One of the advantages to having a DVR is that I can automatically record some shows I’ve always wanted to see but was never able to. One of those shows is the short-lived FOX sitcom Arrested Development. I remember reading a glowing article about it a few years back in Entertainment Weekly. During its three-year run on FOX, Arrested Development was lauded as a critical darling. Sharp writing, fast humor and great acting were the hallmarks of this Ron Howard / Brian Grazer / Mitchell Hurwitz production. Sadly, it never pulled in the necessary ratings to survive. Let’s face it: not every show can be Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?
The critics were right: Arrested Development is a great show. The sibling rivalry, the miscommunication and the personal conflicts of the Bluth family are made palpable by the great ensemble cast. Jason Bateman’s Michael is the classic straight man to the show’s cast of kooky characters. Will Arnett’s Gob might be the funniest character in television history. Tony Hale and David Cross are equally exceptional. If that weren’t enough, the show features a revolving door of exceptional guest stars, several of whom appear in recurring roles.
If you’re a fan of The Office’s witty humor and unique presentation (no laugh track, etc.), you should check out Arrested Development.
already & not yet 
I used to watch it regularly when it was on air. I loved it. I have the first 2 seasons on DVD now.Here’s a good article on Tony Hale.
Buster is great. I didn’t know Tony Hale was a Christian. Thanks for the article, man.
Speaking of awesome sitcoms–the dvd of Not Just the Best of the Larry Sanders Show is coming out. It’s on my b-day wish list. Don’t remember if you were ever into that show…
Yeah, there was a more recent article on Hale in the print version of Relevant (which I get), but it’s apparently not online. That’s how I found this one a while back, when looking for the more recent one.Larry Sanders is great, too.
Glad to see you discovered AD. I campaigned tirelessly for it’s renewal each year. I’m still saddened by it’s demise. In an age of pointless narration on so many stupid shows, Ron Howard’s was priceless. I ranked it some time back as the #5 sitcom of my life-time.A lot of critics have made the point recently, and I agree, that 30 Rock is the first show since AD to have such a high ratio of jokes per minute. It’s the closest thing to AD on the air now. If you haven’t checked it out you most definitely should. The season just ended but you should be able to pick it up during the summer. It started unevenly but quickly found it’s pacing.
Scott,Thanks for the heads up about 30 Rock. I rarely watch shows from the get-go, so I haven’t seen it. But you’re not the first person to tell me about it.Lucy,The Larry Sanders Show was great.