TVSquad

November sweeps stunts brought us stormtroopers on The Apprentice, a live debate on The West Wing, a dead chick on Lost and Medium in 3-D. Why are February ratings so tame? One word: Olympics.

NBC is expected to kick some television tail when it covers the Olympics every single night from February 10-26. Going into this month, the networks are touting some pretty uninteresting guest stars on the shows that need a boost. And that's about it. Oh, there is also going to be some sh*t going down on The O.C., but you don't want the spoilers, do you?

Here are some highlights for February sweeps, which began yesterday and run through March 1:

First off, no one loves Arrested Development more than I do. I can remember the first time I saw this quirky little show about a way-dysfunctional family, and thought "that makes mine look slightly more normal." On this site alone, I've written love letter after love letter in the form of reviews. I've signed every petition, I've tuned in for every episode and I own both seasons, so far, on DVD. That still wasn't enough for FOX, and no matter how much I loved the show, I'm only one man, and it appeared the majority of America disagreed with me.

Late last year, FOX announced that they were cutting back the ordered episodes of Arrested Development, from 22 to 13, a sure sign that a show is cancelled. Like a spoiled child with a broken toy, though, FOX still refused (as of this morning, even) to let go and "officially" cancel the show, waiting instead to see if there was "potential for the show to still find it's audience on FOX" (-Peter Liguori, Development President), you know, with it's final four episodes. The ones that are airing back to back Friday February 10th. Against the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics. Yea, that's going to be a ratings juggernaut. Even though the show hasn't been canceled, and therefore there can't be any "real" discussions about the show being picked up by another network, there has certainly been a fair share of rumors. And this, my dear TV Squad readers, is where I have to apologize.

At the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, FOX Entertainment President Peter Ligouri stated that Arrested Development's return to the network was "highly unlikely". He regretted that the show didn't find the audience it deserved, but at least acknowledged that the production arm of 20th Century Fox, which produces AD, is free to receive offers from other networks. If you listen to the industry scuttlebutt that surrounds the show, the producers seem to be taking advantage of that.

The last four FOX episodes will be aired in a two-hour block on February 10.

On television, they live in McMansions and get a big, fat tax break for being in that upper-income bracket. In the real world, they probably drive Subarus and are stressed out about paying for college. An article on a job website explores the real-life salaries of some of our favorite characters, including the improbable bank account of Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw (I never said the article was brand new). It seems, as a sex columnist in NYC, Carrie probably would've earned $57,000. In Manhattan? That's poverty!

Other characters and their real-life salaries:

It's official: FOX hates Arrested Development.

How else to explain this scheduling decision? They've scheduled the final four episodes to run in a 2 hour block (so far, so good...) on Friday, February 10...against the opening night of the Olympics. [Insert heavy sigh here.]

This is bad on so many levels. First of all, even without the whole Olympics thing, it's a Friday night, one of the least-watched nights of TV during the week (next to Saturday). And it's also up against NBC's coverage of the Olympics opening ceremonies. It's as if FOX said, "you're a really funny, high quality, critically-adored show that we won't support, and now we'll kick you in the genitals!"

I can understand cancelling a show because it doesn't get good ratings. That's a business decision (though I would think the network would understand the value of critical success, fan fervor, and buzz). But why do they treat the show like it has cooties and they have to keep it away from other shows, or hide it like it's they're embarrassed by even having it on the schedule?  

The nominees for the 12th Annual SAG Awards were announced this morning. Check out the full list for television after the jump below.

Ok, plain and simple, Fox just doesn't deserve this show. Regardless of what they "want to do with it", they don't deserve Arrested Development. Cancel it and let ABC or Showtime try something instead. I mean, what idiot at Fox decided to put the funniest episode of the season up against the Fiesta Bowl? This is just the latest example of their complete lack of respect for one of the funniest shows ever. There are only so many ways that you can screw up perfection, and I'm pretty sure Fox has now run the gamut. At the end of a good show's run, they always try and pull some kind of stunt to bring back some new viewers. Tonight's episode was like a Cliff's Notes version, and it was brilliant. On with the show!

