Arrested Development: Season Three

13:21 / 11.11.05

I just did a little more digging, and it turns out that one of the reasons the show has been cut back to 13 episodes is that star Jason Bateman has just had some surgery on his neck, and needs to take some time off -- something the Variety article doesn't mention.

I agree with you about FX. I never watch that network (the Shield's herky-jerky camera syle makes me sick, and Nip/Tuck is too soapish for me), so I didn't even think of it. But moving AD there would require Fox to have common sense!

14:32 / 11.11.05

That settles it: I *have* to win Mega Millions this week. Because then I can start a network. We will air ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT in prime time one night a week, and show infomercials the rest of the time. ANYTHING TO KEEP THIS SHOW ON THE AIR.

I guess it's the immortal cry of the marginalized fan, but I simply do not understand why this show is not a gigantic hit. Everyone I have ever shown it to falls in love with it immediately, and seemingly everyone I know under 35 watches it religiously. But then, I live in New York City, where I suspect approximately 55% of the show's audience lives (the other 45% is in Southern California). I wonder if anybody in Wyoming has ever watched this show. Even by accident. With the kind of numbers that it gets, it seems unlikely.

15:22 / 11.11.05

Which means we need to go all Church & State Fair on it and partner up with that Christian group to retool the show.

"Blue Show - No Fair!"

18:35 / 11.11.05

It's official.

The gorilla...is for sand racing...

SOB.

matthew.

22:41 / 12.11.05

Everybody - don't panic yet. FOX cancelled Arrested D last season, too, remember? There's still a chance, my friends, a slim one, but a chance nonetheless. Look what happened with Family Guy - it came back like that damn cat. If you haven't bought both seasons on DVD, do so now. That's the best way to make it a success!

PatrickMM

22:43 / 12.11.05

Last season they just cut the order, it was never officially cancelled. The sad thing is I don't think Fox has any other choice, the show just can't get viewers, which is perplexing, but people just won't watch the show.

My best hope is that it gets picked up by FX, or another cable channel, where it can be a big hit, since I'd imagine all the viewers it has now will follow it.

Slim

04:36 / 13.11.05

It got killed when they moved it from Sunday night. I love the show and plan on getting the DVDs but to be fair, there was a significant drop in quality this season.

20:58 / 15.11.05

I've just heard a rumor (don't have any hard news, sorry) that Best Buy will be selling each season of AD on DVD for $14.99 at their day-after-Thanksgiving sale. If you don't have them yet, that's clearly the time to pick them up.

Don't lynch me if this turns out to be untrue.

PatrickMM

03:24 / 05.12.05

New episode tomorrow, hopefully we'll see some good ratings because it still seems that the show isn't officially cancelled.

14:30 / 06.12.05

SEA BRITAIN.

God damn it, I can't remember how Merely Above Average that episode because my mind is so flooded by the best Next On gag in the history of all time. It's one of those moments where you knew everyone else sitting on a couch at that moment was thinking the same thing, and then you all jumped up and caved in with laughter. Totally fucking joycore. It makes the show's impending doom all the more painful. Not to mention the legitimately heartfelt good bye between Rita and Michael.

"God help her if she tries to rename Bluthton. I'll sink it! I'll sink the whole damn thing!"

Oh, and HERE COMES THE SWAT TEAM was the best TIVO Pause Gag evar.

WrinklyBottom

16:25 / 06.12.05

Watching last night's episode was like reuniting with an old friend, knowing the whole time they are going to die in a few months of a terminal disease. I have never hated mainstream american television as much as I do right now.

Panic

23:41 / 06.12.05

"Why am I not going in the water? WHY AM I NOT GOING IN THE WATER?!"

23:50 / 06.12.05

Tears. On every possible level.

Billuccho!

02:50 / 07.12.05

"Right, just like they call tourists 'poofters!'"

08:56 / 07.12.05

You know, I didn't get "bubuman" until I saw it spelled out. "Go-up Box".

19:19 / 13.12.05

I've got to say, last night's episode was probably the weakest of the third season so far, but I still laughed. A lot. It was also helpful to watch a first-season episode immediately after and see that they really have cranked up the pace to a manic extent in this season, the jokes are coming waaaay faster and all the silences have been cut... plus, I think they're miking Ron Howard closer now or something. His voice sounds totally different.

13:42 / 14.12.05

Unfortunately my tape cut out and this Monday's episode was the first I've ever missed. I only know one other person who watches the show, and he's checking to see if he didn't delete it from his TiVO. Fingers crossed!

16:01 / 14.12.05

Sweet Jesus, say it's so: Variety sez that both ABC and Showtime are very, very serious about trying to pick up the show.

