Hermano means BROTHER…

Today I am mourning the loss of the show that made me belly laugh, which for a TV show NEVER happens. Watching it on TV was enough, but after purchasing the DVD's of this particular piece of comedic genius, I found myself playing certain scenes over and over and laughing just as hard the 3rd. 4th AND 5th time around. This dynamic show brought to life serious problems like being a "nevernude", vertigo, that the blue part of the map is NOT land, and dating your mother's best friend to make her jealous is um, interesting. On top of that, it took strong activism stances for higher purposes like "HOOP" (Hands Off Our Penises, an anti-circumcision organization) . It told us that having a crush on your cousin is wrong but "maeby" she isn't your "real" cousin. Since I can't even begin to explain the constant comic ecstasy, this will make things easier:

"The plot for Arrested Development revolves around the members of the Bluth family, who generally lead excessive lifestyles. At the center of the show is the relatively honorable Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman), who strives to do the right thing and keep his family together, despite their materialism, selfishness and manipulation. His teenage son, George Michael (Michael Cera), has the same qualities of decency, but feels a constant pressure to live up to his father's expectations, and is reluctantly willing to follow his father's plans, even if they sometimes conflict with his own.

Michael's father George Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor), the patriarch of the family, is the founder of the Bluth Company, whose primary operations are building and marketing mini-mansions. At times dictatorial, George Sr. goes to considerable lengths to manipulate and control his family.

His wife, and Michael's mother, Lucille (Jessica Walter), is equally manipulative, as well as materialistic, and hypercritical of every member of her family. In particular, she has a tight grip on her youngest son, Byron "Buster" Bluth (Tony Hale), who, as a result of his mother's dominance and sheltering, is unstable, socially inept and prone to panic attacks.

Michael's older brother GOB (George Oscar Bluth II; pronounced /dʒoʊb/ "Jobe"), played by Will Arnett, is an unsuccessful professional magician whose business and personal schemes usually fail. He primarily uses a Segway for transportation, and sometimes converses with others from it while stationary, as if it were a pulpit. GOB is used by his father to undermine Michael's control of the family business.

Michael's twin sister Lindsay (Portia de Rossi) is a self-proclaimed activist, who is flamboyant and materialistic, continually desiring to be the center of attention. She enjoys being objectified, but also protests it. She is married to Tobias Fünke (David Cross), a "Never Nude," who became an aspiring actor after his psychiatrist's license was revoked, and whose language and behavior often have inadvertent homosexual connotations. Their attention-starved daughter Mae "Maeby" Fünke (Alia Shawkat) is the polar opposite of her cousin George Michael — skipping school, cheating on homework, and stealing money from the family's banana-stand business. The ever-rebellious teen, Maeby finds her chief motivation in going against her parents' wishes.

Several other characters regularly appear in minor roles. George Sr.'s identical twin brother Oscar (also played by Jeffrey Tambor) is a lethargic ex-hippie seeking the affection of George's wife Lucille. Lucille Austero, or "Lucille 2", played by Liza Minnelli, is Lucille's rival and Buster's love interest. Carl Weathers plays a parody of himself, as an unemployed, ultra-cheapskate actor. Other notable characters include: Annyong (Justin Lee), Lucille's adopted Korean child and Buster's rival; Kitty Sanchez (Judy Greer), George Sr.'s former secretary; Barry Zuckerkorn (Henry Winkler), the family attorney; Ann Veal (Mae Whitman), George Michael's deeply religious girlfriend; Ben Stiller as Tony Wonder a heralded magician who is part David Copperfield, part David Blaine; Steve Holt (Justin Grant Wade), a schoolmate of George Michael and Maeby; and Scott Baio as attorney Bob Loblaw (pronounced, "Ba blah blah"), a replacement for Barry Zuckerkorn, in part, because he "skews younger" (an allusion to Baio's "Happy Days" character "Chachi," who was brought in to inject youth into the aging Winkler's "Fonzie."). Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Charlize Theron, and Amy Poehler also play recurring characters."

I am the first to admit, I really don't like sitcoms. To me, real life is MUCH funnier…I never quite got "Seinfeld" and really didn't care for "Cheers" (don't hate me), but once in awhile had a few good laughs on "Friends" and of course, there was well-written dramedy like "Sex and the City", but that weepy, missing-a-show sadness for "SATC" is writing for another day.

Tomorrow marks the LAST episode of "Arrested Development..."

WTF???

How is it POSSIBLE that a bs, wood-stiff, blah-blah-blah, un-original show like, "Two and a half men" is the NUMBER ONE sitcom in America but the beloved Bluth family just CAN'T be saved?? Don't people know what is FUNNY anymore?? Overly-botoxed Charlie Sheen and sad-sad sidekick Jon Cryer …I think NOT!!!

Instead I wait in tearful longing that someone picks this series up though hope is not entirely lost. My understanding is that there is a snowball’s chance in hell that Showtime STILL might be interested. Showtime would be a great fit for “Arrested Development.” The show’s survival would no longer be as closely tied to ratings. Then I would be dependent on buying the newest episodes since I don't have cable, but it would be well worth every penny.



PS. Yes. I know! Enough, right? But I had to say that the kids on this how (Michael Cera and Alia Shawkat, oh and the girl that plays "egg," I mean, "Anne")are sincerely some of the BEST comedic actors I have ever witnessed...SO funny, so funny.