went from "Well, it's a space ship. So I'd say anywhere between zero and one." to "I've got to... raise the CPU voltage" (in reference to CPU overclocking) after it came back, so I'm not going to blue myself holding my breath waiting.

By: clockzero

clockzero — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:53:55 -0800

I've always kinda hoped they would show Tracy, Michael's deceased wife, at some point. They never even show a picture of her. But then I usually get distracted wondering about George Sr.'s father and the genesis of the Bluth Company (referenced in Ready, Aim, Marry Me!) and before long I'm writing scripts for episodes that will never happen again.

By: It's Raining Florence Henderson

It's Raining Florence Henderson — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:59:57 -0800

FAMOUS MONSTER: Years later I had a bit of spare time and hadn't heard much about the show in the interim, and sat down and watched it from the beginning and I loved it. Yeah, I suppose it might be time to give it another try. Might just not have been what I was in the mood for at the time. asnider: it would help to know what, hypothetically, you didn't like about the first two episodes Obviously, it's been awhile, but I don't have any strong memory of not liking something about it. It just didn't grab me. But people whose opinions I respect seem to think it's the shit, so I was wondering if there was an episode or two that might be more likely to buy me a clue, given that the previous advice to watch it in order hadn't proved effective in the past for me. Community didn't grab me until season 2, either. Now it's one of my favorites. But I seem to be hearing that AD was pretty much AD from the start. So I guess if I give the first few episodes another try and they still don't grab me, then I'm probably just a lost soul. Thanks.

By: Pruitt-Igoe

Pruitt-Igoe — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:02:06 -0800

Remember when we were all excited that they were bringing Futurama back? And what happened? Judging from the first half of season 6, it was later-Simpsons-esque. Forced references to current events. Also, Fry cried over Leela basically every episode.

By: FAMOUS MONSTER

FAMOUS MONSTER — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:04:05 -0800

Community didn't grab me until season 2, either. Now it's one of my favorites. But I seem to be hearing that AD was pretty much AD from the start. So I guess if I give the first few episodes another try and they still don't grab me, then I'm probably just a lost soul. If it helps at all, I watched Community during the same stretch of time as AD (I was unemployed) and I remember really clearly thinking, "Hm, this is decent I guess but I don't know if I'm really getting into it," and then suddenly realized I was on my sixth episode, so that seemed to answer that question. AD may be the same for you, I don't know. But again, adjust expectations. It's a really good show and I enjoy it a lot, but it does not live up to the hype. This has nothing to do with the show and everything to do with the hype.

By: bendy

bendy — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:05:16 -0800

Anyon.

By: LionIndex

LionIndex — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:07:49 -0800

hello!

By: hal9k

hal9k — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:17:06 -0800

Here's some money. Go see a Star War.

By: fiercecupcake

fiercecupcake — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:19:08 -0800

Fans of both AD and Game of Thrones/ASOIAF may enjoy Arrested Westeros.

By: winna

winna — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:19:27 -0800

Is that right? Encouraging since I'm the ONLY PERSON ON EARTH who doesn't really like Community (after three or so shows). How many episodes should I give it? I hate Community. To me it's self referential in a 'haw haw aren't we clever geddit geddit' desperate kind of way. When I first sat down to watch AD, I sat stone faced through the first episode. I watched the second episode and laughed twice. I watched the third episode and found myself lying on the floor screaming with laughter after the first ten minutes. You have to get acclimated to the the show's culture and symbolism is in before you can understand what is funny. AD doesn't care if you don't get why it's funny- they don't stop and explain and hold your hand until you laugh like so many others. That's why it's a smart show for people who like dumb jokes.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:21:34 -0800

We opened this vodka and now we have to finish it or it goes stale.

By: griphus

griphus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:26:13 -0800

Also, I love how they just ever so slightly redeemed Lucille's character with "This is America, baby. You pray how you want."

By: dmit

dmit — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:28:35 -0800

I posit that these 86 seconds have the highest joke density of anything shown on TV ever. Simply sublime.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:31:50 -0800

The fact that you call it pop-pop tells me you're not ready.

By: griphus

griphus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:32:35 -0800

Can I just say that it took me twenty years of living in this goddamn country to figure out that "Pop Secret" was a pun?

By: fiercecupcake

fiercecupcake — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:34:15 -0800

This thread makes me want to eat a whole thing of candy beans.

