Showtime, ABC Try Getting “Arrested”
Although Fox has stunted Arrested Development’s development, the show’s obituary might have to wait: Both Showtime and ABC have expressed interest at heading into the wild Bluth yonder.
The two networks are in preliminary talks to pick up the critically acclaimed yet consistently low-rated show after it ends its run on Fox early next year, per trade reports.
All three networks have refused to comment on the talks, except to say that no formal negotiations have taken place.
And for good reason: Fox has yet to officially cancel the show.
Though the network recently cut the series’ season order from 22 to 13, no official axing has taken place, making it difficult for producer 20th Century Fox Television to engage in any closed-door deal-making.
Besides, there are other potential hiccups to the Emmy-winner’s would-be network jump.
The Jason Bateman-led series comes with a hefty $1.6 million price tag per half-hour. According to Daily Variety, the high cost means the studio is in the hole $400,000 per episode produced, which is part of the reason why the season’s episodes were so drastically cut.
That, and the fact that the show averages just 4 million viewers per week, despite recent efforts to boost the ratings with the stunt castings of Scott Baio, Charlize Theron and most recently, Justine Bateman.
But 4 million viewers is nearly twice the amount that a bona fide cable hit draws, a key should the series jump to Showtime and keep its audience intact. But Showtime would likely try to find a way to rein in the per-episode cost.
To help offset the cost, 20th Century Fox TV may push for any bidders to pick up at least 22 episodes. The studio needs just 36 more to reach 88 total–the magic number required to sell into syndication. (Of course, a lucrative syndication deal is not guaranteed.) There’s also speculation that 20th Century Fox TV might be willing to share home-entertainment revenues as an enticement–Development is a strong performer on DVD.
News of networks putting out feelers for Arrested Development comes just two weeks after executive producer Brian Grazer told CNN he was working to make sure this season wouldn’t be the series’ last.
“I can’t tell you anything other than I’m hoping it works out in the way that we want it to,” Grazer said. “But I’m optimistic.”
The cast, meanwhile, has mixed feelings about a possible network jump.
“Obviously, we would all do it until we’re dead,” Jason Bateman told E! Online last week. “But you don’t want to be the last guy at the bar.
“I think we’re getting out just in time,” he continued. “We may have screwed it up if we stayed any longer.”
Barring any last-minute reprieves, Arrested Development’s season–and series–finale is expected to air on Fox in late January or early February.
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