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?
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?
Forget the f-word, they managed to sneak the c-word past the censors.
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.
Bateman’s monologue on SNL last night gave me SOME hope that this isn’t a done deal.
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?
(maybe)
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).
: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.
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.
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?
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
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
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!
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?!”
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.
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.