THX7966

PASADENA (CNS) - The long-running Fox Broadcasting comedies "That '70s
Show" and "Malcolm in the Middle" will broadcast their final episodes in
May, the network announced today.
Additionally, it is "highly unlikely" any new episodes of the Emmy-
winning comedy "Arrested Development" will air on Fox following its Feb. 10
season finale, and if the animated comedy "King of the Hill" returns with
new episodes, it will be in January 2007 rather than the customary fall
premiere, Fox Entertainment President Peter Liguori said during the network's
presentation at the winter television press tour.
"That '70s Show," a comedic look at the decade which turned unknowns
Ashton Kutcher and Topher Grace into movie stars, will broadcast its 200th and
final episode May 18, ending its eight-season run.
Fox is having "conversations" with representatives of Kutcher and Grace
about their returning for the finale, Liguori said.
"Malcolm in the Middle" will broadcast its 151st and final episode May
14, ending a seven-season run. The comedy starring Frankie Muniz as the middle
child in a dysfunctional family has received six Emmys, a Grammy and a
prestigious Peabody Award.
"From its innovative production values to its exceptional writers and
cast, this series has helped shape the modern sitcom," Liguori said. "We'll
miss the hilariously loud and manic -- yet somehow relatable and admirable --
family."
Despite receiving the Emmy as television's best comedy for the 2003-2004
season and tremendous critical acclaim, "Arrested Development" has
struggled in the ratings throughout its three-season run.
"It is regrettable that we could not find the audience that show
deserves," Liguori said.
"There is a chance" new episodes of "King of the Hill" will be made
with a decision expected soon, Liguori said. Because of the long preparation
time needed for an animated series, if "King of the Hill" is renewed, the
new episodes would premiere in January 2007, Liguori said.
Fox also announced that the comedies "Free Ride" and "The Loop" will
premiere in March.
"Free Ride," a partially improvised comedy starring Josh Dean as a recent
UC Santa Barbara graduate who moves back in with his parents in a small
Missouri town, will premiere March 1, following a 90-minute "American Idol"
episode, then move into its regular 9:30 p.m. Sunday time slot March 12.
"The Loop," which stars Bret Harrison as the youngest executive of a
Chicago-based airline, will premiere March 15 after the "American Idol"
results show, then move into its regular 8:30 p.m. Thursday time slot the
following day.
CNS-01-17-2006 11:23

xx2000xx

I hate to say it but good thing Malcolm is going. Some of the episodes this season has been brutal, so nice to end it before it becomes a joke like a lot of other series.

Fielding Mellish

I'm thrilled that they're pulling the plug on "70's". This used to be appointment TV for me. That said, I've tried to watch two episodes this season... and it's been nothing less than painful.

If they could get Grace to return for a proper send-off, they'll at least get one more ratings point from me.

StuddThunders

It's a shame about "Arrested Development." That is without a doubt the funniest show on TV right now. The character of GOB is a classic. But it's better to go out on top (like the British "The Office") than to slowly, painfully die.

"That 70s Show" should have been put down a long time ago. Same with "Malcolm."

Ravid

That 70s Show was good in its first two or three seasons, but after that it just got worse and worse. The show wasn't ever brilliant to begin with, but at least it was consistently funny for a while.

I haven't seen Malcolm lately, but it was a pretty good show.

Hopefully AD gets a new life on another network.

Morf

Wow, I have to disagree completely. I think Malcolm has never been stronger than in the last few (2-3 seasons). It's just that no one ever talks about the show anymore. But I've found them to be consistently funny and great television.

In fact, the same goes for King of the Hill. Underrated, underappreciated shows.

RoyalTea

malcolm's still on?

the problem with shows with kids is that the kids grow up.

I'd love to see malcolm reborn into an animated series.

Cusm

The problem I have with Malcolm this year is that every episode has the family seperated out and little interaction. I have still enjoyed it, but it is not as good as it has been. And Reese is 16 for the 4th season in a row.

riley_dude

Fox cancels most good shows and then leaves ones on that should be put out of their misery far sooner than they are. X-files comes to mind and Malcolm hasn't been funny in years. 70's Show? I could never get through a whole episode. I thought the writing was very unfunny.

grunter

The quality of "That 70's Show" depended largely on how much you bought into the character acting of the ensemble cast. I personally thought the interactions between Topher Grace and Laura Prepon were some of the most natural, unforced "laugh-out-loud" comedy bits I'd every seen. When that original ensemble got splintered as it did in the wake of Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher's departures, the show just lost all creative steam.

As for the current season, I simply don't want to believe Donna would cross Eric out of her life so completely and so quickly. But the cast being what it is - I suppose that particular plot point couldn't be helped.

Here's hoping Topher and Ashton suck it up and make appearances in the final episodes of the series.

MEJHarrison

I still enjoy Malcolm, but I'd rather see it end now than become the joke that That 70's Show has become.

nny

This season of Malcolm has been a little weak, but the last couple seasons it's been probably the most underrated comedy on tv. It had a good run though and now's probably the best time to end it. IIRC Reese failed last year and is repeating his senior year this year. So Reese and Malcolm would probably be leaving the house after this season anyway.

Jackskeleton

The problem is that after Malcolm hit the syndication mark the network just hasn't really cared about it. Putting it on fridays and also where Futurama was during Football season doesn't help in the slightest bit.

THX7966

Now that football is over, Malcolm is moving back to Sundays. FOX will double run Bernie Mac on Fridays.

Jackskeleton

For me, the show really dropped off the mark when the baby came in. Seemed like an unneeded character.

silentbob007

I still like Malcolm, but the show was destined to end soon. There are no more excuses to keep the family together, and it is already bad enough that Francis is MIA almost every episode.

DRG

I used to love Malcolm, but stopped watching a few seasons ago when it went from being quirky to being (IMO) over the top. It went from being a cute family-based comedy with cartoonish moments to simply a live action cartoon. And the Frances stories took a huge nose dive when he met his wife.

Michael Corvin

Didn't the show start with 4 kids? So Malcom was never a middle child. Now there is a fifth? I must be out of the loop.

Deftones

No way. This show has been consistently funny.

FinkPish

When his oldest brother Francis left home, that made him the middle child. I'm not sure about how the baby reworks that lineup now.

Jackskeleton

Yeah, they added a baby for no real reason other than they could. The oldest brother story was always interesting with him jumping around place to place acting as the comedy story b, a shame they had to nail it down for too long at that cowboy ranch.

Fok

Good news about the 70's show, don't get me wrong, it's a great show but they are dragging it out (which ruins it).

Ravid

I caught a rerun of That 70s Show just now. Eric goes to Africa??? That's as bad as when Randy on Home Improvement went to Costa Rica near the end of the show. And how long have the 70s been going on?

garmonbozia

I'm still waiting and hoping for more seasons of Malcolm to come out on dvd!

Trevor

I agree that Malcolm stayed funny consistently.

I hope we get more season sets also, definite buys for me.