Worst. Decision. Ever.
What the hell is wrong with Fox? Fox announced yesterday that the most clever and humorous show on television, Arrested Deveopment, has been reduced to 13 shows in its 3rd season (instead of the original 22) and in a move that often suggests a show will not return the next season, has been taken off the schedule until after “sweeps” are over (end of November). “It probably does spell the end of the show,” one source told Reuters. This is a sad, sad day for original comedy.
I suppose I can understand Fox in some sense, Arrested hasn’t had much in the way of ratings, and Fox just cares about numbers. But Arrested has also won emmies and much critical acclaim. I wish Fox would look beyond the numbers and see the dedication of its existing fans as well as the quality of the show itself. If Fox doesn’t pick it up next year, hopefully someone else will. I tend to also blame this on tv watchers in general. If people would actually watch quality shows (unlike “Cops”, “Nanny 911″, “Skating with celebrities”, “The Simple Life”, “So you think you can dance” or “Totally ourrageous behaviour caught on tape” - of course I haven’t actually seen these shows, but please, give me a break, just their names are enough to keep me away. And those are just shows on Fox, and isn’t even exhasutive!), Arrested would be able to stick around (of course, actual advertising from Fox wouldn’t have hurt either).
Sad, sad day indeed.
Sources:
Yahoo: Networks cancel ’7th Heaven,’ ‘Arrested’
Reuters: Fox pulls ‘Arrested Development’ for November sweeps
CNN: ‘Arrested Development’ gets the ax
GetArrested.com
-Matt Jones
לְחַיִּים
The idiots in this country are watchng survivor; it’s all about
what the market will bear.
The market is loaded with a bunch of imbeciles.
alot of people seem pissed that arrested development is being cancelled. being in the UK- i have no clue what its about. what is it about? and what is sweeps?
http://www.mynameisfrancesca.co.uk
Jacob - I totally agree, and it is so sad to think about!
Frencesca - Arrested Development is a sitcom that is much more original and funny than normal sitcoms. Its humor is quite intelligent and clever. I think many people just want to watch tv without thinking so the same old stuff is what draws a crowd.
There are also numerous characters that are done extremely. The show is their crazy story. It is filmed like a documentary sort of and Ron Howard narrates the story. Its a wonderful thing. If you can rent the first two seasons on DVD, I highly recommend it!
Sweeps is the month when the networks put on their best episodes of their best shows to raise their ratings for more advertising / revenue.
agreed. AD was an amazing show. network execs never know what the hell they’re doing… so it would seem
It seems execs purely look at numbers and really don’t care about quality at all. I really wonder how things would have turned out had they actually advertised the show from the beginning.
such ridiculousness. absolutely crazy people. I almost wished they’d take it off air, yet continue to push out DVDs.
that’s not to mean i wouldn’t rather have it on television
just if they have to yank it, at least give us something. maybe showtime or hbo or another random cable channel will pick it up
I was talking to a friend this weekend about that. I don’t really want it to go to HBO or Showtime (as I don’t get those channels), but it would still be great if it did because we would still get the DVDs! And that is what matters!
I think it is silly because I look at Seinfeld, one of the best shows ever, and it really didn’t start picking up speed until the 3rd and 4th seasons… and yet they cut short Arrested before they even get the chance!