Welcome Back 'Arrested Development'

Every once in a while a television show comes along that has all the potential to make a great series, but for some reason doesn’t catch on with a regular viewing audience. Some of these programs, such as Freaks and Geeks and My So Called Life, developed a subsequent cult following, further asking the question of why they were ever cancelled in the first place. Arguably the show at the top of this list is the critically acclaimed and award winning Arrested Development, being foolishly cancelled by Fox in 2006 after fifty-three episodes. There were initial rumors that the show was going to be picked up by another network, but the show’s creator Mitchell Hurwitz felt he had taken the series as far as he could at the time, not wanting to disappoint fans with a lower quality product. After 7 years, the Bluth family has finally returned, with fifteen new episodes being released on Netflix beginning May 26^th.

The last time we were tuning into the Bluths, the wealthy family that lost everything, their unheralded leader Michael and his son, George Michael, were escaping on a yacht to Cabo to leave the rest of the family to finally fend for themselves, after Michael did everything he could to keep his family together amongst all their bickering and selfishness. Matriarch Lucille was taking the fall for the family business’s legal problems after selling off a quarter of the company, and we learn that Michael’s twin sister, Lindsay, is adopted. In the new season four premier, Michael, after making a brief return to the family only to tell them off again, is living with George Michael in his college dorm room, while also being in debt $700,000.00 after his own business venture fails. Let the dysfunctional hilarity begin.

The return is long overdue for a show that should not have gone anywhere. Since its cancellation, Arrested Development has been heralded by some as one of the funniest shows of all time, and DVD sales and Netflix has allowed it to catch on with a new audience. It brought Jason Bateman back to the mainstream, and helped launch the careers of Michael Cera and Will Arnett. It also has undoubtedly left its mark on comedies of the modern generation, showing that intelligent and quick joke delivery without a laugh track can be successful. Its disciples, such as 30 Rock and Community, have thrived in this model.

Although there are only fifteen new episodes, the talk is that they are a set up for a potential movie. Regardless of the show’s future and that of the Bluth family, this brief resurrection is a welcome comeback. Only a show of its quality could demand a warranted return. It’s just a shame that Arrested Development was taken from us in the first place.

'The Office' Says Goodbye

I was a little skeptical about The Office when it first aired eight years ago. Could an American version of Ricky Gervais’s critically acclaimed British series be replicated with the same quality and satirical humor? It was going to be a tough task. I originally had a feeling the show was going to be a poor rip-off, and in the beginning it almost didn’t make it.

Thankfully I was wrong.

My first encounter with The Office was the “Christmas Party” episode in the second season, where a Secret Santa gift exchange somehow turned into a Yankee Swap, and the chaos and hilarity ensued. I was hooked ever since.

It was some of these classic early episodes, such as “The Dundies,” that gave the show its identity and helped it hit its stride in its early seasons. Setting the tone was Steve Carell’s Michael Scott, the dimwitted but endearing office manager. Where Gervais’s counterpart David Brent was self-centered in his arrogance, Michael Scott’s weakness was his desire to be liked by other people, crossing many lines to appease his staff.  But it was Michael’s priceless antics that would have you laughing and cringing at the same time. Carell’s departure was definitely the low point of the series.

Other than Michael Scott, it was the ensemble of characters that made The Office so special. We could each identify with them in our own way, whether it is the odd guy taking up too much space sitting next to you (Kevin), the old guy counting the days until his retirement (Stanley), or the lady who is in love with her cats (Angela). The show’s comedy was balanced out by the drama of real life situations that we can all relate to. It was this human element of the show that brought viewers back week after week. After nine seasons, The Office is finally closing its doors to the documentary camera crews, and at just about the right time. I never thought the show could survive after Carell, but because of the strength of the supporting cast that we’ve grown so familiar with, it managed to hold on for two more seasons.

As for Thursday’s finale, it was great to see Kelly and Ryan make one last appearance to end up rekindling their ever turbulent relationship. What was even more surprising was the final and best prank that Jim would pull on Dwight, bringing Michael back as Dwight’s “bestest mensch” at his wedding. As fitting as Michael’s return was, there was definitely room for more screen time for Carell. Although his only lines were “That’s what she said.” and “I feel like all my kids grew up, and then they married each other. It's every parent's dream," they were classic Michael Scott. Overall the finale served its purpose, bringing both closure and a happy ending to the reunited staff of Dunder Mifflin (except maybe for Creed), and going out as one of the most feel good and re-watchable shows in recent television history.