485:). Sharon is overbearing and does not want her husband associating with Chris, preferring instead that he make friends with more sophisticated socialites that fit the image she wishes to portray. Sharon despises Chris, and Chris enjoys irritating her. Larry is envious of Chris' carefree lifestyle and is often coerced by Chris into joining him in his adventures, despite his wife's wishes. To Chris' dismay, Larry eventually heeds his advice and leaves his wife and children at the beginning of the second season. This leaves Sharon traumatized, and she becomes more and more obsessed with killing Chris in revenge.
534:, i.e. "What would Dennis The Menace have been like when he was 30 years old?" In the pilot, "Terror on the Hell Loop 2000", Chris Peterson was a fully functioning, wisecracking adult who is beating the system. However, as the series went on, he became a darker, more psychotic character. According to Mirkin, the main character was made more likeable in the pilot to get the network to agree to order the series and, once the series was ordered, the producers took the character in the darker direction that was always intended.
413:, stab wounds, gunshot wounds, falling from an airplane, strangulation, getting run over by cars, choking on cereal, and simply exploding. For this reason, it was a struggle for Elliott and Mirkin to get the show on the air. Many of the executives at the Fox Network hated the show and thought it was too disturbing and found Elliott's character to be too unlikeable and insane.
596:
burglary of his rented Los
Angeles home during the first season. He was convinced to film enough insert scenes with Donahue to allow several appearances in the early part of the second season, with their final appearance occurring in the episode "Prisoner of Love." Both continued to be credited in the opening titles for the remainder of the season.
520:
who secretes mucus from under his scales (which Chris proceeds to drink and call the "nectar of the Gods") and projectile vomits when he becomes emotionally overwrought. At the end of the episode, Chris and Gus barbecued and ate Spewey, although the creature was resurrected inside their refrigerator.
575:
According to Mirkin, the network executives did not understand a lot of the more surreal, violent content of the scripts but nevertheless allowed it to go ahead. This enabled the writers to proceed with limited interference. However, the studio did not want the episode "Spewey and Me" to be aired,
537:
Mirkin explains that the series itself was both an homage to the sitcoms of the 1960s and 1970s as well as a subversive farce of the genre. Ultimately, Chris
Peterson was a modern, borderline psychotic inhabiting a world of standard sitcom characters from a prior era. In particular, his main foil,
599:
Had the show continued beyond its second season, Elliot, Mirkin and
Resnick would have depicted Chris becoming a hobo, which would drop Fred, Gladys, Gus, and the other characters from the storyline. As Mirkin explained, he wanted to do a series that changed every year and did something different
448:
wherever he goes) and is depicted as being immature, reckless, gullible, foolish, irresponsible, and extremely dimwitted. His low intelligence is exaggerated to absurd levels: in one episode he tries to leave his parents' house but is unable to operate the front door. In another he fell out of an
649:
It was noted by Mirkin that the reason the full DVD box set took so long to release is that the original producers of the show felt that all of the incidental music was very important to the series. They didn't want to release the series until all the rights to the songs had been secured and the
595:
When the series was picked up for a second season, Bob Elliot announced he did not wish to return as the father character Fred
Peterson. According to co-star Elinor Donahue, the senior Elliot did not enjoy being away from his regular home and life in Maine, and his attitude was made worse by a
460:
and robes (even when they leave the house). They are often shown engaging in bizarre non-sequitur activities like polishing handguns, or trying to shoot a deer that ate flower bulbs in their garden. Gladys (Elinor
Donahue) is a smiling, caring mother who doted over Chris, though she often makes
645:
released the complete series on
September 18, 2012. Although Chris Elliott stated in 2005 that he had recorded commentary tracks with Adam Resnick, none of Elliott's and Resnick's commentaries were used; they were substituted with commentaries by David Mirkin, and Mirkin is similarly the only
31:
638:
released the best of on VHS and DVD – four VHS tapes with two episodes each and two DVDs with four episodes each, as well as one or two bonus features. The eight episodes on VHS are the same as the ones on the DVDs. The DVDs were released in 2000 and 2002 respectively.
488:
In a defiant nod to Fox
Network demands that his character "be more independent", Chris Peterson was moved out of his parents' house at the beginning of the second season, much to his parents' amazement and joy, and into the garage of ex-cop Gus Borden, played by
465:
comments about him and his lifestyle. Fred (Bob
Elliott) is a brusque, sarcastic old man, who is constantly exasperated by his son and seems to have a reckless disregard for Chris' well-being (on one occasion, Chris demonstrated how his father taught him to use a
529:
In the DVD commentary for the series by David Mirkin, he discusses the development of the Chris
Peterson character and the series in great detail. Mirkin states that the Chris Peterson character was originally somewhat based on
408:
sitcom, and many times the storylines of the episodes were surreal. For example, Elliott's character actually dies in twelve episodes. The causes of death included being crushed by a giant boulder, old age,
600:
each season; "Chris would have moved out of Gus' garage and become a homeless drifter. And he would have traveled the country, in every place touching someone else's life and making it a little bit worse."
