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November 29, 2011
Five Things the New Arrested Development Should Do to Stay Great
Some notes as we rejoice over the return of the Bluths.
By Jonathan Weed
Arrested Development is back and everything in the world is beautiful again! So said Facebook, Twitter, and Scandal Makers, exploding with the news that Netflix had officially agreed to air a fourth season of the beloved show via its online subscription service in early 2013. But it's a little early to break out the sparkling cider (or go down to the liquor store and get ourselves some... liquor). A five-year hiatus and a series of failed projects from Mitch Hurwitz since the show's cancellation should make even the most enthusiastic AD fan a little wary. But, never fear, Arrested Development writers: here are five suggestions for keeping the show great.
1. Avoid flashy guest stars.
When Arrested Development's second season was cut short after terrible ratings, Fox told show runner Mitch Hurwitz to find a star. The result was the introduction of Charlize Theron as the beautiful, kind, mentally retarded Rita Leeds. It did not go well: Theron's broad performance upset the show's comedic rhythms, and, even if her inclusion did draw new viewers, it's unlikely that they stuck around for long. (She was, after all, retarded.) Hurwitz might be tempted to use the show's prestige to cast big guest stars in the new episodes, but here's a tip: if he wants to keep the show great, he shouldn't call anyone more famous than Carl Weathers.
2. Lay off of Tobias.
David Cross is a great actor and a great comedian, and Arrested Development has used his skills extremely well. Unfortunately, as the show's ratings fell, Cross's Tobias was forced to do more and more of the show's comedic heavy lifting. Tobias is most effective when he's studiously deluding himself into thinking he's a heterosexual professional actor. His Season 3 arc — mole suit, hair plugs, graft-versus-host, teabagging references — wasn't delusional: it was insane. Let's hope Season 3 was a brief aberration and the new Tobias returns to his roots: community-theater auditions, fire-sale commercials, and serious self-help books about the men inside him.
3. Move beyond old jokes.
In the years since Arrested Development was canceled, some of its best recurring jokes have become well-worn totems of comedic cool. (Nothing makes friends faster than a well timed "Her?") As much as I like jokes about blowing oneself, loading new Arrested Development episodes with references to old ones will make the new season feel stale. And, as tempting as it might be to revisit old plotlines, the writers should be cautious. Look at Season 3's "Making a Stand": a competent episode, but funny new jokes got lost among the weight of references to Season 1's monumental "Pier Pressure." The "Bob Loblaw" puns in Season 3 prove that satisfying recurring jokes can be built from scratch over the course of just a few episodes. The new season should do just that.
4. Put Maeby back in school.
Maeby Fünke has always been the least funny character in the family, but her role as the lazy schemer has often proved indispensible to the mechanics of the show's plot. She's funniest when the show subverts expectations and makes her plans more complicated and conniving than situation deserves. That's why making Maeby a successful film executive was a misstep. When she gets actual power, Maeby isn't ridiculous. She's just ridiculously lucky. The best environment for Maeby is back in high school, where her Machiavellian impulses are thoroughly out of place and the stakes suitably low. If Arrested Development wants to use Maeby to her full potential, the new season should bring her back to her Surely Fünke-impersonating, Steve Holt-loving, crocodile-spelling roots.
5. Don't let George Michael steal the show.
Arrested Development gave a boost to a lot of struggling careers. (Sorry, Jason Bateman, but The Hogan Family wasn't exactly a classic.) But no one benefited more than Michael Cera, America's most unlikely movie star. Cera has been playing a version of George Michael in movies for the last five years and it's made him famous, but the new Arrested Development shouldn't acknowledge that stardom or make him the center of the show. Like Maeby, George Michael does best when the stakes are low. George Michael should stay out of the family business and stick to the supporting role he perfected during the show's first three seasons. Sometimes, there's nothing wrong with sitting back and letting your father teach you a lesson.
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Arrested Development
Commentarium (41 Comments)
I do kinda see what you're saying, but these suggestions are really the reasons why I love this show so much. I need more Tobias, guest stars, and I love when you see the jokes come full circle. I got a suggestion, more Gene Parmasian, and Franklin.
