You've heard the rumors. Emmy for Best Comedy, Golden Globe for Best Actor, WGA Award for Best Episodic Comedy - all of that be damned, low ratings deserve to be punished. And so Fox is probably on the cusp of cancelling Arrested Development. After all, as David Cross helpfully pointed out on The Jimmy Kimmel Show last month, Rupert Murdoch could make a lot more money off of a hip reality show like America's Cutest Retards. Here at TV Squad, we have just one thing to say about that:"Good Riddance!"
Yeah, that's right. You heard me - we don't want shows like Arrested Development sullying our beloved network. Face it, FOX - nobody wants to watch a character-driven comedy. We want traditional sitcoms that take place in living rooms. With couches. And lazy husbands and hot wives and mean-spirited children. Either that, or procedural dramas. Lots of them. Anything with forensics, you just keep coming. Reality is good too - let's have more of those shows where attractive people eat bugs and poor people fight for prizes. In fact, just put those two shows together - make some hot bug-eating chicks fight over an unemployed factory worker, and then give the winning couple a makeover and a dream house. Then give us a shocking twist. Give us anything, as long as you take away Arrested Development.
We expected more from creator Mitchell Hurwitz - he is, after all, the man that brought us Golden Girls - and no one knows better than executive producer Ron Howard how well tried and true formula works. And yet, they expect us to watch a sitcom without a laugh track? It's like, every single line is potentially funny, and some of them are funny in three or four different ways - how are you suppossed to know when to laugh? They can't all be jokes ... right? And even if they are, what are you suppossed to do? Watch the thing over and over again to glean jokes that flew past you the first time? It sounds to us like Arrested Development wants to reward viewers who are smart enough to remember old details and have the tenacity to careful pay attention to new ones. That's elitist. We don't like that.
In addition, the "scenes from the next episode" that appear at the end of every Arrested Development installment never actually appear in the following week's episode. This is not only extremely unprofessional, but it's just plain rude to promise something that you have no intention of delivering. I have personal testimonials from dozens of viewers who have been seriously traumatized by this cruel ploy on the part of the producers of Arrested Development - they're trying to get people to tune in the following week for scenes that aren't even there! Why would they trick us like that? We here at TV Squad don't like to be tricked. We don't think you do, either.
Arrested Development is a non-traditional, genre-bending, richly layered and intellectually complex character-based comedy. Plus, there's a character named Job, but they spell it GOB - and that's just blasphemous. For all of these reasons and many more, we think Arrested Development must be cancelled. Shows like this make us work hard, and that makes our brains hurt, and we don't like that. We don't need Arrested Development, and we don't want it.
Join us, America, in mobilizing the effort to rid our television screens of such dangerous material. The sooner we get this thing off the air, the sooner we can all sit down, relax, pop open a cold one and bask in the soothing rhythms of America's Cutest Retards.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
11-11-2005 @ 11:12AM
Michael Leatherbury said...
ARGH!! FOX just announced that not only did they cancel Arrected Development, but they cut the season to 13 episodes! IDIOTS! Network suits are confoundingly asinine. I urge everyone to email their disdain to getarrested@fox.com ASAP.
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11-11-2005 @ 12:09PM
msfashburn said...
Oh, man, if you're really honestly not getting the joke here, please READ the article and click that link on sarcasm - we are all here trying to say to someone (you sure as hell can't get through directly to Fox) that smart people like Arrested Development - please please please don't make us look stupid! On the other hand, if we look this stupid, then Fox might contact us to see if one of us wants to try running programming over there, as apparently one needs to be a moron to do it.
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11-11-2005 @ 3:36PM
Gob Bluth said...
WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR FUCKING PROBLEM YOU ASSHOLES. YOU THINK JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE A SHOW, YOU PEOPLE THINK YOU CAN GET IT CANCELLED!!!! YOU PEOPLE SPEND WAY TOO MUCH TIME BITCHING ABOUT A SHOW THAT YOU OBVIOUSLY DON'T LIKE, WHICH IS FINE THATS YOUR OPINION, BUT NONE OF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO TELL FOX THAT THEY SHOULD CANCEL THE SHOW. ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT IS FUNNIER THAN ALL THE OTHER BULLSHIT COMEDIES THAT ARE WAY OVERDONE AND SO STEREOTYPICAL THAT THESE "FAMILY" COMEDIES HAVE A WRITTEN FORMULA TO BE MADE. ARRESETED DEVELOPMENT GETS AWAY FROM THESE STEREOTYPICAL COMEDIES AND GIVES PEOPLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND MORE HYSTERICAL THAN ANY OTHER SHOW ON TV(OTHER THAN SOME OF THE SHOWS ON HBO). i DON'T CARE IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY SHOWS AND YOU SHOULDN'T CARE IF I DON'T LIKE YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS, BUT AT LEAST I DON'T GO AROUND TELLING PEOPLE TO CANCEL SHOWS THAT I DON'T LIKE. THE POINT OF RANT IS THAT NO ONE GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO CANCEL A SHOW BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE BUT OTHER PEPLE DO.
