Fox's veteran comedy Malcolm in the Middle will end its seven-season run May 14, while That '70s Show, now in its eighth season, will bow out four days later, the network said Tuesday.
For the homestretch, Malcolm will return to Sundays beginning January 29, opening the night at 7:00 p.m., a slot generally occupied by cartoon reruns.
Meanwhile, Fox is in conversations with former That '70s Show stars Ashton Kutcher and Topher Grace to return for the show's finale, Fox entertainment president Peter Liguori said during the network's portion of the Television Critics Association winter press tour.
While the end for Malcolm and That '70s Show comes after long, successful runs, the untimely exit of the network's Emmy-winning but low-rated comedy Arrested Development after three seasons--two of them abbreviated--brought up a lot of questions.
Although the network touts airing the two-hour block of the final four episodes of Arrested's current order on February 10 as "season finale," Liguori stressed that a future return of the show to Fox is "highly unlikely."
Arrested's producers, Imagine TV and 20th Century Fox TV, are fielding offers from two networks, Showtime and ABC, which are interested in picking up the acclaimed series.
With no strong new comedy additions in the past couple of seasons ready to fill the void left by the departing comedies, the network's brass are putting a lot of muscle behind the rollout of its midseason comedies Free Ride and The Loop, using the network's best launching pad, the blockbuster American Idol, to help their chances.
The partially improv Free Ride is slated for a March 1 preview, following a special 90-minute episode of Idol, and Loop is getting a preview March 15, leading out of an Idol results show. On March 12, Free Ride moves into its regular Sunday 9:30 p.m. slot, temporarily replacing American Dad, while Loop will relocate to its regular Thursday 8:30 p.m. period March 16.
Fox also is taking another look at two comedies that have been off the schedule for a while.
King of the Hill, which is not in production but has never been officially canceled, might come back as early as January 2007 if discussions with the series' producers are successful, Liguori said.
Meanwhile, there haven't been any active negotiations to revive Futurama, which, much like Family Guy before it, is enjoying a second life on Cartoon Network's "Adult Swim" late-night block. But Fox executives are keeping a close eye on the series' newfound success.
Malcolm in the Middle f**king sucks, good riddance. I've seen one episode of Arrested Development and it was funnier than all of Malcolm in the Middle. Plus frankie muniz is a goddamn Ginger or something. Gingers have no souls. Which is probably why he looks like a 14 year old and he's really 22 or something.
I disagree with DOYN, even though I think that firefly was and is a great show, it was cancelled more because it was TOO good. It was intelligent, fairly realistic as these things go, and more the slightly anti-government. Most people didn't like it because it was too intelligent for the most people. No offence.<br />
<br />
As for Kenn Eddie, i wasn't much of a fan, but the parents were.
It is about time they end these shows I think Burrney Mac will be next
I agree with Doyn. Firefly, Fastlane, and Keen Eddie were great. A lot like Veronica Mars in that they are a breath of fresh air, but will never get a large audience. That is just the way it is for truly original thinking.
Great shows, but their time has come.
Please, please, please bring back Futurama!
I think they should keep malcolm and that 70's show
Not surprised at all, these shows went down hill FAST!
That 70s show got old after Jackie and Hyde left. It was funny but went through a downfall afterwards. Hope they wont cancel Family Guy...eeekk... I love that show!!
I hate That 70's Show so good ridince; I think they should have cancelled Malcom when Frankie Muniz turned 14.
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
I suppose it had to happen sooner or later. Really, how long has That 70's Show been going on? Longer than the seventies were, I'll bet. And Malcolm, while still exasperating and endearing, has moved past his prime and the time has come to see him off. Goodbye, so long, and may God allow something of equal (or better) quality to fill these timeslots.<br />
By the way, it was sort of obvious that That 70's Show was over when Topher Grace left. I don't know why no one else saw that.
Oh my freaking God!<br />
what the hell are they doing?<br />
those 2 show are great!<br />
Well fine they have been falling faster than a obese canadian who says prayers in their last few seconds, but i love those show and their actors are great, excluding josh meyers (randy) and the actor that plays reese in that 70s show and malcolm respectivly. <br />
Oh and if you're reading Josh, yeah, your just not funny, and when you make a "funnie" and the laughs go wild, yeah well it's either a laugh track or the audience is retared!
Oh my freaking God!<br />
what the hell are they doing?<br />
those 2 show are great!<br />
Well fine they have been falling faster than a obese canadian who says prayers in their last few seconds, but i love those show and their actors are great, excluding josh meyers (randy) and the actor that plays reese in that 70s show and malcolm respectivly. <br />
Oh and if you're reading Josh, yeah, your just not funny, and when you make a "funnie" and the laughs go wild, yeah well it's either a laugh track or the audience is retared!
Goood!!! =)
We want more 'Reunion'!!
What's going on with the new show 'Reunion'? I thought it had great potential with the way they interwove the characters pasts with their present day situations. Is it still on?
That 70s Show should have ended last season and I haven't watched "Malcolm" for a really long time (other than in sindication) so I don't really care about those shows ending. Arrested Development on the other hand, is the best american comedy currently on tv right now. And Futurama should never have been cancelled. It was a great comedy with a good science fiction story (Fry sent into the future by an alien race to save the universe).
bring back Futurama!!<br />
<br />
<br />
pretty please...
thank god for malcolm but how could they do that to thats 70's show??
It is sad to see these two shows that brought life to Fox to come to an end. Malcolm and 70's Show on one hand started out awesome then it decayed once it got pass around their fifth seasons. I saw Malcolm as an alternative to The Simpsons and Family Guy. And That 70's Show as a flashback comedy to bring back the "70's comedy-style"-type show. Both these shows will be remembered as they are one of a few shows I watch on Fox.
No point to the show without Kutcher and Grace. I attempted to watch it as a longtime fan, but it wasn't worth it. It's just good they are taking it off the air before it could crash and burn, or get cancelled.
I still have a soft spot for That 70s Show, but I feel it peaked in season 5, so I'm ok with it ending. <br />
It's really no surprise that AD is done on Fox, although a bit sad.<br />
I wonder what Fox's fall schedule will look like next year.
it was about time they ended this show-5 seasons is enough
malcolm in the middle has been on the air 7 seasons too long
That '70s Show rocked and yes, after Topher and ashton left, it wasn't the same anymore. It's a shame it had to end, but what can you do? All good things must come to an end.
There goes the saight of a great Tv show, one of the few left. I mean Malcom in the middle, not the overrated garbage that is that 70s show, which was ruined by Ashton Kutcher in the first place.
Maybe Fox should revisit Firefly, Fastlane and Keen Eddie. All three shows were genious and killed because they tried to use the Friday time slot. It is the timeslot, not the show. Move those three to Sunday or Wednesday and you have a killer block of shows with a following to be developed.<br />
<br />
But bottom line, they need to bring back Firefly and allow Joss Whedon to produce the show as needed, not like the last time.
About time. I liked That 70's show but it's not the same without Topher and Ashton, but I always hated Malcom in the Middle.
Agree ... both shows have been on a downward slide for at least two seasons.<br />
<br />
That '70s Show really started a freefall this year when Ashton Kutcher and Topher Grace left the show. I guess Kutcher left to dedicate more time to making more absolutely HORRIBLE movies, and continuing his annoyingly pathetic show "Punk'd."<br />
<br />
I was never a big watcher of Malcolm in the Middle, but it seemed to get that repetitive feel to it a couple of seasons ago.
It's about darn time.......those two shows should have ended years ago.<br />
<br />
I used to watch both of them with a passion but lost interest after the show failed.