If they cancel Arrested Development, I will kill myself

[dramaqueen]

Was 'Arrested' Finale By Lynn Elber
Associated Press

The angst of the Bluth family multiplied in Sunday's season finale of "Arrested Development." But it's nothing compared to what fans will suffer if Fox's unconventional sitcom isn't renewed for a third season.

Despite a best comedy series Emmy and lavish critical praise, the series about a wildly dysfunctional Southern California family has been unable to pull respectable ratings.

In fact, viewership in the second season eroded a bit. For the season to date, the show has drawn an average 5.9 million weekly viewers, compared to the 6.2 million it averaged for the 2003-04 season.

A Fox management change also could affect the future of "Arrested Development," which was developed and given a second chance under Fox entertainment chief Gail Berman.

Berman left for a Paramount Studios job, and it's uncertain if her replacement, Peter Liguori, will have the same affection for the show. Its fate will be announced when Fox unveils its 2005-06 lineup in May.

In the finale, the Bluth family's very foundation is rocked: The model house for their star-crossed real estate development is falling apart because of shoddy plumbing.

Meanwhile, brother Gob (Will Arnett) has proudly produced a CD of his ventriloquism act with a black dummy. Maybe "it will heal this country a little bit," he says — although its racist lyrics send a black studio technician storming out.

The puns also fly, including one about Pop Secret popcorn and the possibility that one man's uncle may really be his dad.

The series features Jason Bateman, who won a Golden Globe for his role as atypically normal Bluth son Michael. Others in the powerhouse ensemble cast are Jeffrey Tambor, Portia de Rossi and Jessica Walter.

Sunday's half-hour ended with scenes from the next episode, the one that would open the fall season. Devotees can only hope the optimism isn't misguided.

Final Show?

THERE'S NO EMOTICON FOR WHAT I'M FEELING!!!!

Anyone know where to send angry letters to Fox?????

[Dustysage]

And that is why you are called "Drama Queen"

Honestly, this is my favorite show on TV by a long shot. I LOVE it. Just think how much better it would be if it were picked up by HBO or Showtime! They could say whatever they wanted.

[Anders]

This is my favorite show, I do like Dusty's idea of it being picked up by HBO or Showtime should it get dropped by Fox. Though, I like how they always edit themselves in the show, I'm not sure if it would have quite the same effect if it weren't edited. Either way, the show needs to continue in some form.

[dramaqueen]

Man, if I have to pay for this show I will and to hear it without the bleeps would be funny (why didn't they include that option on the DVD?) This just sucks. I really hope they don't cancel it though- maybe if they moved it to a better time slot they would have more viewers. I sometimes miss it on Sundays simply because I am not home. I mean come on, "Life on a Stick" gets a safe Wednesday slot and Arrested Development gets stuck in Sunday no man's land, known killer of great shows! ARGH!

[Anders]

Originally Posted by dramaqueen

Man, if I have to pay for this show I will and to hear it without the bleeps would be funny (why didn't they include that option on the DVD?) This just sucks. I really hope they don't cancel it though- maybe if they moved it to a better time slot they would have more viewers. I sometimes miss it on Sundays simply because I am not home. I mean come on, "Life on a Stick" gets a safe Wednesday slot and Arrested Development gets stuck in Sunday no man's land, known killer of great shows! ARGH!

I never figured out why they keep it on Sunday, it's not the timeslot to put an award winning show in. Fox did the same thing with Wonderfalls last year and it died off fast, luckily it came out on dvd and found an audience there. If they just tried putting Arrested on after American Idol I think people would actually watch it.

[ah schucks]

Murdoch hires the most amazing creative director to find the most amazing sitcoms. They have had some amazing, cutting edge shows since the early 90's; The Ben Stiller Show, Malcom in the Middle, Greg the Bunny, Andy Rictor Controls the Universe and even Ally McBeal-

Then the disaster begins- These shows are handed to marketing and schedules and these grunting neanderthals underpromote these programs and put them on nights where they are destined to die.

