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"Arrested Development: The Documentary" might hit theaters before the filmI have a tendency to become obsessed with television shows that end abruptly due to low ratings. No matter how many times I ask myself how a show like Two and a Half Men has been on the air for six years while a comedy gem like Arrested Development got axed after three seasons, I just end up saying not-so-nice things about the general public and stomping my foot. But like anyone else in a miserable situation, company is always nice.
For those of you unfamiliar (who have probably lost interest in this post by now) Arrested Development was a hilarious television show that ran on Fox from 2003 to 2006, starring a young(er) Michael Cera, Portia de Rossi, David Cross, Jason Bateman, Will Arnett — I could go on and on. The cast was amazing, and it was smarter than most 30-minute sitcoms, which is probably why it only lasted three seasons. There I go, hating on the general public again.
While there has been speculation about an Arrested Development movie, there has been no production schedule set, and it seems to be far from a release date. While many fans are holding their breath for the movie, two die-hards decided to make their own. Arrested Development: The Documentary is a 90-minute trip down Bluth family lane made by Neil Lieberman and Jeff Smith. The two spent their own money (telling the Wall Street Journalthey charged more than $20,000 on their credit cards) to travel across the U.S., Canada and to London interviewing other hardcore fans. Here's the trailer: “One fan had frozen bananas and a banner hanging on the wall of their apartment,” Lieberman said. “[During the interview,] they even took out a Franklin puppet. They went out of their way to talk to us about this.”
That scene in itself will get me to the theater. While the enthusiastic fans were surely exciting, Lieberman and Smith were likely more excited about sitting down with the cast — including de Rossi, Bateman, Cross and producer Ron Howard — to reminisce about the show. Even Keith Olbermann chimed in about how great the show was. “I hate the words ‘ground breaking’,” de Rossi says in the trailer. “But really, come on, it was groundbreaking.”
“They loved working on the show,” Lieberman said. “They want more of it. A lot of their careers have moved on from this. But the fact of the matter is that it’s something they want to do.” The project has yet to strike a distribution deal, but hopefully when more people learn and get excited about it, something will happen. Which is pretty much why they set out to do the documentary in the first place.
“We felt like the show never got a fair chance,” Smith said. “As much as this is an homage to the show, we’re doing also it to get more fans.” I’ll be checking out the doc for sure. Meanwhile, I’ll keep waiting for the movie. I’m going to need a damn good analrapist if the whole thing falls through. Submitted by on July 1, 2009 - 4:00pm. |
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Seventh post ever.
So so disappointing. I knew people would have trouble finding the humor in the show.
Just bought all seasons on DVD, no doubt one of the best well written comedies I've ever seen. Watching each episode again, you find subtle jokes you missed the first or second time.
I wish I could somehow get them to pick up the show again. If I had the money I'd fund it myself.
The comedic geniusness of this series cannot be matched.
This was literally a genius show that never got the attention it deserved. I agree that the sense of humor on network television is not up to par with many of the cancelled series - Arrested Development, Pushing Daisies, etc. The great thing about this kind of series is the sort of fans that it collects, die hard ones.
And if anyone is interested, Target has all seasons of Arrested Development for under $15.
My maths teacher lent me
My maths teacher lent me the season and told me to watch it. I got hooked and watched all three seasons in a week. Gotta be the funniest sitcom ever written. I can't believe the public didn't want more of it :/
Looking forward to the movie ;)
Tobias Funke the analrapist. Bob Loblaw's Law Blog was the funniest! and the whole Mr.F business<3 Definitely the best show ever.
Thank holy Lord
Cancelled?? COME ON!!!
Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction when I learned that its awesomeness only lasted three seasons. Again, say it with me: COME ON!!! Ugh. Say it the way Gob does for maximum effect. This show is all sorts of win. Why oh why don't people get/love these types of brilliant shows? Le sigh.
The chicken dance gets me everytime. Ka ka kaaaa! And oh, I love Tobias Funke. Never knew Nevernudes existed. Hah. Oh the puns.
BEST. SHOW. EVER.
genius
my fave tv show of all time (after buffy, of course).
the doc looks pretty hilarious, too. completely apropo.
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http://rightmindleftcoast.wordpress.com
Arrested Development
Love Arrested Development
Ah love everything about :)
Vote for my girlfriends documentary in a film festival. Click on the link and vote for "China: A memoir of our Future." http://netny.net/faithfilmfestival/vote/
I just watched the whole
Arrested Development is my
Doomed...
I always figure that most shows that I tend to enjoy don't live much beyond 3 years (if that). I was a big Arrested Development fan, so I was very sorry to see that once again a show I enjoyed watching met its demise so soon.
Some of the other shows that I enjoyed that met the same all too quick fate were: Freaks and Geeks, Wonderfalls, Joan of Arcadia, Pushing Daisies, Moonlight, My So Called Life, Eli Stone, Firefly and so many more, yet Yes Dear and According To Jim ran for how many seasons? I guess I just don't grasp what the "average Nielsen" viewer enjoys or what the networks thing deserves to remain on the air.
I am glad that in the case of Arrested Development someone out there liked it enough to keep it hanging on for at least the 3 seasons we got it for, and yet those 3 seasons were still far too short!
♡OTALIA Forever!♡
"I have a simple philosophy. Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. And scratch where it itches." -Alice Roosevelt Longworth
Word.
I too will need an analrapist!
This documentary looks fantastic! Let's hope that it raises more awareness for the show. Now that it has been a couple of years, (and they've had time to evolve) the general public will now understand/be able to keep up with/might really enjoy this show!
Personally, I think this is the greatest show, not to mention the comic genius packed in all 3 seasons. If the actual AD movie does fall through, I too will need a damn good analrapst...maybe two!
BEST SHOW EVER!!!!!
I miss Arrested Development.
Great news
The lingering doubt about the likelihood of the feature film that eats away at me is slightly quelled by this news. Can't way to see it.
Viva Arrested Development!
I only just got into the
I only just got into the show a few weeks ago, but shortly after watching the first few episodes, I was hooked. As soon as I finished the first series, I rushed out to HMV to buy the next two. I'm so sad it only lasted 3 series. =( Definitely, the intelligent, funny shows always get cancelled.
I can't wait to see the documentary, and I really hope the film gets made.
Genius
They set up jokes for a punch line delivered in the next season(the seal). There were inside jokes that told you secrets about the characters that you could only catch in reruns(we-brain).
I rank Arrested Development with Dick van Dyke, the template of the modern sitcom and with Fawlty Towers, up till A. D. the best written sitcom ever.
"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful. Hate me because I'm with your girlfriend." -The Ki
I loved this show. So so
I loved this show. So so funny. :D Can't wait for the movie!
http://lesbiandaily.blogspot.com/ <---Check it out. :]
my favorite show, hands
my favorite show, hands down.
this movie better come through! until then, i will entertain myself with re-runs and this documentary, apparently. oh, and true blood.
can we talk about...
Yes, yes we can.
Lucille 2!