# We, the undersigned, just weren't wowed by Arrested Development **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 12, 2005, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757 "2005-11-12T19:47:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/21 "2005-11-12T23:25:36Z")
Count me as someone else that did not like it. I watched the first three episodes and decided it was not my cup of tea. Don’t really care that it got cancelled since I wasn’t watching it to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/22 "2005-11-12T23:32:03Z")
> [@Tracy Lord](#): > > Sorry, obviously I wasn’t clear. > > The reason so many AD fans are saying “well, you probably just don’t get it” is that MOST people who don’t like it weren’t paying enough attention to it. > > The people in this thread are not the most common type of AD non-fans. > > I’m not making a judgement on you guys, but explaining why so many people’s reaction to “I don’t like AD” is “Well, you probably weren’t watching closely enough.” > > That’s the pattern with MOST non-fans. Not the people in this thread, who obviously watched it, paid attention, and didn’t care for it. You guys are outliers on the AD fan spectrum, which is why you’re misunderstood so frequently in the other threads. > > Does that make sense? I knew exactly what you meant (I did “get it”) and still knew what was going to come of it! I think your point was: 5% of the viewing public is bright and enjoys AD. 90% of the viewing public is too dumb to enjoy a program like AD. 5% of the viewing public is bright and it is not their cup of tea. What I _don’t_ understand is how the people who dislike the show and don’t watch it know that posters in a thread about AD were talking about people “not getting it”… ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/23 "2005-11-12T23:37:02Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Wow. All that from a person’s opinion of \*one \*show? That by itself says a lot. Hey, I’m not passing judgement. I’m just saying, if you didn’t like certain works of art at all, after giving them a fair chance, then our tastes are so different that any attempt at sharing or discussion will probably end in mutual befuddlement, or, if one of us is in a bad mood, hostility. You know what I mean. There’s people out there who will never ever recommend a movie you’d like, or willingly listen to music you enjoy. I’m just saying I think I can identify my aesthetic incompatibles by how they react to the things I consider benchmarks of quality for various genres. **Otto,** you’re cool for Sci-Fi, action, and drama, but let’s agree to disagree on comedy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/24 "2005-11-12T23:48:51Z")
I watched it and liked it for two seasons, but I have to say that this season was getting a bit tired. AD just didn’t seem like it was going anywhere anymore. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/25 "2005-11-12T23:56:53Z")
> [@FilmGeek](#): > > I didn’t like it. I just found it terribly uninteresting and full of itself. “LOOK! We’re so funny!” was the vibe I got from it. > > meh. I sympathize with those who did love and lose, though. Bingo. After belatedly noticing the melodrama of the show’s uncertain survival and the accompanying critical handwringing, I gave it a shot – and lasted about ten seconds. The show was aggavatingly brittle and histrionic, like certain other ballyhooed sitcoms that I’ve never been able to watch, either. Just chalk me up as an infotainment, classic movies and sports type. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/26 "2005-11-13T00:24:07Z")
How about somebody throwing out an example of a scene, and describing what meaning or humor, exactly, that those who “don’t get it” are missing? ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/27 "2005-11-13T00:32:38Z")
I am one of the undersigned - I just wasn’t wowed by _Arrested Development_. I did enjoy it, and even bought the first season on DVD, but I ultimately lost interest and chose to not keep up with the show. I agree that it was generally a very formulaic and unchallenging show - most of the humor was one-note, and the only big payoff/laugh came at the end of each episode when everything suddenly came together in “that \*Seinfeld \* way.” I also think that David Cross was way, way underutilized as the one-note joke Tobias (he’s gay and he doesn’t know it!). Cross can be absolutely hilarious in any number of roles (as per _Mr. Show_), but the Tobias thing wore thin about halfway through the first season. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/28 "2005-11-13T00:40:27Z")
> [@Jayn\_Newell](#): > > My reaction to it being cancelled? One of joy. Why? Why take joy in the cancellation? Its’ not an aggressively stupid show like that NBC animated comedy that was basically if Siegfed and Roy’s animals could talk (Pride something) or that show that follows the Simpsons. Its’ just not your thing. Why would you be happy that something that makes others happy is gone. I think I sucks that its’ going away, but at least it didn’t totally jump the shark. What’s that Jay Z line? Die young and leave a pretty corpse? ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/29 "2005-11-13T01:29:38Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > Why? Why take joy in the cancellation? I’m also glad it’s cancelled, and I’ll tell you why. The smug, self-satisfied superiority of people claiming that the vast majority of Americans were too stupid to appreciate the wonderous glory of _Arrested Development_ was annoying in the extreme. I’ll never again be chastised by critics (and some people here and IRL) for not liking this smarmy, clunky show. And that’s reason to be glad. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/30 "2005-11-13T01:38:33Z")
