Due to the surge of streaming platforms, numerous sitcoms have experienced a resurgence in popularity and viewership. While the trend towards shorter seasons and a more cinematic approach in television has led to a decline in the production of traditional sitcoms, older or less mainstream sitcoms have found a broader audience.
One such example is “Arrested Development,” which revolves around Michael Bluth (portrayed by Jason Bateman) as he endeavors to rescue his family’s failing real estate business following his father’s arrest for defrauding investors. Despite receiving critical acclaim during its initial broadcast on Fox, the show was prematurely discontinued after three seasons due to poor viewership ratings. The series struggled to attract a substantial audience on television, partly due to its humor that catered to dedicated long-term viewers. Departing from the typical multi-camera sitcom format, “Arrested Development” adopted a reality TV show style, albeit without the conventional talking head segments. Fortunately, the show was revived for an additional two seasons on Netflix.
Similarly, “Community” commenced as a typical sitcom centered around a community college study group but swiftly evolved into a parody encompassing various sitcom conventions, action movie tropes, and television shows. Notably, the episode “Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking” from the second season parodied the prevalent mockumentary sitcom trend at the time. While some of the racial humor in the series may not age well, leading to the removal of an episode from Netflix, the show’s wit and intelligence continue to outshine many contemporary productions. An intriguing recurring motif in the series involves the utterance of the word “Beetlejuice” three times across multiple seasons, resulting in the character appearing in the background on the third mention. Furthermore, in season three, the character Abed assists a pregnant couple in childbirth, a subplot only briefly acknowledged within the show’s narrative.
“Community” faced its share of production challenges, with the writers crafting both the third and fourth season finales to serve as potential series conclusions. Following its cancellation on network television, the show transitioned to the now-defunct streaming service “Yahoo! Screen” for a sixth season. Despite the promise of a movie in the sixth season’s finale, fans initially held reservations about its realization. However, in 2021, showrunner Dan Harmon confirmed the commencement of film production, marking a significant development after a decade. The show’s relocation to Netflix in early 2020 further contributed to its enduring relevance.
Both “Arrested Development” and “Community” share a commonality in their resurgence through internet memes. The iconic phrase “Dead Dove: Don’t Eat” has become synonymous with warning about potentially disturbing content in a work. Notably, Lucille Bluth, the matriarch of the “Arrested Development” family portrayed by the late Jessica Walter, has emerged as a prominent figure in numerous memes. Conversely, “Community” has spawned various memes, including references to the Dean’s memorable lines. For instance, the phrase “But the …” originates from the episode “Remedial Chaos Theory,” where Donald Glover’s character enters a room engulfed in flames.
These shows have attracted new audiences who either missed their original airing on cable or were too young to appreciate them initially. Viewers now have the added delight of recognizing the origins of their favorite memes, contributing to a revival of interest in these series. This resurgence offers hope for other deserving shows to receive the recognition they merit in the future.