Just in case anyone had forgotten or was unaware, one of the most critically acclaimed shows of the last decade and perhaps one that will go down in history as one of the top sitcoms ever created is coming to a most unceremonious end tonight on FOX. Opposite the opening ceremonies for the Winter Games on NBC, FOX is broadcasting the last 4 episodes of Arrested Development they are responsible for back-to-back-to-back-to-back from 8-10. I, for one, aside from this particular curious move, do not blame FOX for the show's failure. I think they fairly let them keep doing what they were doing, gave it ideal time-slots, ran those addictive 4 episode re-run blocks over the summer and pushed the DVD sets adequately. The simple fact is that people who appreciate this type of humor do not tend to watch television in the first place. It's a tough one, but more or less true. I have many many friends who claim to enjoy the show and are upset it's being taken off the air, but week after week I'd ask around if anyone caught the show the night before and few had.
I don't think this is the absolute end of the line, however. Someone else will take a chance on the show and try to get an audience behind it. ABC and Showtime are the two leading candidates, but I don't see why FX doesn't take it, since they've got a strong track record of making excellent shows that are a bit left of center. Being on cable, there wouldn't be the same pressure of unrealistically high ratings expectations holding it back. Whoever takes it, hopefully it works out better for them than it did for FOX.
Anyway, I noticed that my DVR was not set to record the two hour block tonight, despite me having it on season pass. If you're not gonna be home to watch on a Friday night, I highly recommend double checking to make sure it's set to record. That is all.
i think it's great you posted about this, jeff. i, sadly, got into this show just before the third season so i didn't have a chance to enjoy it until i purchased the DVD sets. i'm actually skipping on a birthday party trip to providence as well as another trip to boston to see an old friend in order to watch these 2 hours. i'm thinking of it as my show of support.
Posted by: holmes | February 10, 2006 at 11:28 AM
Calm down about the smart people don't watch tv stuff. Maybe it's not as undeniably brilliant as you think. I think it's pretty good but does it really rank with Kids in the hall, freaks and geeks, seinfeld, taxi, cosby, the office, ali g, newhart, newsradio, simpsons, family guy, twin peaks, fawlty towers, get smart? Also I find the overuse of Ron Howard's voice-over annoying, and from a writing standpoint, it's a very lazy exposition device.
Posted by: Jonathan | February 10, 2006 at 03:13 PM
in response to the previous poster's question: yes, it does.
Posted by: James Jonas | February 10, 2006 at 05:25 PM
The other problem is that people that watch this type of tv aren't big moneymakers for advertisers...I fully admit to being a fan that rarely watches the show when it actually airs. I watch the DVDs. Somewhere along the line I lost track of when it was actually on and I don't have DVR to record it...
Posted by: sam | February 13, 2006 at 06:02 PM
I am completely in love with Jason Bateman
Posted by: Lizzy | February 23, 2006 at 03:05 PM