538:
Sharon, dresses and acts like a standard sitcom character from the 1960s. Her house is a standard sitcom set, and she has a standard sitcom family. The town is inhabited by standard sitcom
750:
562:). A particular homage to that era of sitcoms is that the same actors would play different minor characters, only episodes apart. Mirkin also noted that the use of
985:
995:
950:
970:
1005:
1000:
990:
975:
497:
with minimal tolerance for Chris' antics, to which Chris seems oblivious, while looking up to Gus as a sort of paternal figure. Gus serves as Chris'
965:
434:
Chris
Peterson is a carefree, childlike bachelor who refuses to live the life of an adult. At the age of 30, Chris still lives with his parents in
960:
799:
601:
473:
In early episodes, Chris wanted little more than to spend his days reliving his childhood with his father and his best friend, Larry Potter (
324:
as a 30-year-old paperboy named Chris Peterson. Peterson lived in an apartment above his parents' garage (Elliott's parents are played by
375:). Mirkin was executive producer/showrunner of the series and also directed most of the episodes. Notable writers of the series included
1010:
576:
largely on the grounds of the alien being disgusting and getting eaten by Chris and Gus. Written as a parody of science-fiction films
980:
517:
477:). Larry was Chris' friend from childhood, but unlike Chris, Larry has since "grown up", owns a house, works a dead-end job as an
420:
released the complete series on September 18, 2012 – the first time all of the show's episodes were made commercially available.
898:
592:, who was in charge of Fox, proclaimed the episode to be one of the series' funniest and ensured that it would be broadcast.
773:
588:, the show's creators intended it to be a hopeful story of rebirth, hence the alien's resurrection at the end. However,
955:
531:
494:
355:
861:
832:
668:
504:
One of the more controversial episodes featured a character named Spewey the Alien (a parody of the films
712:
462:
429:
391:
183:
578:
558:
512:
317:
274:
809:
228:
Colonial Street, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California
493:, who had been fired from the police force for urinating on his boss. Gus is a cranky, demeaning
397:
672:
440:
332:
96:
733:
935:
695:
667:
is a noted fan of the series, stating "it was probably one of the best shows on television".
627:
for each playing of the theme. Occasionally, however, episodes aired with the correct theme.
543:
335:). The opening credits depict Chris Peterson delivering newspapers on his bike to the show's
381:
253:
444:, a job that he has held since his youth. He has no driver's license (instead, riding his
8:
635:
620:
340:
129:
572:
as a backdrop at the end of the show's opening credits was another homage to the genre.
661:
490:
435:
258:
108:
924:
895:
664:
804:
449:
airplane after opening the airlock, believing that the "EXIT" sign was a restroom.
902:
870:
716:
references the show and includes the lyric "Chris went right over their heads".
563:
539:
376:
707:
686:
642:
417:
325:
92:
675:, is named after the series, and other works by Nakamura have referenced both
944:
658:
589:
553:
321:
244:
140:
80:
62:
226:
Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California
568:
386:
371:
360:
350:
249:
216:
200:
70:
66:
48:
800:"Get a Life – 'The Complete Series' from Shout!: Date, Cost, Package Art"
690:
616:
482:
478:
474:
410:
104:
88:
84:
918:
929:
584:
542:, often played by well-recognized character actors from that era (e.g.
506:
498:
405:
336:
100:
891:
681:
624:
619:, although the series was only partially shown, and the theme song "
30:
896:
Tom Scharpling, Writer, Producer, and Host of the Best Show on WFMU
329:
734:"Video David Mirkin interview from the out of print Volume 2 DVD"
548:
467:
457:
453:
445:
365:
650:
series could be released with all of the original music intact.
344:
313:
118:
44:
612:
52:
774:"Get A Life: The Complete Series is finally coming to DVD"
320:
from September 23, 1990, to March 8, 1992. The show stars
452:
Chris' parents (Fred and Gladys Peterson) are an elderly
699:became friends due to their mutual appreciation of
623:" by R.E.M. was replaced by generic music to avoid
481:, and has two children and a wife, Sharon Potter (
942:
745:
743:
316:that was broadcast in the United States on the
986:Television series about dysfunctional families
416:After only two VHS/DVD volumes were released,
996:Television series by Sony Pictures Television
951:1990s American black comedy television series
831:Epstein, Daniel Robert (September 27, 2005).
