Get a Life

“Get a Life” is a sitcom that aired in the U.S. on the Fox Network from September 23, 1990, to March 8, 1992. The series features Chris Elliott as Chris Peterson, a 30-year-old who works as a paperboy and resides in an apartment above his parents’ garage. The opening sequence shows Chris delivering newspapers on his bike to the tune of “Stand” by R.E.M.

The show was the brainchild of Elliott, Adam Resnick, and writer/director David Mirkin, who served as the executive producer and primary director. Among the notable writers were Charlie Kaufman, known for “Being John Malkovich,” and Bob Odenkirk, co-creator of “Mr. Show with Bob and David” and “Tenacious D.”

“Get a Life” was unconventional for a prime-time sitcom, often featuring surreal storylines. In a unique twist, Elliott’s character dies in twelve episodes, with causes ranging from being crushed by a giant boulder to exploding. This bizarre approach made it challenging for Elliott and Mirkin to get the show approved, as many Fox Network executives found it too unsettling and considered Elliott’s character overly eccentric.