User reviews

I had the opportunity to work on the TV series "Get A Life" over at Sunset-Gower Studios as a Production Assistant to the Cinematographer in the first season. I admit I'm biased because of this but I still think the show was hilarious! Chris is a great person to work with and his Dad is very funny and the nicest guy you could meet! One of my favorite episodes is the haunted house episode because of the blood coming out of the walls. Chris cries, "Oh no the walls are bleeding, I hate that!" It stands out for me because I was one of three people standing behind the set pouring the blood! If you've seen the show you probably remember that Sam Robards's played Chris's best friend on the show. I remember he was living in Colorado at the time and would fly in every week for filming. One time we got into an intense conversation, meanwhile everyone on set is trying to find him and are yelling for him. Once they found out what happened to him we both got chewed out by the Exec. Prod. David Mirkin (who went on to the Simpson's). Sam, like everyone else (cast and crew), was also a bright, funny guy. I had just graduated from college and this was my first job and I remember it fondly. I was very fortunate to start out with such wonderful people on such a funny show!

Chris Eliot is a comic genius. I wish they would release this whole series on dvd. It was the funniest show next to the simpsons when it was on. My favorite episodes were the father/son american gladiators, the toolbelt wars, and handsome boy modeling school.

It's been over a decade, and many of us still double-over with laughter just thinking about episodes of this insane sitcom, a Hellzapopin revue for the goofy, mannered talents of Chris Elliot. However, an equal number of folks see this show as nothing but stupid. Elliot, Resnick, and company probably see it that way too. There aren't many absolutes in life, but this is one of them: You'll either love or hate this show (and your feelings will be inextricably tied to how much you like Chris Elliot). There is NO middle ground. No one ever says that "Get a Life" is "just OK," "fair," or "I could take it or leave it." It inspires fervent reactions both pro and con. And in a plain vanilla world of network television, that's a good thing!

For me, my life is always a whole lot better when I think about "Spewey the Alien," "Zoo Animals on Wheels," and the "Toolbelt Wars." Those episodes are as fresh today as they were in the day. The trouble with Chris Elliot, I think, is that he has such a bizarre, almost off-putting sense of humor that a little of him goes a long way. (If you don't believe me, see "Cabin Boy.") Here's the perfect vehicle to enjoy his talents--in 22 minute chunks! Eat up!

This was my favorite TV show when it was on. It had wacky slapstick, sharp dialogue, and fantastic performance. If you've seen "Cabin Boy", you'll love Chris Elliott in this show.

When "There's Something About Mary" came out, I saw it and was reminded instantly of the sort of outlandish humor both that and "Get a Life" used.

My favorite episode is definitely the one where Chris is mutated by nuclear material and becomes a spelling bee wizard before it wears off and he badly misspells the word "pants".

If you haven't seen it, check it out.

Get A Life is one of the funniest shows ever.That's why it got cancelled.The average person would rather watch a bunch of fools learning important life lessons.That's their idea of comedy.Not only was this show extremely funny, they made very weird story choices that always worked.The show starts off being about a 30 year old paperboy, his parents and his best friend.In early episodes they try to give Chris other paperboy friends but they quickly disappear.Almost every episode contains a ridiculous musical montage and it never gets old.At one point in the first season they start having Chris die in most episodes and every time it's funny.For the second season,Chris moved into the garage of Bill Murray's brother and his parents only make a couple appearances after that.But the weirdest change they made is when Chris' best friend leaves his wife and she becomes the co-star of the series, even though her and Chris hate each other and she was barely in the first season.And it worked!This is by far one of the best TV shows ever.If you read this go find everything by Chris, Eagleheart, Cabin Boy, old Letterman clips, whatever you can find.You won't regret it.

Wow! As much as this show is only for a certain type of warped sense of humor (like mine!) I can't not notice that every single reviewer of this semi-controversial show (so far) has sung praises. And all deserved! I so agree! I only wish they'd put a few more on DVD.

"GET A LIFE," in my opinion, is an absolute FOX classic! I don't think I've seen every episode, but I still enjoyed it. It's hard to say which episode was my favorite. However, I think it was always funny when a mishap occurred. I always laughed at that. When I think about it, I remember the openings sequence and theme song vaguely. Despite the fact that it was a short-lived series, it would have been nice if all the main characters had stayed with the show throughout its entire run. It seems that no one stays with a show throughout its entire run. Everyone always gave a good performance, the production design was spectacular, the costumes were well-designed, and the writing was always very strong. In conclusion, I hope some network brings it back on the air for fans of the show to see.

