Get a Life (1990)
Get a Life is a television sitcom that was broadcast in the United States on the Fox Network from September 23, 1990, to March 8, 1992. The show stars Chris Elliott as a 30-year-old paperboy named Chris Peterson. Peterson lived in an apartment above his parents' garage. The opening credits depict Chris Peterson delivering newspapers on his bike to the show's theme song, "Stand" by R.E.M. The show was a creation of Elliott, Adam Resnick and writer/director David Mirkin. Mirkin was executive producer/showrunner of the series and also directed most of the episodes. Notable writers of the series included Charlie Kaufman, screenwriter of Being John Malkovich; and Bob Odenkirk, co-creator of Mr. Show with Bob and David and Tenacious D. The show was unconventional for a prime time 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, tonsillitis, 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 that Elliott's character was too insane.
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Episode 0 - Unaired Pilot
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Episode 1 - Terror on the Hell Loop 2000
Release Date: 1990-09-23Chris talks Larry into taking the day off for the world premiere of the Hell Loop 2000, a 360 degree looped rollercoaster, where they get stuck at the top of the loop.
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Episode 2 - The Prettiest Week of My Life
Release Date: 1990-09-30Chris decides to enter the exciting world of male modeling when he joins the Handsome Boy School of Modeling.
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Episode 3 - Dadicus
Release Date: 1990-10-07Chris convinces his father to accompany him to the father-son competition at the annual newspaper boy picnic.
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Episode 4 - A Family Affair
Release Date: 1990-10-14Sharon's sister, Charleen, comes to visit and she is taken with Chris' charm, much to Sharon's chagrin.
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Episode 5 - Pile of Death
Release Date: 1990-10-21Chris tries to raise money to help save a playground, so he tries to set a world record by having the most things piled on top of him.
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Episode 6 - Paperboy 2000
Release Date: 1990-11-04The newspaper fires all the paper boys and replaces them with the Paperboy 2000, a paper delivering robotic vehicle, so Chris challenges it in a paper delivering contest.
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Episode 7 - Drivers License
Release Date: 1990-11-11There's a new waitress at the local diner, and Chris wants to take her out, but he needs to drive a car for the date. His problem is he never got a license.
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Episode 8 - The Sitting
Release Date: 1990-11-18Chris becomes a house sitter in an old Victorian house that appears to be haunted.
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Episode 9 - Bored Straight
Release Date: 1990-12-02While delivering papers in the bad side of town, Chris meets a group of young hoodlums and he decides to ""take back the streets"" by helping the kids.
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Episode 10 - Zoo Animals on Wheels
Release Date: 1990-12-16Much to Sharon's dismay, Chris auditions for and gets the lead part in a local community theatre production of Andrew Todd Keller's musical Zoo Animals on Wheels.
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Episode 11 - Roots
Release Date: 1991-01-06Chris finds proof that makes him think he is adopted, so he sets off to find his natural parents, an Amish couple.
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Episode 12 - The Counterfeit Watch Story
Release Date: 1991-02-03Chris goes to work for the police in a sting operation after he buys a counterfeit watch, the Chrono-Sync 2000.
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Episode 13 - Chris vs. Donald
Release Date: 1991-02-10At the family reunion Chris is still struggling to get out from under the shadow of his cousin.
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Episode 14 - Chris Wins a Celebrity
Release Date: 1991-02-24Chris wins a weekend with his favorite talk show host, a contest the host first regrets he agreed to, but later Chris regrets he entered, when the host decides to stay.
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Episode 15 - Houseboy 2000
Release Date: 1991-03-10After destroying her kitchen, Chris becomes Sharon's slave to work off the $2000 in damage and she also breaks his will.
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Episode 16 - Married
Release Date: 1991-03-24During one day, Chris meets his soulmate, marries her and goes through an entire relationship with her.
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Episode 17 - Camping 2000
Release Date: 1991-03-31Chris and Larry join Mr. Peterson on a camping trip, when Mr. Peterson manages to lose them, the hungry boys eat some berries that cause them to hallucinate.
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Episode 18 - The Construction Worker Show
Release Date: 1991-04-07Chris becomes a construction worker with the men who are renovating his parents kitchen. When they tell him one of their trade secrets, Chris has a problem with their dishonesty.
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Episode 19 - The Big City
Release Date: 1991-04-21Chris loses his wallet in the big city, and the big city give him the key to the city and other perks to make him feel better.
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Episode 20 - Neptune 2000
Release Date: 1991-04-28When Chris was 12 he got a job as a paperboy so he could buy a submarine from the back of a comic book. Four to six hundred weeks later when the kit arrives, Chris and his father put it together; however when they embark on the sub's maiden voyage (in Chris's bathtub) they become trapped.
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Episode 21 - The One Where Chris and Larry Switch Lives
Release Date: 1991-05-12Chris and Larry ignore an Indian curse and wind up switching places.
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Episode 22 - Psychic 2000
Release Date: 1991-05-19Chris has a near death experience and is endowed with prescience and he sees a vision of Sharon being murdered.