Leave it to the folks behind Community to go the extra mile for a joke. Last night's episode featured Britta's small-nippled ex, Vaughn, singing a song about what a B Britta is. First of all, I love it when anyone on TV calls someone a "B," because it always makes me think of Arrested Development ("Don't call mother a 'B,' Michael!"), and secondly, having Pierce on keyboards and backup vocals singing about how Britta is a "GD B," is just hilarious.
My sister has a friend named Britta, so anytime there's any Britta hate on Community, we harass her on her Facebook profile with clips. Because maturity is my middle name. So enjoy this video and bask in the glory of more of Vaughn's tortured rhyme schemes. Sample lyric: "I wouldn't strangle her, but I would sell her to the highest bidder." It even becomes a singalong at the end!
[Watch clips and episodes of Community on SlashControl.]
Arrested Development-related stories
"Gettin' Rid of Britta" - the music video
Arrested Development news that isn't about the movie: IFC to air series
It seems these days when anyone talks about Arrested Development, the conversation inevitably turns to the still up-in-the-air film sequel -- something that's proven to be more elusive than finding your own Cornballer. Last we heard, the film was actually in development (a term that only loosely means what it's supposed to in Hollywood), but in the meantime, though, there is some good news - IFC has picked up the off-network rights to Arrested Development.
Continue reading Arrested Development news that isn't about the movie: IFC to air series
The latest about the Arrested Development movie
Does it seem like every other month there's some talk about the proposed Arrested Development movie? Perhaps that's because it's an idea that simply won't go away until the film is actually in theaters and fans of the Emmy-winning Fox series will finally be satisfied. Well, satisfaction may be just around the corner. The Arrested Development movie is really developing now. Creator Mitchell Hurwitz is at work on the screenplay -- working with co-executive producer James Vallely -- and the Bluths are creeping closer to big screen reality.
Continue reading The latest about the Arrested Development movie
Ron Howard coming back to TV to make the IRS funny
The last time Opie got involved in a television show, we wound up with Arrested Development. Now he's hoping he can bring back the funny, maybe this time with ratings. FOX has picked up a penalty-heavy pilot commitment for Ron Howard's new multi-camera IRS-based sitcom.Think of it as a classic workplace comedy modeled after the Taxi formula. And we'll have the added fact that the IRS is despised by the American public. And yet, at the heart of the show is a guy who genuinely thinks he's doing something valuable and important. Beyond this character will be the typical ensemble of wacky co-workers you'd expect.
It's oddly refreshing that this will be done in the multi-camera format; making a strong comeback of late. It's being proven that buddy and family sitcoms can still be funny in this format, so why not the workplace comedy? As much as I love The Office and 30 Rock, I could handle something more like Taxi or NewsRadio from time to time.
Arrested Development movie update: not much of an update
It's been a while since we heard any news about that Arrested Development movie that might be happening, might not be happening, was being written, was being thought about, etc. Now comes word from Jason Bateman that the movie is still a go and it's still being written as we speak.Bateman tells Collider.com that Mitch Hurwitz is still writing the script, and once that's done they have to get the scheduling of the filming down (which won't be easy with so many cast members).
Continue reading Arrested Development movie update: not much of an update
Joan Cusack: The TV Squad Interview
Joan Cusack has made a career of finding the comedically crumbling foundations beneath what are at first normal-seeming characters. The two-time Oscar nominee also has a knack for making the most out of her roles, and in the new Lifetime movie Acceptance, both of her greatest skills are on display. In the movie, which debuts on Saturday at 9PM ET, Cusack plays Nina Rockefeller, the hard-driving and high-strung mother of the movie's protagonist, Taylor (played by Mae Whitman of Arrested Development). The movie examines the pressure on high school overachievers to go to just the "right" college, and the story is told in a way that looks at it from both the students' and the parents' perspectives.
Cusack called me from Chicago (where she lives full-time) earlier this week. We talked about college pressures, if the notion of a Lifetime movie has changed, and why she loves working with her brother John so damn much.
Continue reading Joan Cusack: The TV Squad Interview
Hurwitz and Arnett hoping third time is the charm for new comedy
Arrested Development was a critical darling that managed three seasons of low ratings before FOX pulled the plug. Creator Mitch Hurwitz reunited with AD star Will Arnett for this past season's animated disaster Sit Down, Shut Up. Now, they're reuniting with AD co-executive producer Jim Vallely for a third shot. This one's a live-action single camera comedy on FOX starring Arnett as a jackass. It's off to a good start; Arnett plays jackass very well.
The premise: Arnett is rich Beverly Hills stock and falls in love with a tree-hugger who hates him and every shallow thing he stands for. Just for being live-action, I think this one has potential. Arnett is waiting for the right vehicle to make him a star, and we already know what Hurwitz is capable of. Could this be their pot of ratings gold?
Continue reading Hurwitz and Arnett hoping third time is the charm for new comedy
Will Arnett reads Judy Blume and stocks a fridge
Will Arnett has one of those voices that can make anything sound dark, important, or just creepy. Last night on Late Night he read from Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. As an extra bonus after the jump, he stocks a refrigerator!