By: elizardbits

elizardbits — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:34:42 -0800

OH MY GOD

By: elizardbits

elizardbits — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:35:01 -0800

wait is it a pun of top secret y/n

By: griphus

griphus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:36:11 -0800

YES

By: elizardbits

elizardbits — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:36:45 -0800

omg

By: winna

winna — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:37:42 -0800

I've been living here all my life and never knew that, griphus. AMERICA'S FAILING SCHOOLS FILM AT ELEVEN. Also are there poffin secret brand snacks in the pokeverse

By: AugieAugustus

AugieAugustus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:37:47 -0800

You guys will never look at Jessica Walter the same way after you see her young and psycho in Play Misty for Me. It's on Netflix Instant.

By: shakespeherian

shakespeherian — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:38:46 -0800

Well what do you expect, Mother? I'm half machine!

By: drjimmy11

drjimmy11 — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:39:21 -0800

I like "Arrested Development" season 3 - the "for British Eyes Only" arc is very funny. The first few seasons aren't that great. And before you dismiss me with "you're just not smart enough to appreciate true genius," let me explain why, concretely: They thought they were too good to write jokes. Like the bit where a prisoner is repeatedly referred to as a "flamer," and you're meant to think it means "gay," but it turns out to mean "Arsonist." Yeah. I see what you did there. You made up a funny double meaning. But you didn't *do* anything with it. There was no comedy as a result of someone misunderstanding this. Now I'm sure someone will say, "that's the genius of it, maaannn. They don't go for the obvious." No. That's what comedy *is*, from Shakespeare on down. If you don't do anything with the misunderstanding, it's really not comedy. They learned that by Season 3, which is why it's so much better.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:41:15 -0800

You can't just comb that out and reset it?

By: shakespeherian

shakespeherian — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:42:47 -0800

Luce, that fur cost more than your house! ....Oh that's how we joke. She doesn't even have a house.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:45:11 -0800

They didn't sneak into this country to be your friend.

By: rabbitrabbit

rabbitrabbit — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:46:13 -0800

drjimmy11: Now, see I think that's why it's so brilliant and why it stands up to repeat viewing. Every joke, from the stupid to the sublime, is tossed off with the same deadpan coolness. So you can totally miss things the first time around, and you get them on teh second viewing, but then there are other things that you miss and you don't realize it until the third viewing, etc. Layers.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:46:13 -0800

Oh and that old racist woman choked on Buster's thumb.

By: fiercecupcake

fiercecupcake — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:47:07 -0800

...with club sauce.

By: Plutor

Plutor — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:50:35 -0800

drjimmy11: "the "for British Eyes Only" arc is very funny. [...] The first few seasons aren't that great." That's the exact moment I realized you were going to be wrong.

By: asnider

asnider — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:54:40 -0800

There was no comedy as a result of someone misunderstanding this. I dunno, I think it plays pretty nicely into the whole "There's always money in the banana stand" thing.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:58:36 -0800

Sandwiches?

By: shakespeherian

shakespeherian — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:58:47 -0800

There was no comedy as a result of someone misunderstanding this. Misunderstanding generates comedy when the audience knows about the misunderstanding-- that's dramatic irony. In that episode, the audience also assumes that George Sr. means 'flamer' to mean 'gay,' just as Michael does, so this misunderstanding isn't supposed to function as a joke, but as a part of a little parlor mystery. The second time you watch the episode, you know that 'flamer' means 'arsonist,' and the way Michael just rolls his eyes and moves on is funny because, just like when George Sr. says 'There's always money in the banana stand' he's explaining things very clearly to Michael in a way that Michael completely ignores.

By: LionIndex

LionIndex — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:01:43 -0800

See also: giving Lucille afternoon delight in her brownie, season 2.

By: fiercecupcake

fiercecupcake — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:02:38 -0800

Sandwiches?

By: shakespeherian

shakespeherian — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:04:13 -0800

Bees?