One of, if not the greatest parts of Arrested Development is the layers their jokes have. Everytime you think they've reached the final punchline, they throw one more at you. It's like a comedy snowball rolling downhill at you, and there's no escape. Now, I've heard a lot of people say that one of their reasons for not watching Arrested Development is because it's too "daunting". They haven't watched it since the beginning and they don't think they'd get it now. Well, Dave, a buddy of mine, was over last night and had never seen a single episode. I think he laughed harder than I did. So to all those out there that haven't give this show a chance, I give it the "Dave Dunn seal of approval", take the plunge. On with the show!

Before, I start this - let me be clear about one thing. By writing this, I realize that I'm opening up a giant can of worms and I'm probably going to get a lot of poo flung in my direction. But I think this needs to be said, and besides, everyone likes playing devil's advocate once in a while.

Writers for My Name is Earl, The Office, and Grey's Anatomy are getting some accolades for their good work on their successful new shows. The writing teams for those programs were nominated for Writers Guild of America awards. Earl writers received three different nominations, while Office and Anatomy writers were both nominated for two awards including best new series. Don't worry, shows like Lost and Arrested Development also were nominated. The awards will be handed out February 4 in LA and NY.

More categories and nominations are listed after the jump:

First of all, thank you to all of our readers who sent in the updates regarding Arrested Development and its possible salvation. We were listening, and have been on the phone with the networks all day. We were hoping to be able to break some news for you and get a confirmation from either Showtime or ABC about them picking the show up. Hopefully, we'll be able to bring you some more information very soon. Unfortunately, for the time being, all that we were able to get from either network is a big fat "No Comment". Fortunately for all of us Arrested Development freaks, we were able to get "No Comment", which, as everyone knows, means they just don't want to talk about it yet. So now that it seems that both networks are interested in the show, which would you rather see it go to?

As one of my friends pointed out to me during the show, Fox sure gave Arrested Development a huge push last night."Watch new episodes every Monday" "Watch clips on VCast" "Coming up next, an all-time classic episode". Uhmmmm... Is Fox aware that they cancelled this show? They did the same thing last year; they cut the episode order back and then they started pimping it like crazy. I just don't get the reasoning behind doing something like that. This is why I will never be a studio executive. I just make too much sense. Ah well, On with the show!

Jason Bateman's big sister is going to guest star on one of the final episodes of Arrested Development. Justine Bateman will play Nellie Bluth, who claims to be Michael's long-lost sister, on the show. Michael will hire her to determine whether she really is a blood relative, and then things will inevitably get strange. Not strange, as in brother-and-sister become love interests (as was rumored last year), but I think Justine will just exhibit some unusual behavior. The episode, appropriately enough, is called Family Ties. The cast is filming it right now and it will air on January 9. Another guest star, Scott Baio, is also slated to return to AD as the Bluth family attorney, sometime next month.

NBC, Showtime -- If neither of you pick up this brilliant show, I'm going to stop watching you, too. Fox has already screwed up on numerous occasions and has lost me as a viewer. This is your chance to grab an Emmy award winning show, with a built-in following. Arrested Development will only become more popular if it's picked up. NBC, you've shown us that quirky, non-studio comedies can work, with The Office, My Name Is Earl and Scrubs. Showtime, you're going to need a partner for Weeds when you bring it back. What are you waiting for?!? Pick this show up!! On with the show!

Oh, this is going to be funny.

An upcoming episode of Arrested Development will be titled "Save Our Bluths," which just happens to be the name of the internet campaign to save the show. In the show, George Sr. will even talk about the Home Builders Organization saving the Bluth company. Look at those initials. When they turn them down, he considers putting on a dinner show (time).

Bateman's character says: "We've had plenty of chances...maybe the Bluths just aren't worth saving." Heh.