# Arrested Development shut down or (gasp!) canceled??? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 10, 2005, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-shut-down-or-gasp-canceled/289362 "2005-02-10T05:58:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-shut-down-or-gasp-canceled/289362/41 "2005-02-12T00:02:33Z")
Jason Bateman’s appearance on Conan was strange, but funny. Actually between him and Caroline Rhea, there was a whole lot more sex talk than I think anybody had planned on. Ah well. On another note, today’s Simpsons gave out the FOX Network’s address. Is this a sign? ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-shut-down-or-gasp-canceled/289362/42 "2005-02-12T13:31:07Z")
How on earth can a show like AD get lower ratings than crap like _What I like about you, Reba, Hope & Faith_ or the rest of the Friday night dreck? ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-shut-down-or-gasp-canceled/289362/43 "2005-02-12T16:06:24Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I never expected it to last so long. It was hilarious – by far the funniest show on TV – but the humor was much too subtle for most people. It required very close attention to understand it, and no matter how carefully you watched, you’d get on line and discover something else someone else caught (like sneaking the f-word past the censors unbleeped, or the outrageous double entendres\*). Forget the f-word, they managed to sneak the c-word past the censors. ---
**Author:** ![down\_by\_law](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@down\_by\_law](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/down_by_law)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-shut-down-or-gasp-canceled/289362/44 "2005-02-12T16:25:45Z")
arrested development was doomed from the beginning. the only place a show like this could survive is hbo. networks can’t support something as idiosyncratic as arrested development. oh weel, it ws great while it lasted, and it lasted longer than i thought it would. i was planning on a midseason replacement for it last year, actually. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-shut-down-or-gasp-canceled/289362/45 "2005-02-13T16:33:28Z")
Bateman’s monologue on SNL last night gave me SOME hope that this isn’t a done deal. ---
**Author:** ![mike1dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@mike1dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mike1dog)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-shut-down-or-gasp-canceled/289362/46 "2005-02-13T17:02:58Z")
I don’t know the economics of TV shows, but is it possible that a show like this, with a small but devoted following could be a direct to DVD tv show? Release a new episode once every two weeks or so at ten bucks each. If they could sell maybe three hundred thousand copies, would it be economically viable? ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-shut-down-or-gasp-canceled/289362/47 "2005-02-13T18:50:59Z")
[Good News!](http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271%7C93505%7C1%7C,00.html) (maybe) ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-shut-down-or-gasp-canceled/289362/48 "2005-02-13T18:52:01Z")
I think I’m going to call this “The Apple Phenomenon.” A product, clearly of superior quality yet more pricey than its competitors, inspires a slavish cult following. The mainstream is quick to write it off because of the focus on quality versus quantity. I think what Apple has shown us is that one can survive and prosper on the small market share, and I’m sure that is applicable to other markets, including television. We are in a transition right now. Everyone is so focused on appealing to the broadest market share that most products end up being some bland milquetoast flavor of dreck. We need to let corporate America know that there is a market for things that don’t fit this mold. Instead of trying to pick up a 10% share of the 18-49 demographic, perhaps they could instead charge more for more directly focused advertisements and aim for a 40% share of the college-educated 25-35 demographic. HBO has done very, very well in doing this. The best we can hope for is that this thing gets booted there. I know I would sign up for HBO in a heartbeat just for this show (and Curb Your Enthusiasm, which I have only seen on DVD). ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-shut-down-or-gasp-canceled/289362/49 "2005-02-13T19:56:01Z")
> [@Menocchio](#): > > [Good News!](http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271%7C93505%7C1%7C,00.html) > > (maybe) :rolleyes: Not really good news. Queries about _Futurama_’s status got similar responses from Fox for two years after they’d ordered their last episode. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-shut-down-or-gasp-canceled/289362/50 "2005-02-14T04:15:00Z")
Just want to say I watched Development two or three times, and never “got” it. (AD isnt a good Abrev for it, given American Dad has the same Initals :rolleyes: )I mean there is something that sets it apart from most other shows out there. (and no, I mean all shows, including those on other networks) Perhaps the main problem was not that it was so different from other FOX shows, but in fact, stuck in the middle of the other shows, that the weeds consumed the flower. I don’t know how else to put it other than to take that stance on it. I mean, how many years have we turned to FOX for comedic relief over other events and shows in pop culture? ((And this comes from someone who has only missed about 4 Episodes of 24 … in its entire run so far)). To some extent, The Bart Simpson Network can’t escape a fart joke ever so often. ((And yes, I try to watch every episode of The simpsons as well)). I can’t escape the notion that Arrested Development belonged on another network from day one. Bravo, A&E or perhaps IFC or HBO. I know it was a Comedy, but in some respects it was more of a drama. I know it was nothing like “The Birdcage” in terms of plot… but the sophistication matched it. This level was not on the level of the other shows on Fox. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-shut-down-or-gasp-canceled/289362/51 "2005-02-14T15:27:17Z")
Is it better to remember the greatness that was Futurama and Arrested Development or to recoil in horror at Season 16 of The Simpsons and Season 6 of Malcome in the Middle? ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-shut-down-or-gasp-canceled/289362/52 "2005-02-14T19:29:48Z")
In case everyone hasn’t seen this already, read away and rest easy. [http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve\_main/1,1002,271|93505|1|,00.html](http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271%7C93505%7C1%7C,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-shut-down-or-gasp-canceled/289362/53 "2005-02-14T19:50:52Z")
Well yes, it’s not cancelled _yet_. We know it’s not cancelled yet. That doesn’t mean there will be a third season; FOX hasn’t made its orders for next year. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-shut-down-or-gasp-canceled/289362/54 "2005-02-14T19:52:22Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > In case everyone hasn’t seen this already, read away and rest easy. > > [http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve\_main/1,1002,271|93505|1|,00.html](http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271%7C93505%7C1%7C,00.html) That article is from Friday and is pretty old news considering what Bateman had to say on SNL, Saturday evening.\* Don’t make Amy lose her yacht, yo! - In fact, the article is basically lifted exerpts from Berman’s response email. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-shut-down-or-gasp-canceled/289362/55 "2005-02-15T00:50:47Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Is it better to remember the greatness that was Futurama and Arrested Development or to recoil in horror at Season 16 of The Simpsons and Season 6 of Malcome in the Middle? But Futurama and Simpsons are both by Groening… The truly best bits of Furturama haven’t died. They will filter into Simpsons… somehow. Man running off cliff in a “The Simpsons” Episode: “Why did they have to cancel Futurama?!” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-shut-down-or-gasp-canceled/289362/56 "2005-02-15T01:16:24Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Is it better to remember the greatness that was Futurama and Arrested Development or to recoil in horror at Season 16 of The Simpsons and Season 6 of Malcome in the Middle? That’s a joke, right? If a show is on the air too long and gets bad, I can stop watching it. If it’s cancelled, I’ll never see another new one. That’s not even close to a fair deal. If _Arrested_ ends this year, that’ll be 40 episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-shut-down-or-gasp-canceled/289362/57 "2005-02-15T14:25:27Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > I can’t escape the notion that Arrested Development belonged on another network from day one. Bravo, A&E or perhaps IFC or HBO. I don’t buy that. Maybe it’s because I’m a Canuck living in the U.S., but I don’t go picking shows based on what network they’re on-- I pick a show because I like the show. The only thing being on a certain network does is give you different marketing strategies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-shut-down-or-gasp-canceled/289362.md?page=2)