NOT FUNNY.

transatlantic high-5 to Tracer

So I can continue to watch David Cross be "wacky"?? So I can continue not laughing whenever someone hilariously says "homosexual"???? I'd rather get my printer's color management working properly TBH.

yeah, banana stand jokes, Segway jokes, magic jokes, jokes about the SEC, jokes about model homes, jokes about people who wear jeans cutoffs 24/7=so obvious and overplayed

TBH

"You may agree or disagree as u please, fux0rz"

It doesn't matter what the material is if everyone (besides Bateman and his son) is so determined to play a stylized Type instead of a human being, if everyone (besides Bateman and his son) gives off the unmistakable impression of being above the character they're playing. Like between takes I can just see them chortling amongst themselves, "God, my character is so fucking dumb, isn't that hilarious??"

Maybe this is how certain movies and shows and directors get a reputation for being "smart", like the Coen Brothers - they feature many deliberately dumb characters about whom they go great lengths to assure you they are personally far superior to.

you sound kind of superior yourself tbh.

yeah, just about all comedies have people acting foolishly. (I have only seen a handful of AD episodes btw.)

i was never a huge fan or anything but what exactly is wrong with laughing at wacky characters? especially if the writing is sharp, which i thought it was. seems like you're expecting chekhov out of a satire! x-post

I would've been disappointed if I'd been expecting Taxi out of it.

yeah taxi was a laugh riot. Woah that latka sure is foreign.

i can't believe there's a comedy out there that expects you to laugh at the characters! what will they think of next!

i think that was the point x-post

I think TH is talking about how laced w/ contempt the laughter (or the show) is.

Man, I hate when humor is mean and laced with contempt.

i laugh at the show because it's funny--not because i think the characters are inferior or below me.

I thought Taxi was funny.

It doesn't matter what the material is if everyone (besides Bateman and his son) is so determined to play a stylized Type instead of a human being

this is such a weird criticism of a comedy

It's almost like these people are acting!

Tracer, did you ask for the box or was it a Christmas surprise?

My brother watched the first ten episodes at his friend's insistence & just could not get into it. That was far enough in to start the whole "hermano" story arc, and to have seen Gob perform on stage, both of which were big sells for me getting into the show. So I had to face the idea that some people just can't enjoy Arrested Development. That's fine. I mean I have gotten enough shit in my life about not liking Led Zeppelin to know getting that sort of opinion waved in your face all the time is annoying as hell. What I am saying is, Tracer, it's ok not to like Arrested Development.

Good job, guys. You have invalidated all of his criticisms, and now he will surely enjoy the show.

Yeah, comedy is one of those things you can talk people into liking -- people either find something funny or they don't. xp

can = can't, argh

Yes. I mean, look, some of you laugh at it. That is great! I really don't mind! I just completely cannot comprehend it!! Ultimately one cannot perhaps explain these things!

maybe i should list all of my criticisms of granny dainger so you guys can invalidate them and then i will surely enjoy his posts.

you clearly "get it", it just looks like youre too busy thinking to enjoy it

xp

zs/que otm

yes he's thinking "why don't I find this funny?"

OK OK here's my attempt to explain. I know it won't "work" as an explanation but I'm trying anyway. Why, who knows. And yes, I actually think I do get it. I am not asking for help here.

- Wacky "types" instead of characters
- People acting totally fucking dumb all the time, almost as if they are mentally disabled.
- Actual humor at the expense of mentally disabled people (i.e. Buster)
- David fucking Cross. Oh yeah and his character has a really funny name, hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
- Abstract earnestness about the value of "family"
- Every reaction shot narrated by Ron fucking Howard leaking out everywhere

I mean! Ron Howard!!!!!

Buster is not mentally disabled

I could totally see how someone could not enjoy Arrested Development. But a lot of that sounds like it could apply to plenty of shows. Say, Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Other shows Tracer likely won't enjoy:

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
30 Rock

Oh yeah and his character has a really funny name, hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

One of the things I love about AD is that so much humor comes from language: puns, double entendres, silly wordplay, etc.

a lot of it sounds like every comedy ever--Dickens had characters with funny names, we still read Dickens.

i think this is the only thing i've liked david cross in

xpost to self
Specifically the first three criticisms (wacky "types", everyone's an idiot, making jokes out of politically incorrect situations)

- Actual humor at the expense of mentally disabled people (i.e. Buster)

what words do u stress in this sentence when u say it out loud

"I don't find this funny, so neither should you" vs. "I find this funny, so you should too" followed by excessively analytical discussion of comedy truisms and archetypes. Should be a productive discussion.

the internet is amazing

People acting totally fucking dumb all the time, almost as if mentally disabled is where the show most closely approximates life for me, and makes.me feel like, all in all, my problems aren't all that bad.

this fall, the New Adventures of Fezziwig & Chuzzlewit

Tracer Hand is a funny name

You know what Que, I think Dickens also said that family was like, real real important. You're right - this is just like Dickens!

Haha Mordy I have totally avoided those shows.

Z S I love Curb Your Enthusiasm (or least I did a few years ago, when I watched it last) but I guarantee I would not be around for that shit if Ron Howard was narrating every line like some kind of kindly scout troop leader.

Super Cub when did I ever say no one else should find this funny?? In fact I explicitly said, twice I think, that if you like it, great! I just can't understand why that would be!

I had no idea Buster wasn't supposed to be mentally disabled. They certainly make him seem that way in the first three episodes.

please note, i did not say that the show, Arrested Development, was just like Dickens.

I love AD for the characters and the writing and the acting and the premise.

Also, the second half of the second season was completely fascinating to watch as the show marched toward annihilation and the writers fully acknowledged that fact.

xpost, Tracer true, I was just describing a larger pattern of internet discourse. Apologies.

xp to self: actually a big contributing factor to my enjoyment of most television/movies/novels.

http://www.wearebored.com/gallery2/d/10728-2/Dickens+Energy+Cider.JPG

Doesn't Buster have several college degrees?

(This may not have been established until later, I don't remember.)