Everybody Loves Saturday Night

Some TV Bits in 4/7 EW.

Full page on Arrested Development (or 2/3 page photo, 1/3 page text).  Showtime offered to continue the show but creator Mitch Hurwitz turned them down.  Didn't want to put his life on hold, felt it was time to move on.  Interesting, I didn't know that.

Although note that he is open to the show continuing in other ways.  He suggests merchandising:  I have a feeling the merchandising on Buster alone would be enormous.  Everyone would have a little stuffed Buster. I know I would.

Also a sidebar on the latest "product placement" on Everwood:  Hannah's new Mercury Milan.  I remember noticing it at the time and thinking: "What? That was kinda specific."  Funny to read about it here:  If they came to us saying 'We want Hannah to have a spaceship,' that would be one thing, but it worked very well in this situation, said co-producer David Hudgins.

Final 4?

The four episodes of Arrested Development that aired on Friday were brilliant.  We got resolution on everything from the housing scandal to G.O.B. and the aftermath of the beauty pageant judging.  It was bittersweet to watch as every minute was making me laugh, but I knew it was closer to the end.  How insulting were Fox's promo ads during this show for their 2 new comedies that look terribly unfunny? 

"I think it actually does mean “laundry” but like, a child’s laundry.  We don’t really have a word for it." -Buster

What are you doing Friday night?

I'm reading my Entertainment Weekly TV Watch section, minding my own business, when I see it:

The final four episodes of Arrested Development will be aired on a Friday night.

And not even a Friday night when a decent number of people could conceivably watch, but this Friday, opposite the Olympics opening ceremony (and Dancing with the Stars.  we're not even going to go there.).

I know Fox has a history of treating great shows badly (see Firefly & Wonderfalls), but this is just horrifying.  I'm crossing my fingers the show will be picked up by another network.

S.O.B.s

Did the rest of you miss Arrested Development's possible swan song on Monday?  The episode was called S.O.B.s, as in "Save Our Bluths" and was one of the saddest (and funniest) sitcom episodes I've ever seen.  It was heartbreaking that this show's final plea for more viewers was aired on January 2nd, when no one expects new shows to air and when few ads have mentioned the episode.  The dialogue contained thinly veiled jokes about HBO not wanting them and Showtime being their only potential savior.  Here's hoping the Bluths do get picked up somewhere.