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FOT Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: buffcoat on October 10, 2011, 04:23:20 PM

Title: Running Wilde
Post by: buffcoat on October 10, 2011, 04:23:20 PM
Watched this with lady buffcoat yesterday on Netflix Instant.  It's Mitchell Hurwitz/Will Arnett/David Cross' followup to "Arrested Development," where Fox told Hurwitz specifically "we don't want another Arrested Development."

They made him make huge changes in the show idea, and it's clear.  It feels like Arrested Development 2 deliberately dumbed down.  I think Mitchell Hurwitz needs to accept that, as painful as the idea is, he is never going to achieve mainstream success with a TV sitcom.  His mind just can't produce what people want, and one of the clearest lessons for entertainment is that people don't want dumbed-down smart guy's half-hour sitcoms, they want sitcoms that start out dumb and get worse.  I am not being cynical.

As for the show, it's occasionally funny and followable, although they showed it entirely out of order, making the already baffling plot even more baffling.  Arnett and Felicity have no chemistry whatsoever.  Peter Serafinowicz and Arnett are funny.  Some of the side characters are bolted on.  The hardest thing to understand is how on earth they thought they could keep the plotline going for 9 more episodes, much less another season or more.

If you have several hours on a Sunday and feel like watching Will Arnett and Peter Serafinowicz yuk it up for a few hours in a failed sitcom, it's not a bad watch.  I want to say it could have been more but I don't think it could.
Title: Re: Running Wilde
Post by: Andy on October 10, 2011, 07:46:28 PM
I also watched it this weekend and really enjoyed it. Now that you mention the out of sequence thing some things make a little more sense. I think that some of the humor would have been funnier if we knew the characters a little better. I remember thinking the first half of the first season of arrested development was ok/good, but rewatching it later and getting more of the subtle jokes that had to do with the quirks of the characters. I felt like this show might have set up the same way.
Title: Re: Running Wilde
Post by: bmills on October 10, 2011, 08:45:18 PM
Worth it to see Serafinowicz as New York tough guy.
Title: Re: Running Wilde
Post by: YuriDedman on October 10, 2011, 11:57:20 PM
The episode with Andy Richter and the car wash scene is funny.
Title: Re: Running Wilde
Post by: Jason from Huntsville, AL on October 11, 2011, 12:46:12 AM
I'm upset this thread wasn't about Oscar Wilde.
Title: Re: Running Wilde
Post by: Paul DeLouisiana on October 11, 2011, 07:52:55 AM
I thought it was unwatchable. But onthe topic of mediocre comedy I am really enjoying Modern Family, Happy Endings and New Girl.
Title: Re: Running Wilde
Post by: buffcoat on October 11, 2011, 09:45:32 AM
I'm upset this thread wasn't about Oscar Wilde.

It is, Jason, it is.
Title: Re: Running Wilde
Post by: fonpr on October 11, 2011, 09:53:24 AM
I'm upset this thread wasn't about Oscar Wilde.

It is, Jason, it is.
I wish I was young enough to know everything.
Title: Re: Running Wilde
Post by: Crusherkc on October 11, 2011, 10:55:26 AM
I'm upset this thread wasn't about Oscar Wilde.

It is, Jason, it is.

Is that a Monty Python reference Mr. Buffcoat?
Title: Re: Running Wilde
Post by: buffcoat on October 11, 2011, 01:24:23 PM
I'm upset this thread wasn't about Oscar Wilde.

It is, Jason, it is.

Is that a Monty Python reference Mr. Buffcoat?

Ding!