“There’s always money in the banana stand”.
Every week we are choosing one TV show that deserves your attention because time is precious and there are some stunning shows available to watch.
This week it’s the groundbreaking Arrested Development.
1) What’s it about?
I’d wager that most people just skip past the opening theme song of any show but the credits to Arrested Development really tell you everything that you need to know about Mitchell Hurwitz’s beloved cult-classic..
Ron Howard’s narrator welcomes us into the wacky world of “a wealthy family who lost everything, and the one son who had no choice but to keep them all together. It’s Arrested Development”.
The family in question are the Bluth’s and the biggest compliment that I could ever pay them is that they’re the closest thing that any TV fan will get to a real-life version of The Simpsons. I don’t say this lightly.
Michael is the son that’s responsible for keeping the family together and Jason Bateman’s dry, detached but lovingly exasperated performance is perfectly judged. Without him the show doesn’t work. Consider Michael as the comedy canvas that lets an incredible array of talents to shine.
I don’t have enough words to do justice to the performances from those actors who play of Tobias, Gob and Oscar but the real strength of the show is that it’s a remarkable ensemble effort that features some of the finest comedic writing that I’ve witnessed.
Yes, the show lags during Season 3 and the most recent effort was extremely hit-and-miss, especially when compared to the untouchable standards of the first two seasons, but when Arrested Development is good, there isn’t a show that can come close to matching its unique mix of lunacy and heartwarming quality.
2) It’s almost like…
There’s nothing quite like it because it’s groundbreaking in terms of its composition, writing and narrative style. The most vague description that I could use is that it’s like The Simpsons mixed with Modern Family.
3) It’s worth your time because…
I’d argue that there isn’t a single weak character in the show, even the small supporting roles are brilliantly fleshed out, which helps add a manic energy.
The family dynamic is so accurate that it’s impossible not to see a trace of your own siblings in the Bluth’s but the real strength of the show lies in the surreal situations and characters that come into the model home.
Personally speaking, I’d make this show a must-watch just for Carl Weathers’Â cameo alone.
4) Did you know…?
Will Arnett wasn’t the only choice for the role Gob. Rainn Wilson was also in contention but he lost out to the man with the greatest voice of all-time. Wilson didn’t do too badly for himself though, he landed the role of Dwight in The Office.
5) One episode and you’re hooked…
The pilot perfectly sets up the the dynamic of the show but there’s one episode that really grabs me in the first season. ‘Pier Pressure’ involves Michael enlisting the help of a one-armed man, that his father used to scare him as child, in order to teach his own son a lesson about smoking marijuana.Â
You’ll never forget about the hot cops or the importance of leaving a note.
6) If the show was a person…
It’s every dysfunctional trait in your own family. Then again, not every family has a Tobias.
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