I don't think there is a middle ground with this show. You're either going to "get-it" and love it or really hate it.

I think people are used to comedies like Friends or Everybody Loves Raymond where they tell you when to laugh. A.D is more hands on, you gotta watch and think to get it.

I dont watch because it doesnt look funny at all. Based just on the previews I've seen, I dont even see the potential for a laugh. Maybe its just a problem with the commercials. Do you guys see the previews and laugh?

I get it and still really hate it.

Atta boy!

No you don't. When people say "get it" (as it pertains to comedy) they mean enjoy it, being in on the jokes, laughing a lot, etc.. Someone who does not enjoy the comedy, does not "get it". It's really quite simple.

I watched one episode due to the fact it was highly acclaimed but didnt laugh once so never went back to it.

The commercials make it look way out there, and a lot stupider than it is. I avoided the show too for the first half of the season. I left it on one night during a marathon and was amazed at how good it was. There really IS something for everyone in terms of comedy. I was turned off at first cause it looked stupid, and it's a sitcom on Fox, which is like a guarantee for cancellation. But if people gave it a chance and still dont like it you cant do anything about that. But the thread was started for people who never gave it a chance yet, not anyone else.

I'm sure if this was an animated cartoon, it'd be a freakin success for Fox from the beginning.

Where's the effort in that? I gave Will & Grace 8 episodes to make me laugh. Didn't happen.

Like previously mentioned, this isn't a show where you can just jump in and watch one and get a whole lot of entertainment out of it. You have to watch a few to get a feel for the characters to understand why they act the way they do, and see how the jokes are panning out across multiple episodes. I can see how watching one episode someone could come away thinking all the characters are acting stupid, but once you have that base involvement, you are in like Flynn.

Psh not only do I watch, I don't stop watching. I have an endless loop of 1-liners and site gags constantly running through my head.

Sorry, but life is way too short to invest such time in things that are unlikely to pay off like that. A comedy that cannot invoke a single laugh in an episode or two is, by definition, a failure (for that particular person).

I watched it. It's just not funny. Plus, I tend to not bother with shows on FOX and UPN. They are "why bother" networks to me.

<---MEJHarrison's wife.

Somehow, this thread doesn't seem to be turning out the way Groucho hoped it would.

Uh-oh, MEJHarrison is in Trouble.

I interpret "get it" as "understand what they're trying to do." You can understand a concept/presentation and not be entertained by it. Just because someone doesn't like the show doesn't mean they don't understand it. It's really quite simple.

I dont think it has ad much to do with getting it and it does with who dont like it not having a soul.

No sex for him!

I'll have to disagree with you there, at least as to why I like it. A buddy of mine recommended that I watch it, I did not learn about it here. I guess this board is powerful enough to make people believe they like something, whether through peer pressure or not, that they don't really like but say they do, but that is not the case with me. I genuinely like the show, and missed it Monday because I did not know it was on, because I don't frequent this board enough find out what is going on. I think you're giving this site too much credit. I could care less whether or not any of you think I'm cool or whatever because I like something or I don't like it. It's a show that I could sit down and watch the whole season in one sitting, and that is how I guage what I think is a good show.

When Barry jumped over the shark last season when it was on the dock, that was just brilliant writing.

Oh, and if you want to talk "Failed Experiment," I would qualify "Cop Rock" as one, not Arrested Development.

I've probably watched 4-5 episodes over a couple years, and have tried to like it..watched the season premiere to give it one last chance. I do 'get' it but there's nothing funny about it. I don't think it even made me grin once during the episode. Nobody on the show seems to have any comedic ability even from what I've seen.

Out of curiosity, for those of you who don't enjoy AD, which sitcoms, etc DO you enjoy?

birrman54

There's no laugh track to tell me what's funny, so i don't watch. Curb sucks too.

I love the show, and agree that it's one of the funniest, smartest shows on tv right now.

If people don't like it, that's okay with me. But is the "it's not funny whatsoever" stuff necessary? It wins at least one emmy per year...is that because the voters are deluded into being "part of the crowd"? It's not for all tastes, sure. But deciding that the fans are fools and you're the only one who realizes that it's not funny is a little...off.

On the other hand, I guess that goes as well for the fans who think that anybody who doesn't like it is a fool and doesn't get it...

Can't we all just get along (and watch AD)?

A random list of some of my favorites: Curb Your Enthusiasm; Seinfeld; The Larry Sanders Show; SCTV; Mr. Show; lots of British comedies such as The Office; Extras (Ricky Gervais' new show); Coupling; Blackadder; Bottom; Spaced; Phoenix Nights; and, of course, the animated faves like Family Guy; The Simpsons and especially Futurama.

I have no problem with those who enjoy AD. As I've said, I wish I could, as it seems like it's my kind of show.

I just think it's funny that some of the same people who defend AD are the ones who mock the fans of films like Napoleon Dynamite claiming that fans of that movie are just trying to be "in" without realizing that in reality the movie actually sucks (fans of that movie coincidentally make the claim that if you don't like it, you don't "get it").

Also, I cannot recall ever laughing at AD. Not once in the three or four eps I watched. To me that is being "not funny whatsoever". Sorry. I also have never onced laughed during any of the 5 or 6 eps I've watched of Everybody Loves Raymond, but since that's won so many Emmys, I must be wrong.