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As Lindsay pointed out yesterday, the new episode of 30 Rock that went on-line yesterday, and which airs on NBC next Thursday, is “fucking great.” It is easily the best sitcom on television right now, which was only made clearer with last night’s episode of The Office. That’s a good show, and last night’s episode was a good episode, but it lacks the absurd exuberance of 30 Rock. Admittedly, even though the American version of The Office is definitely broader and more jokey than the original Ricky Gervais series, it definitely follows in a slightly more subdued vein of cringe-based comedy . So that explains some of the emotional difference between watching that show vs. watching 30 Rock. But when I was watching the new episode yesterday I couldn’t help but think, “this show reminds me of Arrested Development.” Now, part of the reason for that, in the spirit of full-disclosure, is because I’ve been rewatching Arrested Development this week. (Right? Full disclosure? Professional journalism!) Man, Arrested Development, you guys. I can’t believe no one has ever talked about how great that show is! Did you guys know it got canceled? Why? It shouldn’t have gotten canceled, it’s so good! Why doesn’t anyone even know about this? Perfect. Collect your blown minds and let’s get back on track (let’s=let US, I’m not the only one to blame).
What 30 Rock shares with Arrested Development is an incredible ensemble cast and a love of small-bore inside jokes that appeal to a fraction of the viewing audience and make them both shows that demand multiple viewings. But what 30 Rock lacks is perfection. Seriously, not a moment of Arrested Development could have been better. But the same isn’t quite true of 30 Rock. It’s got its weaknesses.
1. Go Bigger Or Go Homer
One thing that Arrested Development managed to pull off beautifully was the grand-scale absurdity of every character (Buster had a bionic hand by season 3, FOR JUST ONE EXAMPLE), while still allowing them to be relatable and human. Many of 30 Rock’s side characters are stuck in two-dimensional sub-roles. Frank is “messy dude.” Cerie is “dumb blonde.” There is so much potential to be had in these side characters to tap into. TAP, BABY, TAP.
2. Get More Involved in the World
30 Rock started to do this last season with Jack’s relationship to Celeste and his stint at the Department of Homeland Security, but again, if you think on Arrested Development, which was a show about exceptionally self-absorbed, petty characters, things still moved well outside of the model home. There were George Sr.’s dealings with Saddam Hussein, and his flight to Mexico, as well as Tobias’s run with the Blue Man Group, and Gob’s USO tour. Not that 30 Rock isn’t heavily loaded with pop culture and political references, but sometimes it seems almost too enclosed and grounded to one locale. The name doesn’t help.
3. Hire Jeffrey Tambor and Tony Hale
They’ve already got Will Arnett. Surely there’s room for two more. I’d recommend Michael Cera, too, as, like, a page who threatens Kenneth a-la What Makes Sammy Run? but he might be too busy making Superbad 2: Infinite Playlists, or whatever. Oh, and another pro-tip: never, EVER invite Seinfeld back as a celebrity cameo. That set 30 Rock back 10 “It’s The Best” points right there.
4. Ignore The Audience Even More
Admittedly, this is probably terrible advice. If Tina Fey’s recent streak of success has shown anything it’s that despite some of the most famous actors in lead roles of any show, and an award winning team of writers, 30 Rock still struggles to find an audience. And you probably didn’t know this, but Arrested Development was CANCELED. Nevertheless, one of the things that made the show so enjoyable to the discerning viewer was it’s complete dismissal of the audience’s needs. If you got the joke, great. If you didn’t get the joke, maybe you’d watch the show again later and get it that time. But they definitely weren’t going to explain it to you. 30 Rock definitely aligns itself with this philosophy, but it could easily be taken farther. Are you ready to go all the way? TO THE LIMIT?
5. Just Be Arrested Development
I do not want 30 Rock to go away. I’m just saying that the most logical conclusion of a complaint like this that gets all up in some show’s business about why can’t it be more like another show is to just wish it was altogether the first show. I don’t actually want that. It’s called devil’s advocate, guys.
In conclusion, 30 Rock is great, but once there was this other show that I think was even better, but just so we’re clear they’re both really great, great, the end.
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I’m fully on board with Jeffrey Tambor and Tony Hale guest starring, but what roles would you give them? Thinly veiled recreations of their AD roles like they did with Will Arnett? Or something completely different and possibly less awesome?
i want Tracy Jordan to make some youtube videos in the style of MrChiCity. has 30 Rock referenced real-life viral videos yet? ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT DID THAT.
Oh, yes, all the time. In addition to making numerous allusions to viral videos (Liz Lemon falling in her apartment out of frame and doing a grape-stomping lady impression, for example), in one episode Jack showed Liz the “baby panda sneezing” video in order to break the news that she had to fire 10% of her workforce. “Look at the baby not the mother”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzRH3iTQPrk
there was also a moment when the lemon family was having dinner at some restaurant and liz’s brother said “it’s not a lemon party without old dick”
http://www.lemonparty.org/
not a video, but viral and internetty, which is the important thing.
Please, sir, a NSFW warning on that link next time. Good god, man!
As great as it is, whenever I watch 30 Rock I feel like all of those aforementioned “two-dimensional sub-roles” are less important than the writers and directors currently think they are. I never feel like I fully understand what’s going on because I should know more about Frank, Cerie, et al.
Indeed both shows are great and if that’s the point you’re trying to make then, awesome job! But in the spirit of full disclosure-I only clicked on this because Tracy Morgan’s face in that picture is priceless!
I want to see Alia Shawkat in it! I feel like she was SO underrated, but Maybe was one of my favorite characters!
