Good news Arrested Development fans: Fox is officially quiet on the subject until they release their schedules, but the word from E!'s TV gossip-hound Kristin is that not only had Arrested Development been renewed for next season, it's been renewed for TWO seasons. (It turns out that, due to "licensing fees," the show has only been renewed for one season after all - but that's not bad news either!) So, despite lackluster ratings, Fox's president, Peter Liguori, is standing behind the show, and my guess is because he's probably a fan and also realizes that this show is the kind of show that needs to slowly build up an audience - much like Seinfeld needed a couple of seasons to really catch people's attention. I firmly believe this show has the potential to be the next Seinfeld, in fact - it's irreverent, it's edgy and different, and it's similarly complex. Like Seinfeld, it's the kind of show that divided people, but it got them talking - and hopefully will follow in Seinfeld's footstep and get people watching. I do not exaggerate when I say that it is, without a doubt, the funniest show I have ever seen on TV.
In similar news, NBC's experiment with another BBC adaptation, The Office appears to be at least marginally successful as it too will be back for a second season. How this was even a question is beyond me - when the absolutely atrocious Will & Grace stumbles back for yet another season, pretty much every other comedy on the network should feel safe. And The Office was actually very funny, numbing worries about another trainwreck like Coupling - but I think the difference here is the source material is actually good in the case of The Office. (Yeah, that's right. Bring it on, Coupling lovers. You can't convince me - I've seen the original and it's just as bad as NBC's take.)
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Article comments
1 - DivineMsCupie
Far-fucking-OUT!
2 - Dave Ryan
Great news for Arrested Development and its fans, good news for Steve Carrell.
3 - Greg Smyth
The thing about Coupling is that (at its best - the first three UK series) it was classic British Sex Farce.
That's the reason why it should never have been Americanised and why you probably wouldn't have appreciated the original series.
4 - Nicolette Rivers
I know a lot of Americans who like the British version -- so I don't believe it has anything to do with it being too British.
5 - Eric Berlin
Great news on both fronts, Tom. Was there ever even a question of renewal with The Office, though? It was getting great ratings as far as I remember. I agree that it had great source material to work with, but I still contend that the more it finds its own legs and its own American style, the better the show becomes. I think this can be seen as the last three or four episodes of the season were outstanding while edging the furthest away from the original BBC version in terms of the style and writing.
I find it simply impossible that Arrested Development won't gather a huge audience over time. I agree that it's the funniest show on television, and it's smart, strange, off-beat -- all the things I look for to keep me interested. More than that, it's got a continuing storyline so that each show doesn't wallow in dead as a beaten horse sitcom standards.
Finally, Tom: I've never understood the massive popularity of Raymond. Maybe it appeals to that broad Middle American, baby boomer audience, but I've always found it a pleasantly dull show.
6 - N icolette
I think how funny someone finds Raymond is in direct proportion to how closely that person relates to the show. Raymond was never a Must See show, but I'll admit there are moments that Ray reminded me eerily of my husband. My MIL and Marie are pretty much the same woman, so I found myself knowing how Deborah felt in certain episodes.
7 - Tom Johnson
Eric, on Raymond: I've always thought it was an excellently written, realistic show - I actually know a couple that is very much like Ray and Deborah are on the show. I think they managed to be a "typical sitcom" and be intelligent about it. I can certainly see why it doesn't appeal to some - there's absolutely nothing edgy about it, and it's pretty much entirely wholesome, and there's absolutely nothing new going on in it. This is one of those times where a well-worn premise is simply a jumping-off point for extremely well-crafted characters and real-world dialogue. I truly think it's one of the best family-oriented, family-friendly comedies that TV has had to offer, up there with the Cosby Show, Bob Newhart, etc. Like those, it didn't do anything particularly new, but it did what it did really well, was very consistent and reliable, and will leave a gaping hole in its place when it goes off the air this week. I honestly will be sad to see it go - the show's far from the stale crap that it's outlasted. That said, I think it's commendable to end the show before it's truly worn out its welcome.
8 - Eric Berlin
What's weird is that I should relate to Raymond but I don't. I grew up on Queens and Long Island, New York. I read the sports section of Newsday every day growing up (isn't that what Raymond does for a living), had your typical New York dysfunctional family, etc.
Maybe I've just seen it all before?
I happen to think Romano is a fabulous stand-up, and did some amazing work on the brilliant Dr. Katz on Comedy Central. But he appears way toned down on his sitcom. But power to him -- the dude is super rich, so many many people obviously dig it.
9 - Nicolette Rivers
I suppose I can relate to the, um, not relating. There have been shows, books, and moveies that should have resonated with me...but didn't.
10 - Eric Berlin
Well, I think the writing is well done... but dull. Safe. I've seen it before. I'm just not that interested in the sitcom as an art form unless there's something really good or interesting going on. Arrested Development and even Scrubs play with the form enough to make it interesting... and often hilarious.
If I'm feeling completely braindead, I can put Joey on (or something) to numb my thoughts out, but for entertainment? Give me something to grab hold of.
11 - Joe
Fox made the official announcement about Arrested Development today, they're in for 22 episodes. Balls!
12 - Eric Berlin
That's great news for comedy lovers and television and Human Kind.