Continue reading Will Arnett reads Judy Blume and stocks a fridge
Jason Bateman once starred in a funny sitcom (way before Arrested Development)
You can talk all you want about the best thing about the web: keeping friends and family connected, shopping, maps to help you get where you are going, making money. But I think the best thing about the web is that someone actually takes the time to upload episodes of short-lived 80s TV show.
Case in point: It's Your Move, the NBC sitcom that starred a teenage Jason Bateman and Married...with Children's David Garrison. The opening is pure cheese, but the writing was a notch above typical sitcom fare. Here's the first episode (parts 2 and 3 after the jump - more episodes here). Bateman's first little speech has a really funny payoff, and he always had great timing. River Phoenix shows up in this episode too.
Case in point: It's Your Move, the NBC sitcom that starred a teenage Jason Bateman and Married...with Children's David Garrison. The opening is pure cheese, but the writing was a notch above typical sitcom fare. Here's the first episode (parts 2 and 3 after the jump - more episodes here). Bateman's first little speech has a really funny payoff, and he always had great timing. River Phoenix shows up in this episode too.
Continue reading Jason Bateman once starred in a funny sitcom (way before Arrested Development)
Seven TV dads we're glad aren't ours
Fathers' Day should be a time of deep reflection and appreciation for the man who brought you into this world, whether you asked him to or not. Oh sure, the old man may seem like the worst father of all time sometimes. He yells and screams. He gets on you for growing your hair too long because he knows he couldn't grow hair if he had a Chia Scalp. He constantly walks around the house in his underwear and then scolds you for not eating the sausage Mom made for breakfast.
But a few minor flaws doesn't mean that he's a bad guy. So go out and get him that witty card with the pipe smoking Dad on the cover, pick out a paisley tie that you'll never see him wear and give him a big hug to remind him he's the best. Because he's your old man and he's not one of the seven bastard sons of hell below.
Continue reading Seven TV dads we're glad aren't ours
I didn't even realize there WAS an Arrested Development documentary
Yup, there's an Arrested Development documentary, and the trailer is below. I didn't even know this film was coming out, but it looks like it's the ultimate drug for hardcore AD fans (at least until the movie comes out). Besides the cast and crew being interviewed, we also see comments from people like Andy Richter, Keith Olbermann, and many other fans.
Guess why David Cross hates Jim Belushi
OK, I'm going to trust you not to read this piece in the New York Daily News where David Cross explains why he has dumped on Jim Belushi so much over the last ten plus years. Before you read it, vote in the poll below. What happened to make the Mr. Show/Arrested Development star dislike Belushi?And no, it's not because Cross wanted to be the lead on According To Jim.
OK, go read the article now.
Fox won't even air Sit Down, Shut Up's finale
Fox must be really disappointed in this show. Not only is it incredibly unlikely to get a renewal beyond this horrible first season, but now Fox won't even air Sit Down, Shut Up's finale this weekend. Instead, they're going with a rerun of already canceled King of the Hill. While Fox is notorious for yanking a show before it gets a chance to find its audience, I think it's safe to say that Sit Down, Shut Up had found about as much audience as it was going to.
In four short episodes, it managed to undo all the work that Fox had done in the past two decades proving that quality animation could be made for prime time. I don't know why the formula didn't work, but I think Mitchell Hurwitz would have been better off trying it live action, like the Australian original.
Continue reading Fox won't even air Sit Down, Shut Up's finale
Sit Down, Shut Up: World's Greatest Teacher
(S01E03) I'm still not completely sure what I think about Sit Down, Shut Up yet. This is the third episode, and this is what I have so far: it's funny enough that if I were flipping channels and came across it, I'd keep it on FOX, but if I didn't have to review it, I wouldn't set my DVR.
This week's episode, in which Knob Haven High was up for a distinguished school award, definitely had its funny moments -- the very end where Ennis realizes that he slept with Miracle's mother made me chuckle. However, it wasn't consistent enough to keep my mind from wandering in the middle. I had to rewind a couple of times because I completely spaced out and missed a few scenes.
Continue reading Sit Down, Shut Up: World's Greatest Teacher
Sit Down, Shut Up: Miracle's Are Real
(S01E02) Last week, when I rewatched Sit Down, Shut Up for my review, I said that while I still wasn't enthralled by it, the show was much better upon the second viewing. Since I thought episode 2 was much better than the pilot, I expected to like it even more upon rewatching. Oddly enough, I didn't.
As stellar as this cast is, I'm trying to separate my feelings about this show from my feelings about them. I love Kristin Chenoweth on Pushing Daisies, so I don't really want to admit that her work on this show reminds me of a more grating Amy Sedaris with none of the humor, but it kind of does. I don't know if it's the way her character is written, or the fact that Chenoweth's particular brand of pixie cuteness doesn't translate unless you're looking at her, but she just sounds shrill to me.
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