I guess I have no taste at all. After all, I loved this show and watched every episode when it first aired. However, its success was very short-lived and so America sent the message that it wasn't impressed. I wonder if it was really because the show was bad ("stupid", yes--"bad", no), or because it wasn't marketed well or because after the first season they kept re-tooling and messing with a good formula. Often this "re-tooling" is the kiss of death, and in this case it certainly was true. The comedic balance was gone and the episodes seemed choppier and less funny--but still excellent to my apparently low standards. I also think that MANY people have a hard time suspending disbelief and just didn't know what to think about these rather surreal episodes. I loved ZOO ANIMALS ON WHEELS, Chris going in search of his REAL Amish parents or the automated newspaper delivery machine that nearly put this 30 year-old newspaper boy out of business! What a show--too bad it was canceled and too bad only selected episodes are available on DVD.

UPDATE: The show has finally been released on DVD. You will most likely notice that season one was MUCH better. Season two seemed much more aimless and unfunny---they they were having trouble sustaining the concept.

Chris Elliot is an underrated genius!!!

He's at his finest as the paperboy Chris Peterson in this hilarious "sitcom". Probably the best slapstick tv show of its time. Too bad it had to go away.

Also notable is the presence of his real life father, Bob Elliot, who's also extremely funny as Fred Peterson, Chris' sarcastic father. Simply the best. Watch it, you won't regret it (unless you think the humor is "idiotic". You probably just wouldn't get it).

Chris Peterson (Chris Elliott) is a 30 year old paper boy. He lives with his parents Fred Peterson (Bob Elliott) and Gladys Peterson (Elinor Donahue). He's moved out, but only to the room above the garage. His best friend Larry Potter (Sam Robards) is a responsible business and family man. Larry's wife Sharon Potter (Robin Riker) hates his guts. In the second season, Larry runs away. Chris moves out into the garage of retired cop Gus Borden (Brian Doyle-Murray).

The comedy is ridiculous. Chris Elliott is doing his usual man-child clown. From the start, Larry is a dud, but his wife is the perfect foil for Chris. They should do more with the paper boys. The second season starts by dumping Larry and adding Gus. Gus is really a replacement for Bob Elliott, Chris' real life father. Larry should never have been in the show. He adds nothing except his wife. The show should showcase Sharon even more. Her daughter should start working for Chris who becomes her father figure. This show depends on one's opinion on Chris Elliott's sense of humor. For me, he is the guy doing little skits for David Letterman. He's great in small doses. For a full sitcom, he does need writing, connection to the other characters, and a good cast. Robin Riker gets him halfway there.

Pure gold. Such an original humor, has stayed in my memories as one of the best.

Unfunny and silly to the point of being ridiculous.

Elliot is fun, but this is stupid and doesn't seem to know quite what it wants to be as a show in general.

One of the funniest sitcom's ever! I don't know why this show didn't survive. I think the humor was ahead of it's time. My favorite episode was when the construction workers were doing some work in Chris' parent's kitchen, and they taught Chris how to yell out catcalls to women as they passed by. "Yeah, uh-huh. Pluck that banjo honey. Yeah, you have a very nice skirt on today." I hope Rhino comes out with more episodes on DVD.

A truly original, fresh, and creative television series starring Chris Elliot. This is one of the genuinely funny and touching shows ever produced and at times is absolutely brilliant. Chris Elliot is admittedly an acquired taste but here he's superb even when he's at his most irritating. Chris's real life father Bob Elliot is amazing in the program and his dry delivery of lines stunningly hilarious. The most powerful aspect of the show is the father-son relationship and while being side-splitting it's also very moving. There is obviously real affection between these two men and it's reflected beautifully in the characters. Sadly, this series was short lived and wasn't given the chance it deserved. However, it remains a bright spot in the early days of Fox and a high point in television comedy history.

This show was a lot of fun and it had a really unique and different sense of humour. I remember at the time arguing with my dad about what was funnier this show or Cosby and I liked both shows but this was more my or a younger sense of humour but my dad could not understand me liking this show at all. It was so different and Chris Elliott was great as the useless loser 40 year old who still had a paper route and lived with his parents, who were always sitting around in their housecoats and didn't even like him. No way to really describe the show other than that, you have to see it and love it or hate it you have to admit it is a great show as far as being different from anything else on TV at the time. Cabin Boy was a good movie too!

I grew up watching this as it came on in the same time slot as my other fave show, Parker Lewis Can't Lose. I absolutely loved Chris's humor whether dark or slapstick and his dad and Eleanor Donahue were spot on as his retired, loosely-caring parents. Probably my favorite episode is Neptune 2000 followed closely by Camping 2000. My parents used to ground me from watching it when I got into trouble but thanks to the magic of best friends and VCRs, I would just go over to his house and we would roll around laughing at the show. Due to release and copyright issues it was very hard to get ahold of and they only released the first season afaik. I ended up having to torrent season 2 after years of pleading to release it so I could buy it. Glad to see Chris is still making us laugh on Schitts Creek like he did on his Letterman appearances and Get A Life. Granted, the show will probably not be liked by everyone but I hope folks can look past the low cost sets and laugh track and enjoy the silliness. Keep up the great work, Mr. Elliot, and thank you for keeping me laughing and learning about comedy throughout my awkward teen years on through to adulthood :)

There is only one TV series that I truly wish to own on DVD and it's Chris Elliott's Get a Life! Unfortunately, Get a Life is the only series out of seemingly thousands that is not available in its entirety on DVD. If it is ever released, I will buy it the very first day.