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11-11-2005 @ 6:25PM
shunley said...
boy oh boy...about time someone exposed Arrested Development for the intelligent, well-written, and brilliantly acted piece of trash that it is! who does Fox think they are, making me actually pay attention to witty dialogue and forcing my brain to work for laughs each and every episode?! America does NOT need a show that requires neurons, we need more inspired, original programming like Stacked and The Bachelor. i'm just glad Fox got rid of Wonderfalls, Keen Eddie, Pasadena, and Cracking Up before they incited any more critical acclaim and...(shudder)...appreciation for intelligent tv. God Bless You Fox...God Bless You.
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11-12-2005 @ 4:03PM
Amit said...
Ok, i am sorry, the person who wrote this article doesn't understand unique shows like Arrested Development. No wonder shows like OC, stupid reality shows, and countless other stupid shows gets the most ratings.
Arrested Development is one of the best shows on television. It's different than other shows, and i think its the funniest. (I am sorry if u don't laught watchin this show,,you are STUPID) I have seen a lot of tv shows, but i have never seen anything like this. I know there's a lot of inside jokes, and that's the beauty of it.
I would like to talk to the person who wrote this article face to face, so i could argue with her. American's are too obsesed with stupid shows like reality shows, and other shows like the OC, gilmore girls, that contains bunch of bs dramas.
This critically accalaimed sitcom should be a classic. People just want to watch shows that have background laughs and just sit there and laugh at weird random stuff...
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11-11-2005 @ 7:43PM
Ree said...
So, basically you want TV for the dumb.
It's sad that you can't appreciate a clever show when you see it.
You're pathetic.
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11-12-2005 @ 11:36PM
mike said...
You must be the most unintelligent person on the face of this planet. Arrested Development is by far the funniest show since seinfeld and it is probably the most well written show that I have ever witnessed. I cannot believe that you actually said that "they expect us to watch a show without a laugh track." They don't need a laugh track because it is so well written that they are not necessary. laugh tracks are only placed in so dumbasses like yourself know when to laugh because you are so stupid to realize what is funny. In no way is this show unprofessional or cruel, and the fact that it is non-traditional is what makes the show so intriguing. Thats why this show wins emmys and thats why shows like The Simple Life, Laguna Beach, and all those other reality shows are just dumbing down the human race. So do us a favor become a little better educated so you can appreciate quality television, because if you don't, then I hope that you are cute so maybe you can try out for America's Cutest Retards.
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11-22-2005 @ 10:12AM
Adam Kurtzer said...
If the writer of this article is serious and not writing it jest, I hope you get by a truck. I am dumber for having read this article.
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11-15-2005 @ 2:01PM
Joanne Warner said...
Arrested Development was the best show on television; I hope someone comes to their senses and brings it back. It was intellectually funny.
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11-13-2005 @ 2:06AM
Chris Anderson said...
All of this goes to show how unimaginative people are at times. The craft that the writers and actors employ are amazing. Things that happened in season one pop up for a moment in season three, and if you have been around for the whole ride it makes you laugh until you cry. And when Chachi explained that he was used to taking over for the Fonz, pure genius. So if FOX wants to make another season of non-stop 24 action, good for them. But i hope that some cable channel gives this show a chance.
"Illusion Michael, a trick is something a whore does for money"
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11-12-2005 @ 7:00PM
Joe said...
It’s a shame, Why cancel a show with so much potential and substance. If you remember Sienfeld, the last couple seasons were the best (Opinion), with episodes like Little Jerry and Kramer’s Intern. I can't imagine how good AD would be in the 10th season (David Cross says something Hilarious). AD isn't Sienfeld but if you remember Sienfeld, it had a rocky start and had AD sized audiences. Sienfeld would have fizzed out after 2 or 3 seasons if the creators and NBC weren't behind it 100%. They knew they had a winner (one of the best shows all time).
Critics have told Fox it is a winner, loyal fans have told Fox AD is a winner. Fox is not the right network for this kind of show and doesn't deserve Family Guy (Best Animated Show ever). I am probably going to buy the remainder 3rd season on DVD as a tribute (Even though the money is going to Fox), which makes me think. I would be willing to pay twice as much for the DVD’s if it kept the show on the air. Something I wouldn’t say unless I thought it was the best comedy on Televison.
Sorry Gov, Dark Days Ahead
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11-12-2005 @ 9:18PM
Austin said...