> [@Ellis Dee](#): > > I’m also glad it’s cancelled, and I’ll tell you why. > > The smug, self-satisfied superiority of people claiming that the vast majority of Americans were too stupid to appreciate the wonderous glory of _Arrested Development_ was annoying in the extreme. > > I’ll never again be chastised by critics (and some people here and IRL) for not liking this smarmy, clunky show. And that’s reason to be glad. My reasoning is something like this, only not as extreme. I’ll wander across a post along the lines of “AD is awesome” and wonder, what does this person see in it? Like **Menocchio** posted near the beginning of the thread, it’s just an idea that is so alien to me–I can’t imagine anyone finding it funny. It’s like saying you don’t like anime _at all_. Just…how? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/31 "2005-11-13T01:52:57Z")
I tried to like AD from the beginning, but I just found it too dull. I liked some of the premise, but didn’t feel they worked it out very well. I was sure I would like Firefly, but it turned out to be not all that interesting as well. Then again, there are very few movies and TV program I will just sit and watch. I’ve generally got something more useful and/or interesting to do with my time. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/32 "2005-11-13T02:06:53Z")
As a rabid Farscape and Futurama fan, i know how it feels to have your show unceremoniously yanked out from under you… that said, i _tried_ to like the show, i just found it tedious, plodding and unfunny, yes it’s a pity you lost your favorite show, believe me, i know how it feels, i just wasn’t the target audience for Arrested Development but what do you expect, it was broadcast on the Fox “when we get a popular show that people like that’s not the Simpsons or some stupid reality drek, we _have_ to cancel it” “network” if it’s on Fox, and it’s not the Simpsons, it’s doomed… ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/33 "2005-11-13T02:07:50Z")
> [@Jayn\_Newell](#): > > My reasoning is something like this, only not as extreme. I’ll wander across a post along the lines of “AD is awesome” and wonder, what does this person see in it? Like **Menocchio** posted near the beginning of the thread, it’s just an idea that is so alien to me–I can’t imagine anyone finding it funny. It’s like saying you don’t like anime _at all_. Just…how? I don’t like anime at all :p. And no, I’m not being contrarian. I just don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/34 "2005-11-13T02:23:49Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > I don’t like anime at all :p. And no, I’m not being contrarian. I just don’t. Same here. I tried different styles, but it just did nothing for me. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/35 "2005-11-13T03:28:54Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > I don’t like anime at all :p. And no, I’m not being contrarian. I just don’t. > [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Same here. I tried different styles, but it just did nothing for me. _head explodes_ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/36 "2005-11-13T03:34:25Z")
> [@Jayn\_Newell](#): > > _head explodes_ Here’s a towel. I didn’t mean to be confusing. A few years ago, I decided to see what I was missing with anime. I got some recommendations and tried them out. Nada. Just couldn’t get into it. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/37 "2005-11-13T04:09:56Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Here’s a towel. Thanks _wipes blood and bits of skull off the walls_ ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/38 "2005-11-13T04:14:36Z")
> [@Jayn\_Newell](#): > > It’s like saying you don’t like anime _at all_. Just…how? The same way that I don’t like American children’s cartoons like He Man. As for AD, add me to the list. The show tried to smart and funny, but managed to fail spectacularly at both, IMHO. I liked Something Awful’s take on it: > [@](#): > > That said, the characters are glaringly one-dimensional, the plots are predictable and the setups are generally just slight modifications of things seen elsewhere. The show frequently reuses plotlines like “dad escapes from jail”, “dad is mistaken for his brother” and “Gob wants more responsibility with the family business.” > > Probably its most frequent annoyance is the narration, which over-explains character’s actions and thoughts to the point that you wish you could mute it. “And that’s when Michael realized…” and then just fill in the blank with whatever you know he would be realizing ten minutes ago. Check out the [Memorable Quotes](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367279/quotes) page for AD on IMDB. I managed to read almost halfway through that impossibly long list without cracking a smile. Some of them are so bad that I actually felt embarrassed for the writers. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/39 "2005-11-13T04:37:14Z")
> [@neutron star](#): > > Check out the [Memorable Quotes](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367279/quotes) page for AD on IMDB. I managed to read almost halfway through that impossibly long list without cracking a smile. Some of them are so bad that I actually felt embarrassed for the writers. 🙂 I clicked the link, read the first quote and laughed my ass off (even though I had forgotten she said that in the episode). The whole ‘gay boat’ and lighting herself on fire is just hilarious. I just thought it funny that you said you didn’t crack a smile, but the first quote had me on the floor. Just amused me :D. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757/40 "2005-11-13T04:39:56Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > What’s that Jay Z line? Die young and leave a pretty corpse? **Otto** summed up my feelings quite accurately. But the above quote bothers me immensely. Jay Z? _Jay Z?_ Have the cultural lines been drawn so low? **Jay Z?** “Live fast, die young, and leave a good-looking corpse” was first spoken by actor John Derek in 1949’s _Knock On Any Door_, directed by Nicholas Ray. Jay Z… \ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-the-undersigned-just-werent-wowed-by-arrested-development/330757.md?page=3)