740:
456:couple who are almost always seen in their
971:American English-language television shows
771:
753:. Shout ! Factory. September 18, 2012
363:(former executive producer/showrunner for
29:
1006:Television series created by David Mirkin
1001:Television series created by Adam Resnick
991:Television series by New World Television
976:American surreal comedy television series
646:creator present in the DVD set's extras.
35:Region 1 DVD cover of the complete series
966:1992 American television series endings
855:
853:
830:
797:
961:1990 American television series debuts
943:
438:and maintains a career delivering the
16:American television series (1990–1992)
859:
726:
470:by placing the barrel in his mouth).
850:
349:The show was a creation of Elliott,
885:
13:
404:The show was unconventional for a
14:
1022:
1011:Television shows set in Minnesota
912:
981:Fox Broadcasting Company sitcoms
860:Crain, Zac (November 25, 1999).
772:O'Neil, Shawn (March 30, 2012).
751:"DVD Commentary by David Mirkin"
798:Lambert, David (June 8, 2012).
710:song "Get a Life" on the album
356:Late Night with David Letterman
824:
791:
765:
524:
501:throughout the second season.
174:
163:
1:
719:
671:, consisting of Nakamura and
630:
669:Handsome Boy Modeling School
665:Dan "the Automator" Nakamura
353:(like Elliott, a writer for
7:
864:Handsome Dan, Automator Man
713:Ultimate Alternative Wavers
430:List of Get a Life episodes
423:
392:Mr. Show with Bob and David
10:
1027:
579:E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
559:Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
427:
328:and his real-life father,
833:"Chris Elliott interview"
653:
606:
280:
270:
265:
240:
232:
222:
206:
196:
191:
173:
162:
154:
146:
136:
124:
114:
76:
58:
40:
28:
21:
359:), and writer/director
956:1990s American sitcoms
441:St. Paul Pioneer Press
180:35 (+1 unaired pilot)
696:The Best Show on WFMU
673:"Prince Paul" Huston
382:Being John Malkovich
254:New World Television
241:Production companies
223:Production locations
115:Theme music composer
901:2011-05-21 at the
564:the original house
491:Brian Doyle-Murray
463:passive-aggressive
436:St Paul, Minnesota
379:, screenwriter of
284:September 23, 1990
259:TriStar Television
197:Executive producer
109:Brian Doyle-Murray
532:Dennis the Menace
305:
304:
155:Original language
147:Country of origin
1018:
906:
889:
883:
882:
880:
878:
857:
848:
847:
845:
843:
837:suicidegirls.com
828:
822:
821:
819:
817:
812:on June 13, 2012
808:. Archived from
805:TVShowsOnDVD.com
795:
789:
788:
786:
784:
769:
763:
762:
760:
758:
747:
738:
737:
730:
636:Rhino Home Video
518:extraterrestrial
389:, co-creator of
312:is a television
301:
299:
291:
289:
266:Original release
187:
184:list of episodes
176:
165:
33:
19:
18:
1026:
1025:
1021:
1020:
1019:
1017:
1016:
1015:
941:
940:
915:
910:
909:
903:Wayback Machine
890:
886:
876:
874:
871:Miami New Times
858:
851:
841:
839:
829:
825:
815:
813:
796:
792:
782:
780:
770:
766:
756:
754:
749:
748:
741:
732:
731:
727:
722:
656:
633:
615:in 2000 on the
609:
527:
432:
426:
377:Charlie Kaufman
297:
295:
293:
287:
285:
257:
252:
248:
227:
215:
213:
211:
181:
107:
103:
99:
95:
91:
87:
83:
69:
65:
51:
47:
36:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1024:
1014:
1013:
1008:
1003:
998:
993:
988:
983:
978:
973:
968:
963:
958:
953:
939:
938:
927:
914:
913:External links
911:
908:
907:
884:
849:
823:
790:
764:
739:
724:
723:
721:
718:
708:Built to Spill
687:Tom Scharpling
655:
652:
643:Shout! Factory
632:
629:
608:
605:
526:
523:
425:
422:
418:Shout! Factory
369:and later for
326:Elinor Donahue
303:
302:
282:
278:
277:
272:
268:
267:
263:
262:
242:
238:
237:
234:
230:
229:
224:
220:
219:
208:
204:
203:
198:
194:
193:
189:
188:
178:
171:
170:
167:
160:
159:
156:
152:
151:
148:
