As the temperature rises, sun peaks out, and wind slows down (although only slightly here in Buffalo), many students across the country are reminded that their anticipated spring break is around the corner. A week or so meant for complete escape from academic commitments; this is the time for students to indulge in hobbies, catch up on their reading, or binge-watch a great television show. One of my spring break traditions is to complete a rewatch of the early 2000s sitcom, Arrested Development, due to it having a few episodes themed after spring break. Every time I return to the show, I am more and more impressed by its master-class ability to present running gags that don’t feel tiring. It stands out from other sitcoms and comedic television of its time , even 20 years later, by elevating every joke’s humor each time they’re repeated.
Sitcoms have existed since the birth of television in the mid-20th century and have had distinct eras over time. The early days involved nuclear family-based storylines such as I Love Lucy. The 80s and 90s included friend groups getting caught up in hijinks such as Seinfeld and Friends. The early 2000s brought a wave of popularity amongst mockumentary television, a style that portrays the storyline as though it’s being filmed by a documentary crew, who are attempting to capture the character’s authentic lives. Arrested Development, which first aired in 2002, worked to combine many of these elements, telling the story of the dysfunctional Bluth family and their fascinating coworkers, friends, and enemies, utilizing the common tactics of a mockumentary. What differentiates Arrested Development from other shows of its time is that its comedy is meant to keep its viewers intrigued rather than give them a few moments of laughter.
As mentioned before, the show follows the wealthy Bluth family, whose patriarch, George Sr., is arrested for white collar crimes in the pilot episode. His second son, Michael, steps up to take over the family business and attempt to bring his family together as they navigate their financial crisis. In developing both the main ensemble of characters, the writers made sure to include some ultra-specific facts about them that create potential for hilarious situations. Gob, the oldest Bluth son, pursues a career as an extravagant magician. Tobias, the spouse of the only Bluth daughter, Lindsay, wears denim cutoff shorts under all of his clothes at all times (he even showers wearing them). Maeby, Tobias and Lindsay’s teenage daughter, fakes her way into being a successful movie producer. The side characters as well have just as much thought put into crafting them. Lucille Auestero is Lucille Bluth’s arch rival who has a hard time standing due to her chronic vertigo. Steve Holt is a teen at Maeby and George Michael’s school who repeatedly announces his name, yelling “Steve Holt!” anytime he makes a significant achievement. These are only a few examples of the way the show develops such unique and outlandish characters, which works to audiences invested in what situations they will get themselves wrapped up into.
The series’ humor feels different in that it never forgets any details from episode to episode, and it makes sure that the audience doesn’t forget them either. Especially in the 2020s, so much television writing is created with the assumption that viewers will be distracted by other things. With everyone having a smart phone and being on social media, attention spans are believed to be shorter, which can make it difficult for them to stay engaged with longer forms of media such as television and film. Many writers aren’t even giving audiences the chance to stay attentive to small details and recurring plotlines, especially in comedic writing. Arrested Development’s writing is the antithesis of this. It was written with the knowledge that viewers were going to remember many of the silly details and gags, which makes it so much more entertaining to see repeated callbacks to them. For example, the writers could have easily brought on Liza Minnelli’s character for only an episode or two to bring the series some notoriety and to have her say a few quick jokes. Instead, they gave her an eccentric demeanor to portray and made sure to constantly give updates into her character’s vertigo management, a niche detail that becomes more laughable each time it’s mentioned. This type of writing never doubts the audience’s intelligence, it’s meant to honor their commitment and understanding of its characters and storyline.
The brilliant writing is part of why the show has maintained a loyal fanbase since its original premiere and why it’s gained so much traction in a new generation. In the age of streaming services and revisiting already watched shows, Arrested Development’s rewatch value is inflated because of the dedication it presents. There’s always a quip I missed my first time watching, a line delivery I didn’t fully appreciate, and a repeated line that makes me laugh each time. It’s impossible to understand the cleverness of the show without giving it a watch. If you’re looking for something smart, unforgettable, with many familiar faces in American comedy, Arrested Development is available to watch on Netflix.