Arrested Development vs The Office vs Trailer Park Boys

[mickill]

Why these three shows? I don't know. They're sort of similar in spirit, I suppose. Anyway, it's like the three most powerful nations in the world (The US of A, Great Britain and THE MIGHTY CANADA) and their most amusing television shows all going up against one another.

I mean the original Office, btw.

[Bob]

i've never seen either of the other two (and i haven't heard of the trailer park boys) but i can say objectively that the office is the best of the three

[mickill]

I'm sort of leaning towards AD, myself. It's definitely between that and The Office, though. I just wanted to include Canada somehow.

[paul jones]

I would say The Office because it's the only one I've seen although an old work colleague told me about Trailor Park Boys and I've seen about ten mins of A.D.,which was ok so The Office for me

I still haven't gotten around to getting the DVD box set,which I should do one day

[Kid Presentable]

I love love Arrested Development, and her and I have spent so much time learning to love that show together. But there is no finer protagonist in modern comedy than David Brent. Not since Blackadder has British character comedy gotten to me so well.

[Pres Zount]

^Agreed.

You know what I like better than AD? Curb your Enthusiasm. That show is way better.

[icy manipulator]

sometimes i just cant watch the office, he gets himself into some too akward situations and i just cant think anything but ' oh god no, what are you doing?'

i think ppl think AD is funny coz of how totally random it can be sometimes. but i'm sure that's what everyone thinks when they first get into it.

TPB is just fucking hilarious, so it gets my vote

[icy manipulator]

a canadian friend at work told me about it, fuck i love that episode where they have a bbq stealing racket going on...cracks me up
Ricky, those laws are there to protect kids, not to allow goofballs like you to put them in a car with no door on it and drive around the fucking neighbourhood stealing barbecues!

[mickill]

But there is no finer protagonist in modern comedy than David Brent.

However, there is no finer occasional antagonist than Gob Bluth.

I can't stand Curb Your Enthusiasm. I enjoyed the first season, but after a while Larry David just started becoming a little too irritating for me. And I don't think it's touching AD at all.

[The Notorious LOL]

^Agreed.

You know what I like better than AD? Curb your Enthusiasm. That show is way better.



yuuuuup

[yeahwho]

Haven't seen a full episode of all three selections.

I have seen every episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, I sort of doubt you can beat being funnier than Larry David as a car salesman.

[DIGI]

However, there is no finer occasional antagonist than Gob Bluth.

I can't stand Curb Your Enthusiasm. I enjoyed the first season, but after a while Larry David just started becoming a little too irritating for me. And I don't think it's touching AD at all.


Agreed. Larry David annoys the hell out of me for some reason. I've only watched a few episodes of the office and found it quite hilarious. I should add that Im completely in love with the U.S. version. Nothing can touch AD, though.

[abcdefz]

I'm going with The Office (BBC), which isn't exactly fair, since I haven't seen much TV from the Great White North. It's laugh-out-loud funnier, and it's realistically observant in a way that AD eschews. Which is fine -- AD is a fantasy, obviously, existing in SitcomWorld -- but it also means The Office cuts much, much deeper. AD can't sustain its extended situations like The Office can (e.g. the training episode, in its entirety), and


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nothing cuts as hard as moment like when Brent begs not to be made redundant, Tim unplugs his mic and the sound goes silent while he talks to Dawn [and its aftermath], or when Dawn and Tim finally kiss in the Christmas episode).


SPOILERS, BOB
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[abcdefz]

I can't stand Curb Your Enthusiasm. I enjoyed the first season, but after a while Larry David just started becoming a little too irritating for me. And I don't think it's touching AD at all.




Ditto. I voiced this a long time ago and didn't get much support, I don't think.

Larry David's character is annoying as hell after not too very long, and it's really his one shtick. Seinfeld was the same way, but not as overtly annoying as Larry in Curb. He could very well be a fantastic supporting character. Give him a barstool on the first few years of Cheers and you might've really had something. Can you imagine he (him?) and Cliff going head to head now and again?

[yeahwho]

Curb your remarks about enthusiasm.

It's brilliant.

Seeing the shrink at the beach in a multi-colored thong is hilarious shit.

I smile every time I think about Larry David.

[The Notorious LOL]

Curb Your Enthusiasm is the shit and anyone who says otherwise is a terrorist.

[DIGI]

Larry David gives me diarrhea.

[yeahwho]

Larry David gives me diarrhea.

Sure, thats why he's hilariious!

[QueenAdrock]

Never seen the Office. I like Arrested Development, though.

[mickill]

Larry David's character is annoying as hell after not too very long, and it's really his one shtick. Seinfeld was the same way, but not as overtly annoying as Larry in Curb. He could very well be a fantastic supporting character. Give him a barstool on the first few years of Cheers and you might've really had something. Can you imagine he (him?) and Cliff going head to head now and again?

Exactly. I could take him in small doses. After awhile, though, his one-trick ponyness becomes more and more evident. Obnoxious works better in small doses. I'd probably feel the same way about a Tobias Funke show. Or a Martin Prince show. Or a Potsie Weber show. Some characters just don't work as leads.

[checkyourprez]

always sunny in phillidelphia, could go along with these.


all great shows.

[DIGI]

a Tobias Funke show.


Dear Lord would that suck.

[abcdefz]

Dear Lord would that suck.



Nice Tobiasism.

"Queen Latifah is getting her own show; that's the type they want."