144:
143:
138:
134:
133:
126:
122:
121:
116:
112:
111:
93:Elinor Donahue
78:
74:
73:
60:
56:
55:
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1023:
1012:
1009:
1007:
1004:
1002:
999:
997:
994:
992:
989:
987:
984:
982:
979:
977:
974:
972:
969:
967:
964:
962:
959:
957:
954:
952:
949:
948:
946:
937:
933:
932:
928:
926:
922:
921:
917:
916:
904:
900:
897:
893:
888:
873:
872:
867:
865:
856:
854:
838:
834:
827:
811:
807:
806:
801:
794:
779:
775:
768:
752:
746:
744:
735:
729:
725:
717:
715:
714:
709:
704:
702:
698:
697:
692:
688:
684:
683:
678:
674:
670:
666:
663:
660:
651:
647:
644:
640:
637:
628:
626:
622:
618:
614:
611:The show was
604:
602:
597:
593:
591:
590:Peter Chernin
587:
586:
581:
580:
573:
571:
570:
565:
561:
560:
555:
554:Graham Jarvis
551:
550:
545:
544:James Hampton
541:
535:
533:
522:
519:
515:
514:
509:
508:
502:
500:
496:
492:
486:
484:
480:
476:
471:
469:
464:
459:
455:
450:
447:
443:
442:
437:
431:
421:
419:
414:
412:
407:
402:
400:
399:
394:
393:
388:
384:
383:
378:
374:
373:
368:
367:
362:
358:
357:
352:
347:
346:
342:
338:
334:
331:
327:
323:
322:Chris Elliott
319:
315:
311:
310:
294:March 8, 1992
283:
279:
276:
273:
269:
264:
260:
255:
251:
246:
243:
239:
235:
231:
225:
221:
218:
212:Chris Elliott
209:
205:
202:
199:
195:
190:
185:
179:
172:
168:
161:
157:
153:
150:United States
149:
145:
142:
141:Stewart Levin
139:
135:
131:
127:
125:Opening theme
123:
120:
117:
113:
110:
106:
102:
98:
94:
90:
86:
82:
81:Chris Elliott
79:
75:
72:
68:
64:
63:Chris Elliott
61:
57:
54:
50:
46:
43:
39:
32:
27:
24:
20:
930:
919:
887:
875:. Retrieved
869:
863:
840:. Retrieved
836:
826:
814:. Retrieved
810:the original
803:
793:
781:. Retrieved
777:
767:
755:. Retrieved
728:
711:
705:
700:
694:
680:
676:
657:
648:
641:
634:
610:
598:
594:
583:
577:
574:
569:The Munsters
567:
557:
547:
536:
528:
511:
505:
503:
487:
472:
451:
439:
433:
415:
403:
396:
390:
387:Bob Odenkirk
380:
372:The Simpsons
370:
364:
361:David Mirkin
354:
351:Adam Resnick
348:
308:
307:
306:
250:Mirkinvision
233:Running time
217:Steve Pepoon
214:Adam Resnick
201:David Mirkin
71:David Mirkin
67:Adam Resnick
49:Black comedy
22:
783:5 September
691:Jon Wurster
617:USA Network
525:Development
483:Robin Riker
475:Sam Robards
411:tonsillitis
398:Tenacious D
333:Bob Elliott
318:Fox Network
261:(1991–1992)
256:(1990–1991)
247:Productions
245:Elliottland
177:of episodes
105:Brady Bluhm
97:Bob Elliott
89:Robin Riker
85:Sam Robards
945:Categories
931:Get a Life
920:Get a Life
894:article: "
877:27 January
778:avclub.com
757:12 October
720:References
701:Get a Life
677:Get a Life
631:Home media
585:Mac and Me
540:archetypes
507:Mac and Me
499:comic foil
479:accountant
461:sardonic,
428:See also:
406:prime time
337:theme song
309:Get a Life
298:1992-03-08
288:1990-09-23
236:30 minutes
210:David Latt
192:Production
166:of seasons
101:Taylor Fry
59:Created by
23:Get a Life
892:Gothamist
682:Cabin Boy
625:royalties
495:sociopath
207:Producers
936:Facebook
899:Archived
662:producer
424:Synopsis
330:comedian
137:Composer
77:Starring
842:9 March
816:June 8,
659:Hip hop
549:F Troop
468:shotgun
458:pajamas
454:retired
446:bicycle
366:Newhart
296: (
292: –
286: (
281:Release
271:Network
158:English
654:Legacy
607:Reruns
516:), an
385:; and
345:R.E.M.
314:sitcom
119:R.E.M.
45:Sitcom
621:Stand
613:rerun
566:from
556:from
546:from
343:" by
341:Stand
130:Stand
53:Farce
41:Genre
925:IMDb
879:2009
844:2014
818:2012
785:2012
759:2013
706:The
689:and
679:and
582:and
552:and
513:E.T.
510:and
395:and
934:on
923:at
693:of
339:, "
275:Fox
175:No.
164:No.
947::
905:."
868:.
852:^
835:.
802:.
776:.
742:^
703:.
685:.
603:.
401:.
881:.
866:"
862:"
846:.
820:.
787:.
761:.
736:.
300:)
290:)
186:)
182:(
169:2
132:"
128:"
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