Alia Shawkat was (and still is, I suppose) indeed so underrated…..her timing abilities astounded me for an actor/actress her age.
i love 30 rock but it has NOTHING on arrested development.
NOTHING.
I agre with you for the most part, gabe, but not entirely. I think 30 rock does a good job of going outside its own world (i.e. – cleveland, source awards, washington dc) and as far as ignoring the audience, they have made multiple “lemon part” jokes. i do think they could do more with the supporting characters, but tracy and jack are pretty out there. one plays rape with his wife, walks around naked, and tried to stab conan, and the other is a former liberal, tv executive who once had a massive collection of cookie jars. im not saying 30 rock is as good as arrested, its not, but it is as close as well get for a while i assume
whoops, meant “lemon party”
never
The audience factor is an interesting point. I mean 30 Rock could start paying attention and become the new Office. But that would require going the Friends route: romance after quirky romance. That show has sold its soul.
This is probably the post that made me the happiest out of any post i have ever read on videogum. Arrested Development reached television comedy peaks that (in my humble opinion) have only been reached by Seasons 3-8 of The Simpsons and The BBC Office. The fact that it got canceled makes me want to cry, then go watch all three brilliant seasons and laugh, then cry and realize that “Two and a Half Men” is basically the most watched comedy on television and that the world is cruel and unfair.
“Stop licking my hand you horse’s ass!”
Another important thing to point out is that Arrested never had the super star character that is Jack Donaghy, who is clearly the funniest on the show. One could make a legitimate case for Michael/George Michael/George Sr/Buster/GOB/Tobias/Lucille/Maebe/Lindsey being the funniest character. The point is they are all equals, which cannot be said of the cast of 30 Rock, brilliant as that show is. Wow, I really need to stop: “The Bob Loblaw Law Blog” You, sir, are a mouthful”
God, I can’t believe Two and a Half Men has been on for like eighty million years and Arrested Development got canceled. And all of those generic ‘Fat Shlubby Man and Hot Wife’ laugh-track-paloozas. Season 1 Episode 2 (I believe) of 30 Rock and Jack Donaghy said, “The focus group loved this idea!” and then it cuts to Jack holding a box of pizza. “Now if you say you like it, you get pizza. And you all like pizza, don’t you?” Honesty, judging by the awful-awful things that not only make primetime but STAY THERE for years, it wouldn’t surprise me if someone was handing out pizza to get the focus groups on board. Who is the audience finding these shows hilarious? Must be the same people in the audience at Carson Daly’s cringefest late night show.
I’ve been an Arrested Development fan for years and own all the DVDs. People have been talking about it for a long time and it was tragic that it was canceled. The last season is especially poignant as they make an all out desperate attempt to not be canceled. It was the funniest TV show ever ever ever.
haha this is dead on. Arrested d was the muthafukin greatest
I feel exactly the same as”a pretty good kisser”. I don’t think I’ve ever posted on a thread or forum or blog before, but it must be said that while 30 rock, the office and many others are all awesome…NOTHING compares to Arrested Development. It employed so many types of humor and engaged so many of my emotions. It elicited cringe responses to behaviors I notice in my own life. It was absurd in the extreme yet it not only inspired sympathy in me for the characters, but appealed to feelings and preconceptions I didn’t even know I had about family. It had every type of humor I love including complex site gags and spectacular physical comedy (tobias falling in the wheelchair, gob throwing the letter in the ocean, oh my god…), farce, irony, incongruity, sarcasm, non-sequitors and all manner of word play inc. double entendres, paraprosdokians, malapropisms, puns, you name it. It deftly employed unique stylistic techniques (hand held filming, “footage”, persistent narration, epilogues for plot resolution, etc.). It maintained a sophisticated network of plot lines within each episode but more so over the entire series, balanced character evolution with character idiosyncracies, and played its absurd adventures off of real-world conventions, current events and bureaucratic processes. It was always going between subtle and outright social commentary and subtle and not so subtle self-reference. It gave credit to its audience and to this day rewards multiple viewings. It consisted of the most brilliant ensemble cast whose delivery and timing were always pitch-perfect (remembering Lucille saying “nobody wants you” and “they don’t allow bees in here” a pause after everyone else speaks, hilarious). The characters encompassed all number of archetypes and stereotypes but maintained depth. Everything just fit.
I’ve gushed far too much. I suppose I’ve never gotten over how amazing it is and how not on television it is. Will anything ever be this good again?
This pissed me the hell off.. especially “3. Hire Jeffrey Tambor and Tony Hale” and “5. Just Be Arrested Development”.
I’ve seen both shows (All 6 season of 30 Rock and up to season 1 episode 21 of Arrested Development) and 30 rock is far better. Obviously, I caught sight of 30 Rock first, a little slow season 1 during the first 4 or 5 episodes, but I eventually fell in love with it. After hearing so much about Arrested Development, I decided to give it a go and I just don’t get it. I’m almost through with the first season and I’ve yet to even warm up to it. In fact, I’m forcing myself to sit through it until another download is finished, all the while hoping it’ll get better. Most people I know who love the show say you have to pay attention and most of the humor is from references to earlier events… which is what I find annoying. The narrator’s numerous “recaps” such as reminding the audience that George Michael is infatuated with his cousin and that Tobias is a “never-nude” were annoying the first time and are still annoying after the 10th time that it’s mentioned. Proponents of the show have also argued that the show’s humor is witty and intellectual which is still no excuse as to how I find it so unfunny– boring, even since witty and sarcastic is basically what convinced me to give it a try and attracted me to 30 Rock in the first place. It’s just not funny in my opinion.