By: ninjew

ninjew — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:04:44 -0800

GOB's not on board

By: LionIndex

LionIndex — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:04:50 -0800

NTM the whole "hermano" arc from season 1.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:04:55 -0800

From The Cabin Show, which is like perfect quip ping-pong Michael Bluth: You seem more villainous than usual, Mom; are you sober? Lucille: Michael, it's eight a.m. Michael Bluth: So, it's not that. Lucille: I don't know. Maybe it's because I went off my post-partum medication. Michael Bluth: You were still taking that? You had Buster thirty-two years ago. Lucille: And that's how long I've been depressed about him. Lucille: Well, apparently, mood-altering medication leads to street drugs. That's what this very handsome young doctor said on the Today Show. Michael Bluth: That was Tom Cruise, the actor. Lucille: They said he was some kind of scientist.

By: griphus

griphus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:06:59 -0800

"...and a piece of toast."

By: dances_with_sneetches

dances_with_sneetches — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:07:17 -0800

Let me find something on YouTube to show you how really stupid this show was. (FOOTAGE NOT AVAILABLE)

By: burnmp3s

burnmp3s — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:07:19 -0800

That's what comedy *is*, from Shakespeare on down. If you don't do anything with the misunderstanding, it's really not comedy. Shakespeare wrote a huge number of throwaway puns like the kind you are talking about. Also "not really comedy" is skirting around the issue of whether it's actually funny or not, and it's easier to make hand-wavy arguments about how something isn't real comedy than it is to argue that something isn't really funny. I think Louie C.K.'s current show is less representative of a traditional comedy show than anything he's ever done and it's still one of the funniest things on TV.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:07:31 -0800

It's this diet, there's too much meat!

By: item

item — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:10:27 -0800

I was once in a relationship with someone who lied about having seen AD. This person lied about a whole lot of things, really, but for some reason that was one of the lies that bothered me the most. It was kind of like lying about how smart you were - it's going to come out eventually, so why bother?

By: fiercecupcake

fiercecupcake — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:10:33 -0800

All the times they sneak in a character saying "The O.C." and Michael says, "Don't call it that." (Not sure if the reason why is a spoiler or not.) There are SO MANY. Some of them are very quiet.

By: shakespeherian

shakespeherian — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:11:20 -0800

They were not making fun of Andy Rooney. I cannot stress that enough.

By: griphus

griphus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:14:15 -0800

Oh, man, the "don't call it that" joke is going to be lost in time. I can't wait to explain to, I don't know, my future kids that Arrested Development was on around the same time as a very popular and now utterly-forgotten prime-time sitcom called The O.C. and just shut up and watch.

By: muddgirl

muddgirl — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:14:20 -0800

All the times they sneak in a character saying "The O.C." and Michael says, "Don't call it that." (Not sure if the reason why is a spoiler or not.) I missed that the first TWO times I watched the show! I had to watch it three times to catch that joke!

By: vidur

vidur — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:14:27 -0800

Prediction: Call Me Maeby set-up joke in S04E01.

By: griphus

griphus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:14:30 -0800

...er, prime-time soap.

By: dances_with_sneetches

dances_with_sneetches — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:14:34 -0800

Arrested Development creators. I know you read every mention of your show in every blog, so listen up. Give Buster his hand back. Have a quick series of flashbacks about how the hand was rescued and repeatedly grafted on to the wrong amputees keeping it alive but having it rejected again and again, until they realized it was his.

By: shakespeherian

shakespeherian — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:16:25 -0800

I'M A MONSTER

By: rabbitrabbit

rabbitrabbit — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:16:50 -0800

What? No. It's because his wife died of ovarian cancer.

By: shakespeherian

shakespeherian — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:17:14 -0800

It's both, I think.

By: griphus

griphus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:17:16 -0800

It's both!

By: milestogo

milestogo — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:19:26 -0800

Wow...I always thought he just hated the show's abbreviation. Mind blown.

By: shakespeherian

shakespeherian — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:20:59 -0800

Also I'm from San Diego and have never heard anyone refer to Orange County as The O.C. except in reference to that show.

By: griphus

griphus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:21:04 -0800

Also, Richard Belzer appeared as both Det. Munch ("Exit Strategy") and himself ("S.O.B.'s") which has implications I cannot even begin to understand.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:23:31 -0800

when are you going to learn that there's no such thing as free shrimp?

By: AugieAugustus

AugieAugustus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:24:56 -0800

Also, Richard Belzer appeared as both Det. Munch ("Exit Strategy") and himself ("S.O.B.'s") which has implications I cannot even begin to understand. Actually, I'm pretty sure it means AD is the Singularity.