Then the neanderthals hand the product over the squilling executives played in this episode by chimpanzees with check books. The morons stick to the scheduling and marketing never questioning the capacity of a great show until finally they pull the plug and show the 6th rerun of the Simpson, that night alone or the fill it with some bizarre American Idol focus episode or a $4 dollar reality show made my slave labors (my roommates from college all editors who got 2 cents a day or something).

And thats how Fox has barely remained in 3rd or 4th, fighting with ABC for so long. Even the WB and UPN executives say WTF everytime Fox makes a boner like these.

[MegarooFifi]

Originally Posted by dramaqueen

THERE'S NO EMOTICON FOR WHAT I'M FEELING!!!!

Anyone know where to send angry letters to Fox?????

If you go to the Arrested Development website, you can email Fox using a form on their website (at least three weeks ago they did)... I'm sad because the longer it drags out, the more it looks like it will be cancelled. I have a feeling I'm going to need Prozac if they cancel AD... We'll find out at the latest May 19th... but that's too long for me.

[Modern Folly]

they also had some poll on the USA Today site about which shows should get the plug. It said that the poll had some signifigant influence on what the networks decided. Of course i'll never tell on what I voted.

[Nephythys]

I was going to say what Dusty said-you live up to your name for this one

[disneyking]

I'm with you DQ.
This is by far the best show on T.V. right now. The writing is so clever and the characters are all my favorite.
I'm praying that FOX does the right thing here!
There's sooo few 'really great' shows left.

[ah schucks]

This show is really the next Seinfeld in many respects, but unlike a show about nothing, this is a show about everything! Perhaps the chink the armor is the inability of new fans to get into this show, but my answer is to get every fan to buy season 1 and hopefully season 2 and promote the hell out of it, lend it to neighbors, have AD parties, talk to it with co-workers, force your family to watch it, etc.

I think Fox would be shooting themselves in the foot to end a relationship with Ron Howard.

[The Mad Hatter]

I've never watched the show, but if it's as good as people say then why do the ratings suck? I don't think the day of the week has to do with much...because isn't Desperate Housewives on sundays also?? And that show does great.

[dramaqueen]

Originally Posted by The Mad Hatter

I've never watched the show, but if it's as good as people say then why do the ratings suck?

I think you just answered your own question.

[The Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by dramaqueen

I think you just answered your own question.

But you like the show don't you? To me if the ratings aren't good, then people aren't watching it so it must not be that great.

[ah schucks]

Originally Posted by The Mad Hatter

I've never watched the show, but if it's as good as people say then why do the ratings suck? I don't think the day of the week has to do with much...because isn't Desperate Housewives on sundays also?? And that show does great.

People will also line up and pay 9 dollars for Triple X: State of the Union - so there is no accounting for taste. However "Arrested Development" is not just heralded by fans, its won critical acclaim. Emmy people, emmy says its good!

The reason the ratings are down is the nature of the show does not allow it to be a one shot show that you watch, miss a few weeks and come back like Seinfeld, Friends, Will and Grace, etc etc etc. Its also shot one camera not in front of a live studio audience- a format viewers are still not completly comfortable with: see also Scrubs, Malcom in the Middle and Bernie Mac.

However certain nights and times equate to prime viewing. Per example Thursdays were owned for 10 or 15 year by NBC. With the death of Friends CBS puts it best, Survivor on Thursday and FOX buts its best the OC all at the same time. Sundays are traditionally tricky business. In the mid 90's Fox owned Sunday like a gimp in the closet, with Simpsons and X-files. Then X-files faded and for a time HBO owned Sunday nights with Sopranos and Sex in the City. Sex in the City feel at 9...so does Desperate Housewives. Who do you think the core audience of Desperate Housewives is? Ex- recovering Sex in the City fans!!!

So its not easy to compare Arrested Development to DH. I have said and I stand by it, move Arrested Development to the 9pm timeslot, Thursdays after the OC and follow it with a strong closer and I don't mean Pam Anderson's new sitcom "Stacked"