Today, I would like to introduce you to my latest creation – the NeverNude prototype in honor of the new season of Arrested Development that will be released on Netflix on May 26th. If you’re not familiar with the show, I hope this ridiculous project piques your interest enough to watch this hilarious series.

There are so many amazingly ridiculous things that happen in this show that it’s difficult to select only one to celebrate. However, I have a particular affinity for Tobias Fünke’s “never-nude” condition. Prior to moving out west I was hiding from adulthood and working on my doctorate in Gainesville, Florida. It’s home to the University of Florida, the Gators. A part of my heart and soul remains in this town, but I will never understand the football fervor. People live and die by Gator football in this little town that magically juxtaposes a typical liberal university town with its redneck roots. If there’s a single unifying icon of this bizarre conflation, it’s jorts. Here’s a little backstory.

So, back to Arrested Development. I nearly lost it just past the eight minute mark in the episode In God We Trust when Tobias’s “never-nude” condition is revealed. This particular aspect of the show always stuck with me – must be nostalgia from my time in jorts-country or growing up with a father that donned ripped jean cut-offs like a uniform.

Just before end of day on Friday I decided that I wanted to spend the evening playing with some of our electroluminescent (EL) offerings. I didn’t have a particular project in mind so I reached out via social media for ideas. A conversation with a friend surrounding a project that would require a flesh-toned leotard eventually led to a “never-nude” reference. Moments later I found myself drawing up the NeverNude prototype.