By: Think_Long

Think_Long — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:27:14 -0800

What? No. It's because his wife died of ovarian cancer. I've watched this series 6 fucking times and I never got that? COME ON!

By: smartypantz

smartypantz — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:32:54 -0800

kbanas: "This thread was supposed to be full of quotes and YouTube clips to help me waste away the rest of the day. What the fuck, guys." Like the guy in the three thousand dollar suit is going to be searching YouTube for you. COME ON. posted by Plutor at 12:38 PM on August 9 [6 favorites +] [!] COME ON!!!

By: fiercecupcake

fiercecupcake — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:36:34 -0800

I'm kind of dying to make a cookbook now, but I'm sure someone's already done it. Hot ham water. Club sauce. Chicken in chicken sauce. Candy beans. Frozen bananas, duh. A paper bag with a dead dove in it.

By: fiercecupcake

fiercecupcake — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:36:49 -0800

And stew, of course.

By: fiercecupcake

fiercecupcake — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:38:07 -0800

I don't know how we'll get the recipe for the Bluth frozen bananas, though.

By: AugieAugustus

AugieAugustus — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:38:55 -0800

You forgot Dr. Funke's 100% Natural Goodtime Family Bran Solution.

By: The Great Big Mulp

The Great Big Mulp — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:39:38 -0800

Yeah, I never got the OC/ovarian cancer connection (I only assumed he was referencing The O.C.) Oooo, this makes me hopeful that there are more gags that I've missed -- I want to watch AD again, now.

By: Apropos of Something

Apropos of Something — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:39:45 -0800

You're a chicken!

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:44:09 -0800

has nobody in this family seen a chicken?

By: smartypantz

smartypantz — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:45:39 -0800

"Aaaand you're the chicken, not me. Cluck cluck cluck clcuk cluck cluckaAAAAH!"

By: Apropos of Something

Apropos of Something — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:46:38 -0800

Michael and Women!

By: fiercecupcake

fiercecupcake — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:47:23 -0800

Girl-Michael?

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:50:16 -0800

Her?

By: shakespeherian

shakespeherian — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:51:45 -0800

Her name's Ann, Dad, and he isn't going on her.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:52:46 -0800

For some reason I really like watching Bateman flub his lines (NSFW language)

By: smartypantz

smartypantz — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:54:24 -0800

You were almost arrested for those business cards...

By: Rory Marinich

Rory Marinich — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:15:25 -0800

It took me far too long to get the significance of Tobias's one book passage: "...for there's a man inside me, and only when he's finally out can I walk free of pain."

By: daveje

daveje — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:35:12 -0800

Get rid of the Seaward.

By: dmit

dmit — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:38:59 -0800

That musty old claptrap?

By: fiercecupcake

fiercecupcake — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:40:19 -0800

I'll leave when I'm good and ready.

By: entropicamericana

entropicamericana — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:40:33 -0800

I'll leave when I'm good and ready.

By: rabbitrabbit

rabbitrabbit — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:42:26 -0800

I was waiting for that joke to show up.

By: boo_radley

boo_radley — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:46:29 -0800

fiercecupcake: "I'm kind of dying to make a cookbook now, but I'm sure someone's already done it. Hot ham water. Club sauce. Chicken in chicken sauce. Candy beans. Frozen bananas, duh. A paper bag with a dead dove in it." cornballs.

By: mudpuppie

mudpuppie — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:50:44 -0800

They were not making fun of Andy Rooney. I cannot stress that enough. posted by shakespeherian at 2:11 PM on August 9 [+] [!] LOL.

By: mudpuppie

mudpuppie — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:52:25 -0800

(Is anyone else craving a mayo-negg right about now?)

By: Jon Mitchell

Jon Mitchell — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:55:16 -0800

That musty old claptrap? ... ... ... Ah...the cabin! yes...

By: clockzero

clockzero — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 16:08:16 -0800

He hates "The OC" because nobody who lives there calls it that, and people who aren't from there might call it that, and then second-of-ly, his wife is dead.

By: mudpuppie

mudpuppie — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 16:21:03 -0800

Another vote for watching and rewatching -- I just (now) figured out that the title of the "Missing Kitty" episode works on three whole different levels. Whoa.

By: dunkadunc

dunkadunc — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 16:22:06 -0800

I'm pretty certain I've watched each Arrested Development episode at least eight times. Some more.

By: bendy

bendy — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:13:27 -0800

To the nuts! Swoop me!