"Ohhhh -- just wait 'til they give the chance, Michael. I can suck better than all the other Queens combined!"

[Kid Presentable]

However, there is no finer occasional antagonist than Gob Bluth.

I can't stand Curb Your Enthusiasm. I enjoyed the first season, but after a while Larry David just started becoming a little too irritating for me. And I don't think it's touching AD at all.
Gob Bluth is superb, and much like Gervais makes Brent, Arnett makes Gob. Everything that dude does is money. "I got childrens all over towownnn!".

And also when he lifts the curtain on tiny town and 'The Mole' and 'Jet-Man' duke it out in front of the Japanese investors.

However, to watch David Brent decide that induction day for new staff is an occasion to let loose some 'comedy'; his shifting gaze towards the camera whenever he says something 'deep'; and telling a girl he'd only do her from behind because her breath smells like onions, and "I didn't tell you that either.." really seal the deal for me. Gob works as an anti-hero, which is a british comedy institution. Hence, my ultimate preference for Brent.

But yeah, as occasional antagonist, Gob can't be beat.

[mickill]

However, to watch David Brent...his shifting gaze towards the camera whenever he says something 'deep'
That's actually pretty untouchable, I have to admit.

[Kid Presentable]

That's actually pretty untouchable, I have to admit.
There were moments where I thought Arrested looked like it may have addressed the camera and it didn't. I'm kind of glad for that. Unless it did in an episode I haven't seen. Anybody, feel free to tell me.

[Documad]

I've decided that the American version is better than the British one. I've never said that about a remake before--I refused to even watch the American one at first but then some of my friends with good taste nagged me. I still like Ricky better than Steve. It took me a while to get to this place, but the rest of the American cast is better than the rest of the British cast. I think that has to do with them having so many more episodes to develop minor characters.

I sometimes like Earl better than The Office.

I love Curb Your Enthusiasm but they don't have to do very many shows each season.

I love AD because it's got so many layers of humor. It rewards you for being smart and paying attention and that's so rare in an American sitcom. I doubt that I'll still be watching it on DVD five years from now, but it was the best show on TV while it lasted.

[Kid Presentable]

I love AD because it's got so many layers of humor. It rewards you for being smart and paying attention and that's so rare in an American sitcom. I doubt that I'll still be watching it on DVD five years from now, but it was the best show on TV while it lasted.
I love it, but only saw episodes on TV out of chronology. The pacing of my actual life and those in-jokes would have worked a lot better if I had followed all of them from the start. As a DVD set, they're great. But half of the charm is the surprise.

[abcdefz]

There were moments where I thought Arrested looked like it may have addressed the camera and it didn't. I'm kind of glad for that. Unless it did in an episode I haven't seen. Anybody, feel free to tell me.


I think the closest they got to that was when they were acknowledging that the show was being cancelled, but might be picked up by other networks. Stuff like

"So it looks like the end for the Bluths."

"Unless we go straight to HBO" (home builders' organization or something)

"If not, it looks like it's Showtime!"

"Maybe the Bluths are too self-absorbed to survive..."

etc.

[Documad]

I love it, but only saw episodes on TV out of chronology. The pacing of my actual life and those in-jokes would have worked a lot better if I had followed all of them from the start. As a DVD set, they're great. But half of the charm is the surprise.
Yes, it was one show where there was a payoff if you watched every one.

I loved Ron Howard's voiceovers, by the way. That's something that would have bothered me if it was done badly but they did it perfectly.

[DIGI]

Gob: But what about the guys, sometimes the guys get a little tapped out. That's okay cuz you live in Fuck City. Up top!

Sitwell: You're fired.


That whole single city/swing city/fuck city bit was gold.


The topper was afterwards when Gob's talking to Michael about getting his job back. "I have good ideas. I think I proved that with Fuck Mountain."

[Drederick Tatum]

they're all great, but I'll take Trailer Park Boys

Julian: Ricky, you're pointing a loaded handgun at a puppet. Behind the puppet is our friend. The bullet will go through the doll and kill Bubbles. Give me the gun.
Ricky: I gotta kill this fuckin puppet, Julian.

[Maisailana]

i agree. TPB rocks. the other shows do too. but TPB does more.

bubbles>buster

[Lex Diamonds]

I voted The Office. Not because I'm English, but because Gervais is a genius (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvYe9bZxC0k) and it's pretty much the funniest thing ever.

[DandyFop]

I voted AD. If it was the American Office I might have a harder time. I know I'll get tarred and feathered now, but fuck off, ye lot.

I like Extras better than the Office.

JEAH

[Bob]

I voted The Office. Not because I'm English, but because Gervais is a genius (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvYe9bZxC0k) and it's pretty much the funniest thing ever.

"i'm sorry! i was speaking english!"

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/6343/youreawsome8svnl6.gif

[Documad]

I bought the AD DVD for season 3. I didn't realize that I had missed a few of the early episodes last season. I just saw the one where the Gob makes a tiny town to show the Japanese investors and then Tobias dresses up like a giant mole and stomps through the tiny town and then George Michael attacks him wearing a jet pack. OMG.


Oh, and Tobias's "analrapist" business card! :D

[Kid Presentable]

I bought the AD DVD for season 3. I didn't realize that I had missed a few of the early episodes last season. I just saw the one where the Gob makes a tiny town to show the Japanese investors and then Tobias dresses up like a giant mole and stomps through the tiny town and then George Michael attacks him wearing a jet pack. OMG.


It is criminal how funny that part is.