There's Money in The Banana Stand: Save Arrested Development

With recent hits like Lost and Desperate Housewives and with reality shows proving to not be the surefire hits they once were, audiences are now gravitating back to scripted TV. Many other shows have been benefiting from this resurgence, but even one exception is still disheartening and that is the case with Fox’s Arrested Development (Sundays, Fox 8:30/7:30 central, after The Simpsons.)

Premiering in fall 2003, Arrested has been a smart satire of the Bluth family whose patriarch George Bluth Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor) has been busted by the feds for Enron-esque immoral use of company money. George’s level headed son Michael (Jason Bateman) is left to keep his family together as they live without the luxuries they have had all their lives. Michael deals with his brother GOB (short for George Oscar Bluth Jr.), played by scene stealer Will Arnett, who dreams of a career as a professional magician and, as the magician’s society he was kicked out from says, “to be taken seriously”. Also in the Bluth clan is Michael’s baby brother Buster (Tony Hale), who still clings to his mother Lucille (Jessica Walter), a vain matriarch disappointed by her sliding social status. Michael’s sister Lindsay (Portia di Rossi), is a half hearted activist, picking up causes and dropping them soon after. She’s been having trouble with her marriage to therapist Tobias Funke (David Cross), who is pursuing an acting career. Their daughter Maeby (Alia Shawkat) is spoiled and takes advantage of her parents absent minded behavior. Maeby has been the subject of an innocent crush by George Michael, Michael’s son and Maeby’s cousin.

Arrested Development’s style is different from other sitcoms. Critics have called it a mix between The Royal Tenenbaums and COPS. It is filmed like a documentary, but it is done as a third person omniscient. We see scenes like flashbacks twenty years before that obviously couldn’t be filmed on a normal documentary. Instead of personal interviews, we are granted insight from the narrator (Ron Howard) who helps make the show light. Often profanity is bleeped out and blue dots cover up nudity. Instead of it being a barrier, it is often an opportunity to be funnier, like when Buster curses out his mother and the bleeps last for several seconds.

Most sitcoms rely on the set up/punchline/tag/repeat formula for their jokes. On Arrested sometimes the jokes are obvious, but other times they can be very subtle, often inserted in places where observant fans can be rewarded for such diligence. Plotlines and twists are often foreshadowed episodes before they become focused upon, including some of the dirty deeds George Sr. did. Sometimes they’ll use a bit from an old episode, another treat for fans. Even with obvious gags, Arrested never overuses or overemphasizes like on most sitcoms, much like the brilliant import The Office, which is also shot like a documentary.

Many sitcoms and shows have relied on stunt casting to help draw viewers. Arrested does it too, but they do it in a different way. Liza Minnelli, Carl Weathers, Henry Winkler and Ed Begley Jr. are unusual choices for guest slots on any show, but they work and help reinforce the shows eccentricity.

Recently news broke that Arrested Development’s episode order this season would be cut down two episodes and that the insipid American Dad would be taking its timeslot added speculation that this may be the last season. Last year the show struggled similarly, even though this year it is following The Simpsons, still going strong after 16 years on the air. Luckily it was renewed and the Emmy’s defied logic and picked Arrested Development as Best Comedy (and gave it a few more awards) when it actually deserved it! While TV drama has been revived, TV comedy is in a sad state. Too many cutesy family shows that overemphasize the corn factor, too many forced one liners and too many shows that just aren’t funny but happen to get far more viewers. I hope Fox takes another risk and gives it another season, much like NBC took a chance on a struggling sitcom 15 years ago that eventually became one of the best and most influential shows of all time, Seinfeld.

And to whomever is reading this who hasn’t watched the show, please pick up the first season on DVD, try to find this season on tape somewhere and tune in to the next episode on March 6th. Those who have, please write to Fox letting them know how you feel. When I say this is the only sitcom that matters, I do mean it.

