10 TV Shows That Mock You For Paying Attention

Arrested Development is one of the most densely-layered TV shows ever made, with practically every single scene containing hidden callbacks to prior episodes and ridiculous foreshadowing for coming events.

Fans are absolutely encouraged to scan every shot for hidden details, though in the season three finale "Development Arrested" - the final episode before it was revived by Netflix seven years later - creator Mitchell Hurwitz decided to poke fun some at it all.

When it's explained that Rita (Charlize Theron) has become a Hollywood executive, we're shown the cover of a Variety issue, and those who peer over to the bottom-right corner will see a piece entitled, "TV DVD Sales Enjoy All Time High."

It doesn't stop there, though, as the ensuring article basically takes aim at both Fox for failing to realise the series' cult popularity, and audiences who slept on the show until it hit DVD.

The choice quote says, "Who knew that booming DVD sales would actually slit the wrists of the industry that spawned them? After all, why bother to tape, Tivo or watch TV shows when you can just wait for the box set to come out."

And in a brutal confession of the shifting TV economy, the article continues, "[Product placement] may end up being one of the few avenues for revenues to remain open after everyone fast forwards through commercials or flat-out isn't forced to watch them with their DVD."

As much as this gag was expressing passive-aggressive contempt for Fox, for audiences, and for the entire TV business, at least you might've learned something from it, right?