At least Fox is doing what they can to get people to watch. It's more than they do for most shows with ratings problems.

Hell, they even brought out Jason Bateman to pimp the show last night on "American Idol." I'm sure most folks in the audience were confused. "Who let in that old man?"

The only doubt I have with using american idol as a lead-in is the demographic. I am not convinced the majority of reality tv audience is the type that watch scripted tv on a normal basis.
But of course I say that because I do not watch reality tv.
I hope Arrested picked up new fans last night.

Another good episode!! Alot of subtle jokes, as many have already commented on, which were hilarious. This is a show, like the Simpsons, that needs repeat viewing to catch everything! The Fonzie bit last night was great, but if you looked away- you missed it!

I didn't even catch the fact that Maybe's "sister" was named "Shirley!!" That's hilarious!!!!

I also never knew that Gob and Amy Poehler are really married.

Can't wait for Sunday's marathon and new episode!!! (and I have to mention again- I REALLY hope this comes out on DVD!!!)

Maybe (har har) I read it wrong, but I thought it was "Surely."

das

You can't be serious.

lol

Damn, I totally missed that. That's classic. Thanks for the info.

Shows like Arrested Development and Scrubs are in a class of their own, but don't be so quick to condemn every other comedy on the air. I'm sure the people around here who actually watch the shows can agree that According to Jim is damn funny, especially for an ABC sit-com; and Happy Family's pretty darn good too (Larroquette and Baranski are fantastic). It's typical practice around here to dismiss every sit-com with one sweeping motion, but it's not fair, and it's really no better than the guy who never watches Scrubs but insists it sucks.

das

I swear I saw him say "aaay" as well, but there was no vocal, just the lip movement. I wonder if they cut it out to make it more subtle.

das

It has to be that way. Any other way doesn't make sense.

Chris

That was my take. If there had been a vocal 'aaay', it would have come across as cheesy and forcing the joke upon the viewers.

Chris

I guess no one read my response way up there...

That guy needs to take the words in your sig to heart.

I did and that is when the Shirley/Surely made sense to me.

So don't give up the good fight!

Chris

considering the sitcoms I've mentioned are some i have watched...mainly due to them being injected into timeslots previously held by shows I watched..I can say my opinion comes out of my watching these shows and thus saying they are piles. Now if that to you sounds like a sweeping generalization of all sitcoms then you may have missed the list. I am a larroquette fan..however the show did nothing for me. Of course I realize these shows do have their fans. Everyone has an opinion, that is why there is a dvdtalk.com

I fail to see how this opinion has anything in common to one blasting a show they have never watched.


I missed the whole shirley thing...
went right over my head. I must agree, this show has the very subtle elements and background gags that made the simpsons classic.

Although I'm skeptical, I have no choice but to take you at your word, and as such, I'm sorry if my comments were unfairly directed towards your post. The climate around here is such that I think it's a reasonable mistake.

We can definitely agree that Still Standing is a steaming pile.

das

You are skeptical that I've watched whoopi,happy family,i'm with her, according to jim and still standing? They are only 5 shows. I wouldn't know how that is hard to believe. I'm not claiming to have watched every sitcom on tv. Four of them run the same night which I taped ...usually abc before John Ritter's untimely death. Of course still standing is only there because King of Queens was moved to Wed.

Now I appreciate your apology, das, however to preface it with a subtle parting shot of "having no choice" lessens it a bit.

..I don't really like the thought of tearing something down in order to build something else up. However with programming...it's eat or be eaten. There is only so much primetime programming and when shows like Scrubs and Arrested are pushed aside for IMO stale retreads, name vehicles and roseanne imitators it makes me wonder.

It's not meant as a "parting shot." It's the truth. Since I know very little about you personally or your television viewing habits, I have no choice but to assume you're being truthful until presented with evidence to the contrary. I guess I have the choice to assume you're lying, but that's not very fair. So I take you at your word, as in my mind, I really have no other option. To say that is neither positive nor negative ... it simply is.

As for my skepticism, the fact that I'm With Her and According to Jim often share overlapping timeslots with Whoopi and Happy Family ... well, I guess I found it odd that someone would make the effort to watch 2 shows, in the same timeslot, that he believes to be "steaming piles." But, as I said, if you say that's the case, then I have to believe you and as I've already done, apologize for jumping to conclusions. I'm not sure what more I can say about that.

In any case, I think we can both agree that it would be a crime for Scrubs or Arrested Development to go before its time ... and while I enjoy a couple of the shows you find to be terrible, I'd gladly sacrifice them in favor of the more unique and superior ones that are the subject of this discussion.

das

Well the parting shot in my opinion is the fact the statement was made...because it is a given that you have no choice ..but to state it..is somewhat akin to one of those backhanded compliments.

Oh and believe me..i make no effort to watch these shows. I have seen them...like I mentioned(thus resulting in my opinion)...I used to tape abc for the first hour while watching nbc. I watched enough episodes of both to no longer watch the 7 pm hour (8pm est).

I am looking forward to the mini marathon on Sunday. There are a couple of friends I have suggested watch it. I'm pretty sure, I've seen all the initial episodes ..here's hoping to missing one.
I still laugh when I think about the first episode and buster even with all the courses he's taken stating the blue on the map as land.

I've tried to get my coworkers interested in this show, using the mini-marathon to sell them, but they just don't want to watch it, and I can't figure out why. My initial assumption is that they're stupid, and I plan to stick with that for now.

das

Looking over the episode guide on tvtome.com, I am surprised there are sooo many background jokes. Newspapers have headlines referencing events in the show ala the simpsons. This automatically puts this show as one that can only be thoroughly enjoyed after multiple viewings ...with pause.

What are their e-mail addresses?

Chris

I have found that it is very hard to get people interested into new shows if they are not big television fans in the first place. You try and explain to them what makes the show unique, but I believe that all they are thinking is "it's just TV, how can it be any better than whatever else is on?" Many people just don't care enough to try to watch something different. I guess we may find it weird because I assume most people here see people on this board discussing a show and say to themselves "these people all like it, so maybe I should give it a chance." Other people just say "oh it must be a geek thing." After telling so many people about Farscape I have been only been able to convince my girlfriend to actually take the time out to watch some episodes. Everyone else just says "well I'm not really that into Sci-Fi." Thankfully, even though she also said that, I convinced her, and now she loves the show as much as I do. (Next stop B5)

I just think that some people will not be convinced and for all our efforts we would probably be better served not frustrating ourselves. Either that or do some Clockwork Orange style convincing.