FOX Broadcasting Co.
P.O. Box 900
Beverly Hills, CA 90213

The Amazing Race: Finale and Season 6 Review

As Tuesday’s season finale of The Amazing Race closed, Freddy, winner along with fiancée Kendra, commented on his partner’s “perfect human soul”. If the previous season was any indicator, this is nonsense. We marveled as Kendra commented about how the people in Africa couldn’t stop “breeding and breeding” as if they were common animals. When she left Africa to Germany, she expressed relief about being out of “ghetto Africa,” earning lovely nicknames such as “KKKendra” and “Chesty McHatesalot.” Luckily Freddy was the better half, freaking out when he got hit by a door, saying that he would “break [the person] in half."

This season had all kinds of wonderful people with souls of sludge that helped put the “UGH” in “Ugly American.” Three of the four finalists were repulsive characters. Hayden and Aaron, who did nothing but bicker, were the first to go in the finale. Had they proven to be halfway sympathetic (or at least given the impression that they liked each other), maybe this would have been a more moving moment. Ahead of them came Adam and Rebecca, aka Team Hellboy, after Adam’s incredibly stupid hairstyle consisting of a shaved head with two antenna-esque extensions. Had they not wanted to quit or Adam whined every episode, I would’ve supported them more.

Tragically second were Kris and Jon. Unlike most of the couples on the show, Kris and Jon came off like they actually liked each other, were respectful of foreign cultures and customs and were having a fun time on the race. Winners Freddy and Kendra may have liked each other, but they loved themselves far more. Kris and Jon would’ve been the kids in high school who would’ve danced with the nerdy wallflowers at prom, whereas Freddy and Kendra would’ve laughed anyone below their standards out of existence.

While Freddy and Kendra won fair and square, the finale wasn’t nearly as exciting as it could’ve been. One of Race’s best assets is the fact that standings in the game can change dramatically over one leg. The last leg lacked any major shake ups. Finding the key among a line of 3000 locks was a good challenge top help change the standings, but eating 2 slices of a deep dish pizza? Had the final leg not been in Chicago, they should’ve just driven to a McDonald’s and had a large value meal. I think they could’ve done far better than snacks.

Once a show that was almost canceled, Amazing Race broke out last summer, welcome news to critics and fans. It is still above most of the reality slime, but this season they lowered their standards. No example is more fitting than the scumbag Jonathan of Jonathan and Victoria. Last season’s creep Colin is a sweetheart compared to Jonathan. His most infamous infraction, screaming at and pushing a hysterical Victoria to the pit stop caused Phil Keoghan, the show’s host, to intervene and ask that he apologize to his wife. When he met up with her, he yelled at her even more. I've seen other reality shows where a mere slap in a non confrontational interaction got someone kicked off. Somehow he continued to berate his wife on the air with very little intervention.

Maybe it was inevitable that they would find so many undesirable people to race, but it still feels disappointing that they have sunk a bit from their more lofty position, even if they’re still one of the best reality shows (which is not an oxymoron.) Next season the preliminary question is will they survive the stunt casting of Rob and Amber (from Survivor) on the show as racers. I certainly hope they learned from this season. In the upcoming season or the next, depending on how much was filmed when Amazing Race 6 was aired.

Finale: 7/10
Season 6 overall: 6/10

Super Bowl XXXIX, A Review

So, my New England Patriots sealed their dynasty status tagged on by pundits since their win last year. However, how would the Super Bowl “clean up” following all the scandal last year? As weird as it sounds, I almost wish Nipplegate happened this year, since last year’s game was so much better that it didn’t deserve to be overshadowed by something half the population has or will develop.

Taking a bit of cleaning were the ads. Commercials are a major part of the Super Bowl. Companies hope to get a good start to the year. Unfortunately in the last few years the ads have been less than stellar. Maybe this is in part to the “Post-Janet’s Boob” era of less raunchy and possibly controversial material in ads. After the first quarter, the ads dropped its promising start and sunk into mediocrity.

