wanted: for crimes against comedy...
...the executives at the FOX network.
it's sunday night, and as usual, i am settling down after the weekly hysteria created by viewing mitchell hurwitz and ron howard's screamingly funny arrested development. this is a show of which i am proud to say i have been a huge fan since the very first episode back in 2003. for those who don't know, arrested is a multi-award-winning show about a dysfuncional and clueless family, the bluths, that has enjoyed critical success yet wallowed in ratings hell for it's entire run. a show that is so original and so sharp that, creatively, it dwarfs all others in this, the post-mortem age for the classic sitcom.
alright, maybe i get a little carried away, but i am serious that this show should be both watched and enjoyed by anyone who savors great comedic performances as well as fantastic writing.
so, can anyone out there give me a good reason why FOX has decided to shelf arreseted development a month early this season and continues to waffle on the show's fate come this fall?
i have become accustomed to their lack of regard for this diamond in the rough, but tonight, something hit me. and it hurt. FOX chooses to end this season of arrested in april to make way for the new seth mcfarlane animated series, american dad. i can accept this as i am a big fan of mr. mcfarlane (his family guy remains a perenial cadeland favorite.) what i cannot, under any circumstance, accept is that FOX continues to fill it's line-up with new shows like the cringe-inducing life on a stick (premiering march 23) and the if-it's-as-unfunny-as-its-previews-i-just-want-to-die sketch show called...uh... the sketch show (premiering march 13.) not to mention the fact that shows like that 70's show and malcom in the middle which arguably passed their peaks like 5 years ago have already sured up spots for this fall. and since i'm talking comedy, i won't even get into the simple life/nanny 911/trading spouses abominations that will undoubtedly see life well into next season.
my point is this, i simply do not understand how it's fair that such a creative and unique show can ultimately lose out to standard and brainless shite-programs revolving around unfunny teenagers working at a corndog stand.
the one shining point is that FOX has not cancelled arrested yet. in fact, there are supporters still. FOX broadcasting entertainment president gail berman had this to say recently:
"We at Fox love Arrested Development and we look forward to having the Bluth family back on Fox in the future--hopefully for many years,"
whether this is sunshine being blown or not, i have to hope that it holds true.
FOX execs, please take the moral high ground for once. if no one is watching, figure out a way to market it. don't just give up and move on to the next 100 bad ideas. please. the fate of the bluths, and my sanity are depending on it.
it's sunday night, and as usual, i am settling down after the weekly hysteria created by viewing mitchell hurwitz and ron howard's screamingly funny arrested development. this is a show of which i am proud to say i have been a huge fan since the very first episode back in 2003. for those who don't know, arrested is a multi-award-winning show about a dysfuncional and clueless family, the bluths, that has enjoyed critical success yet wallowed in ratings hell for it's entire run. a show that is so original and so sharp that, creatively, it dwarfs all others in this, the post-mortem age for the classic sitcom.
alright, maybe i get a little carried away, but i am serious that this show should be both watched and enjoyed by anyone who savors great comedic performances as well as fantastic writing.
so, can anyone out there give me a good reason why FOX has decided to shelf arreseted development a month early this season and continues to waffle on the show's fate come this fall?
i have become accustomed to their lack of regard for this diamond in the rough, but tonight, something hit me. and it hurt. FOX chooses to end this season of arrested in april to make way for the new seth mcfarlane animated series, american dad. i can accept this as i am a big fan of mr. mcfarlane (his family guy remains a perenial cadeland favorite.) what i cannot, under any circumstance, accept is that FOX continues to fill it's line-up with new shows like the cringe-inducing life on a stick (premiering march 23) and the if-it's-as-unfunny-as-its-previews-i-just-want-to-die sketch show called...uh... the sketch show (premiering march 13.) not to mention the fact that shows like that 70's show and malcom in the middle which arguably passed their peaks like 5 years ago have already sured up spots for this fall. and since i'm talking comedy, i won't even get into the simple life/nanny 911/trading spouses abominations that will undoubtedly see life well into next season.
my point is this, i simply do not understand how it's fair that such a creative and unique show can ultimately lose out to standard and brainless shite-programs revolving around unfunny teenagers working at a corndog stand.
the one shining point is that FOX has not cancelled arrested yet. in fact, there are supporters still. FOX broadcasting entertainment president gail berman had this to say recently:
"We at Fox love Arrested Development and we look forward to having the Bluth family back on Fox in the future--hopefully for many years,"
whether this is sunshine being blown or not, i have to hope that it holds true.
FOX execs, please take the moral high ground for once. if no one is watching, figure out a way to market it. don't just give up and move on to the next 100 bad ideas. please. the fate of the bluths, and my sanity are depending on it.
posted by cade at 9:37 PM
3 Comments:
preach it!
Fox sucks. I know that sounds trite and cliched but it's true. Other favorites that were funny, creative, and something different from the usual sludge: "Wonderfalls" and "Firefly" (which written by Joss Whedon of "Buffy" and "Angel" fame)-both shows were first aired on Fox on Friday nites at 8pm-possibly the WORST time to premiere anything new, never mind mind-numbing reruns. They admitted they did it on purpose because they thought both shows would have no audience or hope of becoming something great. "Wonderfalls" was cancelled after only four episodes. "Firefly" had its first episode actually cancelled by FOX and the first airing was of its second episode. At least both can be gotten on Amazon, in their entirety, along with cast interviews, behind-the-scene stuff, etc. It's a wonder The Simpsons has lasted as long as it has. -krista
the simpsons, were it not for the inherent and lucrative marketing possiblities, would have died years ago. plus, it is so broad a comedy that it can support itself. unlike the single-vision genius of shows like arrested and wonderfalls that are very narrow in scope. (i consider that a good trait.)
it is sad. and what's really sad is that the rest of the networks are just as bad.
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