Steve Carrell leaving 'The Office' after next season.

[Red Brooklyn]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

Those whining rich people are, all of them (except for maybe Michael and George Michael), depicted in an extremely brutal, disparaging light. We're supposed to laugh at how pathetic these people are; they are totally unsympathetic.

Totally. I get that. But it doesn't work for me. They're so abnoxious and unsympathetic and irritating that it doesn't make me want to unite against them - even in laughter - it just makes me say "who gives a shit" and change the channel.

But, obviously, I'm in the minority. Most everyone I know loves AD with a passion. But for my tastes, I think The Office, 30 Rock, It's Always Sunny In Philidelphia and Family Guy are all smarter/funnier shows. So far. I'll see if I can ever get around to finishing S1 and see how I feel.

[Reaper16]

Originally Posted by Red Brooklyn

Totally. I get that. But it doesn't work for me. They're so abnoxious and unsympathetic and irritating that it doesn't make me want to unite against them - even in laughter - it just makes me say "who gives a shit" and change the channel.

But, obviously, I'm in the minority. Most everyone I know loves AD with a passion. But for my tastes, I think The Office, 30 Rock, It's Always Sunny In Philidelphia and Family Guy are all smarter/funnier shows. So far. I'll see if I can ever get around to finishing S1 and see how I feel.

I'm growing sadder each time you post. Seriously, if Spain hadn't just won against Portugal I might have put you on ignore out of an emotional reaction to today's CP Worst Statement of the Day: that Family Guy is smarter/funnier than Arrested Development.

[Red Brooklyn]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

I'm growing sadder each time you post.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Red Brooklyn

Totally. I get that. But it doesn't work for me. They're so abnoxious and unsympathetic and irritating that it doesn't make me want to unite against them - even in laughter - it just makes me say "who gives a shit" and change the channel.

But, obviously, I'm in the minority. Most everyone I know loves AD with a passion. But for my tastes, I think The Office, 30 Rock, It's Always Sunny In Philidelphia and Family Guy are all smarter/funnier shows. So far. I'll see if I can ever get around to finishing S1 and see how I feel.

Then just enjoy it for the scripted visual and sementical puns.

The two Sunday Brunches on the Show are Skip Church's and Miss Temple's.

Or the time GOB bought a boat with company money and names it The Seaward. Michael scolds him and tells him he has to sell it as the company needs that money. Conversation ends with Michael yelling 'get rid of The Seaward,' only to reveal Mother standing behind them . . "I'm standing right here Michael"

The appeal of AD is that it just goes for the funny, and goes at it from every angle. Stupid puns, visuals, voiceovers [the sublime episode where Opie Cunningham keeps railing about how a competing show's voiceover guy is a hack], long form gags, recurring gags, gags that refer to real life [the juxtaposing of Theron's lovable character with a still of her role in Monster], gags that don't show themselves until repeated viewing [in the scene immediately prior to Buster losing his arm to a seal, he's sitting on a park bench advertising Army Officer Training, only Busters sitting just so that the bench reads 'Arm Off']

To this day, I can't think of the whole baseball/sex analogy without thinking of what George Jr. and Maebe did and the quick cutaway of Pete Rose sliding into third and giggling.

[irishjayhawk]

Originally Posted by Red Brooklyn

Sorry, man. I thought you might be.

To be fair, I haven't made it through all of Season One yet. And there are funny bits and pieces, but I don't get the overall appeal. I don't know what I'm missing. It just seems so whiney and arrogent and worn... I don't know... perhaps this is best served in another thread...

COME ON! /GOB

[Red Brooklyn]

Originally Posted by irishjayhawk

COME ON! /GOB

Fine. I'll give it another shot.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Red Brooklyn

Fine. I'll give it another shot.

Like I said, don't try to get emotionally involved, or connect with the characters. Just let the jokes and gags follow over you. Eventually it will win you over through sheer funny density.