Fox is apparently at it again, this time in a move that leaves little doubt that Arrested Development's head is on the chopping block.
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Fox Broadcasting Co. plans to shuffle its Sunday comedy lineup in May to make room for the addition of new cartoon "American Dad" on May 1.Seasons don't just get shortened - it is almost always the death knell for a series. What can you do to save the best show on TV? Here are some options:As part of the schedule change, the network has opted to reduce the episode order on the Emmy-winning ratings laggard "Arrested Development," but the specifics still are being worked out.
As of May 1, "American Dad" will slide into "Arrested's" 8:30 p.m. slot behind "The Simpsons." For the first three weeks of the month, "Dad" will be followed at 9 p.m. by another original "Simpsons" episode.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
Sign the petition. Anyone know if these things even work? Probably a long shot, but it's worth a try.
Better yet, send some words . . .
Gail Berman
Fox Broadcasting Entertainment President
Fox Headquarters
10201 West Pico Blvd
Los Angeles CA
90035.
or:
Gail Berman, President
Fox Broadcasting Company
P.O. Box 900
Beverly Hills, California
90213
E-mail: gail.berman@fox.com
Extension: 237626
Fox's Viewer Comment Hotline: 1-800-369-6848
Even better: how about getting everyone you know to watch the show?
UPDATED TO ADD:
I emailed the link above and received this reply:
Dear Arrested Development Fans:Thank you for your e-mail and your passionate support of Arrested Development. While the show has finished production for its second season, contrary to the rumors you may have heard or read on the internet, it is NOT cancelled.
We at FOX love Arrested Development and we look forward to having the Bluth family back on FOX in the future – hopefully for many years. You can help make the show a bigger success by getting as many people as possible to start watching the show this Sunday and every Sunday at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.
Sincerely,
Fox Broadcasting Company
Let's hope this is true.
(In the meantime, check out the beautiful lull. It's free.)
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - NancyGail
Saw American Dad. Nice job of satire. The first episode, they put in a reference to CBS.
2 - Tom Johnson
I'm pretty sure Arrested Development leaves American Dad in the dust, humor wise, especially based on the overwhelmingly underwhelmed reviews I've been seeing of it.
3 - Dawn
Arrested Development is one of the funniest comedies on T.V. - sharp humour, brilliant writing, great acting.
In fact, it's too smart for most Americans.
On that note, it doesn't have much chance of making it.
4 - Eric Olsen
agree, it may be just too creative, really a shame. Fox does a great job of bringing super shows in, but then never seems to support them
5 - Joe
Balls!
6 - sharedferret
Damn you FOX! You've killed yet another amazing show!
7 - Jim Carruthers
"Arrested Development" did get a shout-out this week on "Lost", and there's an interview in this week's Onion AV Club.
But given the blunt force trauma which is "American Dad" (makes "Man getting hit with a football" look like satiric genius) and the continued, stubborn refusal of "Arrested Development" to pander, what can you do?
Maybe good things come in small packages. Chances are that you will still be able to watch two seasons of "Arrested Development" on DVD in ten years, just like you can watch "Fawlty Towers" now.
8 - Tom Johnson
Jim, I must have missed that shout-out. I did catch the Office one (the girl's dad worked in a "paper company in Slough.") What was it?
How can people not like a show like this, where they can get away with a line like this from the seemingly-gay-but-straight-and-married Tobias: "I'll be your wingman. If I have to take a chubby, I'll suck it up."
Let's hope this is just a really nasty way to drum up support for the show - it is sweeps time again, afterall.
9 - Jim Carruthers
The Office Space reference was that Lucy's dad was going to buy a paper company in Slough. The AD was when Charlie was hiking to the caves with the Korean Jin, before they got attacked by Ethan-with-a-slingshot and said a couple times, "annyoung" (????) (who is the Korean adoptee in AD, which isn't his name, but "hello", and there is the whole question in Lost do the two Koreans understand English), and in AD it turns out he does understand English).
I think I watch too much teevee.
10 - Jim Carruthers
Here's the Onion article.
While I'm disappointed "Arrested Development" hasn't done better in ratings, it is still better than almost everything else on Fox or any of the other 'nets, and the show will still be funny and relevant years from now. The best trick the show has is that each episode seems like it is part of a continuum, but in reality, each stands on its own, especially with the fake "on the next Arrested Development ...".
