According to the Facebook's "Pulse," which, like the Facebook, is terribl(e)(y addictive), FOX's perennial underdog Arrested Development is one of the 10 most popular shows at Penn. Of course, you know this.
You've surely been accosted by some sanctimonious fan who asks you to sign some petition or other to save it.
"Don't you watch Arrested Development?"
"Yes."
"Well, you should, because it's the best show ever. It's so smart, when all other TV is so stupid. All reality TV is stupid."
"Sure. I'll watch it."
"I'm so smart because I watch Arrested Development."
To be fair, AD is one of my favorite shows, and surely a Street favorite. We published an article last semester, much like that conversation, pleading for more people to watch the show and its glorious moments. I mean, remember when Tobias dressed as Mrs. Featherbottom and jumped onto the glass table? Fantastic. Or what about "This is what happens when you try to teach a lesson"? Brilliant. "SWOOP ME"? I better stop.
Now, of course, chances are that it's over. FOX hasn't renewed the show, and played the last four episodes last Friday night. Petitions, extensions, publicity -- none of it seemed to work.
But from a devoted fan who knows this will be unpopular, I say good riddance.
While seasons one and two were some of the best TV I've ever seen, season three just seems smug and cocky. The plots are complex and unnecessarily tangled, and Ron Howard's voiceover will not shut up. No wonder it has so much trouble attracting new viewer -- the tone has become so elitist that it seems the actors don't want their show renewed. Why should we give a shit if they don't?
The two-hour finale wasn't even the funniest thing on TV during its timeslot. I watched the Olympics opening ceremony for about five minutes, and could barely breath from laughing the whole time. Flags being raised on peoples back? Tree-people? Multicolored skating plastic cows? If only they had had a Swiss giraffe playing the banjo on top of the Sears Tower with...
I digress. Arrested Development has been a great, groundbreaking show that we all will sorely miss, but mostly because of season one. Because remember when Buster -- oh, there's just too much to get into.
Later, Bluth family. Be funny again if you ever make that movie.
-- Jim