In several interviews, Elliott has blamed the "suits at Sony" for not releasing a Get a Life complete DVD set. C'mon Sony. You need something to raise that sagging stock price!

Quit acting like a free floating blob of cellulite cast adrift in a sea of cotton candy soaked in dog saliva and release the complete Get a Life now! I am certain it would be a hit. There are millions of fans clamoring for it!

GET A LIFE NOW!!!!!!!

I can't believe this didn't last longer than two seasons. It was like a live action cartoon and way funnier than that crap Family Guy! Chris Elliot and Brian Doyle Murray made one helluva comedy duo.

My favorite episode was when Chris discovered the alien in his yard and they ended up eating it! Whenever I bring up Get a Life, that's always the first episode discussed.

Another favorite was the episode where Chris makes his own time travel drink to stop Gus from urinating on his boss!

I wish someone would release the whole series on DVD instead of making everyone have to deal with the internet extortionists wanting an arm and a leg for two out of print volumes.

This show was way, way ahead of its time. Like most innovative and smart TV comedies it died way, way ahead of its time, as well. There is a level of sarcasm on this show that really wasn't present on TV until after it aired. They need, I mean, really need to put out a DVD boxed set of this show's entire run. There are two Rhino DVDs with 4 episodes each on them, but that isn't enough! To think that there are episodes of this amazing show sitting on a shelf somewhere, not being laughed at by the public is a damn shame. I remember this show being a cult classic when it was on, and I was only ten years old! This was a show that cool older dudes {ie: stoners} were into. I remember talking about it with my cool neighbors. (I lived in a groovy neighborhood). Chris Elliot is a comic genius and this show is his masterpiece. Give us a comprehensive DVD set, now!!!!!!!!!!

I love this show! It's hilarious!

It's about a bald old man in his 30's-40's who lives in his parents house still, played by Chris Elliot who was famous from his days on David Letterman.

He is still a paper boy and everyone teases and makes fun of him, but he thinks he is awesome.

He gets into all kinds of weird situations like he makes his only friend from next door skip work and go to a theme park then they get stuck on the roller coaster upside down and put on the TV news.

Watch it it's very funny!

This is the GREATEST TV ever made. Why hasn't every episode been released to the public? Some sort of fascist government plot to keep us from seeing Spewey the alien who can make custard out of his belly? It's time we had a right to know!

This show also features the writing talents of Bob Odenkirk, a comparable genius in his own right. Just see Mr. Show to find out.

Did I forget to say this show is nothing short of brilliant?

And I mean that in the best possible sense. There is no realism to this show. There is no logic. Just stupid, juvenile, hilarious goodness. The acting is terrible, the sets are cheap, but the comedy is gold. The main character, Chris Peterson, is as dumb as Philip J. Fry without the sweetness, as much a loser as George Costanza without the self-awareness to realize it and as undeservedly egotistical as Russell Dunbar without the money. This is a sitcom that shouldn't work, but it does. The cheapness, the poor acting, the unrelatable situations that take place all work toward the ultimate quirkiness of the show. Of-course, quirkiness alone isn't reason enough to watch a series so luckily the writing is a perfect mix of smart, dumb, sophomoric and witty, even for the ancillary characters. But what really kept me watching (and laughing) was Chris Elliot, who, without a shred of dignity, stalwartly pulls off the loser with an attitude to a tee.

I loved this program, one that always left me howling with laughter. There is nothing subltle about the gags, props or the humor in this program, it's all in your face, all the way.

A lot of television humor is recycled from past shows, or just the same theme over and over again. I won't go into examples, but I think you understand what I'm saying. This show, however, was original and showed the world that Chris Elliot is a brilliant comedian. Does anyone remember that Elliot got his start on "David Letterman" on NBC as the "Conspiracy guy", who would stand up in the audience, interrupt the show, and accuse Letterman of some "cover-up" involving missing files and Connie Chung? Then he would run through a door and get run over (usually by a floor buffer). "Get a Life" was very funny and quite original. I guess my favorite episode was the one where the alien Chris found would ooze out some vile, and disgusting stuff out of his body, and Chris ate it. He got Brian Doyle-Murray to eat some, too. They said it tasted like pudding. The alien seemed disgusted that they were eating the stuff, too. I really liked this show and I wish Fox had kept it on longer.