Monday, September 19, 2005

Are You There Gob? It's Me, Margaret...


I may not know you. But I can tell with one simple question if I like you - Do you like Fox's "Arrested Development"?

A "no" answer conveys any of the following attributes: (a) NO sense of humor, (b) takes life far too seriously, (c) holds some kind of institution (government, education, marriage, military) beyond judgment, and (d) thinks the American dream is the only path to happiness and heaven.

A "yes"? Welcome my friend. You understand that people who like money more than family look silly. That appearances (large house in a new housing development) can be misleading. You recognize that most families are not comprised of a single black sheep, but that black is the majority and the lily white ones are the freaks. You have been proud about something and fallen on your face - with no triumphal rise to victory as the credits roll.

You are the geeky kid whose parents dressed you longer than they should. You are the lazy schoolgirl who would rather lie than do a book report. You are the pothead whose asshole brother always takes advantage of your trust and kindness. You are the magician whose dream to be on the cover of "Poof - the Leading Illusionists Weekly" will always be smoke and mirrors.

So, dear friend, tonight at 8pm EST/7pm CST - sit back and enjoy the fact that this show can only survive for so long against shows like "CSI - Chattanooga". We may not understand the average American, but this show can help us mock them.

11 comments:

Otto Man said...

First of all, brilliant title.

Second, you're right. There are a few cultural markers that I've found separate the wheat from the chaff in the human relations department. AD is clearly one. But I've found that people who make statements about the Simpsons being a "stupid cartoon" or who dismiss hiphop as "that gangsta rap" are similarly dead to me.

I can't remember the routine verbatim, but Janeane Garofalo used to have a bit where she wished she could be someone who revelled in mediocrity. "Hootie and the Blowfish? Sure, why not. Olive Garden? Whatever, bring it on. You know, the kind of person for whom the ideal movie stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan as a gay, retarded couple in love."

Bobbi Salas said...

was just surfing blogger and found you...this is a great blog.

Studiodave said...

Thanks! Please bookmark us and check in regularly. We think we are genious comics. But test results and our spouses seem to say otherwise.

Mr Furious said...

Best show on television. Period.

InanimateCarbonRod said...

Arrested Development is as satisfying as a sausage in the mouth.

Otto Man said...

Brilliant episode tonight. The cabin-claptrap joke is one of their best.

InanimateCarbonRod said...

A Susan Smith joke -- what balls. I can't imagine any other series ever doing that (maybe Curb Your Enthusiasm).

Otto Man said...

"What do you say? Would you like to pitch a tent with your cousin?"

"I don't think she likes to camp."

"Oh yeah, maybe you can rub off on her."

Otto Man said...

Check it out:

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ORF said...

Man, I totally missed the episode! I LOVE this show!!! But I am miserable when it comes to keeping up with a television schedule. Do they re-run them at all like HBO? Why can't everything just be on HBO? Because they show their shit like fifty bajillion times a week.

Otto Man said...

Think you're out of luck with the reruns. At least until the summer.