[TV Discovery] Arrested Development

Tired of the same old shows on the idiot box? Looking for something new to appease your TV cravings? Come with me on a #TVDiscovery, where each week I'll talk about a new show that y'all might enjoy. This weeks show is Arrested Development. This Emmy Award-winning character-driven cult comedy series (damn that was a mouthful) revolves around Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman), the “normal” one in a family of dysfunctional individuals, who is forced to stay in Orange County and run the family business after his father, George Bluth Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor), is sent to prison for his shifty accounting practices and possible treason.

The thing that really makes this show, in my eyes at least, is the characters. They are larger than life, cartoonish but also weirdly real. I've already mentioned Michael and George Sr., but this is a star-studded cast of some of the best comedy actors. A recurring plot device in the show is that Michael wants to do right by his son, George Michael (played by Michael Cera), an earnest kid who works diligently at the family’s frozen banana stand.

You'd be forgiven for thinking that George Sr. was the head of the family, but actually the real brains behind the families schemes is undoubtedly Lucille (played by none other than Jessica Walter), a socialite who is as icy as her martinis. Then there’s the oldest son, George Oscar, or just Gob for short (Will Arnett), a womanizer and struggling magician (sorry, “illusionist”) whose biggest trick would be to make a real job appear.

Then there's Baby Buster (Tony Hale), a neurotic professional grad student and glorified mama’s boy (probably as a result of him spending 11 months in the womb). After Buster we have Lindsay (Portia de Rossi), who is married to Tobias (David Cross), a psycho-analyst and therapist (with Tobias claiming to be the first "Analrapist") as well as an aspiring actor who might get more work if he wasn’t a self-proclaimed “never-nude.” Lindsay and Tobias are the ultra-permissive parents of Maeby (Alia Shawkat), a 14-year-old who loves finding unique ways to rebel against their overindulgence.

To date there has been four (and a half) seasons, with a fifth on it's way to Netflix later this month. The first three seasons aired between November 2003 and February 2006 on Fox, although I used to watch them when I first got my own flat years ago on BBC Two at about 2am. The show was widely critically praised and garnered a large cult audience over the years. Despite critical acclaim, the show received low ratings and viewership on Fox, which canceled the series in 2006. Rumors of an additional season and a feature film persisted until 2011 (afterall, the goal is always six seasons and a film right?), when Netflix agreed to license new episodes and distribute them exclusively on its video streaming service, dropping all 15 episodes in 2013 after reuniting the cast for a Rashomon-style story with each episode following one Bluth family member. The stand-alone episodes were created as a work-around to accommodate the busy schedules of its breakout cast, and at times that kind of shows.

Show creator Mitch Hurwitz and producer 20th Century Fox Television re-edited the 15-episode season to a full 22 with the hope of providing a new lure for fans and landing a lucrative syndication deal for the series. I'm currently about two-thirds of the way through this Season 4 remix, and I have to say it is much more enjoyable than the almost jarring style of the first attempt at Season 4. It's far from perfect, but still a good effort. Apparently, some of the actors including Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Michael Cera and David Cross are asking for added compensation as a result of this re-cut season. Whether the cast will succeed in getting some extra pay is uncertain at this time, as 20th TV state that they have the right to re-edit the footage anyway they like. I guess it'll come down to what their contracts say.

I must have watched this show over at least a dozen times by this point, and with each viewing I spot a new joke that I failed to notice on previous binges. The jokes come thick and fast, with plenty of "in-jokes" and running gags that spread throughout the seasons. The puns are so slick you'd be forgiven for missing them. Overall I can't recommend this show enough, and if you have Netflix now is the perfect time to start watching as the summer comes in bringing with it a lull in programming delights. Also, you have a few weeks left to get caught up on the Bluth's misadventures before Season 5 starts on 29th May 2018.

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Are you an Arrested Development fan? Or maybe you're thinking about giving it a try after reading this? Let me know your thoughts and feelings down in the comment section, and as always make sure to follow me for the latest Cryptocurrency, Technology, Internet and Pop Culture updates. If you're a fan of strange YouTube videos, you might want to follow me on Twitter.

Oh, and as a side note, I'm trying to get a new tag started; #tvdiscovery so if you write posts about shows you enjoy and others might too, then add the #tvdiscovery tag to your posts. I'll be keeping an eye on the tag for new content, so expect a helping hand if you do join. Until we meet again, take it easy!

Sources:
Arrested Development on Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrested_Development_(TV_series))
Arrested Development on Netflix (https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/70140358)
Arrested Development - Season 5 | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXg2_yExgVY)
'Arrested Development' Pay Dispute Erupts Over "Recut" Episodes (Exclusive) (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/arrested-development-pay-dispute-erupts-recut-episodes-1108966)

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