The New York Post's Page Six gossip column reports that cable network Showtime has picked up 26 episodes of the canceled cult sitcom Arrested Development. The show was axed by Fox after three seasons of Emmy-winning hilarity due to perennially low ratings. Neither network had anything to say officially.
In January, Showtime president Peter Greenblat told reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour that his network was seriously considering picking up the show.
"I always thought it was probably a better fit on a cable network than on a broadcast network," Greenblatt said. "And you know, in fact, I think it really does fit in with a lot of the things that we're doing."
The deal was contingent upon the involvement of show creator Mitchell Hurwitz--at the time, he was having reservations about continuing with the show after three years of stressful dealings with Fox.
"I think he's the genius behind it, and he hasn't yet come to that decision to continue the show," Greenblatt said of Hurwitz.
Arrested Development averaged around 4 million viewers a week in its third and final season, paltry by broadcast TV standards but huge for a cable network like Showtime. In contrast, Weeds, a popular Showtimes series, averages less than 500,000 viewers a week. Even king of the cable hill HBO commands only a few million viewers per week for its non-Sopranos shows--the Mafia-inspired drama, which returns March 16, garners 10 million to 11 million viewers a week.
Comments (30)
Arresteddevelopmentis one of those incestual shows which I hope to see continued. My cousin is hot....I maybe kissed her once... I maybe lived with her once...no none of those things are true but those sort of things CRACK MY ASS UP. Arrested Development was one of those shows that hit on the subjects that all the incestual folks that have preciously posted relate to. I am sorry for all of you sick folk but the premise is funny and makes me laugh out loud or ''LOL'' when this show is playing. I hope you folks realize that Arrested Development deserves atleast another 15 seasons......''cook kahcook kah''
All we can do is hope... I wont have Fox's budget though.
This would be awesome, come-on showtime!
Even though i don't get showtime i hope this is true cause AD is a great show and i hope itlives on for anotherseason or 2
Maybe Maybe got enough signatures on her petition to improve TV during the season finale boat ride to get this thing moving forward. Please Maybe ohhh Maybe make it so!!
OMG! Even if I can't get Showtime (I live in a dorm) at least I know I'll be able to get the DVDs when they come out.... I think I need to make some friends who have Showtime in their apartments!<br />
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Thank you, Showtime, if this is truely true!!
Showtime has the best shows on anway... along with Penn and Teller BS, Huff, Weeds, and Sleeper cell Showtime would kill HBO... only good show that network has going for it at the moment is Sopranos.
It's just gotta be true!..
ITS SHOWTIME!
when is this going to get confirmed, finally?
God please,i dont know what id do with out this great show!
Just hope that if this is true that Showtime doesn't change any of ARRESTED's formula, or try to adapt it too much for premium cable TV. ARRESTED is funnier with the bleeps, and jokes right before each act break.<br />
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Personally, I'd rather see FX or NBC pick the show up. And let's hope that if this news is true, Showtime will leave all the creative decisions up to Mitch and the writers.
this is the best show ever, please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please BRING IT BACK! please =(moreless
I will totally subscribe to Showtime if they pick up Arrested Development. Without a doubt. And I'll buy all the seasons. <br />
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Showtime, think about it. It's a rare show.
Finally, the man in the 3500 dollar suit is doing something right, COME ON!
damn i hope so!
I don't understand, is Showtime Chicken? Ko Ko Ko, Ko Ko Ko Ko Ko...Cho Chee Cho Chee Cho Chee Cho Chee....A kodulolo A kodulolo A kodulolo....Kokokacha Kokokacha Kokokacha<br />
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Arrested Development: I love it so much, that I have converted the DVDs into CDs and I am constantly listening to them on my Cd Player in my car (at home I just play the DVDs)
If this is true, I would subscribe to Showtime just to get Arrested Development. Think about it, Showtime... It's a good deal.
If this is true, then that would RULE!
It would be a good move for showtime and a better one for me!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope this is true. Please God, let this be true. Oh My GOD, why won't anyone tell me if this is true?
Piener-<br />
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It's mostly chalked up to the fact that Americans simply don't understand the subtle humor involved in Arrested Development, and thus flip past it amongst the array of crap that panders to a dumber demographic.<br />
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This is hindered more by the fact that Arrested Development is one huge story starting from season 1 and continuing to develop (and reference and re-reference itself) in each successive season, so people who missed the first season get left behind.<br />
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This is the major reason why I bought the season 1 DVD box set, because I lend it out to just about anyone who will sit down and watch it, and 9 times out of 10, you've got a new addict.<br />
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Oh, and I live in America, and I have no problems insulting my own country, because the majority of America is pretty damn stupid.moreless
It would rule harder if it was HBO...but I'll take what I can get.
I live in Ireland so my overalll understanding of american tv i.e. networks and whatnot is limited but still i find it hard to believe that with the overwhlelming feeling of adoration of this show on the net(Myself included)that it had such low ratings. Whats the deal?
I really hope that this is true
Cool if it's true, but I don't have Showtime so I wouldn't get to see it anyway.
i hate it when they tease us with hopeful news
For the love of God... PLEASE be true!!!!!!!!
Fingers (and everything else) crossed that this comes to pass. How fitting would it be for Arrested to become Showtime's flagship... we'll see.
Please, please, please, please, please let this be true.