Great news for "ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT" fans!!

[BrklynLiberal]

Showtime may rescue 'Arrested Development'

By Nellie Andreeva
Wed Dec 14, 3:47 AM ET

Will the pay-TV environs of Showtime be a friendlier place for the Emmy-winning comedy "Arrested Development," which just got canceled by Fox?

Word around town this week is that Showtime is in talks to pick up the comedy about a chaotic family. Sources stressed that the talks are still exploratory and that it would be a big financial commitment on Showtime's part to pick up the show in its current form with a large ensemble cast that includes Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Portia de Rossi, Jessica Walter and Will Arnett.

"Arrested" was an instant hit with critics following its debut on Fox in late 2003, but the show never pulled in much of a crowd, even after it won the Emmy for best comedy series in 2004. Last month, Fox threw in the towel, cutting its episode order for "Arrested's" third season from its initial 22-episode ticket to 13.

Representatives for Showtime, and the series' producers 20th Century Fox TV and Imagine TV declined comment late Tuesday.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051214/tv_nm/arrested_dc_1

Showtime, ABC Try Getting "Arrested"

By Gina SerpeWed Dec 14, 4:23 PM ET

Although Fox has stunted Arrested Development's development, the show's obituary might have to wait: Both Showtime and ABC have expressed interest at heading into the wild Bluth yonder.

The two networks are in preliminary talks to pick up the critically acclaimed yet consistently low-rated show after it ends its run on Fox early next year, per trade reports.

All three networks have refused to comment on the talks, except to say that no formal negotiations have taken place.

And for good reason: Fox has yet to officially cancel the show.

Though the network recently cut the series' season order from 22 to 13, no official axing has taken place, making it difficult for producer 20th Century Fox Television to engage in any closed-door deal-making.

Besides, there are other potential hiccups to the Emmy-winner's would-be network jump.

The Jason Bateman-led series comes with a hefty $1.6 million price tag per half-hour. According to Daily Variety, the high cost mean the studio's in the hole $400,000 per episode produced, which is part of the reason why the season's episodes were so drastically cut.

That, and the fact that the show averages just 4 million viewers per week, despite recent efforts to boost the ratings with the stunt castings of Scott Baio, Charlize Theron and most recently, Justine Bateman.

But 4 million viewers is nearly twice the amount that a bona fide cable hit draws, a key should the series jump to Showtime and keep its audience intact. But Showtime would likely try to find a way to rein in the per-episode cost.

To help offset the cost, 20th Century Fox TV may push for any bidders to pick up at least 22 episodes. The studio needs just 36 more to reach 88 total--the magic number required to sell into syndication. (Of course, a lucrative syndication deal is not guaranteed.) There's also speculation 20th Century Fox TV might be willing to share home-entertainment revenues as an enticement--Development is a strong performer on DVD.

News of networks putting out feelers for Arrested Development comes just two weeks after executive producer Brian Grazer told CNN he was working to make sure this season wouldn't be the series' last.

"I can't tell you anything other than I'm hoping it works out in the way that we want it to," Grazer said. "But I'm optimistic."

The cast, meanwhile, has mixed feelings about a possible network jump.

"Obviously, we would all do it 'til we're dead," Jason Bateman told E! Online last week. "But you don't want to be the last guy at the bar.

"I think we're getting out just in time," he continued. "We may have screwed it up if we stayed any longer."

Barring any last-minute reprieves, Arrested Development's season--and series--finale is expected to air on Fox in late January or early February.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/eo/20051214/en_tv_eo/17970

[6000eliot]

1. Please, dear God, let this be true

This is the only show on television that consistently causes me to laugh hysterically until I can hardly breathe.

[PittPoliSci]

2. i heard rumors a while ago about HBO talking about picking it up too.

[dback]

3. "Arrested" is a perfect follow-up to "Weeds" on Showtime

Both deal with dysfunctional families and corruption in the suburbs, and both have that skewed, dark sense of humor. Man, that would be dreamy. And "Arrested" only needs another season or two before it hits 100 episodes and syndication royalties--Fox would be idiots to pass up that opportunity. (Don't they get a cut? Or does it all go back to Brian Grazer and company?)

[Initech]

4. I'll definately be subscribing to Showtime if this happens!

That plus they have Penn & Teller and FAR, FAR better selection of movies than HBO does!

[BrklynLiberal]

5. kick for Arrested Development fans who did not see it yet.

[Borgnine]

6. Yeah, I'm really feeling optimistic now.

I wish there were more AD fans here on DU. You'd think it would be the perfect show for liberals with a sense of humor, but whenever I try to start a topic on it here, it usually just sinks with no replies.

It does require you to have a certain fucked up sense of humor and be incredibly observant (more so than any other TV show I've ever seen), so I can understand why it's so poorly rated, but getting it on pay cable would relieve a lot of the pressure so long as its current fanbase sticks by it.