TVSquad

I prefer a blue dot covering some areas. I think some actors in HDTV would want the same.

Censoring is better for the show. But thanks for getting my hopes up with this news :)

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I'd rather ABC gets it. Sure, Showtime does need comedy, but so does ABC, considering they had to renew Jake in Progress for another season. Plus it would mean that there would still be no cursing, which is one of the areas where AD really excels.

That and ABC has enough highly rated shows that they can afford to keep AD around for longer, or part it with something worthwhile.

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I know I'd prefer AD to go to ABC simply so it will remain free and therefore reach a larger potential audience. Plus ABC can afford to mount a bigger marketing campaign than Fox ever did for the show. Think about this: During all of the baseball playoff games on Fox, when they were promoting the return of That 70's Show, Prison Break, Bones, 24, etc., did anyone see a single ad for AD or Kitchen Confidential? I knew then that Fox had already decided to give up on AD and KC.

As for creative freedom, sometimes having limits can force writers to be more creative. For instance, I think there's nothing to be gained comedically by being able to actually see Kitty's breasts one last time (and another last time, and another last time...). It's funnier to see the reaction on the face of the character she's flashing than to see the actual flashing. (Note to Judy Greer in case she reads this: I'm sure your breasts are perfectly fine and the average male heterosexual viewer would find them perfectly tittilating, pun intended. However, should you decide to bare for a role, please don't do it on Arrested Development. Thank you.)

elf

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abc canceled eyes, therefore i hate them and arrested development shouldb be on showtime.

on the other hand, i don't get showtime in canada, so i'd have to wait for a dvd release to watch it. better go with abc

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This is pure speculation, but I think Showtime would treat the show better than ABC. ABC is a huge network with shows coming in and out all the time. AD wouldn't be a huge thing for them. However, Showtime would pour the attention on AD. And coupled with Weeds, it'd be a perfect fit in the schedule. ABC has nothing to complement AD.

Showtime 4tw

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Neither. I LOVE Arrested Development but it's time for it to die. Three years is a good run. I sweated over the show lasting through season 1, then season 2 and now into season 3. It's time to pull the plug. The show's funny and still the best on TV BUT the jokes are getting to the point of obvious, the storis are following predictable patterns...it's time to let it go. You push this show to a new network, the hype and in the end year 4 is definitely when it will hit a wall. Even if it lasts, it'll faulter and die ignored in year 5. By then that's too long with any show. Three years is good.

Leave the audience wanting more...most shows overstay their welcome. I'd rather talk about how great the show was than have to always excuse a bad year 4 or 5 (take a bow Seinfeld, which was only good in years 1-3).

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Showtime is a better fit. AD would pair up well with Weeds in a comedy block. They can make it one of their "Tentpole" shows, much how Curb Your Enthusiasm is for HBO.

I don't see a show or time slot on ABC that's compatible with AD. ABC is not exactly known for sophisticated, cutting edge comedies.

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Have you guys watched weeds? It's horrible! It's as bad as that Lis Kudrow show "The Comeback." seriously, I watched a preview copy of the show last xmas at a friend's house (she's an agent and one of her boys was involved in the show) and it was absurdly awful. There's ZERO connection between Weeds and AD. You could easily pair AD with Entourage or Curb on HBO but certainly not any show on Showtime.

I currently have showtime (deal with DTV as i normally only have hbo) and that channel is a$$. It's either bad movies, bad programming or skinemaxie stuff. How it survives is beyond me.

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I would rather see the show on HBO, but if that's not an option, go to Showtime.

I think ABC won't stand for the low ratings either and will cancel it almost as fast. Although, they have kept According to Jim around, so who knows.

But in Showtime land, those ratings are considered to be good, and they might pick up a few extra subscribers, which I am sure they wouldn't mind. I think they'd stick it out a lot longer.

As far as censoring, I would think the producers/writers would keep that if they want to. Just because it's on cable doesn't mean they have to show man ass, you know.

Finally, Showtime programming isn't so bad. I don't know about Weeds, but Huff has gotten some great press and I absolutely loved the now-gone Chris Isaak Show.

Anywhere they go, I will follow.