Franklin!!!
Nerve doesn't really seem like the authority on what will make the new season of AD work. Just sayin.
Things that were wrong about this article: Everything. There are so many reasons a new AD season could suck (Sit Down, Shut Up and Running Wilde being the first two that come to mind; putting a fragile, beloved enterprise in a completely untested production format being another), but Rita, Tobias, Maeby and George Michael are NOT those reasons. "That's why making Maeby a successful film executive was a misstep" -- Seriously? The Old Man and the Sea? Return of Gangy? Marry me? That was a freebie? And trying to take the references and running gags out of AD is like trying to take the cheese out of cheesecake. I mean, what's the point? Do you even LIKE cheesecake? If not, instead of changing the delicious cheesy slice so many enjoy, why don't you just find a cake that doesn't have cheese in it? You know, all of the other ones on television? Not too many winking in-jokes on Two and a Half Men, I don't think.
Brilliantly put. Too bad there's no way to upvote comments here. Hi reddit!
Hi person.
there you are, reddit.
why wasn't i invinted?
i'm never invited:(
It's okay, Digg. I'm not busy either. Want to hang out?
I'd agree with the previous four posters and also add that AD was really, really fantastic at integrating famous guest stars into episodes. Mr. F wasn't the show's best plotline, but some of the greatest stories came from A-list guest stars (Lucille 2, Maggie Lizer, and GOB's wife come to mind).
Maybe it's because I came to the show late and just started watching when Charlize Theron was on, but I thought she was brilliant, and she was the reason I got hooked.
The whole MR F arc was hilarious and genius. It's been years, but my friends and I still says "MR F!" James-Bond-voiceover style when one of us does something oddball or dumb.
Seriously Nerve, CMON!!!!
This article shows a different opinion from everyone I've heard from, but I am in full agreement with the previous posters. I'm sure the writers know not to just pound in all of these flashy stars, but the flashy stars were always great fun for me. Ben Stiller was great. Charlize was great. Amy Poehler was great. Lay off Tobias? WHAAAT? COME ON. I love crazy Tobias. More of him and Portia having marriage problems. Old jokes are what make this show pure magic. I enjoy laughing at a joke from 3 episodes ago. I'm sure Egg would agree with me. All of the people show in the picture above are stars of the show, and the writers will give all of them appropriate screen time. It sucks that this show was clearly ahead of its time, but now, it has a chance to have this amazing comeback. The writers won't mess it up. Hopefully. It's arrested development.
are you guys sure you're fans of this show? because your suggestions suggest otherwise.
I mean, your article suggest otherwise.
Let me be the voice of dissent here and say that I think these suggestions are spot on. How disappointing would it be for new episodes of AD to come out and only elicit laughter when they made us go "ahhh yeah, I remember that joke."? Arrested has already established a lengthy list of fantastic in-jokes that it's successfully mined over its 53-episode span. A reference here and there would be great and true to the spirit of the show, but to get bogged down in familiarity out of some misplaced obligation to the fans would, I think, ultimately prove disappointing. It certainly would to me. Also, the Tobias arc in season 3 was one of the low-points of AD's brilliant run. Over the top and cartoonish and blatantly mean-spirited.
I think most of these suggestions are just to ensure that the show doesn't stray too far from what we all love, which is why I find this backlash a little strange. Read a little closer, Nerve isn't suggesting they omit Tobias, Maeby, and George Michael. They're merely saying that they should stay true to the essence of their characters. I love season 3 to death but I do think it was sometimes toeing the line between character and caricature, and I wouldn't mind seeing some of the more outrageous, potentially out of character aspects toned down a bit for its return.
Absolutely agree.
Nerve got it spot on with this article.
"...her inclusion did draw new viewers, it's unlikely that they stuck around for long. (She was, after all, retarded.)"
Um, WHAT? Sooo no one at Nerve read that sentence and thought, "hey maybe we shouldn't be insensitive assholes about people with intellectual disabilities!" Ableism at its finest, Nerve.
Well, that's completely wrong.
