BS: Arrested Development

Subject: BS: Arrested Development
From: Stu
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 09:48 AM

I don't know a single person here in the UK that watches this show, which I think is currently on Season 3 in the US (We're only on Season 2 here so no spoilers please!)

Anyway, I think it is possible the funniest show on the box today. Why so few viewers?

Frozen banana anyone?

Subject: RE: BS: Arrested Development
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 01:22 PM

Oh! I thought you were talking about ME again!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Arrested Development
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 02:09 PM

Ug... This... Curb Your Enthusiasim... Siendfield... all TV shows that LOTS of people have RAVED about that I don't -get- at all...

Subject: RE: BS: Arrested Development
From: Azizi
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 03:22 PM

For the "record" [since Mudcat is primarily a music site], I'd like to share information about an early 1990s roots flavored rap group.
named "Arrested Development".

"One of the major success stories of 1992, Arrested Development was a progressive rap collective fusing soul, blues, hip-hop, and Sly and the Family Stone-influenced funk with political, socially conscious lyrics. The group was founded in the late '80s by rapper conscious lyrics. The group was founded in the late '80s by rapper Speech and DJ Headliner, who decided to make the transition to a more positive, Afrocentric viewpoint after hearing Public Enemy. Arrested Development's debut album took its title from the amount of time it took the group to secure a record contract; Three Years, Five Months and Two Days in the Life of... produced the hit single "Tennessee," a strongly spiritual track that hit the Top Ten and sparked the album to sell over four million copies. Its two follow-ups, "People Everyday" (a rewrite of Sly's "Everyday People) and "Mr. Wendal" did likewise. Accolades poured in; Arrested Development won Grammys for Best Rap Album and Best New Artist, and were named Rolling Stone's Band of the Year. The group returned one year later with Zingalamaduni, which some reviews hailed as a major work, though overall response was more ambivalent. In 1996, contrary to Speech's earlier assertion that the group would be around for ten or twelve years, Arrested Development officially broke up. Speech went solo, though his debut album failed to make an impact. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide"

Source: http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/arrested_development/bio.jhtml

-snip-

I'm not a fan of most rap music, but "Mr. Wendal" and "Tennessee" are not at all like most rap music.

Subject: RE: BS: Arrested Development
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 01 Nov 05 - 02:50 PM

I love the show. I really don't watch much TV these days, but Arrested Development is the only show (with the exception of The Simpsons) that I make sure to watch every week. It is THE most clever program on television, in my opinion of course. The writing is superb, the acting exceptional.

The problem with the show is continuity.   You really need to watch it from Show #1, or many of the jokes just fall flat. There are so many "in" jokes, that I would be surprised if it went over well in the UK. Here in the U.S. it has had trouble finding an audience. If you just tune in for the first time, you will probably find it sophomoric and hard to follow. If you took the time to watch from episode 1, you will see the brillance of the humor.   Arrested Development offers something for everyone.

I love all the foreshadowing that goes on. There is an event that takes place in season 2 that is referenced much earlier.   The same thing is happening in season 3 with Charlize Therizon.

Subject: RE: BS: Arrested Development
From: John Hardly
Date: 01 Nov 05 - 03:01 PM

Bateman is just too enjoyable to watch to not have a great vehicle like this.

Subject: RE: BS: Arrested Development
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 01 Nov 05 - 03:05 PM

I just have to give one example of why I find this show so funny, and why it sometimes needs repeated viewing to catch all the jokes.   

This is a "mini" spoiler, but it does not divulge the plot.

There is a certain restaurant that is used that advertises a Sunday Brunch special.   The restaurant name is Skip Church's Bistro. I may be slow, but it took several minutes before I got the joke.   

That might be a problem. People still want the "pie in your face" jokes, something that doesn't require much thought. While Arrested Development offers plenty of that, it is the subtle jokes that make the show so charming.

Subject: RE: BS: Arrested Development
From: Donuel
Date: 01 Nov 05 - 08:52 PM

While the younger women are really sexy the men are beyond bizzare.
The writers are obviously over 50 (which is a rare thing in the industry) as with Malcom in the Middle.

Subject: RE: BS: Arrested Development
From: robomatic
Date: 02 Nov 05 - 08:10 AM

Great show, and it is giving work to a lot of good actors who have grown out of the public eye, like Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, and Liza Minelli, to name a few.

Clever and uninhibited, like Malcolm in the Middle. I'm surprised it's lasted this long.

Subject: RE: BS: Arrested Development
From: Kaleea
Date: 02 Nov 05 - 11:54 PM

I've seen it a few times, and thought it quite comic.