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Like Rachel, I also loved the now gone Chris Isaak show, as well as Going to California, Odyssey5, Jeremiah, and Beggars and Choosers. The problem is that Showtime has yet to show that they will stick with a show for any extended amount of time. Queer as Folk had a pretty good run I guess, but it has been there M.O. to dump shows quickly and without much warning. Weeds is finally getting some positive press for them, but whether that translates into a 6 or 7 season run or another 2 season run remains to be seen. And speaking of seasons, don't forget that a Showtime AD would probably have seasons of 13 episodes that may or may not start with any sort of schedule. An ABC AD, assuming a reasonable amount of people finally tune in, would most likely be a 22 episode October to May affair.

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Let me tell you why ABC is an unfavorable suitor.

They have no obligation to Arrested Development whatsoever. Say what you will about FOX and their horrible marketing "skills", but they were more patient than other networks might be.

Let's say AD is picked up by ABC, but it still fails to garner the massive ratings that it seems to take for a sitcom to stay on the air these days. What is to stop them from finding themselves two episodes in, $1 million in the hole, ratings not budging, and cancelling it?

Who says they will be as classy as FOX is, letting them explore other options rather than just kicking them to the curb? Furthermore, who then wants a show twice cancelled by seperate networks?

Showtime, unlike ABC, isn't completely compelled by ratings. Their cash crop is customer's subscriptions, not ratings. AD as it is drew something like three times the Curb finale this season, so even if they bring half their audience they have a decent start.

When it comes to promotion, AD won't have to deal with being 33% commercials and ads. And what else would Showtime have to promote and neglect AD for? Would we have to see 6 minutes worth of Desperate Housewives commercials each episode? Not on Showtime.

It would be a godsend to land on Showtime so long as Showtime is committed to keeping the show in tact to the crew's liking.

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Zero connection between Weeds and Arrested Development?

:::Buster, meanwhile, was enjoying talking with Oscar, but Oscar was longing for his sweet freedom.:::

Oscar: Say, you don’t have any Sweet Freedom or Tropical Leaves, or any of the Hawaiian blends, do you?"

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I think ABC would treat "Arrested" fairly. They *KNOW* what they'd be getting their hands on. It's a show that not many people watch, but it's got an extemely loyal following.

Kind of like Alias, don't you think? But ABC stuck with it for 5 seasons. And unlike FOX with "Arrested", ABC is giving more than ample time for the writers to start writing towards THE end.

I think ABC would treat this show fairly. Plus, I don't GET Showtime, so I want it on ABC so I can actually watch it!!!

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After reading all of the comments I believe Showtime is the way to go. They've had their run on network TV.
They've done a brilliant job for three seasons. Let's see a different version on a premium channel. Given more creative freedom, we'll see where the writers' brilliance takes us. The show will stay clever, but with a different vibe. Also, it will probably have a better chance to grow on a premium channel, rather than on a network where the cast and crew are always wondering whether they are going to be cancelled or not. A cast (and the writers) like this comes along once on a lifetime, so it is imperative that this show continues... Let's have two versions of this groundbreaking show... one on network TV, and another on cable.

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Riff, you're connecting AD's humor to the pathetic style of Weeds just because both shows have references to pot? Egad!

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while i'm not sure that ABC is the best fit for "AD" (i really think it does belong on FOX... if they'd pull their heads out and make it work) i don't like the thought of it on Showtime. honestly... this show works better when it's censored. the bleeps are way funnier than the words as are the dots and stuff. if you watch the extended cut of the Pilot on the season one DVDs... it's not as funny without the bleeps. plus, in the other areas where they have to censor themselves, it causes them to get really creative with how to say things and that's a lot of what makes this show so smart.

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My vote is for Showtime - and I live in Canada - I'm sure that Showcase would pick it up, much like they picked up Weeds. And Showcase is where the "intellectual" crowd hangs out. Have any of you guys down South seen Kenny vs. Spenny? Hilarious.

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As long as the bleeps and blue dots stay, I'm all for Showtime. If half of the 4 million viewers watched on Showtime, it would be a huge success. Plus: AD on demand!!

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Not ABC, but how about NBC? I think AD would look great on that revamped Thursday night lineup. Put Will and Grace out to pasture already and have a line up of Scrubs, AD, Earl, and The Office. A night of laughs without a laugh track.

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Not ABC, but how about NBC? I think AD would look great on that revamped Thursday night lineup. Put Will and Grace out to pasture already and have a line up of Scrubs, AD, Earl, and The Office. A night of laughs without a laugh track.

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