TVSquad

Answers below each question...

1) Where was the intro thing that I was promised? A lot of you guys said that there would be an intro that would explain a lot to me, and that never materialized. I thought I missed it during a bathroom break, but I see my fellow chatcast bloggers had the same concerns.

== There was an intro giving a recap of what had happened before. I guess you were on your bathroom break. I'm sure it was to bring new viewers up to speed.

2) Did Jason Bateman's wife die in a coma or something? Why does he have problems with women?

== We know she died but I don't recall why. He does have some issues with women but he has dated a few times since first season.

3) Who is Portia di Rossi's character supposed to be?

== Jason Bateman's twin sister, Lindsay. However, she wasn't seen much in last episode. She doesn't have a job. Is a free loader. Is married to Tobias. Mother of Maeby.

4) Is this show set in Orange County? The same Orange County as my beloved The OC? If so, are there fistfights from time to time and doomed lesbian relationships?

== Yep, SAME Orange County ;) They even had a small cross over last year (Tobias, I think?, was seen in the background of an OC episode. However, I never saw it myself.)

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I tried answering your questions but I could go on for about 2 seasons worth of episodes. You can enjoy AD without having seen them all but I would suggest getting the DVD's - at the very least rent them.

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The bald idiot is Portia's husband, and therefore Jason's brother in law.

The brother with the missing hand is a different brother from the magician.

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I think you've made the right choice here in letting the show just happen, rather than obsessing over the backstory and past episodes. At some point you'll feel like checking out the DVDs of what you've missed...not because you need them to understand what's going on, but simply because they'll be additional entertaining episodes you want to watch for their own sake. There may be some running gags you miss -- AD buries the payoff to some jokes almost as if they were easter eggs for the attentive viewer -- but not enough to harm the overall experience.

One extra note: this week's episode was more overtly surreal than usual; it's always been very surreal, but a couple of the jokes were bizarre even by AD standards. It remains to be seen if this is the start of a trend...

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I suggest you visit http://www.fox.com/arresteddev/. They have recaps for all episodes and detailed info about every character. That will help you know who is who and also know what happened.

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1) Intro.

The show's standard opening credits were cut from this week's episode, presumably because the show content ran long. Just bad timing on your part I guess.

Though in case you feel like the universe is conspiring against you, consider this. Twelve years ago, I was telling the woman whom I'd just met (and who would eventually become my wife) about a great new cartoon called Animaniacs. I described as much as I could and when we finally managed to catch an episode together, it was one that fetured that characters switching places, such as Mindy and the Brain, and Slappy Squirrel delivering Dot's "Hello Nurse" line and not getting the humor. The point is that despite ending up with the absolute worst possible first episode to see, she still liked the show and we got married and lived happily ever after, so far. And we even had an Animanics-themed wedding, just because we could...

2) The Dead Wife

Michael Bluth's (Jason Bateman) wife died before the show began. I don't know if we know how long ago she died, but it seems to be at least five years. The cuase has not been revealed.

3) Portia

Portia di Rossi is Michael's twin sister Lindsay. She's married to Tobias (David Cross), the former doctor and current struggling actor who drew with the magic marker on his head and got the hair transplants in an attempt to get into the magical act performed by Gob (pronouned Jobe). Gob is the oldest brother and very bad professional magician. Buster is the youngest son whose hand was bitten off by a trained seal that Gob purchased to be part of his act but then released into the sea when he changed his mind.

4. OC

Yes, it's in Orange County, CA. The family also owns a frozen banana stand on one of the nearby beaches.

And for all of the soap-opera aspects of this show, you've got to admit that Ron Howard does a hell of a better job than Rod Roddy ever did on "Soap."

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Hey Yo

Sorry about the name spelling and bashing you, but whatever that is freedom of speech.
I am happy to see that you watch AD, but that was probably the worst one that I have seen, so that was not a good beginning for you. For some reason the first two shows have been bad, maybe new writers,maybe old writers just stinking up the joint.Or just maybe the lost of The Fonz is too much for the show to handle. Whatever it is I am worried that the show will be cancelled. Then there goes your mondays and back to dvd's of alf.
Hopefully next week they will be back to the norm. In the mean time rent the dvd's. Season two comes out sooner then later. Try to stick it out and see if it is you. Watch a few more and if it continues to suck then bail like I might do.
Your Friend Ferley. hehe

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I'm glad you try the show out. Honestly, I think a lot of people have tried it at one point or another but were turned off by all the callbacks. I agree with the person above who recommended the DVDs--the jokes will become even funnier when you see how they've been used before. But I started watching only at the start of Season 2 and was able to catch on without a problem. Going back to Season 1 on DVD was a treat, though. You may want to at least look on the website for the general plot outlines.

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I have to agree with Ferley for the first time ever i didn't like an Arrested Dev. Ep. but then again that could be me since I actually didnt like any episode of the shows I've seen since sunday(simpsons,war at home,family guy,american dad,desperate housewives,grey's anatomy,AD,Kitchen Confidential..yeah I know too much tv) so either it's a really bad week in tv or it's a really bad week for me..

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Nice to see an "outsider" view of the show. I didn't start watching until the fifth or sixth episode of Season 2 and after seeing three episodes, I was completely hooked and bought the DVD.

And people, let's not start saying the shark has jumped on the second episode of the season! Every good tv show produces a few clunkers, and I didn't think this one was even that weak, just average or a bit below it.

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what a week to begin. in my opinion, last night's episode was the worst episode of Arrested ever. Just too surreal for me. Usually only the family is crazy. I recommend going back to the DVDs.

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okay... two things.

1... there was actually a small reference to the OC in this week's episode. somebody referred to Orange County as the OC (i think it was George Sr.) and Michael, under his breath, said "don't call it that."

2... maybe i'm the only one, but i think that the last two episodes have been two of the funniest ever. we (me and the people i was watching with) have never laughed so hard at this show. (and we've been laughing hard at this show for two years.)

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I liked this episode. It had a different feel, but it was still very AD-like. Come on, Tobias trying to be GOB (Michael...HEY!!) and GOB's understanding of love ("I know what an erection is Michael...this is like...my HEART is getting hard").

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I miss the old next time on arrested developement. When it wasn't a preview but an extension of the story.

Also I'm an AD fan and I back into parking spaces. So there.

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Re The OC reference: The Simpsons had an OC reference this week, too. Made me wonder if it was some kind of Fox ordered synergy going on.

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This episode was so hilarious, I laughed until I cried! I totally don't understand how any consistent viewer would be disappointed in it. I loved Tobias' lines and antics in this episode ("40 plugs", "buy-curious", "I can just taste those big leading man parts in my mouth")!

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Watching the first episode really helps get things settled a bit. Like almost every first episode it introduces the characters and their relationships (which, while new information keeps coming out tends to be pretty solid) and sets up the entire show.

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