And wow, $1.6 million an episode in costs. Obvs. compared to Friends or something that's chump change, but at an average viewership of 4.5 million, they're spending $0.36 on every viewer. I wonder what the average rate of advertising return is per-viewer...

16:09 / 14.12.05

On second thought, the Variety article says that every Arrested episode winds up $400k in hock. That's only 75% of the cost returned. Owch.

While I would *immediately* subscribe to any pay network that picked it up, I have to figure that ABC would probably be the ideal situation -- they'd be able to promote it heavily, very possibly to the kind of audience that would support it (Lost, for example). ABC's fare is generally less "edgy" than Fox's, however -- I have to wonder if they'd be allowed to get away with bits like this week's "premium bud, real sticky weed" shot. (Can you seriously show giant piles of marijuana stash on network television?!?)

13:29 / 04.01.06

Anyone catch this week's episode? It was both self-referential AND self-reverential, no mean feat. I'm unfamiliar with the show's typical production schedule, but I'm going to bet this one was quickly put together, in the past few weeks? You just had to love those in-jokes and pleadings for more viewers, as well as what to do if Fox drops them -- "No, the HBO's not gonna want us."

Savourbluths.com!

16:42 / 04.01.06

It was, of course, transcendent. While not the last episode produced, it looks like possibly the last one Fox will be airing.

Either way, it was so so great, especially Lindsay's ineptitude, Cream Soda being a highlight.

And I liked how Mitch's sense of sensibility carried over into Michael's speech. They've been given many many many chances. America just isn't ready for the Bluths and their teacher poisoning, sister marryring ways.

doglikesparky

20:45 / 04.01.06

While not the last episode produced, it looks like possibly the last one Fox will be airing.

Tv.com have two new episodes as listed to be aired next Monday. I hope they're right about that...

PatrickMM

22:35 / 10.01.06

Looks like Arrested Development is finished at Fox, considering they pulled those two episodes at the last minute in January. I'd guess we'll probably have to wait until the DVD to see them. Anyone know exactly how many unshown episodes there are?

CameronStewart

02:01 / 11.01.06

The season was scaled back to 13, and they've aired 9, so assuming they even bothered to shoot the rest, there's 4 more.

I heard some rumour that they may be put up for download on the iTunes music store - though it would only be available in the US if that's the case. I'm in Canada and I can't download anything from the US store.

doglikesparky

13:48 / 15.01.06

Some good news. According to Zap2it, Fox is going to air the four unseen episodes back to back on Febuary 10th. That will very probably then be the end of Arrested Development (at least on Fox) but we will at least get to see those eps. Hooray.

Full spoiler riddled article here.

CameronStewart

15:05 / 15.01.06

I like how they're calling it the "2-hour season finale!" rather than "4 episodes we're dumping all at once so we don't have to deal with it any more."

Also, they're running them against the OLYMPIC OPENING CEREMONIES. At this rate, if there is a season 4, they'll likely schedule it opposite the live televised return of Christ.

Matthew Fluxington

17:40 / 15.01.06

It's looking very likely that ABC will pick up the show.

18:26 / 15.01.06

Re: Vague Finale Spoilers And Intimated Location Of Said

I'm going to fucking cry. I know it.

Sean the frumious Bandersnatch

12:52 / 16.01.06

Did any of you catch Will Arnett (aka GOB) on Conan O'Brien Friday night? Very funny stuff. Didn't say so much about AD, as it's pretty obvious even the cast doesn't know if the show's coming back. But Arnett and O'Brien did a bit throughout where Arnett was very snide and snotty, he kept referring to how he'd moved beyond "Invested Development." Also acted like he couldn't remember the names of his co-stars: "I was good friends with that dude, you know, the one who played my brother." And he kept saying "Tamborn" instead of "Jeffery Tambor."

Mug Chum

14:18 / 16.01.06

Am I really the only one who'd have married Rita anyway???
(though friends always say that I always had a weak spot for hippies/retarded cuties. And the english accent--oh!)

I still don't understand how it doesn't have more audience in U.S. Makes no sense!

Mug Chum

14:29 / 16.01.06

Oh and was anyone else bothered that the last conversation before the pool thing seemed to have a lot of lines cut off? I kept wanting to see more of them...

(and that pool ending... I'll take "dear god why am I not going underwater" to the grave)

(oh and I wish it was socially acceptable to dress like Rita does. I loved her fashion sense. And not because I could show the label, mind you)

Mug Chum

14:43 / 21.01.06

Oh (for a 3rd time in a row...) quick question. That Reggie, the british soldier --"i'll put this fag in my mouth"-- is he played by Tony Hale (Buster)???

CameronStewart

18:49 / 21.01.06

Yes. With prosthetic makeup.

21:52 / 10.02.06

2-hour season/series finale tonight at eight!

Just reminding everybody.