I'd rather have only 40 some odd eps of "Arrested Development" than any of "Everybody Loves Raymond" or "According to Jim".
11 - Tom Johnson
Jim: you're right, now that you mention it I forgot about the "annyong." Good connection - I was think that the male Korean understood English last night when he was asking his wife what was going on, like he was hinting that he knew she knew English. The "annyong" thing makes that make even more sense . . . Look at that, a connection between the two best shows on TV right now.
12 - Tom Johnson
I've received a reply to my email to Gail Berman. See my edited post above for the details.
13 - Joe
That's good to hear, Tom. If you get a chance to edit again, there's a typo in the link to your blog.
14 - Tom Johnson
Thanks Joe, consider it fixed.
15 - Kim
if it makes anyone feel any better, there was a petition to save the show "Ed" that was on NBC and it did work to keep the show on the air for another year....maybe "Arrested" can find an audience by then.....
It's really a shame because it's a great show and unfortunately, you're right....it IS to smart for most Americans.....sad.
16 - Lono
To me, Arrested Development absolutely anchors Sunday nights. I used to be devout about the Simpsons, but after 15 years it is loosing it's satircal sheen. Sadly, unless you own a Neilson box, watching it won't help. We have to get out there and be visible.
I signed the online petition, it's the same one I signed year ago when we had this same worry. I also e mailed Gail Berman.
My parting thoughts, American Dad was very obviously a poor man's Family Guy. It even consisted of the same voice actors. It will be gone this time next year, but so to probably will be Arrested Development. fuckers.
17 - jobert
hogwash and ballycock, if Americans are smart enough to get such genius, postmodern and highly referential writing such as the Simpsons, particularly seasons 4-6 (google subtly simpsons if you want concrete proof), and the absurdity and quirkiness of Family Guy, why can't they "get" Arrested Development? The Daily Show and Conan O Brien, admittedly more traditional - are also different from the pandering goofiness of Ray Romano. I think Arrested is perfectly fine. Maybe it's not as funny as we think or maybe it's not promoted enough.
I'm canadian by the way.
18 - Tom Johnson
Hogwash and ballycock? Those are pretty strong words.
I have to disagree about Ray - maybe "everyone" doesn't love Ray, but I think he's got a lock on presenting the frustrations of the "everyman." It's a simple show, but it's quality writing for the most part, and I think it's admirable of the creators to bow out while the show is still good. I'll miss it, but it'll be on in reruns for years to come. And certainly we'll see a spinoff for the character of Robert in a year or two.
19 - Joel Caris
Glad to see the letter that suggests it will stick around, but I don't trust Fox worth a damn. Not after Firefly, Wonderfalls, The Tick, Action and so on. But the letter does still ease my mind a bit.
I hate that they're shortening the season for American Dad, though. I love Family Guy, but American Dad is not nearly as good and it's nowhere near Arrested Development. I'm planning on watching the show and I hope it finds its legs, but why can't they just let Arreseted Development run through sweeps and then start American Dad? Or, better yet, just run American Dad and Arrested Development? Bastards.
Arrested Development better not go away after this season.
20 - Dave Ryan
The paper company in Slough is a reference to "The Office", the English mockumentary comedy that the cast and crew of Arrested love. It's not Office Space.
Arrested is too good for American broadcast TV. I'd lovingly welcome it to HBO.
21 - Lisa
Arrested development is one of the smartest wittiest shows in the history of television. If FOX cancels this show it will truly be a travesty and prove once and for all that most Americans are way too dumb to appreciate true brilliance.
22 - dan
Annyong is Korean for "Hello"
23 - Joe
I thought that was "imi shimi pa pojida."
24 - Lucas Brachish
Has there ever been such a powerful outpouring of support for a relatively new show like this? Amazing. Everyone I know who actually watches this show is up in arms. Regrettably, not many people I know watch it, despite my demands....
Related post:
When Sitcoms Make You Weep
25 - Steve
That is so true Lucas. If not for the Blockbuster Movie Pass my family picked up, I would have never really thought to look at Arrested Development. But now that I have had the lifelong enjoyment of watching the first season, I'm totally convinced it is the funniest show on TV. I have the hardest time, however, getting any of my friends to sit down and watch it. Oh well, their loss until their lack of support makes it my loss if FOX unairs it.