Don't make old joke references? You do realize that is what the whole show is about, right? It's a continual storyline that demands you're involved all the way through. To suggest that you dump the chicken dance or any other of their repetitive jokes is asinine.
Where in this article did they say "Don't make old joke references"? I think the exact sentence was "loading new Arrested Development episodes with references to old ones will make the new season feel stale". Which is true.
I'd be happy to see the chicken dances again, or a well timed "I've made a huge mistake", but the return of the show shouldn't RELY on those jokes - it should make plenty of new ones.
But it's not true. It should read "loading new Arrested Development episodes with references to old ones will make the new season feel like all of the other seasons." They have always been loaded with references, and taking that out would be contrary to the spirit of the show.
I don't think anyone is saying that there should be no new jokes or that every episode should be about Michael Ceras -- but there is no reason to be afraid of that based on the previous seasons of Arrested Development. It was always a solid ensemble show that used references to great effect. Oh, and it always had a lot of broad and physical comedy, too.
What really sucks about the article is that it seems to be saying, "Don't do this thing that sucks... the way the third season sucked." The third season did not suck. Straight up.
"Tobias returns to his roots: community-theater auditions, fire-sale commercials, and serious self-help books about the men inside him. ...3. Move beyond old jokes."
Do you see how this could be a fair bit contradictory?
Hey man, cool story. But I forgot its name...what was it again?
I disagree with all except number 5.
I fully agree with all of them. The show is about subtlety and that's what I found great about it. Shows that put the punch line out there and over exaggerate it ruin it for me. Predictability will ruin this show.
There is always money in the banana stand...
nothing bad about arrested development, everything on that show was laughs!
OK, your first two points are ridiculous and unfounded by some utterly classic AD moments. Boo and hiss.
Ya I disagree completely with this article, I hope they read it and do the exact opposite
Some interesting points. I think the Rita subplot was pretty ballsy, though (and retarded though I may as well be, I was actually surprised by the revelation.)
For another bloggy perspective:
http://dennisandjustin.tumblr.com/post/13139927195/the-arrested-developm...
I will say that, as quibbly as some of this articles points may be, they are just that- quibbles over one of the best tv shows in history. I don't think the things that didn't work were the result of some decline in quality- to quote a great fucking movie "Like Papa Wallenda said, 'Life is on the wire. The rest is just waiting.'"
Yeah right! Like the guy in the $3000 suit is going to agree with this article! C'MON!
The name of this article should be, "If you want your show to succeed, then you NEED to hire me". This is so black and white, father knows best BS. When you have a network slashing your budget, and producers trying to direct your actors over your shoulder, it makes it much harder to achieve the "perfect" version of the show you describe.
Thank God you're not a write for AD. Your strategy seems to be "change everything". No. Just no.
Offensive suggestions. Nerve is a website i will NEVER return to. I have watched this show at least 6 times. Its hillarious and theres not one episode that isnt brilliant writing. As well as stringing plots together and reinfusing jokes from previous episodes it does an incredible job at portraying the characters. Avoid flashy guest stars?? Are you kidding? What is this, everybody love raymond? Thats a huge part of the show. Its fantastic, seeing ben stiller i almost...i was excited. "Less david cross, less micheal cera, less jokes and hmm why dont you just write it how we say because little girls have to be put in school for ratings. "
Ridiculous
Charlize Theron completely ruined half of the 3rd season. A single episode? Ok... 5 episodes of the worst subplot to ever be on the show? C'mon!!! The article is right on about Tobias as well during season 3... his little quotes here and there were hilarious during the first two seasons were brilliant, but his wheelchair bound antics wore thin during season 3....
Completely agree, the charlize eps were the lowlight of the whole 3 series. i thought she was terrible and the plot just as bad.
if AD run on jokes are old then you were never a fan. i'm still laughing, I just found another hidden inside joke today in the Episode "Queen for a day".
The mole episode is my favorite in the entire series. Tiny town? Tobias as a "spotter" at the gym. Gob saying, "Lord knows they're squinters!" about the Japanese investors. Love it. I'll also defend graft vs host all my life. Uncle Teabag. Hahaha.