By: gaspode

gaspode — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:15:39 -0800

...her?

By: buzzv

buzzv — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:20:55 -0800

So the first episode is still going to be about Michael. Michael...

By: littlesq

littlesq — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:24:06 -0800

You taste these tears. Taste my sad, Michael.

By: King Bee

King Bee — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:24:53 -0800

wait is it a pun of top secret y/n ? "Pop Secret" is a kind of microwavable popcorn. The running joke is that Oscar is actually Buster's father, and clues are constantly dropped for Buster and he never picks up on it, until the phrase "pop secret" is uttered.

By: trialex

trialex — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:25:06 -0800

"Hands off." When someone finally pointed out Lucille/ "Loose Seal" my brain melted. posted by The Whelk That was a great joke, but for me it was realising "your cousin Maeby" = "your cousin, maybe" in reference to all the incest story lines. Seriously, they were setting up jokes in the first season that only paid off in the third...

By: King Bee

King Bee — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:28:29 -0800

I'd love to see more episodes of Mr. Reinhold's Courtroom.

By: littlesq

littlesq — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:39:54 -0800

Once of my favorite running jokes is that GOB knew the word for 'brother' in many languages except Spanish, even though he took Spanish in high school.

By: Auden

Auden — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:53:59 -0800

"your cousin Maeby" = "your cousin, maybe" how did I miss that all these years! How can one show have so many layers of awesome?

By: King Bee

King Bee — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:58:27 -0800

One of my favorite things from season 3 is how after the family goes on the Judge Reinhold show, it becomes a thing for them to say "well excuse me, Judge Reinhold, but..." as a rejoinder. I also love Justine Bateman's character so much I could die. The meta-humor in her actually being Jason Bateman's sister is too much to handle.

By: K0dama

K0dama — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 18:19:10 -0800

I think AD needs the pop-up video treatment - I've only seen it once, and I know sooo much went over my head.

By: junco

junco — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 18:40:20 -0800

I dunno, I think it plays pretty nicely into the whole "There's always money in the banana stand" thing. Oh, almost definitely!

By: Pruitt-Igoe

Pruitt-Igoe — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 18:43:42 -0800

I would buy the "Big Yellow Joint" 7" single.

By: this one is danny

this one is danny — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 00:45:46 -0800

You taste these tears! Taste my sad, Michael.

By: krinklyfig

krinklyfig — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 04:14:44 -0800

OK, who'd like a banger in the mouth?

By: krinklyfig

krinklyfig — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 04:25:10 -0800

Michael: Could it be love? Gob: I know what an erection feels like, Michael. No, it's the opposite - it's like my heart is getting hard.

By: A Terrible Llama

A Terrible Llama — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 08:15:22 -0800

Oh yay, we're at the posting quotes part! I'm a complete failure. I can't even fake the death of a stripper.

By: Think_Long

Think_Long — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 09:21:28 -0800

JUICE?!!

By: shakespeherian

shakespeherian — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 10:16:22 -0800

Is all that juice for us? This party is going to be off the hook.

By: rabbitrabbit

rabbitrabbit — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 10:21:07 -0800

Oh my god! A hook reference I didn't catch before!

By: Room 641-A

Room 641-A — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 11:24:11 -0800

I can't be the only one who winks at the medicine bottle.

By: dhartung

dhartung — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 11:38:17 -0800

I've heard people contrast it with Family Guy. OMG I'm sold.

By: likeatoaster

likeatoaster — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 13:34:37 -0800

that's it; i'm re-watching the whole damn thing.

By: daniel striped tiger

daniel striped tiger — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 11:57:02 -0800

To everyone watching for the first time: Watch all the episodes in order, but re-watch the pilot before watching the finale. Seriously, there are jokes set up in the PILOT that don't pay off until the FINALE. It's wonderful.

By: Llama-Lime

Llama-Lime — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 20:33:38 -0800

I just started watching the pilot again, and at 11:54 there is, dare I guess, a loose seal in the background. Twelve minutes in, and Tony Hale is already doomed.

By: Think_Long

Think_Long — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 06:31:23 -0800

I'M A MONSTER! GAAAAAAAAH

By: Plutor

Plutor — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 06:57:00 -0800

For your enjoyment: Tony Hale lip syncing to Domo Arigato, the ad this scene was referring to.