Three highlights included the Anheuser Busch ad where people applauded when soldiers walked by them. I could never be a soldier (coward), so I admire those who do. The other two were funny. Ameriquest was on target with the ads involving simple misunderstandings. First had a man getting tasered and maced when the clerk at the store the man was in mistook a cell phone conversation for a robbery. The second involved a cat who looked like he was brutally killed when he really just knocked over a pot of tomato sauce and the guy who picked it up was holding a knife meant to prepare a meal. Super Bowl XXXIX’s best ad goes to Bud Light, with the pilot taking advantage of a timid skydiver’s offer of Bud Light by jumping out of the plane and beating him to it. Other things I enjoyed: Burt Reynolds fighting bears “Fosse”, working with monkeys at Yeknom, the announcer telling random people in stores about 24, P. Diddy’s Diet Pepsi truck fad and the hurling of MC Hammer over a fence. Sometimes the simplest things can appease me.

Easily the worst ad was the Silestone/”I am Diana Pearl” ad. What was this selling? Bath tiling? I miss Mike Ditka doing ads for erectile dysfunction drugs. Another misfire was the GoDaddy.com ads. Was this even worth all the complaints they would receive for this lame satire of the FCC scrutiny going on lately? Most of the car ads, aside from the “Frozen in Fargo” one for Ford Mustang, were forgettable as most car commercials are. In a year where we have the final Star Wars prequel coming out, we had to sit through ads for “The Pacifier”? The only thing I understand about Vin Diseil is why Spielberg casted him as the soldier whose sole function in Saving Private Ryan was to die first. But wait, there’s a lame iPod wannabe that’s also a camera? I'm overdosing on sarcasm coming up with ways to show how “thrilled” I am.

While there was some suspense towards the end, it didn’t have the same kick as the previous two wins from the Patriots. Both times were decided by the last play as the clock ran out. The first were the underdogs overcoming the odds, the second was the redemption for a shaky season from kicker Adam Vinatieri. The game was over fairly early on in the fourth quarter. When they stop playing and let the clock run out, things aren’t as compelling as they could be. For those expecting an in depth analysis of the game, please look elsewhere. I am a huge Pats fan, but I'm not much into sports analysis as a whole.

Everyone was looking to see what they would do for Halftime, and what we ended up getting was a mini-concert of a few musicians, which was nice compared to a lot of the spectacles, even if contrasted with the nature of what Halftime shows were supposed to be. I am a huge Beatles fan, so I couldn’t go wrong. Paul was on top of his game, even though some people say he hasn’t aged so well.

After the game came the special Simpsons episode followed by the world premiere of American Dad, the new show from Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane. Thumbs down to my local Fox station, which aired a padded hour newscast which really wasn't important before The Simpsons, which pushed it back to past 11:30. Don't they know how many young people are Simpsons fans? Anyway, The Simpsons is still a little absurd, but it was funny, even though part of the story was too similar to “The Passion of The Jew” episode from South Park. Homer planning the half time show was a little too over the top.

American Dad, however, is complete garbage. Looking at the concept it looked like it was a rip off of Family Guy. Watching it confirmed it, the only real difference is that Family Guy inserts flashbacks and asides at a faster pace, and it is actually funny. You have to wonder when this show was created regarding when Family Guy was revived, because it feels that this was created simply to continue what he wanted to do on Family Guy. If this what we can expect from the revived Family Guy, it seems that the efforts of the fans to get the show back will be in vain. I’ll tune in to Family Guy, but I will pass on American Dad until I hear positive word of mouth from my friends.

So the night went out with a whimper. The toned down, cleaned up Super Bowl was satisfying, but was lacking the bite of last year’s. Not necessarily that sleazy publicity stunts are what they need for a good game, last year’s had it. But maybe this paranoid obsession with possibly offending people is going to end up turning a lot of people off.

Super Bowl: 7/10

Simpsons: 7/10

American Dad: 2/10