All the possible sarcasm aside, I think Arrested Development has easily become the new Family Guy (before it got tedious). It's just THE funniest show I've ever seen, miles above the garbage on the rest of TV. I don't know about anybody else, but I'll truthfully be really bummed out if they actually cancel it. I'd probably start some kind of petition to get it back. I just like to laugh at TV, I guess to some of the Readers above I'm just old-fashioned in that way. I want to watch something that doesn't involve cockroaches. And I'll also be REALLY ticked off with the idiots who think Arrested Development isn't funny, because they are honestly stupid idiots.
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11-12-2005 @ 9:28PM
Austin said...
In fact, now I'm on a roll, if Arrested Development gets stopped for good, I'll be really fucking pissed at the people who are too fucking stupid to like it because they are the ones who took it away for us intelligent people. FOX must just like to hurt us, giving us gold like Arrested Development, Futurama and Family Guy (not counting many others I can't remember right now) and then cancelling them ruthlessly. FOX must be run by retards. It really must. In fact, thinking about it, maybe not retards, but very good businessmen with the worst sense of humor possible to man. Why don't they employ someone who knows the meaning of laughter before they cancel hilarious genius.
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11-13-2005 @ 12:02AM
c letgo said...
this is why everyone hates america, its so stupid, it doesen't know intelligent humour even when it wins the top award, or has best selling DVD, go back to accdoingn to JIm (laughtrack sound not supplied). Arrested is the best show on cable by so much it's not funny, just like the crap we will be left to fast forward thru. F.U. fox
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12-04-2005 @ 7:01PM
ERIC said...
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT IS THE BEST FREAKING SHOW ON TV!! just because most of you people arent intellegent enough to understand the subtle jokes and dont know when to laugh without a background prompt doesnt mean that the show should be canceled. I mean really, i bet you guys could look at blank TV screen and burst out laughing if they played background laughter and then think that it was quality television.
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11-13-2005 @ 9:04PM
emerald said...
Here is an online petition to save Arrested Development. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/arresteddev
Take a moment to sign it. Shows have been saved from the ax when enough people protest about it. If you post on other message boards, link the petition site on it. Let's show FOX we don't need laugh tracks to tell us what's funny.
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11-13-2005 @ 10:52PM
Gunther said...
I love Arrested, too. The issue of cancellation comes from the fact that people are too easily pleased with what they watch. I am not a big TV guy but I do like this show. Why? It is the first un-trite show since... oh I don't know, something that WASN'T reality TV or a laugh track show like 70s show, Raymond, etc. They have their moments but the TV companies put em out there cause they know we will laugh at the same old thing. Raise your standards AMERICAN TV WATCHER! My goodness: don't be so dense that you cannot appreciate novelty when you see it. Remember when Seinfeld started? If Seinfeld started now- bear in mind it is arguably the best show of all time- it would probably get cancelled because we are to retarded to value intelligent humor. Plus Elaine never showed much skin and Jerry didn't have pecs... and there was no Donald Trump, Paris Hilton, or that Joe Rogan dufus people like because...? Anyway, subtlety, America. Subtlety. Arrested has got it and can pull off going over the top because it is always layered with subtlety. It is an element of humor that is grossly underrated because we are so immersed in shows that the jokes kick you in the balls- no thinking, just a cohesive plot from beginning to end. The problem arises: "oh no, Theo tried mary jane.." "oh jeez, Raymond's mom is annoying and she said something that offended Robert's date..." "oh no, they broke up and then made out again anyway!!!" It is like a TV Dinner. No, most sit-coms are analagous to the old joke about "directions on the back of a shampoo bottle" stand-up comics use OR "the cab driver who cant speak English". Why are we still laughing? Because nothing raises the bar. Well, Arrested does. Like it or dont, it does something new and does it consistently. I dont know. It is hilarous. Stop being dense and laughing at the Blue Collar show on Comedy Central.
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11-14-2005 @ 1:52AM
Martin said...
finally they are doing the right thing at fox. I am a cute retarded midget and can't wait for the chance to get my own reality show. Arrested Development... Geez, who really gets that show anyway.
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11-21-2005 @ 9:29AM
jodran said...
If that wasn't sarcastic, then it is completely wrong. Just because the majority of the population isn't smart enough to understand shows like arrested development, and they don't have the attention-span to realize get through an episode, FOX shouldn't ruin it for the people who enjot intelligent writing more than the reality trash that passes for tv these days. I just hope that they don't mess up the undisputed BEST SHOW EVER like they messed up Family Guy, and like Seinfeld almost was.
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6-16-2005 @ 4:17PM
JohnnyFocker said...
I will be okay if they cancel this show, but only if they replace it with a mexican style america's funniest home videos, where everyone gets kicked in the nuts or mauled by a bull. That shiz is hilarious. Sarcasm aside, my life would be ruined if they let AD go. It is basically the sunday night ritual to get the whole family together to laugh at Buster's panic attacks, and those who aren't with us get phone calls fist thing in the morning. Arrested Development saved my family,(of course my mom tell me when to laugh, I get lost without a laughtrack)
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